Moto G5 and G5 plus officially unveiled at MWC
It seems that between Leaks and rumors everything about the Moto G5 and G5 plus is true. We were quite pleased when we reviewed their predecessors last year and have high hopes for their replacements.
The Moto G5 Plus
The standout in this launch is the Moto G5 plus. The Snapdragon 625 is a decent step up from the 617 used in the G4 plus. Also gone is the anemic 16Gb internal storage option now replaced by a 32gb option which is still paired with 2Gb ram. Users opting for the larger 64Gb storage will still see that ram increased to 4Gb. Although screen resolution hasn’t changed clarity has increased by virtue of the screens reduction to 5.2 inches. One interesting change is a decrease in the main camera resolution from 16MP to 12MP. Overall however this should actually be a better experience for shutterbugs with the sensor looking similar to some 2016 flagship devices. It brings an improved f/1.7 aperture over the G4 plus’s f/2.0. Other additions to the camera include the ability to capture 4k video.
The Moto G5
The smaller sibling G5 seems more of a step sideways from the G4 and doesn’t appear to have a US release at this time. The move from the Snapdragon 617 to the 430 is interesting. These two chips trade blows for performance but the 430 appears to offer better power figures. It does retain the 1080p resolution although the screen stays a smaller 5.0 inches. Storage wise the base G5 hasn’t changed at a paltry 16Gb and no mention of the larger 32gb model currently. Hopefully this is simply an omission as their specs page is updated. There is mention of both a 2Gb and 3Gb ram option which would typically indicate a second storage choice. On the Camera front although some aspects seem to improved such as increased digital zoom. However these changes appear largely software based with identical hardware specifications to last year and likely the same sensor.
Final thoughts
The Moto G5 plus appears to maintain the pricing of it’s predecessor starting at 229 for the entry model. Assuming the step up is only a marginal increase I expect both models to be budget buyers especially with the more capable camera and full carrier compatibility. The plain G5 doesn’t appear destined for a US launch although this may be on agreement with amazon. The G4 was available exclusively for US prime members both with and without ads. Assuming it comes to the US in a similar fashion I expect pricing to once again remain comparable with it’s 199 Euro price translating to 211USD. Are you planning to get a G5 when it becomes available? Or do you think that Lenovo hasn’t gone far enough with the improvements. Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook.
