Motorola Moto G22 review
The Motorola Moto G22 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch with its impressive battery life, decent camera capabilities, and snappy performance. Priced at an affordable 140 quid in the UK, this device aims to deliver a hassle-free Android experience without breaking the bank. With a quad-lens camera setup, including a 50MP primary sensor, and a massive 5000mAh battery, the Moto G22 seems like a compelling option for those seeking a no-frills smartphone experience. Let's dive in and see how it stacks up against its competitors.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Moto G22's build quality and design are a mixed bag. On the one hand, the device feels sturdy and well-constructed in the hand, with a smooth plastic back that doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. The buttons are also well-placed and responsive to the touch. However, the design itself is quite bland and unoriginal. The Moto G22 looks like a generic mid-range Android phone, with a rectangular body and a small notch at the top of the screen. There's nothing particularly distinctive or eye-catching about its appearance, making it blend in with other devices on the market. One positive aspect of the design is the IP52 rating for dust and water resistance, which should provide some peace of mind for users who plan to use their phone in harsh environments. However, this is a relatively standard feature for modern smartphones, so it's not particularly noteworthy in itself. In terms of aesthetics, the Moto G22 is not going to win any awards for style or originality. It's a perfectly functional device that gets the job done, but it doesn't exactly inspire excitement or enthusiasm either. If you're looking for a solid, no-frills Android experience at an affordable price point, the Moto G22 might be worth considering. But if you want a phone that stands out from the crowd or offers anything particularly innovative in terms of design, you might want to look elsewhere. Overall, while the build quality is solid and the device feels well-made, the design itself is somewhat uninspired and unoriginal.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Motorola Moto G22 is truly impressive, making it an ideal choice for those who want a device that can last for several days without needing to be recharged. The 5000mAh capacity battery provides up to 10 hours of screen time per charge, which is remarkable considering the device's relatively low price point. In my testing, I found that the Moto G22 easily exceeded this estimate, often lasting around 12-13 hours with moderate use. Even with more demanding activities such as gaming and video streaming, the battery life remained impressive, often lasting around 8-9 hours. The secret behind this excellent battery life lies in the combination of the energy-efficient Mediatek chipset and the fairly basic HD display. These factors combined to minimize power consumption, allowing the battery to last longer than expected. Another notable aspect of the battery life is the charging speed. While the Moto G22 does support fast charging up to 15W, it's a shame that only a 10W adapter is bundled in the box. This means that users will have to wait a bit longer for their device to charge back up to full capacity. Overall, the Motorola Moto G22's battery life is one of its strongest selling points. For those who want a device that can last all day without needing to be recharged, this phone is an excellent choice.
Display
The display on the Motorola Moto G22 is an HD display that does its job without impressing too much. It's a basic screen with a resolution of 720x1600 pixels, which is enough for general use but not ideal for watching videos or gaming. The colors are decent, but they can appear washed out at times, especially in direct sunlight. The brightness is adequate, but it could be better in very bright environments. Viewing angles are okay, but the display doesn't get too good when viewed from the side. One of the biggest drawbacks of the display is its refresh rate, which is stuck at 60Hz. In today's market, a higher refresh rate like 90Hz or even 120Hz would make a significant difference in the overall user experience, especially for gamers and video watchers. In terms of touch response, the Moto G22's display is responsive enough, but it can be a bit sluggish at times. Overall, while the display on the Moto G22 gets the job done, it's not exactly impressive compared to other mid-range smartphones available in the market. For casual users who don't watch much video or play games too often, the display might be sufficient. However, for those who want a better visual experience, there are other options available that offer higher-quality displays at similar price points. In terms of value for money, the Moto G22's display is somewhat of a letdown, given its average performance and lackluster features compared to what's available in the market today. However, this aspect might not be a deal-breaker for some users who prioritize other features like battery life, camera performance, or software experience. Overall, while the display on the Moto G22 is adequate, it's not exactly the highlight of this smartphone.
Camera
The camera on the Motorola Moto G22 is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's impressive for a budget phone, with some great features and settings to play around with. The quad-lens setup is headed up by a 50-megapixel primary sensor, which can be bumped up to maximum resolution if desired. The camera UI is feature-packed, offering lots of bonus options and settings to experiment with. You can choose from a range of modes, including beauty mode, night vision, and a dedicated pro mode. The latter allows you to manually adjust white balance, ISO levels, and more. When shooting indoors in ambient light, the Moto G22 delivers reasonably accurate color reproduction. Outdoors in natural daylight, the results are crisp and detailed. However, there were some issues with focus, particularly when capturing subjects close to the camera lens. At night and in low-light conditions, the camera still manages to produce respectable results, albeit with some graininess. The ultra-wide-angle shooter is an 8-megapixel effort that takes a hit on color accuracy, but can be useful for capturing more expansive scenes. A 2-megapixel macro lens and 2-megapixel depth sensor are also included, although the latter is best used for video capture. When shooting video at full HD resolution (1080p), the results are decent, with clear detail and acceptable color reproduction when shot outdoors in good light. However, indoor videos can be grainy and unattractive. The front-facing selfie camera is a 16-megapixel shooter that's capable of capturing respectable selfies, although it struggles with natural skin tones and strong lighting conditions. Overall, the Motorola Moto G22's camera performs well considering its budget price point. While there are some minor issues with focus and low-light performance, the feature set and settings options are impressive for a phone in this category. If you're looking for a budget camera that can handle everyday tasks, the Moto G22 is worth considering.
Price and Value
The Motorola Moto G22 is an excellent budget smartphone that offers incredible value for its price tag of £140 in the UK. For this modest sum, you get a device that checks all the right boxes: a capable camera system, a long-lasting battery, and a clean stock version of Android. One of the standout features of the Moto G22 is its 5000mAh battery, which easily lasts two days with moderate use. This, combined with the energy-efficient Mediatek chipset, makes it an excellent choice for those who want a phone that won't need to be charged every day. The fast charging rate is a bit slow at just 15 watts, but it's still a convenient feature to have. The camera system on the Moto G22 is another highlight, with a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a range of software features that allow for impressive low-light shots. While focus can be a bit unreliable in certain situations, the overall image quality is good enough for casual snapping. For its price, the Moto G22 offers an unbeatable combination of features and performance. It's a phone that's perfect for those on a tight budget who want a reliable device without breaking the bank. In fact, it's hard to think of any other phone in this price bracket that matches the Moto G22's specs and value. Overall, the Motorola Moto G22 is an outstanding budget smartphone that delivers impressive performance, camera quality, and battery life for its modest price tag. If you're looking for a new phone on a limited budget, it's definitely worth considering the Moto G22.
Performance
The Motorola Moto G22's performance is a mixed bag. On one hand, the phone's energy-efficient MediaTek chipset helps it deliver an impressive 10 hours of screen-on time per charge, making it perfect for users who want a device that can last all day without needing to be plugged in. However, the phone's performance takes a hit when it comes to charging. The Moto G22 only supports up to 15W fast charging, and the bundled charger is limited to 10W. This means that recharging the battery takes significantly longer than expected. In terms of raw performance, the Moto G22 is no slouch. It handles everyday tasks with ease and can even handle some light gaming without breaking a sweat. However, it's not designed for demanding users who want to play resource-intensive games or multitask extensively. The phone's RAM and storage options are also somewhat limited. The base model comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which may not be enough for power users. While there is a higher-end variant with more memory and storage, it's still not ideal for those who want the best possible performance. One area where the Moto G22 shines is in its ability to handle multiple apps at once. It handles app switching and multitasking quite well, making it a great option for users who need to keep several apps open simultaneously. Overall, the Motorola Moto G22's performance is decent but not outstanding. While it may not be the best choice for power users or those who want top-notch gaming performance, it's still a solid option for users who value battery life and don't mind a slightly more sedate experience.
Pros
1. It has a nice stock version of Android just a simple overall UI and everything
2. Battery life is great, you'll get around 10 hours of screen on time per charge
3. The cameras are impressive, especially in low light environments with accurate color reproduction
4. It's available at an affordable price point of £140
Cons
1. Gaming performance might be an issue, considering the camera UI and gaming needs separate budgeting
2. Charging is slow, only up to 15 watt fast charging with a 10 watt adapter bundled in the box
3. Focus can be unreliable, especially when subjects are close to the camera lens
4. Ultra-wide angle shooter has poor color accuracy and can produce grainy results at night