Moto G Pure review: Just the basics and nothing more (2023)

In short, the Moto G Pure is a device that almost everyone can afford, but Motorola just isn't good enough to make you want it.

While Motorola is known for making some of the most affordable smartphones out there, the Moto G Pure looked a little different when it launched. Accessibility is of course given. It's actually one of the cheapest Motorola smartphones you can buy in the US, but it didn't seem to have much of the value that Moto devices are known for. On the other hand, phones like thatMoto G Power (2020)It managed to balance affordability with respectable performance, a formula that Motorola seemed to achieve (mostly) with many of its devices.

However, Motorola had to make several cuts to find a price point that might appeal to first-time smartphone owners, or even those who need something cheap to get by with just the basics. The Moto G Pure slips into that space without much fanfare and it's up to you to judge if it fits the bill for under $200, but hopefully my experience can help you decide.

Moto G Pure: price and availability

Starting October 14th, the Moto G Pure will be available for pre-order on Motorola.com, as well as through retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon. The device can be unlocked for as little as $160 and works with all major US carriers.

The Moto G Pure is also available from Verizon, where you get a free device when you add a new smartphone lineup. Other network operators such as T-Mobile, AT&T and others will also offer the device in the coming months. It will also arrive in Canada in the coming months.

Moto G Pure: What works well

Admittedly, it was a little difficult to find things to like about this phone. Even after checking the unfortunateTCL 20S und 20SEMotorola hasn't put much value into this phone other than its price, making it one of the cheapest Motorola smartphones you can buy right now. And it shows us.

However, apart from its affordable price, the Moto G Pure has quite a lot going for it. The almost-available Android experience is always appreciated, especially since it doesn't overwhelm the phone with extra touches. It looks a bit outdated, but that should change somedayAndroid 12phone, always (more on that later).

Motorola's My UX software includes some of the company's handy gestures, like the swipe gesture to activate the flashlight. I've always appreciated that about the company since going back to the Moto X Pure Edition of yore. Also, the rear fingerprint sensor on the back is fast, and a swipe down brings up the quick settings menu. Elsewhere, the software is fast enough and handles basic tasks with relative ease. I also like how it handles notifications so you can swipe to view them and perform various actions.

The Moto G Pure easily lasts the whole day. Motorola states two days of battery life depending on usage. For someone like me who uses aSamsung Galaxy Nota 20 UltraAs the main driver, that two-day entitlement is a bit hard to come by. Still, the phone managed to last a full day taking photos, playing a few games, and chatting on social media with around 6 hours of the screen on. The lighter users this phone is aimed at will surely be able to use two days between charges.

Moto G Pure: What needs to be worked on

And you'll definitely be counting on battery performance, as the Moto G Pure limits charging to 10W, so it's by no means the fastest.

Unfortunately, this trend extends to performance as well, with "game-centric"Mediatek Helio G25Struggling to do anything beyond basic chores. Gaming was a particular challenge for this phone, which took forever to load new screens or menus in games like Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery or GYEE. Surprisingly, Pokemon Go looked a little better, but the gaming experience was generally patchy and slow. Luckily I'm not a big player so it didn't bother me too much. Just don't expect to cast Genshin Impact and get away with it.

What bothered me was that even browsing social media seemed to cause issues with the phone. The experience was jumpy and the phone was often slow to respond to my inputs. It certainly doesn't help that the HD+ display is only a 60Hz panel, but unfortunately at this price point it's hard to expect much more. Still, the app experience was far from ideal due to the slow processor, weak screen, and averaging 32GB of internal storage (which thankfully could be expanded with a memory card, but also at an additional cost). buy a better phone). ). YouTube Music crashed several times while playing in the background, which became very annoying.

The camera situation wasn't very good either. With just a 13MP camera, the Moto G Pure feels incredibly limited. Sure, there's a 2-megapixel depth sensor, but the phone lacks the versatility of at least one ultra-wide sensor, which is even found in someBest Android phones under 200.

The photos were passable for the price, but often too cool for my liking, especially against Seattle's cold, stark atmosphere. The images also lack a lot of detail and can often be overexposed.

There are some fun features like Spot Color that only highlight one color when taking a picture. There's also a Pro mode for fine-tuning and RAW capture, but don't expect too much from this camera system, especially given this camera system's unique focal length.

Extra cameras aren't all you're missing out on. There's also no NFC, which is oddly expected for Motorola in 2021. It also only gets an IP52 rating, which is fine for a few splashes and a bit of rain. And while the phone promises an update to Android 12, that's the only OS update you can expect, alongside two years of security updates.

Moto G Pure: Competition

There aren't many that stand out among the sub-$200 phones, but theseGalaxy a12he manages to make a name for himself. The MediaTek Helio P35 is nothing special, but the Galaxy A12 has a quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel main camera, 5-megapixel ultra-wide angle, a macro sensor and a depth sensor. It also has at least four years' worth of security updates since launch, which is a lot better than the two promised by Motorola. It also has a larger 5000mAh battery and 15W faster charging.

IsRevvl V+ 5G von T-Mobile(Pictured above) is a good contender as it's currently the cheapest 5G phone in the US. Of course, you have to be connected to T-Mobile's network to use it, but it has a large 6.82-inch HD+ display, a 16-megapixel triple camera, a 5000mAh battery and 18- W charging.jNFC. Granted, it costs a little over $200, but for what you get, it's definitely worth spending.

Moto G Pure: is it worth buying?

You should buy it if...

• Are you looking for a cheap smartphone with great battery life?
• You are not a mobile gamer or need exceptional camera quality
• You just have to do the basics

You shouldn't buy it if...

• Do you want a great gaming experience?
• They worry about the camera quality
• Do you trust mobile payments with Google Pay?

If you're looking for a basic smartphone for yourself, a loved one, or a child, this is probably a good place to start. It's affordable, offers a clean software experience, and helps you with a single charge. However, camera quality is lacking; The Moto G Pure isn't ideal for capturing memories or going far beyond basic tasks, so it's not ideal for avid smartphone users.

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The Moto G Pure marks the launch of an OEM Android smartphone known for making quality devices. Sure, it's extremely affordable, but other devices in this price range offer better designs, more versatile cameras, and faster chipsets. in a time when$200 phones can transmit 5G, the Moto G Pure had a chance to outperform the competition, but instead it just underperformed.

Needless to say, I wouldn't recommend it for power users, although honestly I wouldn't recommend it for anyone.

moto g puro

In summary:The Moto G Pure comes with excellent battery life and a very affordable price, but there are other better options that offer extra value for a little more.

• $160 and best buy(opens in new tab)
• $160 at Amazon(opens in new tab)