The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
While it won’t compete with the top releases of 2019, the Moto G7 offers excellent value for anyone looking for a phone that is budget-friendly but offers a taste of the premium experience.What's good
- Solid design
- Bright, colorful display
- Price
- microSD support
- Decent performance for the price
What's bad
- No NFC
- No wireless charging
- Easy-to-block speaker
- Weak camera
Moto’s G-Series has built a solid reputation for covering the basics and providing a functional, reliable user experience at a budget-friendly price. The Moto G7 sees the series hit a more modern design, but a good budget phone is all about choosing the right compromises. Does this latest release strike a fair balance and offer value in a market packed with alternatives? Let’s see what reviewers are saying...
Design
Available in black or white, the glass and plastic case of the Moto G7 feels more premium than the materials might imply. Reviewers were all impressed by the sleek curved rear glass panel and the metal-like chromed plastic lining the phone’s sides. There’s also a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner which reviewers found responsive and accurate.
The only design complaints involve sharp edges where the display meets the chassis. However, if you plan to pick up a case, this isn’t an issue. Still, they’re not razor-sharp, just enough to notice if you’re gripping the phone for extended periods.
Phandroid liked the phone’s design, saying, “The chrome frame (plastic but with a surprisingly solid feel) mixed with the curved glass and gorgeous white color give off a flagship impression both in the eyes and in the hand. Everything feels solid, there are no creaks, and you won’t be disappointed for this price point or double that.”
Display
Up front, you’re greeted by a 6.2-inch IPS display running at 1080-by-2270 pixels. While it’s not the flashiest screen released in 2019, it offers punchy colors and respectable contrast. It won’t get as dark as an AMOLED panel, but it’s plenty bright for outdoor use.
While it’s not 4K, it’s reviewers found it plenty detailed for reading blog posts, scrolling through social media, and watching the occasional video.
Ausdroid summed up opinions well, saying, “The screen is great, it runs at really nice resolution with a decent PPI and enough brightness to be easily read in the test outdoors.”
Performance
This is where the phone’s budget roots show most. With a 1.8Ghz octa-core Snapdragon 632 processor with 4GB of RAM, the phone won’t win any benchmark battles. However, reviews show it still offers an enjoyable experience for most use cases.
You won’t find that it struggles to play games or slows to crawl when running multiple apps. But you’re likely to notice slight delays when launching an app or installing new apps from the Google Play Store.
Phandroid put the phone through its paces and said, “The overall experience is decently smooth and snappy.”
Ausdroid agreed, saying, “Day to day the G7 will meet and exceed the needs of an ‘average user’ and have power to spare.”
Software
The phone ships with Android 9.0 Pie and a custom Moto skin. The skin’s changes are minimal, mostly adding Moto Actions -- gestures used to launch the camera, turn on the flashlight, and perform other common tasks.
Overall, reviewers loved the approach and found many of the Moto Action and Moto Display options handy.
The only downside you’ll find here is Moto’s track record for slow updates. While the phone is likely to see an update to Android Q when it’s available, it will probably come months later and security updates aren’t much faster.
Storage
The phone includes 64GB of internal storage. This is probably enough for casual users. However, if you need more space to store apps, games, or video, microSD support for cards up to 512GB has you covered.
Cameras
Cameras were another weak point for the phone in reviews. The dual rear camera with 12MP main lens and 5MP secondary depth-sensing lens received decent marks in excellent lighting. However, the moment lighting dips quality drops fast.
Reviews said the same of the 8MP front-facing selfie shooter.
This isn’t a camera phone by any stretch, but if you need to capture the occasional snapshot for social media or want to record a video, it’ll cover the basics with the added flair of an effective portrait mode. Just don’t expect good results as the sun sets.
Mobile Syrup notes, “What the camera does particularly well is it creates a genuine sense of depth. With the secondary camera, the device can take good shots with decent bokeh.”
Battery Life
A 3000mAh battery provides enough power to last a full day -- even if only just. However, support for USB Type-C Moto TurboPower fast charging offers quick top-offs if you need them. Unfortunately, despite the glass rear panel, you won’t find wireless charging support. Still, for most, reviews indicate the battery will cover the basics with no issues.
Audio
If you’re looking to stream music or watch movies, audio might be a mixed experience. Reviewers loved that phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, but the down-firing speaker at the bottom of the phone was easy to block with your hand. Also, while the audio is Dolby optimized, a single speaker can only do so much to add depth and spatial qualities.
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The Takeaway
Reviews all agreed the Moto G7 offers exceptional value for the price. However, it’s lack of a few key features -- such as NFC and wireless charging -- and a so-so camera stopped them from universally recommending it for everyone.
Still, if you’re looking for a solid budget-friendly pick and don’t need a super camera, it checks most other boxes at a fair price.
Wirecutter called the Moto G7 “... a good all-around phone with quick performance…”
Mobile Syrup also liked the phone, saying, “The Moto G7 is a good phone for those who want a device that can last the entire day, offer a smooth experience and is easy to use.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Lauren Barack, GearbrainThe Moto G7, even one year from launch, is still a smartphone that's worth considering as a first phone, or even a primary one. For those who just want an Android to handle calls, online needs, and can take decent photos, this $229 smartphone is one that should be on your radar.
- Ryan Whitwam, The WirecutterThe Moto G7 works on all major carriers, and we like its taller screen. But the build quality isn’t quite as good, and Motorola doesn’t update its phone software quickly or often.
- Dean Daley, Mobile SyrupThe Moto G7 is a good phone for those who want a device that can last the entire day, offer a smooth experience and is easy to use. It's also quite affordable and cleverly disguised as a premium device.
- Dima Aryeh, PhandroidThe Moto G7 looks amazing, feels amazing, and performs pretty well for the price range. The low tier camera can be forgiven when so many other aspects were knocked out of the park. For $299, it’s really hard to complain when you get a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and an awesome display. However, th...
- Phil Tann, AusdroidDay to day the G7 will meet and exceed the needs of an “average user” and have power to spare. The screen is right up there with some of the top range devices on the market and when you take into account the dollars it’s not just great value, it is a genuinely solid and reliable device that is going...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Motorola Moto G7 user manual here.
Motorola backs up the Moto G7 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Moto G7 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.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Motorola Moto G7 Manual (PDF)
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