Motorola Moto G5 Plus review

Lenovo’s made a big deal out of the new metal chassis for the G5 Plus. While reviewers liked the design, they were quick to point out it’s not a full metal case. The upgrade to a metal back also means no more removable battery.

Despite these concerns, reviewers liked the design of the new phone. PC Magazine said, “It's easy to mistake the phone for a much more costly device.” Ars Technica UK gave a similar opinion, saying, “It’s still lighter in your hand and a little chunkier than comparable high-end phones, but at first glance you might have trouble distinguishing it from a metal or glass-and-metal phone.”

Flipping around the front, you’re greeted by a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display. In the budget tier, the screen is often where you’ll see the biggest difference. However, reviewers raved about the screen on the G5 Plus. Android Police called it “a very good display with accurate colors and superb viewing angles.” Android Central was also pleased, saying, “Color calibration is, to my eyes, on par with devices double the price.”

One area where reviewers weren’t in agreement was the fingerprint scanner. While it performed its basic functions well, reports on the new finger gesture controls were hit or miss. It worked well for reviewers, but many didn’t like the concept.

Android Guys, on the other hand, gushed about the feature. They said, “It’s freaking brilliant and I love it. I want it on every phone from here until they come out with something better. The learning curve was minimal and it just makes sense.”

For performance, reviewers were all in agreement. The 2GHz octa-core Snapdragon processor impressed. Android Police said, “Gaming won't be particularly good on this phone. Simple titles are fine, but the 3D capabilities of the 625 are lacking.”

Depending on the model you choose, you’ll find either 2 or 4GB of RAM. Most reviewers recommended the extra cost for the 4GB. While both run smooth now, it adds some room for graceful aging as apps continue to grow.

The G5 Plus ships with Android 7.0 Nougat—something many phones twice its price still doesn’t do. Reviewers were pleased with the subtle tweaks to the Android experience. PC Magazine summed up opinions well, saying, “aside from the included Moto app (which lets you configure Active Display and gesture settings), there's no bloatware to speak of. Since there's no bloatware, you have plenty of free internal storage: 53.71GB on the 64GB model.”

Which brings us to our next variation. You’ll find both a 32GB and 64GB model. While 32GB is enough storage for many, you won’t get the 4GB of RAM without going for the 64GB option.

For those looking to work on the go or keep their media collection in their pocket, the phone also supports microSD cards up to 256GB.

The next big upgrade touted by Lenovo is the G5 Plus’ camera. You’ll find a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing selfie shooter. Overall, reviews of the camera were positive—for the price bracket. Android Central said, “The speed at which the Moto G5 Plus, even in low-light conditions, adjusts to the scene, is astonishing.”

However, many reviews pointed out that the lack of Optical Image Stabilization can make low-light shots tricky. Android Police noted, “You have to hold the phone quite still, and it's a good idea to take a few shots to make sure you get at least one that isn't blurry.”

If you’re looking for a phone you can use all day without worrying about your charge, reviews show the G5 Plus is a great choice. Android Guys used their test model for two weeks and declared, “Two days of regular use comes easy. I’ve had this phone for seven days and I’ve charged it three times. It isn’t the battery life champ that the Moto Z Play is, but it’s damn good and in the upper echelon of devices.”

Reviewers loved most everything about the G5 Plus. The only major complaint was a lack of NFC. This means you won’t be able to use your phone for mobile purchases. Android Police summed up opinions well, saying, “You make some sacrifices when you buy a budget phone, but the Moto G5 Plus requires the fewest. It has capable hardware that allows for smooth operation, a good display, an accurate fingerprint sensor, clean software, solid build quality, and above average battery life."