Motorola Moto G84 5G Review: Most Beautiful Mid-Range Smartphone
If you find yourself on a budget but in dire need of a smartphone upgrade, look no further than the Motorola Moto G84 5G. Priced at just $450, this sleek budget smartphone offers a compelling package that’s hard to resist.
With its attractive price point, stunning display, long-lasting battery, and impressive camera, it’s a smartphone that offers exceptional value for your money. Don’t miss out on this budget-friendly gem; it might just be the upgrade you’ve been waiting for.
Motorola Moto G84 5G: Video Review
| Specs | Motorola Moto G84 5G |
| Display | 6.5 inch, P-OLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 1300 nits, 20:9 ratio |
| CPU | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Memory Card Slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| OS | Android 13 |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP, f/1.9 (wide), 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide) |
| Front Camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1.0µm |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| NFC | Yes |
| Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired |
| Dimensions | 160 x 74.4 x 7.6 mm (6.30 x 2.93 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 166.8 g (5.86 oz) |
| Waterproof | IP54, dust and splash resistant |
| Colors | Marshmallow Blue, Midnight Blue, Viva Magenta |
Unboxing
Inside the plastic-free packaging, the first thing that catches your eye is the Moto G84 itself.
In addition, inside the box there is a 33 W charger and a Type-C USB cable and SIM Tray Ejector. That’s all.
It is worth noting that the package does not include any additional bonuses, such as a protective case.
Motorola Moto G84 5G: Design
One of the standout features of the Moto G84 is its design. It’s undoubtedly one of the best-looking phones in its price range. Unlike its slightly more expensive sibling, the Edge 40 Neo, the Moto G84 features a completely flat display and flat edges, giving it a modern and sleek appearance. The rounded corners make it comfortable to hold, and it’s not overly chunky either.
When you turn your attention to the back of the device, that’s where the real action is. The Moto G84 offers a vegan leather finish that not only looks great but feels fantastic when you hold it. Motorola’s partnership with Pantone has paid off, resulting in smartphones with stunning color options. The Viva Magenta model, for instance, is a striking choice, and it’s stamped right there on the back to remind you of its vibrancy. The modular logo in the middle adds an extra touch of sophistication, and the bright red camera chassis makes a bold statement.
If you’re not a fan of the red, there are two other design options available for the Moto G84. There’s the Marshmallow Blue, a delightful light blue with the same vegan leather finish, and the standard Midnight Blue, which comes with a matte finish.
Moreover, the Moto G84 is also IP54 rated for splash resistance, ensuring that a little moisture won’t harm your device.
The Moto G84 5G measures 160.1 x 74.4 x 7.6 mm. Its weight varies slightly depending on the finish you choose. The plastic back variant comes in at 166.8g, while the vegan leather variant weighs just a tad more at 168.3g.
Display
The Moto G84 5G sports a spacious 6.5-inch screen with a full HD Plus resolution. This means you’ll enjoy a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, resulting in sharp and detailed visuals.
With the ability to reach well over a thousand nits, you won’t struggle to see your screen even when you’re out and about on a sunny day. Glare and reflections are no match for this display, ensuring that you can use your phone comfortably no matter the lighting conditions.
Furthermore, the display offers sharp contrast and deep, inky blacks, adding to the overall visual quality. Wide viewing angles further enhance the experience. You won’t have to worry about color distortion or loss of clarity when viewing the screen from different angles, making it great for sharing content with friends and family.
Another notable feature is the dynamic refresh rate, which can seamlessly switch between 60Hz and 120Hz. At the higher refresh rate, interactions with the user interface and scrolling through content feel incredibly smooth.
However, it’s worth mentioning one minor drawback – the absence of an always-on display option. Given that this device features OLED technology, it’s surprising that this feature is missing.
Performance
The Motorola Moto G84 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset. While this chipset may not be the latest and greatest, it’s a tried-and-true platform that delivers a reliable and capable performance. You’ll find that the everyday experience on the Moto G84 is smooth and responsive, with apps loading quickly and without any fuss.
My model came with a substantial 256GB of storage, which is more than what some flagship smartphones provide. What’s even better is that this storage is expandable. By simply removing the SIM tray, you’ll discover that the second SIM slot can also be used to house a microSD memory card.
For those who enjoy mobile gaming, the Moto G84 doesn’t disappoint. It can handle popular titles like Call of Duty, PUBG, Free Fire, and even more demanding games like Genshin Impact at lower detail settings. The flat display is well-suited for gaming, providing a responsive and immersive experience. Even during extended gaming sessions, the Moto G84 remains cool to the touch, indicating efficient thermal management.
Motorola also includes a helpful feature called “Mortal Gaming Tools.” These tools allow you to block notifications, ensuring that you’re not disturbed during intense gaming sessions. Additionally, there’s a high-performance mode that can be handy for more demanding games. However, it’s worth noting that the inclusion of “Acoustic Lights” in this mode may be distracting to some users.
Software
When it comes to the software side of the Motorola Moto G84 5G, you’re in for a treat, as Motorola delivers its signature stock, clean version of Android. It runs on Android 13 out of the box, and an upgrade to Android 14 is on the horizon. However, there’s an important caveat to keep in mind: Motorola typically guarantees only one major OS upgrade for its Moto G series devices. So, after Android 14, you might not receive any more official OS updates.
But fret not, because there’s a silver lining to this. Motorola has stepped up its game in terms of security. You’ll receive three full years of security updates, delivered on a bi-monthly basis.
On the bloatware front, the Moto G84 keeps it relatively clean. There are a few pre-installed apps like booking.com and Facebook, and even a Monopoly game. However, you can easily uninstall these apps if they don’t suit your needs.
Motorola has also added some useful features of its own. One standout feature is “Ready For,” which allows you to seamlessly connect your phone to a PC or tablet. This feature lets you use your phone as a webcam and share apps and files between devices, adding a layer of versatility to your Moto G84.
Another notable addition is “Family Space,” perfect for those with kids or family members who occasionally borrow your device. It lets you set up separate profiles, ensuring that they only have access to specific apps, keeping your data safe and preventing any unwanted tinkering.
“Motorola Secure” builds on Android’s security foundations, offering additional protection. And the “Moto” app is a fantastic resource for customizing your smartphone. It includes helpful gesture controls, like “flip for do not disturb” and the always-handy “fast torch” feature.
For unlocking your device, the Moto G84 offers two convenient options. There’s an in-display optical fingerprint sensor that works efficiently, providing a responsive and secure way to access your phone. Additionally, there’s Face Unlock as a backup option, which proves responsive in most lighting conditions.
Camera
The primary shooter is an impressive 50-megapixel lens with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This OIS feature comes in handy, especially in lower light conditions, as it helps prevent shake and blur in your photos.
Backing up the primary camera is an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. It’s a standard Motorola camera app with helpful guidance, such as suggesting portrait mode when it detects a human face in close proximity. Portrait mode allows you to capture shots with beautiful bokeh-style background blur, and it’s fully adjustable to suit your preferences.
The camera app offers various shooting modes, including a Pro mode for manual adjustments to settings like white balance and ISO levels. You can even use it to shoot images in raw format for more post-processing flexibility. There are plenty of other bonus modes, including night vision for low-light scenarios, ultra-res mode for high-resolution shots, and the ever-popular spot color mode.
The camera samples from the 50-megapixel primary camera show accurate color reproduction, impressive detail, and the benefits of OIS in low-light environments. Night mode is available to further enhance low-light shots by brightening and sharpening them.
However, it’s worth noting that the video recording capability tops out at full HD resolution, with no 4K option available. You can switch between 30 and 60 frames per second for smooth video capture. While it may not provide the highest video quality, the Moto G84 does a respectable job for capturing simple, shareable videos. Audio pickup is clear, and the stabilization works well.
For selfie enthusiasts, the Moto G84 features a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. It can capture stunning selfies, though the colors may appear less vivid compared to the primary camera. Portrait mode works well for selfies too, and you have the option of using a screen flash feature for low-light conditions. The selfie camera also supports full HD video recording, making it suitable for video chats and vlogs.
Battery
Inside the Moto G84 lies an impressive 5000 mAh battery.
The combination of this sizable battery, the energy-efficient Snapdragon chipset, and the clean stock Android experience results in exceptional battery life.
In fact, with typical usage, you should easily get through a full day’s use, and you might even stretch it to a weekend without needing to recharge. Of course, the exact battery life you experience will depend on your usage patterns.
The Moto G84 comes with a 33-watt wired charger. While it’s not the fastest charging speed available, it should get your battery replenished relatively quickly. Keep in mind that there’s no wireless charging support, but it’s essential to remember that wireless charging is a rare feature to find at this price point.
Motorola Moto G84 5G: Conclusion
The Motorola Moto G84 5G is a respectable mid-range smartphone that brings together good performance, a stunning design, and essential features at an accessible price point.
If you’re looking for a reliable and stylish device that won’t break the bank, the Moto G84 5G is certainly worth considering.
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