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Motorola Moto G5 Plus
Motorola Moto G5 Plus
Motorola Moto G5 Plus
Motorola Moto G5 Plus
...


8.3/10
Informr score
The Motorola Moto G5 Plus currently has an Informr score of 8.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 43 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Price
  • Solid performance
  • Bright, crisp display
  • Fast fingerprint scanner
  • Plenty of storage
  • Good battery life

What's bad

  • Tinny speaker
  • Weak low-light camera performance
  • No USB Type-C
  • Non-removable battery

The Moto G series has set the bar for budget-friendly Android devices. The G5 Plus has some big shoes to fill in the wake of the G4 and G4 Plus. While they’ve added some metal and the latest version of Android, creating a good budget phone is about balance.

Does the Moto G5 Plus keep the G Series at the top of the budget charts? Reviewers have had a few weeks to test their devices and we’re bringing you the best of the reviews across the Internet.

Let’s dig in!

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."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
5.2"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.2"
13+ MP, f/1.7
Camera
Camera
13+ MP, f/1.7
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

The Moto G5 Plus ticks all the right boxes when it comes to pricing, design, performance, and battery life. It comes with a stylish metal body and is the only smartphone that offers a pure Android Nougat at this price level. TurboPower charging is a great feature and the camera is good for casual sh...

- Ketan Pratap, Gadgets 360
The Wirecutter
The Wirecutter

Excellent performance and build quality compared with other budget phones. Its interface is clean with no bloatware, and it works on all major US carriers.

- Ryan Whitwam, The Wirecutter
GSM Dome
GSM Dome

It doesn’t have a major deal breaker and it stands out through the video capture that the camera does, a quality one and also the solid performance for a midranger. Battery life is OK, as far as the video playback goes and this is the kind of handset, that has a little bit of everything.

- Alexandru Stănescu, GSM Dome
LaptopMedia
LaptopMedia

Moto G5 Plus lived up to our expectations for one of the best models in the middle range. It has nice appearance with metal construction and fingerprint sensor in the front part. The screen resolution is again Full HD but its diagonal is 5.2 inches, which suggests more comfortable operation with one...

- LaptopMedia Team, LaptopMedia
Make Use Of
Make Use Of

The Moto G5 Plus is a dependable mid-range device. It lacks the flare of some more expensive smartphones, and it doesn't have the value of cheaper smartphones, but it's a solid in-between.

- Skye Hudson, Make Use Of


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Motorola Moto G5 Plus user manual here.


Motorola backs up the Moto G5 Plus with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Moto G5 Plus 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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Quick view

Screen Size
5.2"

The Motorola Moto G5 Plus's screen size is 5.2 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm 8953 Snapdragon 625 Octa core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat (Update Available: 8.1 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP, f/1.7 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3000 mAh battery. Motorola's performance ratings are 544 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Moto G5 Plus Specs

Overview
Release Date March 15, 2017
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 7.0 Nougat (Update Available: 8.1 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm 8953 Snapdragon 625 Octa core 2 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels, f/1.7
Zoom
8x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Panorama, Self-timer, Burst shot, HDR, Slow motion recording
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Wide angle lens
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 424 pixels
Size 5.2 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 848 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 544 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 425 minutes
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Up to 52 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Lunar Grey, Fine Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15 x 7.4 x 1 cm (5.9 x 2.9 x 0.4 in)
Weight 155 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

Also available in 2 GB of RAM.

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Motorola Moto G5 Plus Reviews
Where to buy Motorola Moto G5 Plus
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