The Moto G series from Motorola focuses on the availability of key features so that more people around the world can access and enjoy advanced technology. In January 2023. Motorola added four models to its budget moto G series: the moto g73 5G, moto g53 5G, moto g23 and moto g13 (we tested all of them, please use the links). In mid-September 2023. Motorola expanded the G collection with two more moto g84 5G and moto g54 5G models. “TOP-model” of the G84 line performed very well in our test. Now we will take a closer look at the Moto G54 5G, which belongs to the mid-segment of smartphones.
As you can see, a little of these G-series models we have, you can easily get lost what number it is, especially since almost all of them have the same design.
The Motorola Moto G54 5G is, according to Motorola, love at first touch, with a vegan leather finish and an unparalleled entertainment experience. We’ve got a 50 MP camera with ultrapixel system and OIS, 8 GB of RAM, eSIM functionality and up to 256 GB of storage.
The Moto G54 5G exists in 4/128GB and 8/256GB versions, but only the second option is officially available in Poland. At the same time, it’s available at operators Play and Plus, as well as some small online stores. It’s a shame that it’s not on sale more widely. The price ranges from $200 to $260, so – we have a budget device.
What else is worth mentioning: Moto G54 5G available in two variants: the regular G54 and Moto G54 5G Power Edition. The Power Edition version has 12 GB of RAM, a super 6000 mAh battery and TurboPower 30W charging, while the classic version has 8 GB of RAM, 5000 mAh and 15W charging. Again, it’s a shame, but officially the “enhanced” G54 is only available from T-Mobile on subscription and some online stores for around $290.
But in this review we will talk about the regular G54 5G. Is it possible to get good quality hardware for around $240? Motorola with its latest models wants to give all users access to good quality and some high-end features. Let’s see if Moto offers us noteworthy hardware in an increasingly demanding and ever-expanding market.
Read also: Motorola Moto G84 5G review: a great mid-range smartphone
Motorola Moto G54 5G specifications
- Screen: 6.5″ LCD, 2400×1080, 20:9 aspect ratio, 405 ppi, 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: 8-core MediaTek Dimensity 7020 2.2 GHz, IMG BXM-8-256 GPU
- Operating system: Android 13 without overlay
- RAM: 8 GB
- Fixed storage: 256 GB built-in, is expandable by 1 TB via microSD
- Rear cameras:
- Main 50 MP with optical image stabilization (OIS), f/1.8 aperture and PDAF
- 2 MP macro with f/2.4 aperture
- Front camera: 16 Mpx (f/2.4, 1.0 μm)
- Video recording:
- rear main camera: FHD (60/30 fps)
- front camera: FHD (30 fps)
- Battery: 5000 mAh with TurboPower 15W charging
- Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM (including eSIM), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Wi-Fi 5, GPS (A-GPS, LTEPP, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou)
- Sensors: fingerprint reader, proximity, accelerometer, ambient light, SAR, gyroscope, e-compass
- Dimensions and weight: 161.56 x 73.82 x 7.99 mm, 177g
- Connectors: 3.5mm headphone and USB Type C (USB 2.0) port
Package contents
In the updated series, Motorola is betting on eco-friendly packaging. No plastic bags, biodegradable cardboard. The compact packaging includes the phone itself, a 20W charger, a cable, a key to open the SIM slot, a silicone case and documentation.
Design, materials and build
The exterior of the moto g54 5G is as important as what’s inside. Thoughtful, simple, clean and classic – this is how the design of the hardware coming out of Moto every year can be described. It may be boring, but it fits in with current trends.
The Moto g54 5G is designed to stand out with a streamlined aluminum camera “island” casing and a matte finish, the model feels great in the hand. And for a touch of luxury, there is a version with a vegan leather back that is soft to the touch (accoutrements of the test model). And it’s all protected from accidental spills and splashes thanks to its waterproof design (IP52 rating).
On the front, we have a 6.5-inch screen with a cutout for the selfie camera. Its side bezels are relatively narrow, only the “chin” is conspicuous. The screen is protected by glass, but Motorola does not specify in detail what kind of glass it is. The size of the screen is standard, it is not too small – everything is readable and sufficiently visible, but at the same time the smartphone fits well in the hand, you can use with one hand.
The back and bezels are made of plastic, but the build quality seems to be quite solid. On the back we have a combination of two finishes – matte and glossy. The cameras are located on a shiny metal island. This combination gives a premium design effect. Especially when combined with vegan leather, which we have in two color options: Indigo Blue and Mini Green (pistachio). The blue and black colors are a combination of matte and flash.
With its sleek design and pleasant feel, the moto g54 5G stands out in any situation and fits perfectly in the hand.
There is no sense of “cheapness,” which is often the case with “mid-range” phones. Motorola has made sure that their latest G-series models are easily accessible to users, without a drop in build quality.
Read also: Motorola Edge 40 Neo review: sophistication all round
The Moto G54 5G measures 161.56×73.82×7.99 mm and weighs: 177 g. The layout of the components is flawless. We have a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Dolby Atmos-certified speaker, USB-C input and microphone at the bottom. On the left side there is a SIM card slot and a memory card slot. Interestingly, the SIM slot one. You can use two SIMs, but the second must be eSIM – rare in this price range.
On the right are the standard volume control buttons and below them the power/lock button with built-in fingerprint reader. The buttons are at a comfortable height.
The side fingerprint reader works flawlessly and, in my opinion, is even better than the ones in the display, which require your fingers to be clean of sweat and completely dry. In addition, we have a well-functioning unlocking via facial recognition.
Moto G54 5G screen
The Moto G54 5G display has a resolution of 2400×1080 Full HD+, which is quite common in this segment. The display technology is LCD, well a bit outdated: even inexpensive devices, have begun to use OLED displays. LCD offers us relatively poor colors, low color saturation, narrow viewing angles. In January’s Moto G13, for $145, we had the same display; here, for a slightly higher price, one would expect something better. But you also have to keep the price in mind, we know that some features had to be cut at the expense of others in order to reach the low price point. Well, and in general, there is a group, hating OLED screens for the alleged harm to the eyes, so they will have a choice.
Well o at all I won’t say that the Moto G54 5G screen is bad. It is ok (clear, crisp, pleasant color reproduction), but it could be a little better. For example, in the sunlight on it a lot of reflections, the image fades.
In the settings, we have the ability to “tune” colors and three refresh rate modes – auto, 120 Hz and 60 Hz. It’s best to stay with the auto option, which gets the best of both worlds: a fast refresh rate when we need it, and optimization for longer battery life.
Read also: Motorola Moto G13 review: classic budget phone up to $135
Motorola Moto G54 5G Performance
The Moto G54 is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 octa-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz and an IMG BXM-8-256 GPU. Yes, many potential buyers would prefer something from Snapdragon, but the Dimensity 7020 is a powerful chip, offering seamless gaming and smooth video playback even in high definition.
The G54 offers pure Android software, devoid of unwanted bloatware applications. We have almost standard Android, which contributes to smoother performance.
The smartphone runs fast, but relatively – for its price range. It’s not worth expecting super performance, although all daily tasks can be performed without problems. You can also play less demanding games.
Here are the benchmark results (not really very impressive):
- Geekbench 6: single – 916, Multi-Core – 2 299
- Sling Shot Extreme: 2 525
- Sling Shot: 3 379
- PCMark Work 3.0 performance: 12 379
The Moto G54 has 256GB of built-in memory, which is sufficient. But if that’s not enough, we have a microSD slot for up to 1 TB. RAM we have only 8 GB, in this price range it is somewhat standard.
Motorola Moto G54 Cameras
The smartphone features a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS, which takes beautiful photos with excellent detail. In fact, there are 12 MP photos – thanks to Quad Pixel technology for pixel blending, which provides 4 times better low-light sensitivity, more vivid day and night shots. In case you’re wondering, 50 MP mode is also available.
An additional Macro Vision camera allows users to get closer to the subject, capturing fine details. The 16 MP front camera is equipped with Face Beauty for automatic photo enhancement.
It’s a pity that we don’t have a wide-angle module and/or a telephoto lens, but the G54 is a budget model nonetheless.
Motorola Moto G 54 5G offers us a choice of modes, classic pro and night. In pro mode we have two options – RAW and JPG.
It’s best to just evaluate the photos, we have some examples for you from the main camera. It may not be photo perfect, but it is quite decent.
At night, the camera does not impress, the shots are often blurry, of poor quality. Take a look for yourself:
Mamy opcje cyfrowego zoomu do 8x, ale jakość bardzo niska.
The front camera takes 16 MP photos (f/2.4). Selfie nice, face color natural, but the default “beautyfikacja” works too aggressively, making the photos not look natural.
We also have a macro lens, only 2 MP, but I was positively surprised by it. In close-ups, the phone can get quite clear photos.
We can record Full HD videos up to 1080p at 30 frames per second and at 60 k./s. Average quality, it’s comparable to other phones in the same class. To be honest, I don’t really notice the OIS work here.
Read also: Moto G73 5G review: A very successful budget phone
Moto G54 battery and operating time
The Moto G54 5G has a 5,000mAh battery, which is about what every other “mid-range” phone currently offers. It comes with a 20W TurboPower charger, but the phone itself only supports 15W charging.
In the case of the Moto G13 charging was a nightmare with the included 10W charger, here it is only slightly better, a full charge takes two hours. This does not meet the requirements of current users, but there is the other side of the coin – with optimized use quietly one charge is enough for 1.5-2 days.
The PCMark test result is sensational!
Sound
Motorola Moto G54 5G has stereo speakers. One is located on the bottom edge, assisted by an earpiece located on top. Motorola assures on its website that the sound is like a dream – large stereo speakers generate deeper bass, better vocals and provide more clarity, bass and vocals improved. And aiding all this is the Dolby Atmos system. In theory, this “enhancement” should produce good sound, but the proudly displayed Dolby Atmos logo on the top of the phone, in my opinion, does not indicate high sound quality. The volume is lacking, and the highest level causes noise and is not pleasant to the ear. As for bass, we are unlikely to hear it.
In the settings we have a dedicated Dolby Atmos app, there we have ready-made presets – music, movies, game, podcast, own (equalizer). By default, the phone adjusts the sound mode itself with AI.
Read also: Motorola razr 40 Review: What is the cheapest folding smartphone capable of?
Moto G 54 5G Software
Motorola is known for the agile, “clean”, perfectly optimized software in their smartphones. What we have here is simply Android 13, without unnecessary additions.
Yes, there is MyUX – a lightweight overlay from Moto that allows you to personalize the interface (wallpapers, colors, icons, fonts, etc.) and use common gestures, for example, turning on the flashlight with a double shake of the phone. The interface is not cluttered, there are no unnecessary installed apps (except for the useful Moto settings). You’ll find some screenshots (I’ll add that I had custom icons) below.
There are a few dedicated Motorola apps, but they are useful. It’s all about novelties -Family Space (a safe “corner” for a child), Moto Secure (all the most important security and privacy options), Notepad and proper “Moto” – a helper application through which we can personalize the phone, set gestures with which we can control the phone.
There’s a neat sidebar that provides quick access to key apps such as Calculator, Google Calendar and Messages. You can customize it to your liking by adding or removing apps. We also have “floating windows,” the ability to run apps in a separate window and various gaming settings.
Another useful function “extra dim” is used to lower the minimum brightness of the display. I like to check something on my phone before going to bed, and while it’s not a good habit, this feature protects my eyes.
Read also: Motorola ThinkPhone review: top business class smartphone
Summary
Motorola Moto G54 is a smartphone made for a specific group, and in this respect it fulfills all the functions. We are looking for a simple, affordable phone for everyday use, we are not demanding users, but we appreciate the introduction of some technological innovations – and this is the phone for us. In terms of performance, the device is decent, running smoothly in daily duties and even providing some degree of stable gameplay.
The design is great – we can even get an eco-leather “back”, a sleek and stylish model at a price of up to $240. There’s 5G support and even an eSIM option. In addition, there’s a large 6.5″ 120 Hz screen, 8 GB RAM, stereo speakers, 3.5 mm mini-jack, pure Android 13 only with Moto extras, a capacious 5000 mAh battery, a good main camera (but no “wow”).
Moto G54 is decent enough to meet basic needs and even give more! What disappoints? LCD screen with poor viewing angles, low charging power, no ultra-wide-angle camera, plastic bezels but … however, we must keep in mind the price range of the device.
What it lacks, the Moto G54 5G successfully makes up for. Well, so for less than a thousand zlotys we get a really successful model. The Moto G54 is Motorola’s latest attempt to strike the perfect balance between price and performance – we recommend it!
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