Moto has been on top of the budget smartphone game for so long that it seems almost inevitable that the latest phone in the range - the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus - will take over as the best budget smartphones on the market.
Launched in Barcelona at MWC 2017, the two new handsets follow a similar pattern to the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus with the cheaper, more basic Moto G5 for the masses and the Moto G5 Plus featuring a more advanced feature set, but costing a little more.
Where last time there was barely any difference between the Moto G4 and G4 Plus, there’s a much broader differential between the two Moto G5 handsets this time around, with the Moto G5 Plus boasting a faster processor, a different look, and a more advanced camera.
Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus review: Key specifications and release date
| Moto G5 specifications | Moto G5 Plus specifications |
| 5in 1080p display | 5.2in 1080p display |
| 1.4GHz octa-core Snapdragon 430 processor | 2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor |
| 2GB RAM | 3GB |
| 16GB | 32GB |
| 13-megapixel camera with phase detect autofocus | 12-megapixel camera with f/1.7 aperture and dual-pixel autofocus |
| 10W Fast Charger in box for “hours of power in minutes” | “TurboPower” charging for 6hrs battery life in 15 minutes |
| 2,800mAh battery | 3,000mAh battery |
| Android 7.0 Nougat | Android 7.0 Nougat |
| €199 (approx £169) | €279 (approx £237) |
| March release date | March release date |
Moto G5 and G5 Plus review: Design, key features and first impressions
The big change in 2017 is that the Moto G5 has gone over from a funky, colourful plastic to a fully metal chassis. The two phones look quite different as well, with the Moto G5 sporting a slightly more rounded, friendly look and the Moto G5 Plus appearing more sharp edged and chiseled and with a very slightly protruding camera housing.
There are other differences, though, and not all of them positive. The first thing to note is that both phones have smaller displays than the Moto G4; the Moto G5 has a 5in screen and the Moto G5 Plus is at 5.2in. That will make the new phones a tough sell while the Moto G4 remains in stock.
Here's the new #MotoG5#mwc17@Moto_UKpic.twitter.com/UWbbY0PkdK
— Jonathan Bray (@jon1bray) February 26, 2017
Still, they’re both very nice to hold in the hand - not slippery and with just the right amount of grip - and the fine-grained matte finish on the rear of both handsets is a big step forward from the textured plastic of the previous generation.
The phones will be available in “lunar grey” and “fine gold”, both of which look great, and they both have 3.5mm headphone jacks. The Moto G5 has its headphone socket on the top while the G5 Plus’ headphone socket is on the bottom edge.
Whichever model you go for, however, you’ll get a front-mounted fingerprint reader below the display, allowing you to unlock the phone with a quick touch.
Under the hood, the Moto G5 has a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, 2GB of RAM and a rather measly 16GB of storage. The Moto G5 Plus has a faster 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
And the differences continue with the cameras. The Moto G5 has improved features, if not resolution over the Moto G4, with a 13-megapixel snapper that’s equipped with new phase detect autofocus.
The Moto G5 Plus, on the other hand, has significantly reduced the resolution of its camera over the G4 Plus, falling from 16-megapixels to 12-megapixels this time, but adds dual-pixel phase detect autofocus and a super-bright f/1.7 aperture. These are seriously impressive specifications for a sub-£300 phone, which the Moto G5 Plus most certainly will be.
The final specifications worth noting are battery life and charging. On paper, things don’t look all that enticing. The Moto G5 actually has a smaller battery by 200mAh than the G4 (at 2,800mAh) and the G5 Plus’ battery is 3,000mAh, which is not much bigger. Both fall a long way short of the enormous battery in the Lenovo P2, but Lenovo says they’ll last you a day.
More interesting is the how fast they’ll charge, with the Moto G5 coming with a 10W Fast Charger in the box and able to give you “hours of power in minutes” and the the Moto G5’s TurboPower charging delivering a huge six hours of usage with a mere 15 minutes connected to the mains.
Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus review: Prices and early verdict
Inevitably, perhaps, with the recent fall in the value of the pound, prices for the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus will be a little pricier than before, and with those smaller screens they don’t look as good value, either. Currently European pricing sits at €199 for the Moto G5 and €279 for the Moto G5 Plus. While simply an estimate, that translates to around £169 and £237 respectively. However, both look to be top-notch handsets and if the smaller screen helps out with battery life, Lenovo could have another budget winner on its hands in 2017.
And here's the new #MotoG5Plus#MWC2017#moto@Moto_UKpic.twitter.com/O4zALN0gRs
— Jonathan Bray (@jon1bray) February 26, 2017
The question is, which one to choose? With the differences significantly more stark than with the Moto G4 and G4 Plus, that’s a tough question to answer right now. However, with its superior camera, battery and charging and faster processor it might be the Moto G5 Plus’ turn to shine this year.
