ZDNET's key takeaways Motorola's Moto G is available from the company's website for $200.
The smartphone boasts a long-lasting battery, booming speakers, and a solid camera array.
However, I wouldn't call it a "pocket-sized theater" due to its sub-standard screen. View now at Amazon View now at Motorola more buying choices
In a world where flagship smartphones can cost $1,000 or more, key brands have carved a niche for themselves by developing midrange alternatives. These manufacturers equip their devices with a wide assortment of features so buyers never crave a high-end model -- or at least they try.
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Motorola comes close to delivering that gold standard with its 2025 Moto G.
Pocket-sized movie theater
One of the Moto G's major selling points is its role as a "pocket-sized [movie] theater." It has a 6.7-inch HD+ display runs at a refresh rate of 120Hz, backed up by speakers fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos. The sound system is nothing short of fantastic. Audio output is rich and strong, filling an entire room with music. It can get pretty loud, too. I scared my cat a couple of times when watching test videos at full volume.
I am lukewarm about the screen. According to the official specs sheet, it outputs images in HD+, which is only 1,604 x 720 pixels. A resolution like this is serviceable but nothing impressive. Some mobile games I played, such as Honkai: Star Rail, looked fuzzy. The gameplay didn't look sharp. Compared to my personal phone, the OnePlus Nord N30, the colors on the Moto G looked overly saturated. This is all personal preference, and we're talking about a $200 phone here.
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