The Moto G 5G (2022) is a budget 5G phone from Motorola, announced on April 21, 2022. Unlocked sales in the US started on May 19, 2022. The unlocked 6 GB / 256 GB version launched at $399.99. Carriers sold a 4 GB / 64 GB version. The phone is now discontinued, and the Moto G 5G (2023) follows it in the lineup.
Design and display
The phone has a plastic frame and back. It comes in one color, Moonlight Gray. It measures 165.4 x 75.8 x 9.4 mm and weighs 204 g. An IP52 rating covers dust and light splashes, but the phone should not be submerged.
The 6.5-inch LCD panel has an HD+ resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels, or about 270 ppi. Its refresh rate reaches 90 Hz. A fingerprint reader sits in the side-mounted power button.
Performance
The phone runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 700, a 7 nm chip. It has two 2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and six 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. Graphics come from a Mali-G57 MC2. RAM is 4 GB or 6 GB, and storage is 64 GB or 256 GB. A microSD slot accepts cards of up to 1 TB.
The 5G connection is sub-6 GHz only, so there is no mmWave support. The phone also has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1, but it lacks NFC, so contactless payments are not available.
Cameras
The rear setup has a 50 MP main camera (f/1.8). A 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth camera join it. The front camera has 13 MP and an f/2.2 aperture. Both the rear and front cameras record video at up to 1080p and 30 fps.
Battery and charging
The battery capacity is 5,000 mAh, and wired charging peaks at 10 W. A 10 W charger comes in the box. Wireless charging is not supported. Motorola rates the battery for up to two days on one charge.
Software and updates
The phone launched with Android 12 and a near-stock interface. Motorola promised one OS upgrade, to Android 13. It also promised up to three years of security updates, delivered every other month.
Should you buy the Moto G 5G (2022)?
This phone suits buyers who want long battery life, a headphone jack and expandable storage. However, it is no longer produced, and its promised update period has passed. Buyers who need contactless payments should look elsewhere. Its successor, the Moto G 5G (2023), has a 120 Hz display and 15 W charging.
