The Motorola Moto G6 was the best budget phone of 2018. Can the Moto G7 top it?
Apple and Samsung may dominate the high-end smartphone market but, when it comes to cheap handsets, Motorola is top dog. And it’s just launched four brand new budget phones in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I am writing this right now. In addition to the Moto G7, which is the sequel to last year’s outstanding Moto G6, there are three other variants: the Moto G7 Plus, the Moto G7 Power and the Moto G7 Play.
Right now I’m focusing on the Moto G7, which is likely to be the most popular of the bunch. The Moto G6 is a tough act to follow but the Moto G7 only seems to build on its predecessor’s strengths, especially where the camera and processor are concerned. Read on for a full breakdown of the specification and design changes.
Motorola Moto G7 review: Key specifications, price and release date
- 6.2in, 2,270 x 1,080, LTPS display, 19:9 aspect ratio
- Octa-core 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor
- Adreno 506 GPU
- 64GB storage (microSD expandable up to 512GB)
- 4GB RAM
- Dual rear cameras, 12 MP (f/1.8) and 5 MP
- 8 MP selfie camera
- Single SIM or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM)
- 3,000mAh battery
- 157 x 75.3 x 8mm, 172g
- Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS
- Android 9 Pie
- UK price: £239
- UK release date: February 2019
Motorola Moto G7 review: Design, key features and first impressions
Motorola’s latest budget offering looks and feels as impressive as ever. It has an exceptionally vivid 6.2in Full HD display and is powered by Qualcomm’s octa-core 632 processor and Adreno 605 GPU. That’s a big step up from last year’s Moto G6, which had a 5.7in FHD display and Snapdagon 450 chip. It should be noted, however, that the pricier Moto G7 Plus has an even faster Qualcomm 636 CPU, which will provide a significant performance boost. A healthy 4GB of RAM helps things along and it’s accompanied by a generous 64GB of storage that can be expanded by up to 512GB via microSD.
One aspect of the Moto G6 that blew every other budget phone away was its stellar camera, and the snapper on the Moto G7’s isn’t messing around either. The rear camera – once again housed within a raised circular “bump” – is comprised of an f/1.8 12-megapixel and 5-megapixel dual-camera setup that’s also capable of shooting 4K video at 30fps, with electronic video stabilisation to help keep footage smooth. The base camera specs haven’t changed but last year’s Moto G6 was only able to shoot 1080p video.
The Moto G7 comes in either a black or white finish – the latter is pictured here – with glass at both the front and the rear and a fingerprint reader mounted just below the rear dual camera bump. It’s a pretty phone, although I worry the white will show up grime and dirty fingerprints more than its darker counterpart. Still, the phone looks and feel solid and although it doesn’t have an official dust- or water-resistance rating, the phone is treated with a p2i water-repellent coating inside and out, which is almost as good. Certainly, the average consumer would never guess it was as cheap as it is, and that build quality really works in Motorola’s favour; almost everyone in Brazil seems to have a Motorola phone.
Like all the other Moto G7 models launched by Motorola, the Moto G7 runs on the latest Android 9 Pie OS. Exact UK release dates for the new Moto G7 range have yet to be announced, but they can be expected at some point in mid-February.
Motorola Moto G7 review: Early verdict
On paper, Motorola appears to have improved on the Moto G6 in nearly every way, and that will almost certainly translate into better performance all-round. Until I get one into the Expert Reviews labs for testing, however, I can’t say exactly by how much.
One disappointment, though, is that the launch price has jumped up a tad, from £220 to £239. That’s still great value for money, though. Then again, there’s now only a £30 difference between this phone (£239) and the superior Moto G7 Plus (£269), which may tempt savvy buyers towards the premium option.
Source: expertreviews.co.uk
