“Brings some flair to the table”
FOR Punchy picture; good operating system; responsive AGAINST Image needs refinement; unexciting sound
Since the range began in 2013, Motorola’s G series smartphones have always been good value for money and the new G6 is no exception. It’s hard not to be charmed by this budget dialler. At a time when many smartphone manufacturers are cutting features (or essentials, as some would argue), the G6 remains steadfast.
There’s a fingerprint scanner, a headphone jack and a USB-C port for charging its 3000mah battery that should last all day, even if you’re listening to music or watching videos on your commute.
The G6 has a 5.7in Full HD+ display, with the same pixel density as a regular Full HD display, but slightly more pixels to accommodate the G6’s 18:9 aspect ratio (compared to the normal 16:9).
At the top is the front-facing 8MP camera for selfies – while on the back is a dual 12MP and 5MP set-up. It's not as powerful as other Android phones, but acceptable on a budget model like this. The camera also features image recognition software that gives you information about what it’s looking at in the form of Google Lens, so you can download contact details from business cards or information about the tourist attraction you are snapping.
A Snapdragon 1.8GHZ octa-core processor, combined with the Android Oreo 8.0 operating system, keeps this phone running smoothly. It’s responsive when loading apps and boot up times are snappy enough to avoid annoyance.
Chop and change
There are a number of other Moto-specific features built into the phone. It will let you know when your storage is close to being used up, or if your battery is running low.
It can also be used to set up ‘Moto Actions’, which trigger specific functions when you move your phone: placing it screen-down toggles a ‘do not disturb’ mode, while a karate chop action turns the torch on. It’s another charming Motorola feature – anything that gives users more variety in their device is fine by us.
Overall, the quality of the Moto G6’s screen is as good as you might expect from an £200ish smartphone. We’d recommend going into the settings first, and making sure that the adaptive brightness setting is turned off, so that the picture isn’t affected by ambient light. There’s a ‘colour mode’ too, letting you switch between two presets (Standard and Vibrant), as well as offering the choice of a warm, cool, or neutral colour. Watching Parks And
Recreation via the Amazon Prime Video app, there’s a good amount of richness and colour to the animals at the Pawnee Zoo, Leslie Knope’s (Amy Poehler) bright blonde hair, or the wood panelling of the office doors.
In darker scenes, it manages to go blacker than other phones we’ve tested at this price point. During a scene in an aquarium, there’s a deeper darkness to Justin Anderson’s (Justin Theroux) black hair and shirt, while still contrasting decently against the grey-blue background.
Pore detail
The G6 also handles detail well, giving a good presentation of texture, hairs, and pores in close ups. However, this is a mixed bag, as the dark colours can suck away some of the insight in dimly lit areas.
It’s also worth noting that while the G6 has a rich colour palette, it’s not particularly natural. Skin tones are a little overcooked, the grass is too green, and the blue sky looks like the peak of a summer heatwave.
We’d like it to go a bit brighter too, as even on maximum brightness this phone struggles to make whites look as white as they should. It’s also more difficult to read the screen outside, which is a difference between LCD screens and AMOLED displays on more expensive phones.
Viewing angles could be better too. The moment you move off-centre the contrast starts to fade and you lose detail. This won’t be much of a problem when you’re using it by yourself, only if you want to show anyone else a video or your holiday snaps.
When listening to music, through the 3.5mm jack and a pair of five-star AKG K550 headphones, the G6 does a decent job providing a fine sound. It’s worth noting that Dolby audio processing is built into the phone, giving you the option to play with sound profiles and EQ settings. There are options for film, music and game modes, as well as 'intelligent equalizer' options of Open, Rich, Focused or Off.
Punchy bass
Playing Karma by Years & Years, the G6 has a pretty punchy bass when it comes to the padded drum that acts as the foundation for the song – and it doesn’t feel like it’s dragging down the rest of the track. The synth pop sounds remain light and airy, while Olly Alexander’s vocals come through clearly – even when he hits the high notes.
While the G6 has more difficulty with complex tracks, struggling to convey the crashing sounds of Neutral Milk’s Hotel’s In
The Aeroplane Over The Sea – it manages to be rapid and lively when needed.
However, it’s still lacking in dynamism and the cohesiveness required to bring a track together. When Laura Marling’s vocals come in on Wild Ones, the Motorola loses its grip on the backing elements. It feels like the G6 is stuck in third gear, unable to really open up and give you something powerful. It also doesn’t go as loud as competing LG or Samsung models, so those with less sensitive headphones might have trouble getting the volume they need.
The Motorola G6 is a good place to start when looking for a phone that can not only handle the essentials but give you decent photos too. The fact that it brings flair to the table is a bonus, and while there’s some refinement needed when it comes to picture and sound, it does its job well.