A smartphone that Evan Blass first revealed as the Moto G Play in October has now been officially unveiled by Motorola (2022). To give you some context, Motorola released the Moto G Play in January 2021 to update the Moto G Play series (2021). Even though there is a gap of over two years between the two smartphones, the newest model seems to function worse.
For some reason, Motorola has chosen the MediaTek Helio G37 over the Snapdragon 460 even though it is about 30% less powerful. In contrast, the Moto G Play (2023) has the same 5,000 mAh battery that supports 10W fast charging along with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage as its predecessor. The Moto G Play (2023) and Moto G Play (2021) appear to have the same 5 MP front-facing and 2 MP depth cameras.
However, compared to its predecessor, the Moto G Play (2023), the primary camera can now capture images at up to 16 MP. Additionally, the more recent model now contains a third rear-facing camera, albeit a 2 MP macro sensor. Overall, it seems like the Moto G Play has undergone the most modifications with the addition of a 90 Hz panel and Android 12. (2021). The 2021 edition’s 6.5-inch, IPS, and 720p display is still present.
The Moto G Play (2023) is currently only available in the US, where it costs $170 and comes in a single Deep Indigo color. The Moto G Play is expected to cost less than its replacement while exceeding it in most tasks, but Motorola has not yet stated whether it plans to offer it in other markets.
Motorola Moto G Play (2023) review: Design
The Moto G Play continues its nearly constant presence on lists of the top affordable Android smartphones. I anticipated the new Moto G Play to feel hollow and cheap given its low launch price and plastic construction. But when I held the phone, I was pleasantly pleased by how lovely it felt. If you tap on the back, it does make some hollow noises, but it doesn’t creak or sound like it would break apart if you placed it down suddenly on a table. Additionally offering a gripping touch, the matte outside surface is excellent at obscuring fingerprints.
Speaking of fingerprints, Motorola includes a reasonably quick capacitive fingerprint scanner with the recognisable “M” mark on the rear of the device. The three-sensor camera system is also located on the back of the phone. Additionally, the front of the device has a hole punch cutout for the front-facing camera. Later on, I’ll go into more detail on the cameras. When gazing at the front of the phone, you’ll also notice a textured power button and a single rocker switch for the volume controls. The SIM tray and a slot for a microSD card up to 512GB are located on the left rail.
However, the presence of a high-refresh-rate display is what is most unexpected this time. If the default option is enabled, the 6.5-inch HD+ LCD panel can scale down to 60Hz automatically and achieve 90Hz. The refresh rate may be locked to 60Hz, but not to 90Hz. The display is good all around. Most of the stuff will appear fine, and the colours are decent. It does, however, have some difficulty in bright situations, and the screen rapidly gets difficult to read if you aren’t staring at it squarely from the front.
Considering the budget, the Moto G Play’s construction and design are generally extremely great. Although plastic-built cellphones are disliked in many tech communities, today’s technology and materials are considerably superior than they were in the past.
Contrary to the glass on many other smartphones, plastic is more resilient and can withstand the occasional tumble without severe problems. Even while the Moto G Play doesn’t feel particularly premium in the hand, few people would genuinely claim that it does.
Motorola Moto G Play (2023) review: Display
The Moto G Play (2023) sports a sizable 6.5-inch LCD screen, but it only supports HD+ and has a resolution limit of 1600 x 720 pixels. Despite being disappointing if you’ve used a higher-resolution display, that is to be expected from a phone of this price. The fact that you receive a 90Hz refresh rate, which surpasses even the $800 iPhone 14’s 60Hz refresh rate, is a consolation, though.
At least you don’t get a weird tiny dip or notch like on other devices because the front-facing camera is housed in a hole-punch cutout at the top of the display. There is a small bezel at the bottom, which makes it simpler to swipe actions from the bottom. The fact that this is not an edge-to-edge display is also constantly brought to mind by this. On the HD+ screen, everything appears to be in reasonable condition, although I did note that some of the visuals appeared fuzzy and less than ideal.
Although I did experience a lot of stuttering and jerky frame rates, we will go into more detail about it in the next section. The 90Hz refresh rate allows for fluid scrolling on websites and apps as well as simple switching between various apps. Even though both the OnePlus Nord N300 5G and my primary device, the iPhone 14 Pro, have identical specs, I wasn’t anticipating a display as stunning as that of my primary device.
Motorola Moto G Play (2023) review: Cameras
The camera mechanism of the Motorola Moto G Play 2023 is one of its main selling factors. A 16-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.22 aperture, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor are all included in the gadget.
Although the camera can take vivid and realistic pictures and movies, it struggles in low light. With a 5-megapixel resolution and an f/2.4 aperture, the front-facing camera is likewise impressive, making it perfect for selfies and video calls. Despite the fact that in poor lighting circumstances the image could appear blurry.
Motorola Moto G Play (2023) review: Performance
One of the worst and possibly the most annoying phones I’ve ever used is the Moto G Play (2023). Until the chipset catches up, operating the phone becomes all but impossible due to the system-on-egregious chip’s underperformance. My distaste for MediaTek’s entry-level processors has never been a secret, and the Helio G37 in the Moto G Play (2023) doesn’t change that. It’s occasionally barely functional, which causes the phone to slow dramatically in some areas, occasionally eliminating the display’s 90Hz refresh rate.
While performing benchmarks on the Moto G Play (2023), we encountered some difficulties, but this is what we learned. Adobe Premiere Rush and 3DMark Wild Life, the majority of our other benchmarks, would not function on this chipset. The Geekbench scores were so awful that I chuckled when I saw them, so maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
The multicore score was lower than the single-core score for the OnePlus Nord N300. I honestly didn’t believe that was feasible in this budget phone sector, but it demonstrates that MediaTek can genuinely be found at the bottom of the heap. I won’t go into too much detail. The Moto G Play (2023) occasionally becomes unusable due to slowness when performing extremely basic tasks like taking photos, fast scrolling through a website, and occasionally even unlocking.
The most annoying instance of this sluggish performance occurred when I tried to answer a call and the phone hung for a few seconds after I pressed the answer button. The caller assumed I had responded because of this, and they started talking. Though not the end of the world, it is most definitely unacceptable coming from a device in 2023.
Motorola Moto G Play (2023) review: Battery life and charging
The Moto G Play (2023) has a 5,000mAh battery inside, which contributes to its exceptional battery life. You can use it for about three days on a full charge before you need to plug it in again. I often use Microsoft Teams, Outlook for work, and a variety of social media apps throughout the day. The phone’s huge battery will undoubtedly last at least two days with my usage before I feel the need to plug it back in. In the packaging, Motorola offers a USB-C charging cable in addition to a power converter.
However, the Moto G Play (2023) is difficult to charge. You see, even if fast charging is supported, the rates are limited to 10 watts. If the device’s battery is dead, it will take some time to recharge with a 5,000mAh capacity. It took about two and a half hours for it to go from a dead battery level of 0% to 100% during my testing. It is crucial to keep in mind that once the battery is getting close to 100, the charging speed naturally decreases. If your phone’s battery is dead, don’t count on being able to charge it quickly before you need to leave; instead, charge it overnight if possible.
Motorola Moto G Play (2023) review: Price and availability
At a very appealing $169, the Moto G Play (2023) provides a sizable 5,000 mAh battery and 90Hz LCD. Right now, you can purchase it from Motorola or best buy You only get 32GB of storage for that money, though you can add up to 512GB with a microSD card.
Additionally, you’ll have to get by with 3GB of RAM. It will be difficult to find a suitable substitute at this pricing. Of course, there’s a reason for that, but the OnePlus Nord N300, which costs $228, is the next closest rival. For better or worse, the Moto G Play (2023) is in a class of its own.
Final Words
It goes without saying that I haven’t had the best experience with the Moto G Play (2023). The phone has trouble performing simple activities, there is no 5G, and the camera performance is at most mediocre. It’s not a great way to start the new year, and when Motorola finally unveiled the Moto G Play after a little hiatus, I had high hopes.
The battery life isn’t terrible, and the rear fingerprint sensor is still a pleasant touch. Both of those aspects are ones that certain customers value highly and which unquestionably improve the experience. But because of the performance difficulties, I can’t see myself suggesting this phone to anyone.
It’s unfortunate because Motorola’s 2022 models, like as the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) and Moto G 5G, have generally left me impressed (2022). Even if the phones weren’t ideal, they functioned enough and featured respectable cameras.
In fact, if you don’t mind spending a little bit extra, I’d be more likely to recommend either of those choices. Since these phones are frequently discounted, you might be fortunate to locate one that is little over $200. Hopefully, the Moto G Play (2023) isn’t an accurate representation of what Motorola will be like in 2023. If so, 2018 will be a difficult year for low-cost phones.
