There's a lot to like about the new one moto g64, considering its starting price of Rs 14,999 (currently selling for Rs 13,999). Motorola is upping the game by introducing an optical image stabilization (OIS)-enabled 50MP camera for crisp shots, which is a rarity in this segment. Considering the design and weight, the battery size has been significantly increased to 6,000mAh. Other utilities include a water-resistant design (IP52), a 3.5mm jack, a new processor, fast charging, and 5G – all things that should matter to price-sensitive customers.
But how does the Moto G64 perform in real life? let's find out.
Decision
The Moto G64 is a reliable smartphone for those whose priorities lean towards performance and design. The biggest focus is the 6,000mAh battery, which is capable of providing a full day of battery life even with maximum settings enabled. Its cameras perform well in daylight, although low-light photography needs improvement. If you're interested in gaming, there are some more attractive options on the market. But for daily users, the Moto G64 will not disappoint.
Design and performance
The Moto G64 has a plastic build, which is no surprise at this price range. However, the materials don't feel shoddy, and the back offers a smooth matte finish, which does a good job of hiding fingerprint smudges and small scratch marks. For added durability, Motorola also provides a transparent case in the box.
Motorola deserves credit for keeping the weight under 200 grams and thickness at 8.89 mm despite the Moto G64 having a 6,000mAh battery. Ideally, I would prefer a thinner smartphone, but it has to bear the cost for longer battery backup. At least, this is compensated for by the multiple color options. I'm reviewing the green version, which I quite like. The brand also offers options in Pearl Blue and Ice Lilac, both of which are equally attractive to look at.
The Moto G64 also has all the standard ports and buttons. The left side includes a hybrid SIM card slot, and the right side houses the volume and power buttons. The power button on the Moto G64 includes a physical fingerprint scanner, which is quite responsive if your thumb is clean and dry.
There is also a 3.5mm audio jack located at the bottom next to the Type-C charging port. However, its placement could be improved. The current situation presents a challenge, as the grip may not be very comfortable when both the charger and wired earphones are plugged in simultaneously.
While the design of the Moto G64 is mostly thought out considering the price, the display experience feels average. The phone comes with a 6.5-inch IPS display, which offers Full HD+ (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The screen size is enough for reading and watching videos. The shine remains good even in harsh sunlight. The problem lies in the color calibration, which seems somewhat washed out. Naturally, some areas and shades may not look as vibrant as they would on an AMOLED display.
Motorola has used pOLED displays in this range before, which should help deliver better colors. Perhaps using the same display technology in the Moto G64 could have given an edge. However, the slightly less powerful viewing experience is somewhat offset by the onboard stereo speakers. Additionally, there is support for Dolby Atmos for a 3D audio experience with both wired and wireless earphones.
camera
The Moto G64 includes a 50MP primary camera with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide camera capable of taking macro shots. There is a 16MP camera on the front for selfie.
By default, the Moto G64 processes images with high saturation, and as a result, shots have a warm orange-ish hue. Contrast and shadows also tend to be on the higher side to make photos look more dramatic. This makes the Moto G64's photos more social media ready. This applies to both the primary and ultra-wide camera outputs.
However, due to the OIS support, the former can capture sharper photos (at least in daylight). On the other hand, ultra-wide cameras can be inconsistent with results, especially if a human subject is involved. In some cases the colors around the corners may also wash out.
Overall, daylight photos are satisfactory for the price. However, in low light conditions, photos may lack clarity or accurate colors or sometimes both. If you are able to adjust the lighting and stability, perhaps with a tripod, the results can still include high contrast. Enabling night mode can also help to some extent. Still, getting a clear photo with balanced colors remains a challenge, which is a common problem with most phones in this range.
The 16MP selfie camera takes similar shots to the primary camera, although some photos may include even warmer tones. You can adjust the output by enabling or disabling the “Image Preferences” option, although some editing may be required to get the skin tone right. The Moto G64's videos are average at best. Although video stability is good, colors are inconsistent.
Display
Motorola smartphones are generally best suited for productivity-focused smartphones as the brand pays special attention to the software experience supported by capable hardware. The same thing applies to Moto G64 also.
It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC. The base variant has 128GB storage and 8GB RAM. The unit I'm reviewing comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for Rs 15,999 (MRP Rs 17,999). UFS 2.2 and LPDDR4X RAM has been used in the phone.
In benchmarks, the Moto G64 has achieved good scores in the burnout test for Geekbench, AnTuTu and Throttle. It scores relatively higher marks than realme 12x And POCO X6 Neo In the same test. Other latest smartphones including realme p1 And Vivo T3xAre ahead in some areas.
Beyond the numbers, the Moto G64 is more than capable of handling daily tasks in real life. If your preferences lean towards gaming, the Moto G64 can play BGMI and Call of Duty, although the Realme P1 or Vivo T3 Can be a better partner. The G64 supports HD graphics in BGMI, but the performance is good if not the best.
However, the Moto G64 has a lot to offer for performance-focused users. A few native apps also add versatility, including interactive widgets, MotoHub, and Motorola Notifications. The phone comes with Android 14, and the UI is mostly clean. Some apps are pre-installed, but they can be easily uninstalled. Sadly, it is expected to receive a major Android OS update.
Battery
The new 6,000mAh battery helps in better battery backup. In the PCMark battery test, the Moto G64 lasted more than 18 hours (flight mode enabled), a very respectable score. For daily use, users can easily expect a full day's battery with maximum settings enabled. With minor features running in the background, expect a battery backup of more than a day.
The phone can handle 30W charging, but it comes with a 33W charger in the box. I like the bundled black charger that Motorola usually provides with its Edge and high-end G-series phones. However, charging takes longer due to the size of the battery. It only took about 30 minutes to get 29 percent charged, and over an hour (about 80 minutes) to get fully charged.
final call
The Moto G64 proves to be a value-for-money smartphone, especially if you are able to buy the smartphone for Rs 13,999. This could be an ideal choice for those who prioritize performance, battery, and minimalist design. Front and rear cameras are also good. The tall display offers a standard viewing experience, although the presence of an AMOLED or pOLED display would have given it an edge.
For gamers, the Moto G64 can handle heavier titles including BGMI and COD, although the Vivo T3x or Realme P1 remains a better option.
If your priorities don't rely heavily on gaming, but rather on overall performance for daily tasks like browsing and reading, the Moto G64 won't disappoint.
Editor's Rating: 7.5/10
Reasons to buy:
- Minimal design. Plus, a matte finish to prevent fingerprint smudges.
- Good performance, thanks to the MediaTek SoC. Plus, a cleaner software experience.
- The rear cameras perform well in daylight.
- Users can expect long battery backup with the 6,000mAh battery.
Reasons for not buying:
- The Moto G64 may not be ideal for gamers, especially in this segment.
- Charging takes more than an hour.
- Display performance is average. No AMOLED display.
