Review: Moto G5

Amid the ocean of flagship launches - which usually come at a price that is more than one's monthly savings - there must be something suitable for those who are looking to tighten their belts, right? Well, enter
Motorola's Moto G5 which just got that premium touch.
Lenovo-owned Motorola conducted a little research when developing the device: 76 per cent of those interviewed in a survey said they would be willing to spend more for better battery life, while a further 66 per cent claim they wouldn't mind digging deeper into their wallet for a nicer camera.
Apparently, Motorola heeded those calls and came up with Moto G5, which, it says, offers a 'simplified experience'.
The G series is the company's bestselling device, and they've taken things to a while new level with the G5 - well, not exactly pound-for-pound, though. It's got a Snapdragon 430 chipset, a downgrade from the G4's 617. But let's face it - to bring down the price you'd have to sacrifice something, right?
The good news, however, is that the G5 works well despite that. On the outside, it's got an all-glass front and an aluminium panel behind, complementing its overall metallic finish. Classiest Moto G of the lot, staying true to its 'Premium for All' tagline.
The fingerprint sensor below is also akin to the Huawei P10's: it acts like a trackpad of some sorts, which Moto calls the "One-button Nav". You can ditch the on-screen virtual navigation buttons and use it instead; swipe right to go back, swipe left for recent apps and tap to return to the home screen.
Its five-inch display - another downgrade from the G4's 5.5 inches - gives surprising clarity for a phone in its category. Its screen resolution is at 441ppi - better than the iPhone 7's 326ppi. However, I do have a beef with its single speaker, since it doesn't exactly offer top-of-the-line sound. Perhaps an outcome of catering to the budget-conscious. But guess what? The good ol' 3.5mm jack is there!
It has a nice 13MP camera, but it doesn't have a dual-LED flash or the larger aperture of its big brother, the G5 Plus. So, I expected it to be a bit off at low-light situations, which was exactly the case. It does, however, have the same app as the G5 Plus, meaning you also have automatic HDR support. At least the 5MP front camera does a decent job, especially for wide-angle
selfie nuts.
Another expected result is the battery, which will last you the whole day, just
as promised.

AND SO...
The Moto G5 looks classy and it's got some serious specs to boot. Obviously, not enough to challenge other flagship launches, but, with its price, it could easily reign on its own turf.  

EXTRA BYTE
Since we're in the Holy Month of Ramadan, Motorola has a little something for all of us. The Hadia Time app is back, which aims to encourage families to spend more time together, while pitching in data to migrant labourers, so they can, in turn, connect with the ones they love. The Android app, once installed, does something special: every minute your phone is locked between 7pm and 10pm, Motorola will donate data to the less fortunate. It's a special way of applying the sharing-and-caring concept: the more you spend time with your family, the more time you give to others as well. And why not? It doesn't always have to be  about food, right? After all, time spent with the ones you hold dear is priceless.
alvin@khaleejtimes.com