📱 Motorola Moto G (2025) Review: A Budget Contender with Style and Stamina
The budget smartphone market in 2025 is fiercely competitive, but Motorola has consistently maintained a strong presence with its reliable Moto G series. The Motorola Moto G (2025), in its unlocked US configuration with 4GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage and striking Forest Gray finish, aims to solidify its position as one of the best value-for-money devices available. This review dives into whether this new iteration successfully balances essential features, performance, and price.
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| Motorola Moto G (2025) Review: A Budget Contender with Style and Stamina |
✨ Design and Build Quality: Premium Feel on a Budget
One of the most immediate and pleasant surprises of the Moto G (2025) is its design. Eschewing the plain plastic often found in this price bracket, Motorola has opted for a vegan leather back (in the reviewed Forest Gray) that significantly elevates the phone's aesthetic and tactile experience. The material is not only stylish but also offers excellent grip and effectively repels fingerprints.
The handset is quite large, built around a 6.7-inch display, but feels surprisingly good in hand thanks to the curved edges and the vegan leather. It retains some highly appreciated features increasingly rare in modern phones: a 3.5mm headphone jack and a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion. The phone also boasts a water-repellent design (though not a full IP rating), offering some protection against accidental splashes.
🖥️ Display: Size Over Sharpness
The Moto G (2025) features a massive 6.7-inch LCD panel with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. The high refresh rate is a notable inclusion at this price point, providing visibly smoother scrolling and a more fluid experience during daily use.
However, a necessary trade-off for budget phones surfaces in the display resolution. It uses an HD+ resolution (1604 x 720 pixels). While the screen is generally bright and colorful enough for indoor use, the lower pixel density (approx. 263 PPI) is noticeable upon close inspection, particularly when compared to Full HD rivals. For media consumption, the large size is a plus, but users accustomed to sharper displays might find it a slight downgrade.
🚀 Performance and Software: A Daily Driver, Not a Powerhouse
Under the hood, the Moto G (2025) is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor and 4GB of RAM. This hardware configuration places it firmly in the budget category, and the performance reflects that.
For basic tasks—browsing the web, checking social media, and managing email—the phone performs adequately, with the 120Hz display making the experience feel snappier. However, the modest RAM and processor mean that demanding apps, heavy multitasking, or graphics-intensive games will occasionally lead to stutters and noticeable loading times. The 128GB of storage (expandable) is generous for the price, providing ample space for apps and media.
Motorola's software experience is a highlight, running a near-stock version of Android 15 with minimal bloatware. Crucially, the 'Moto Gestures' and other proprietary software features add genuine value without overwhelming the system.
📸 Camera: Punching Above Its Weight
The star of the show on the spec sheet is the 50MP main camera sensor, which utilizes Quad Pixel Technology to combine four pixels into one, resulting in a high-quality effective 12.5MP photo.
Daylight Photography: In good lighting, the 50MP main camera produces surprisingly good results. Photos are sharp, colors are punchy, and the dynamic range is acceptable for a budget phone. Details are preserved well, making it excellent for casual photography.
Low-Light and Night Vision: The included Night Vision mode improves low-light shots by brightening the scene, though noise and softness are still evident. It won't compete with flagship phones, but it's more than serviceable for capturing memories in challenging conditions.
Secondary Cameras: The secondary camera is a 2MP Macro sensor, which offers very limited utility and low detail. A dedicated ultrawide lens is noticeably absent, which is a feature some competitors offer. The 16MP front-facing camera captures decent selfies with natural colors.
Video: Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps, lacking the polish and stabilization of more expensive devices.
🔋 Battery Life: The Endurance Champion
Perhaps the phone's greatest strength is its battery life. The 5,000mAh battery is a large capacity that, when combined with the power-efficient processor and lower-resolution display, delivers exceptional endurance.
The Moto G (2025) easily provides two full days of moderate use for many users, and even heavy users will rarely need to worry about the phone dying before bedtime. It also supports 30W TurboPower charging, which is a welcome speed upgrade, though the charger is often sold separately in some markets.
🏆 Verdict: Value and Endurance Redefined
The Motorola Moto G (2025) (4/128GB, Forest Gray) is a classic Motorola budget phone: it excels where it matters most to its target audience. It delivers phenomenal battery life, a large and fluid 120Hz display, and a surprisingly good-looking design. The primary 50MP camera is a capable shooter in daylight.
However, potential buyers must acknowledge the trade-offs: the performance can be sluggish at times due to the 4GB RAM and budget processor, and the screen resolution is limited to HD+.
For consumers in the US looking for a reliable, unlocked 5G smartphone that must last for multiple days on a single charge and features a premium design without the premium price tag (typically around the $200 mark), the Moto G (2025) is an exceptionally strong and highly recommended choice.
| Feature | Assessment |
| Design | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Stylish vegan leather back, 3.5mm jack) |
| Display | ⭐⭐⭐ (Large 6.7", smooth 120Hz, but low HD+ resolution) |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐ (Adequate for basics, struggles with heavy tasks) |
| Camera | ⭐⭐⭐.5 (Solid 50MP main camera, weak macro, no ultrawide) |
| Battery Life | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Excellent 5,000mAh two-day endurance) |
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (Excellent package for the budget price) |
Who Should Buy It?
Those who prioritize battery life, a stylish look, and a large, smooth display over absolute processing power or the sharpest screen resolution.