Having tried out the new Moto G Power 2021, I’ve come to conclude that it’s one of the best phones you can buy at this price point. With a great camera, impressive battery life, and a one-update policy, this phone is sure to please.
Screen resolution
Compared to last year’s Moto G Power, the 2021 version has a better display and a larger screen, but it also has a slightly inferior processor and a lower-quality selfie camera. The screen also gets a bit dim in direct sunlight. However, overall the G Power (2021) is a pretty good phone.
The Moto G Power (2021) has a 6.6-inch HD+ display that’s sharp and a reasonably bright screen. The 16-megapixel main camera has a decent resolution, but color accuracy isn’t as good as the one on the Moto G Stylus.
Motorola’s custom Android software is free of bloat, and the Peek Display feature is nice. However, the Moto G Power doesn’t get a whole lot of security updates until the fall of 2020. And with Android 10 being more than a year old, you’re unlikely to see an upgrade to Android 12.
Motorola’s version of Android chews through its 32GB or 64GB storage, and 14GB of system files are onboard. The Moto G Power can support 512GB microSD cards, but the phone will feel tight on your fingers with this storage limit.
Camera
Whether you’re a photographer or just looking for a phone with good photos, Motorola’s Moto G Power (2021) has an excellent camera. Featuring a 48MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 16MP wide-angle camera, the G Power (2021) offers great images at a reasonable price.
The G Power (2021) runs on a Snapdragon 662 processor with 4GB of RAM. The phone also comes with a 5000mAh battery. Its screen measures 6.6 inches, which is slightly larger than the 6.0-inch 1080p display found on the previous model.
The camera on the Moto G Power (2021) has been updated from last year’s model. Motorola’s software algorithms are supposed to allow for 48MP photos. Unfortunately, they do not perform as well as other high-end cameras. For instance, they have a hard time keeping up with fast-moving subjects in low light. Also, their noise reduction smears details in low light.
The Moto G Power (2021) has a 48MP primary sensor that combines four 0.8um pixels into larger pixels. This is supposed to improve light collection. The sensor is also better at pulling in detail outside, but it’s not as sharp as some past Moto devices.
Battery life
Whether you’re a seasoned smartphone veteran or you’re just getting started, the Moto G Power is an affordable option that will deliver excellent battery life. It’s got a hefty 5000mAh battery that lasts about two days with normal use.
If you’re into photography, you’ll appreciate the impressive camera on the Moto G Power (2021). The phone sports a 48-megapixel main sensor that produces 12-megapixel images. It also comes with a depth sensor for portrait-mode photos.
The Moto G Power has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot. It’s got splashproof coating and a USB-C port for charging. It’s also got an interesting feature, a fingerprint reader built into the power button. While the reader is impressive, it’s not without its flaws. For instance, it’s a bit annoying for lefties.
The Moto G Power is a little bit bigger than its predecessor, and it’s got a larger screen. But, its screen is only about half as bright as its predecessor’s.
One-update policy
Currently, Motorola offers one major Android update for all Moto phones, but this is expected to change. Motorola will no longer provide multiple updates for certain phones, including the Moto G and Moto G Power.
This is a policy change that is designed to ensure that Motorola customers continue to receive upgrades on their phones. Motorola’s policy contradicts the support policy for Samsung, which provides four years of security updates for flagship phones. However, Motorola has a poor history of providing software updates to budget phones.
Motorola is providing one update for the Moto G Power (2021) and the Moto G Play (2021) while the Moto G10 and Moto G10 Power are being excluded from the update. This is not the case for the Moto G71 5G, which is receiving an Android 12 update.
Currently, Motorola is providing security updates to most phones. The company is promising two years of bi-monthly security patches, and one major OS upgrade for the Moto G.