The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
You won’t pay much for the Motorola Moto G Pure, but we’re not sure the affordable price is worth the compromises.What's good
- Long battery life
- Low price
- Large screen
What's bad
- Underwhelming performance
- Limited storage space
- No 5G support
- Weak, slow camera
As the cheapest phone in Motorola’s 2021 line-up, the “pure” in Motorola G Pure has nothing to do with performance, so what makes it pure? Reviewers have weighed in!
Design
Very little about this phone’s design stands out. Apart from the wavy textured backplate, it’s your typical rectangular slab of plastic.
In terms of ergonomics, reviewers weren’t exactly thrilled that the fingerprint scanner wasn’t either lower on the back of the phone or moved to the power button like many phones now have and found it hard to reach.
Display
When tilting the phone even slightly, the 6.5-inch LCD panel shows a noticeable drop in brightness and the colors distort, giving away the phone’s budget roots. When viewed head-on, the display lacks sharpness but is otherwise good. But reviewers felt it was unnecessary in this stage of smartphones always to have to be looking at it head-on.
Performance
Don’t expect a lot from the Mediatek Helio 25. Reviewers experienced plenty of stuttering and apps crashing. The chip doesn’t appear up to the task of bouncing between apps, playing games, or doing anything remotely resource intensive.
Software & Storage
The Android 11 on the Motorola Moto G Pure is essentially stock except for the addition of the ever-popular Moto Gestures overlay.
Reviewers were annoyed that the phone only comes with 32GB of storage out of the box. Yes, it has a MicroSD expansion slot, but that's small for storage these days -- even in the budget tier.
Cameras
The 13MP primary lens isn’t terrible, but reviewers fell short of calling it good. Picture backgrounds often lack detail and, if you view the photos at full size, details like strands of hair or subtle differences in skin textures are lost in portrait mode. Reviewers also found the night mode useless.
Battery Life
Battery life is the most significant upside to the Motorola Moto G Pure. At full brightness, reviewers were able to squeeze out about 12 hours of use. There’s no fast charging, though, so prepare to wait a while once the battery is low.
Audio
The speaker on the phone was only okay) which can be said for nearly every phone out there right now.) It has a headphone jack, though, making it easy to upgrade your listening experience.
Specs at a Glance
- Plastic chassis
- 6.5-inch LCD panel
- MediaTek MT6762G Helio G25 processor
- 3GB of RAM
- Android 11
- 32GB of storage with MicroSD expansion slot
- 13MP camera
- 4,000mAh battery
Bottom Line
We try hard to find silver linings in phones or pick a group that might find value in even the most niche phone. But simply stated, there are a ton of other budget phones that offer more than the Motorola Moto G Pure at a similar price. Unless you’re looking for a nearly-disposable starter phone for kids or maybe a basic option for an older adult that doesn’t like a lot of frills attached, we’d recommend passing.
Tom’s Guide states, “You’ll save a lot of money with the Moto G Pure, but you’ll get plenty of frustration in return. Other phones like the Moto G Power only cost a little more and don’t have as many limitations — opt for that model instead.”
Tech Radar says, “The Moto G Pure is a phone very few should consider getting. It may be cheap, but it comes with such a performance penalty that it’s hard to use, and that’s a tough spot to be in when just a little more money can make for a major improvement in capabilities.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Gloria Sin, The VergeIt’s hard to deny that the Moto G Pure will be good enough for most people looking for a basic budget phone for under $200. After all, it has an all-day battery, a versatile main camera, all in a well-designed, durable package. It’s a shame it doesn’t have a faster processor, more RAM, or more onboa...
- Ryan Haines, Android AuthorityThe Moto G Pure is another solid budget phone from the minds at Motorola. It's eye-catching and performs well enough for the price, but for overall value it sits too close to the ever-reliable Moto G Play for its own good. Still, it's tough to top a price of just $159.
- Philip Michaels, Tom's GuideYou’ll save a lot of money with the Moto G Pure, but you’ll get plenty of frustration in return. Other phones like the Moto G Power only cost a little more and don’t have as many limitations — opt for that model instead.
- Mark Knapp, TechRadarThe Moto G Pure is a phone very few should consider getting. It may be cheap, but it comes with such a performance penalty that it’s hard to use, and that’s a tough spot to be in when just a little more money can make for a major improvement in capabilities.
- Steven Winkelman, PC MagazineThe Moto G Pure offers Android phone buyers a bright display, good battery life, and solid performance for less than $200.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Motorola Moto G Pure prices 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. Motorola's suggested retail price is $159.99. You can compare Moto G Pure prices from around the web here on The Informr.
Motorola backs up the Moto G Pure with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Moto G Pure 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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