What's good
- Decent performance
- Budget-friendly price
- Solid battery life
- Includes fingerprint scanner
- Expandable storage
- Software shortcuts
What's bad
- Poor audio quality
- Mediocre camera quality
- Disappointing display
- Weak multitasking
Many reviewers have nicknamed the Moto G Fast the new Moto G7 Play. Like the rest of Motorola’s G family of phones, it boasts a budget price without skimping too much on features. But is the negligible difference in price between this phone and its slightly higher priced sibling worth the compromises?
Design
On the larger side of Moto G phones, the Motorola Moto G Fast has a striking finish. Its pearlescent white plate comes in handy for hiding fingerprints while its chrome accents provide a bit of visual flair. It’s also rated for resistance to dust and small splashes but definitely won't survive a dunk in the pool.
The power button and volume rockers both sit on the right side of the phone while the Motorola emblem on the back doubles as a fingerprint scanner. Overall, reviewers liked the look of the phone, noting it is shiny without being slippery.
Display
The Moto G Fast has a 6.4-inch display. The screen is bright and has awesome color accuracy. However, it lacks the sharp image quality of other budget phones and text is ever so slightly blurred. This is not really a deal-breaker but it might cause extra eye strain over extended periods of use. Being a 720p display puts it at a disadvantage when for a little more its big brother, the Moto G8 Power, has a 1080p display.
Performance
The word "fast" in the phone’s name was based on comparisons to rival budget phone processing speeds. In that regard, it outperforms the budget models of LG or Samsung.
The phone has less RAM than Motorola's own Moto G8 Power model though, coming in at 3GB of RAM versus 4GB. But this might not mean much unless you’re an avid mobile gamer or multitasker. Just be wary: the more things you have open, the less responsive and "fast" the phone becomes.
Software & Storage
Moto G Fast comes with Android 10 installed. However, this is a budget phone and some sacrifices were made. Namely, a lack of storage space compared to similarly priced phones. The phone only comes with 32GB of internal storage space. But worry not, they made it easy to add a microSD card slot for up to 512 GB more storage.
Cameras
The triple-rear camera is an exciting idea at this price point. But the cameras disappointed many reviewers. It’s not all bad news though.
The phone offers 4k video capture and in good lighting the camera’s all do fine. It was mostly in low light or indoor applications which reviews noted performance suffers. A lot of reviewers complained of added noise and blurring to pictures without adequate lighting.
The Moto G Fast includes a selfie camera at the front of the phone but many reviewers were disappointed to discover it only boasts 8MP compared to the 16MP offered by many phones in 2020.
Battery Life
When tested, reviewers reported easily making it through an entire day without needing to charge the phone.
Love to watch movies or TV shows? You’d be pleased. Despite the less than crisp picture, the phone was reported to offer 14.5 hours of battery life when playing HD video at full brightness. If you run low on battery you won't have to worry as the phone supports fast charging.
Audio
Audio on the Moto G Fast is the most negative aspect in most reviews. Tinny with a lack of bass and all-around flat sound, the audio leaves a lot to be desired.
If you like wearing headphones, this might not be important though. The phone has a headphone jack which is a plus since many phones are moving to only support Bluetooth or USB Type-C headphones.
Specs at a Glance
- Plastic body with chrome accents
- 6.4 inch, 720p display
- 2GHz Snapdragon 665 processor
- 3GB of RAM
- Android 10
- 32GB of internal storage with optional SD added storage
- Rear-triple camera (16MP/2MP/8MP)
- Front-facing 8MP selfie lens
- 4,000mAh Battery
Bottom Line
Buying a phone on a budget involves sacrifices. Many reviewers question the value on offer with the Moto G Fast. However, if you can find a good deal, the phone offers respectable performance.
CNN says, “In comparison to the Moto E, if you care about photography and don't mind spending [a little] more, we'd suggest going for the Moto G Fast. Along with a better set of cameras, you get a faster device with a larger display and better battery life.”
PC Magazine, “If [the price of the Moto G Fast] is the absolute top of your budget, the Moto G Fast is a perfectly fine choice, but if you can spend a little more, we recommend going [for the] Moto G Power.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Nick Gray, PhandroidThe Moto G Fast from Motorola is a great device for the price. The build quality and software really stand out when compared to other devices in the category. But if you want slightly better performance, a higher resolution display, and even better battery life, the $229 Motorola Moto G Power is a m...
- Julian Chokkattu, WiredThe $200 Moto G Fast is quite easily the better buy over the $150 Moto E. The promise of one Android version upgrade and the USB-C port is worth the extra $50. And overall, I think it's the better pick over the rest of the Moto G lineup too.
- Christian de Looper, Digital TrendsThe Motorola Moto G Fast isn’t perfect, but in my view, it’s the best you’re going to get in this price range. It has a modern design and excellent performance in this price range, plus a solid battery — and the latter two are extremely important to consider if you’re buying a budget phone.
- Adam Ismail, Tom's GuideThe Moto G Fast is a great choice for anyone who can’t spend more than $200 on a new smartphone, thanks to strong battery life, a serviceable display and cameras and good enough performance. However, those willing to part with another $50 will want to upgrade to the Moto G Power, which is a better h...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
The Moto G Fast price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare Motorola Moto G Fast prices from around the web here on The Informr.
Motorola backs up the Moto G Fast with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Moto G Fast has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Motorola support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Motorola's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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