Motorola Moto G100 review

Competition

It's got a very particular skillset, the Moto G100, and if you're looking for that specific combination of features and performance at that price (€500), there's hardly an alternative. Alternatives aplenty, however, if you give up on this or that.

First on our list is the Galaxy S20 FE, in 4G trim to match the G100's price point. So you'd be missing out on next-gen connectivity, but the Galaxy is ready for DeX, so you won't be compromising on big-screen experiences potential. It's a tough call on the cameras, since the Galaxy is better at most things, but it only has a single selfie cam, and it's one AF ultrawide with a ring light short of the Moto's. We'd take the Galaxy's 120Hz AMOLED over the Moto's 90Hz LCD in a heartbeat, the FE lasts longer and charges faster, it has stereo speakers and a proper IP68 rating.

The OnePlus 8 is on its way out the door - OnePlus won't sell you one, but Amazon is still happy to, as are a whole bunch of European retailers. And at €450, it's well worth considering. The OP8, too, has an AMOLED display, its battery lasts longer and charges faster than the Moto's, and it has stereo speakers as well. The G100 takes a couple of small victories thanks to its headphone jack and microSD slot (both missing on the OP). Oh, and when the 8 is gone, the brand new and nearly identical 9R remains an option and roughly the same price.

Just announced, but really promising on paper (and, wink, in for review), the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G packs a Snapdragon 780 chip that won't be too far off the 870 one in the Moto. The AMOLED display, stereo speakers, and even the IR blaster in the Mi's favor, though it is missing a headphone jack, and there's nothing remotely unique about this Xiaomi's camera system. It is spectacularly thin at just 6.8mm and very light at 159g, so perhaps that could tip the scales in its favor? If not that alone, maybe with the help of the price - the Mi 11 Lite 5G starts at some 25% cheaper than the Moto G100.

If you're dead set on the dual front cameras, perhaps a Realme X3 SuperZoom could be your thing. And not only does it match the G100's selfie versatility, but it also comes with a 5x periscope tele on the back - arguably more useful than a ring-flash macro? The Realme has an older chipset, but its SD855+ is hardly a slouch, and the SuperZoom does offer slightly better endurance, faster charging too, plus 30Hz more on its LCD. The Realme normally retails for precisely G100 money, but we have seen it at €350, and it's a number that's hard to argue with.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE • OnePlus 8 • Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G • Realme X3 SuperZoom

Verdict

There are phones with more mainstream appeal that can outclass the Moto G100, if you're not hung up on the things that make it unique. You can get OLED displays, faster charging, more capable cameras, stereo speakers - often at a lower price than the Moto G100.

However, the Moto G100 does not disappoint when it comes to the fundamentals - it offers a solid battery life, a top-tier performance, and display and camera image quality that are very much okay. But the G100's real strength lies in the combination of features that you can't find together in a single phone. Ring lights for close-ups (and actually good close-ups) are only slightly more common than unicorns, dual selfie cameras are nowhere as popular as we'd prefer, and it's not easy to get the equivalent of the Ready For functionality on all Androids. If these sound like they're up your alley, do give the Moto G100 a try.

Pros

• Appealing design, interesting colors, pleasant to touch.
• Very good battery life.
• The Ready For platform has valid use cases (that name though).
• Really powerful chipset.
• Versatile rear camera - the main unit is dependable across most circumstances, the AF ultrawide with a ring light can be very useful for the right person.
• Two selfie cameras are always a good thing.

Cons

• The display is LCD and 'only' 90Hz - there are better ones for the money.
• Charging is relatively slow.
• Ready For peripherals sold separately (bundle deals at launch though).
• Poor low-light image quality from the ultrawide camera, no Night mode for it either, and no 4K recording.