Motorola Moto G5 Plus

The Moto G5S Plus was a part of Motorola’s G series, which has been known for offering solid specifications at an affordable price point. Launched in 2017, the G5S Plus was an enhanced version of the Moto G5 Plus, bringing in certain improvements and features. Here’s an in-depth review of the Moto G5S Plus:

Overview:

The Moto G5 Plus continued Motorola’s tradition of offering solid specifications and a near-stock Android experience at an affordable price. With a metal design and a focus on camera improvements, it sought to be the best value proposition in the mid-range segment.

Features:

Operating System: Initially shipped with Android 7.0 (Nougat) and later received updates.
Display: 5.2-inch Full HD IPS LCD with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625.
Memory: Options of 2/3/4 GB RAM with 32/64 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD.
Camera: 12 MP rear sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, dual-pixel autofocus, and 4K video recording. The front camera is a 5 MP shooter.
Battery: A 3000 mAh non-removable battery with TurboPower fast charging.
Other Features: Front-mounted fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, and NFC (in some regions).

Pros:

Performance: The Snapdragon 625, combined with near-stock Android, provided a smooth and consistent user experience.
Camera: The f/1.7 aperture and dual-pixel autofocus made the camera one of the best in its price range, especially in good lighting conditions.
Build Quality: The transition to a metal design gave the phone a more premium feel compared to its predecessors.
Battery Life: The combination of a power-efficient processor and a 3000 mAh battery resulted in commendable battery life.
Software Experience: Motorola’s approach to software, with minimal bloat and useful additions like Moto Actions, was widely appreciated.

Cons:

No NFC in Some Regions: The absence of NFC in certain regions was a drawback for users who relied on contactless payments.
Speaker Quality: The front-facing speaker, while loud, wasn’t the best in terms of audio quality.
Design: While the metal design was a step up, the phone still had noticeable bezels, which started to look a bit dated as the industry trended towards more edge-to-edge displays.

Comparisons to Other Technologies:

In its price bracket, the Moto G5 Plus faced competition from:

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro: Offering a 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, Exynos 7870, and a metal unibody design.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: With its 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, and a metal design.
Huawei Honor 6X: Featuring a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Kirin 655, and a dual-camera setup.

Launch Date:

The Moto G5 Plus was announced in February 2017 and became available in various markets shortly after.

Common Issues/Problems:

Screen Burn-In: Some users reported temporary screen burn-in or image retention, especially with the navigation buttons.
Microphone Issues: There were occasional reports of the microphone not working during calls.
Camera Lag: Some users experienced a slight lag in the camera app, especially when using HDR.

Conclusion:

The Moto G5 Plus was a testament to Motorola’s commitment to offering solid performance and a good user experience at a budget-friendly price. It was especially praised for its camera and software experience. For users looking for a reliable mid-range device without breaking the bank, the G5 Plus was a strong contender. Its success further solidified the Moto G series’ reputation as one of the best value-for-money smartphone lines in the market.