Review: What's new in the Moto G5 Plus? Check out our review

Table of Contents

1. Design – this isn't the Moto G you're used to
2. Hardware
   1. speed and performance
3. Operating System (Nougat has arrived, Nougat has arrived)
   1. motorcycle actions
4. Camera
5. Battery
6. Final considerations (Price and availability)
7. Gallery
8. Technical specifications
9. Hands-on do Moto G5 Plus

The new Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus arrived in Spain at the beginning of the month, on March 7th. Bringing good news, both inside and outside the devices, we at Techlifers, we had already taken a look at them at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

After the event in São Paulo, the Lenovo gave up a Moto G5 Plus, in black, to review the device. After three weeks of use, we have a lot of mobile news to share with you. Without further ado, shall we?

Design – this isn't the Moto G you're used to

The new Moto G5 Plus It's a nice surprise when we think about the design update he got this year. The Moto G line, in general, is a country sales success and by all indications, Lenovo has perfected this recipe.

The intermediate device, in 2017, had more how to de smartphone premium. Unlike last year's version that resembled the Moto X Play, this year's much more reminiscent of the top of the line Moto Z by the spare camera on the back – but we're already there.

O Moto G5 Plus account with a 5,2 inch Full HD screen. Smaller than the previous model, it earns points for having a higher pixel densitybringing sharper and more beautiful images. The device has a mixture of metal and aluminum in its composition. Rounded and even a little chubbier, the G5 Plus has a very different finish from last year's model.

On the front of it, we have a fingerprint sensor, the audio output and selfie camera. The only buttons focus on the right corner: above, the increase/decrease buttons, below that of on off. The change is a little uncomfortable at first, but it's a matter of habit.

On the back of the device, we have the “M” for Moto and the spare camera reminiscent of the new Moto Z and Moto Z Play. The cell phone has silver edges, in the black version, which gives a nice contrast to the device. Really, Lenovo took care of the product, showing that an intermediate smartphone can have a more premium face.

Hardware

This is another point that the company always handles very well with the Moto G line: the famous cost benefit. O Moto G5 Plus It is an excellent choice for those who want a new smartphone, with the news of the moment, but do not want to pay a fortune.

Its technical specifications are encouraging. The device has an octa-core processor. Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, with support for microSD card up to 128GB. Translating to real use, the smartphone easily handle everyday apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube and also promises good fun to the user who wants some games to pass the time.

Between games, I tested Asphalt 8, Smash Hit, Alto, Egg Inc., Zombie Tsunami e Pokémon GO. I have to say that my experience with them was satisfactory. From time to time, the performance was a little underwhelming, but on a day-to-day basis, the phone loads these apps almost without delay.

speed and performance

Another really cool thing is that apps like GloboPlay, Netflix, YouTube e Pokémon TV load smoothly and watch video content on Moto G5 Plus it's a comfortable experience.

If you like multitasking, you need to keep an eye on the speed at which you want things to happen. You can access the basic apps, listening to music and everything else. But don't expect to use Google Maps to walk to an address, listen to background music and switch between Facebook and WhatsApp instantly. Then, only with a Moto Z. Otherwise, there's nothing to say.

Operating System (Nougat has arrived, Nougat has arrived)

It seems like a dream to say, but we are finally seeing the new Android Nougat operating system on smartphones. You know how it is, update means more security, less bugs, news and improvements.

When we talk about Lenovo in general, the operating system is a company highlight please leave a clean android for users. Okay, it's not like the other manufacturers continue to weigh so heavily on the OS, but consumers are grateful for having the device as close as possible to what Google has developed.

Pleasant to use, and with all the usability that only Android has, one simple thing that caught my attention is the main circle on the device's screen that shows the city, time and date. Why is this so cool? Because the circle actually shows the device battery, which makes it an interesting way to control its consumption.

motorcycle actions

The device also has a rise-to-wake function, that is, when you take the device out of your pocket or table, you don't need to press any button, just lift it to see possible notifications and information such as time.

Lenovo also highlights the “action motorcycle”, such as turning your wrist twice to launch the device's camera or shaking it twice to turn on the flashlight. Cool functions, but that the user may end up forgetting.

Camera

The smartphone has a 12MP dual autofocus pixel rear camera, f/1,7 aperture, 4K movies and slow motion, in addition to having a pro mode very cool. In general, the Moto G5 Pluss takes good pictures in bright surroundings, and you can play with the camera by blurring the background.

In professional mode, you have more freedom when taking your photos, changing the ISO, exposure, brightness, among other things. Lenovo has added several functions to the rear camera and even photos at night look good, especially considering that it is a mid-range smartphone.

A frontal camera, on the other hand, did not please me. With 5MP, wide-angle lens and a face flaw correction function, the specs look more encouraging than they really are. Even with light, I found the photos a little pixelated and when taking the famous selfie I felt great discomfort with the wide-angle lens.

On the Moto Z, for example, it was a very pleasant experience to use, on the Moto G5 Plus I felt like my head got too small and my body too big (not worth calling it fat). The beautification mode made me look like a porcelain doll. It was weird.

The photo gallery, you can see at the end of the publication.

Battery

O Moto G5 Plus have the same 3.000 mAh battery from previous version, but with one difference: the screen is 0,3 inch smaller. Thus, it is possible to say that there is a better battery optimization (the new Android Nougat helps too). During my tests, not one day reached the end of the day without a charge. On the contrary, the Moto G5 Plus It lasts from morning to night with no problems.

And it's that thing, even if you thought about having battery problems, Lenovo has a solution that, to me as an iPhone user, seems like magic; The Turbo Power. Seriously, I'm amazed every time I see a smartphone that charges more than half its battery in a few minutes. In between one and one and a half hours the Moto G5 Plus is already on full battery and ready for me to go hunting pokemon and go on with my normal life.

Point for Lenovo.

Final considerations (Price and availability)

O Moto G5 Plus has a suggested price of R$1499,00, not unique model of 32GB. The colors are Platinum or Ouro and are available in the main retail stores in the country. In Magazine Luiza, for example, it is possible to find the device by R$ 1304,13 in cash.

The device has a Fast fingerprint sensor, headphone jack, Digital TV signal (we advise you to use the “antenna” that Lenovo sells with the device – even though it gives the smartphone a terrible look), the entire Android system facility and é dual-chip.

A criticism that I need to make, and I expected more from the device, in addition to the front camera being very weak, the Moto G5 Plus audio output is not as good as I expected. In some songs, when listening to them at maximum volume and without the headphones, the audio was distorted. Not that it's impossible to listen to music, or talk on speakerphone, but it's important to note that.

Another thing that I don't like aesthetically is the device's headphones, which seem (and are) simple to me. Its finish could be better and more comfortable to use, and it can even count on the function of increasing/decreasing the volume and not just pausing and continuing the music.

Otherwise, it is an excellent smartphone.

Gallery

Technical specifications

Hands-on do Moto G5 Plus