Motorola Moto G Play (2021) review
The Motorola Moto G Play has long been the benchmark for budget-friendly smartphones, offering impressive performance without breaking the bank. Priced at an affordable $170, this device seems like a no-brainer. But is it truly a home run? With its relatively modern design and decent specs, including a 5,000mAh battery and Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor, the Moto G Play promises to deliver. But how does it hold up in real-world use?
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) boasts a relatively modern design, setting it apart from its predecessors. Gone is the hole punch cutout for the front-facing camera, replaced by a small teardrop-shaped notch. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which has become a staple in recent Motorola phones, still offers quick and accurate authentication. The device's build quality is mostly plastic, but it doesn't feel cheap or flimsy to the touch. While it may not have the premium look and feel of glass or metal, the plastic back provides an advantage in terms of durability. The Moto G Play's design is clean and minimalist, with a small chin on the bottom of the front panel. Around the edges, you'll find a USB-C port, volume rocker, and power button. Notably, the top of the device features a headphone jack – a welcome inclusion at this price point. While not particularly striking or attention-grabbing, the Moto G Play's design is unobjectionable and gets the job done. The back panel has a matte finish that helps prevent fingerprints from showing up too prominently. However, it's worth noting that the device doesn't have any particularly distinguishing features in terms of its build quality or design. It feels like a solid, no-frills device that will get you through your daily tasks without issue. In terms of aesthetics, the Moto G Play is not going to win any design awards. But as a budget phone, it's hard to expect too much in this regard. The real question is whether the device can deliver on its performance and battery life. In our review, we'll be taking a closer look at those aspects – but for now, let's focus on what the Moto G Play does right: providing a reliable, no-frills phone experience without breaking the bank.
Battery Life
In an era where phones are designed to be as power-efficient as possible, the Motorola Moto G Play (2021) still manages to surprise with its exceptional battery life. With a 5,000mAh battery on board, this budget phone is capable of lasting at least two days even with moderately heavy use. In my testing, I found that the device could easily survive for three full days without needing a recharge, which is a rare feat in today's mobile landscape. Even when I pushed the phone to its limits by streaming a YouTube video on full brightness for three hours, it still managed to end up with 77% battery life remaining. This is all the more impressive considering the phone's relatively low-power processor and display. The Moto G Play's ability to stretch its battery life so far is a testament to Motorola's focus on delivering value to customers without sacrificing performance. If you're in the market for a budget phone that won't leave you scrambling for a charger every day, the Motorola Moto G Play (2021) should definitely be considered. Its battery life may not be the most impressive aspect of its design, but it's certainly one of the most reassuring features to have on your side as you navigate through your daily mobile routine.
Display
The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) sports a relatively modern design, but its display is a different story. The 6.5-inch screen has a 720p resolution, which is expected at this price point. While it gets the job done for most uses, colors don't quite pop as vividly as they could. The display's low-resolution might not be ideal, but considering the phone's budget-friendly tag, it's hard to expect much more. In good lighting conditions, the screen performs adequately, but in brighter environments, you may notice some backlight bleeding around the edges. One of the most noticeable drawbacks is the small teardrop-shaped notch at the top of the screen. While not obtrusive, it does take away from the overall aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the chin on the bottom of the phone is somewhat intrusive, but it's a minor quibble. In terms of brightness and viewing angles, the display holds its own. It's not particularly stunning, but it's passable for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and streaming videos. However, if you're planning to use your phone for more demanding activities like gaming or graphic-intensive apps, the display might not be sufficient. The good news is that the screen's relatively large size (6.5 inches) makes up for its lower resolution to some extent. You'll still get a decent viewing experience, but don't expect a top-notch display by any means. Ultimately, the Moto G Play's display is a mixed bag – it gets the job done but doesn't particularly excel in any area. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option with a better display, you might want to consider other options within the same price range.
Camera
The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) boasts an entry-level camera setup that delivers decent shots in well-lit environments. The device features a 13-megapixel main camera accompanied by a 2-megapixel depth sensor, but lacks any telephoto or ultrawide lenses. In ideal lighting conditions, the phone can capture relatively good images with satisfactory colors and detail. However, as soon as the light drops, the camera struggles to produce clear shots, plagued by excessive noise and lack of detail. The front-facing camera mirrors this performance, offering decent images in well-lit environments but failing to impress in low-light situations. The camera's inability to handle challenging lighting conditions is a significant drawback, particularly for users who frequently capture photos outdoors or indoors without sufficient lighting. While the phone's camera may not be the worst in its class, it falls short of expectations and fails to deliver impressive results compared to other devices in the same price range. One notable aspect of the Moto G Play (2021)'s camera is its consistency across various modes and scenarios. However, this reliability comes at the cost of uninspiring image quality that often leaves users wanting more. The Moto G Play (2021) has always been positioned as a budget-friendly option, but the camera experience should be commensurate with the price point. While it's not a deal-breaker for casual users who only occasionally snap photos, those who rely on their phone's camera for everyday use may find themselves disappointed. In summary, the Motorola Moto G Play (2021)'s camera is an average performer that fails to impress in low-light conditions or when capturing detailed images. While it gets the job done in ideal lighting scenarios, users seeking a more capable camera should consider other options within their budget.
Price and Value
Priced at $170, the Motorola Moto G Play is an entry-level smartphone that offers impressive value for its price. At this point, you might expect a phone that's barely functional, but the Moto G Play surprises with its modern design and decent performance. While it may not be the most powerful device on the market, the Moto G Play still manages to deliver in terms of everyday use. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, is sufficient for basic tasks like social media browsing, messaging, and streaming music. However, if you plan on using your phone for mobile gaming or demanding apps, you might experience some lag. Battery life is another area where the Moto G Play shines. With a massive 5,000mAh battery, this phone can easily last two days of heavy use, making it ideal for those who don't want to worry about charging their phone every day. In our battery test, the phone managed to retain 77% of its charge after three hours of continuous YouTube streaming on full brightness. The Moto G Play's camera is what you'd expect from an entry-level device – decent in well-lit environments but struggling in low-light conditions. However, for $170, this is forgivable. Overall, the Motorola Moto G Play offers great value for its price. If you're looking for a budget phone that won't break the bank and still delivers on basic tasks, then this phone is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) is a budget-friendly smartphone that delivers decent performance for its price. However, it's essential to set realistic expectations, as the device's specs are geared towards casual users rather than power users. Under the hood, you'll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. While this setup is sufficient for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and streaming music, it starts to show its limitations when it comes to more demanding activities like gaming or multitasking. In our tests, the Moto G Play struggled to handle graphics-intensive games like Call of Duty Mobile, often resulting in skips, freezes, and dropped frames. The device's 4-series processor is a significant step down from the 6-series chip found in other devices in the Moto G series, which explains the noticeable performance gap. Benchmark results further illustrate this point, with the Moto G Play scoring 255 in Geekbench 5's single-core test and 1254 in the multi-core test. These scores are significantly lower than those of its more powerful siblings, making it clear that this is a lower-end device. In day-to-day use, the Moto G Play copes reasonably well with basic tasks, but you may experience occasional slowdowns or lags when switching between apps or performing resource-intensive operations. If you're looking for a phone to handle heavy gaming or multitasking, the Moto G Play won't be your best bet. However, if you prioritize affordability and are willing to compromise on performance, the Moto G Play still offers an acceptable experience. Its long battery life, relatively clean software experience, and decent display make it a viable option in the budget segment. Just remember that it's not meant for demanding users, and its limitations should be taken into account when making a purchasing decision.
Pros
1. A relatively modern design with a small teardrop-shaped notch and rear-mounted fingerprint sensor
2. Good battery life, lasting at least two days even with moderately heavy use
3. The phone can squeeze a few full days of use out of its 5,000 milliamp hour battery
4. Decent camera performance in well-lit environments, capturing decent shots
5. A relatively clean software experience with Motorola's My UX, which is close to stock Android 10
6. Good value for money at $170, making it a great option for those on a tight budget
7. Wireless charging would be expected, but not really necessary given the price point
Cons
1. The phone has a low-end display with a 720p resolution, which can look dull and lack vivid colors
2. Performance is slightly underpowered, leading to skips and freezes in software and longer load times for mobile gaming
3. Benchmark results show that the phone's performance lags behind other devices in the Moto G series
4. Camera performance is not great in low-light environments, resulting in noisy photos with little detail
5. The front-facing camera also struggles in low light, making it difficult to capture clear images
6. Software updates are limited, with only one major update planned for Android 11 and two years of security updates
7. No telephoto or ultrawide lenses on the camera, which can be a drawback for some users