Motorola’s latest Moto G Play (2024) phone has a new processor, camera, and various additions. Motorola hopes the new upgrades will push the Moto G Play (2024) to the top of the list of best-budget smartphones. It would be best to have everything about Motorola’s new $150 smartphone, the Moto G Play (2024).
Motorola Moto G Play (2024) Review
A budget phone shouldn’t feel like a budget phone, and the previous Moto G Play’s sluggish performance was much worse than the competition’s. That’s probably why a big part of this upgrade hinges on the phone’s processor. Out is MediaTek Helio G37, and in is Qualcomm Snapdragon 680. It’s still an older processor but should deliver a significant performance boost.
It is built on a 6nm process (much higher than the 12nm of the Helio G37) and is also much better at handling everyday tasks and 3D games. You won’t be able to play the game on Ultra settings by any means, but if you use low or medium settings correctly, there’s no reason you can’t achieve more than a playable frame rate in a game like PUBG Mobile. Call of Duty Mobile.
The 6.5-inch display is the same, but a few small improvements hint at flagship features. Like last year, the LCD features a 90Hz refresh rate, which is great and funnier than some flagship smartphones. However, it now switches between 90Hz and 60Hz when a higher refresh rate is unnecessary. This mimics the dynamic refresh rate of phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Another big improvement is the phone’s rear camera. The new Moto G Play sports a 50MP main camera, significantly improving over the previous 16MP lens. And while it may seem like a downgrade from the triple-lens system of prior phones, there’s a good chance you won’t miss it, as the two 2MP lenses are only used for macro and depth sensing.
The 50MP lens uses pixel binning. This means it essentially reduces the image size from 50MP to enhance the light, effectively using four pixels as one and providing more light exposure for low-light images. It might not top our list of best camera smartphones, but it might surprise us.
Storage has been increased to 64GB, expandable storage up to 1TB via microSD card and 4GB RAM is also provided. Another welcome change is that the fingerprint sensor’s location has been removed from the back of the phone, making it a side-mounted sensor.
It looks similar to the previous Moto G Play with a simple and clean design. Still, the plastic backflows into the protruding camera unit around the lens rather than a separate material.
One of the main advantages of the Play family was not only its low price but also its huge battery. Fortunately, this doesn’t change with this new model. The Moto G Play (2024) has the same 5,000mAh large capacity cell as its predecessor, which is very good.
The last Moto G Play had a battery life of three days, which is far better than even the most conservative and energy-hungry flagship and mid-range smartphones. The Moto G range may lack fancy features, but it has always made up for its battery life.
It’s unknown whether the processor change to the Snapdragon 680 will affect battery life, as different processors have different energy consumption. Still, Motorola has addressed one of our previous complaints by increasing charging speeds.
No longer limited to a meagre 10-watt charging speed, the Moto G Play (2024) can now soar to 15W charging speeds. Great. It’s not the fastest charging device, but it will significantly reduce your phone’s time on the charger.
The Moto G Play is expected to launch with Android 13, which is disappointing because Motorola’s G series phones typically only receive one additional major software update and three years of security updates. The phone will be safe for three years but will likely only be upgraded to Android 14.
Motorola Moto G Play 2024 Price
Despite the operating system and onboard storage shortcomings, $150 is a bargain for an unlocked phone with a 90Hz display and Dolby Atmos audio.
Is Motorola Moto G Play (2024) Worth it?
Ultimately, whether the Moto G Play (2024) is worth it depends on your needs and priorities. If you’re looking for a very affordable phone for basic tasks and prioritize things like a large display, long battery life, and a headphone jack, this phone could be a good choice.
However, you may consider the alternative if you need more storage, better cameras, a lighter design, or 5G connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the refresh rate of Moto G Play?
Moto G Play (2024) features a display with a high refresh rate. It features a 6.5-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
Is Moto G Play waterproof?
It’s only IP52 waterproof, so it’s fine for rainy days, but not so much if you drop it in a swimming pool.
Does Moto G Play have night vision?
Yes, in low light conditions, you can use this mode to highlight details even in the dark and take vivid photos with more accurate colours. Switch to low-light night vision mode to capture more detailed and precise colours.
What processor does Moto G Play have?
The new Moto G Play 2024 has a Snapdragon 680 processor, which supports advanced mobile user experiences, including the performance, features and battery life that consumers expect from mid-range and high-end smartphones and tablets.