The Moto G7 Play has one of its coolest features at the front, and that is the notched IPS LCD screen with somewhat thinned bezels. It's 5.7" in diagonal and has a resolution of 720 x 1,512 pixels or 294ppi - not the ideal sharpness, but still quite usable. These specs make for a trendy 19:9 screen aspect ratio.
The display is protected with a Gorilla Glass 3. There is no factory-applied screen protector, but you can always opt for one.
The Moto G7 Play display has a maximum brightness of 436 nits - not the brightest around, but we guess it's fine for the class. The black levels turned out quite deep, though, so the G7 Play screen scored an excellent contrast ratio of 1468:1.
When in Auto mode, the G7 Play screen can boost the brightness up to 550 nits for a short period - enough for when you are using the G7 under bright sunlight.
For those following our tests closely - the lower brightness we could achieve on the G7 Play is 6.9 nits, which honestly can give your eyes some trouble in pitch dark rooms.
Display test
100% brightness
Black, cd/m2
White, cd/m2
Contrast ratio
Motorola Moto G7 Play
0.297
436
1468
Motorola Moto G7 Play (Max Auto)
0.416
549
1320
Motorola Moto G7 Power
0.298
499
1674
Motorola Moto G7 Power (Max Auto)
0.459
636
1386
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
0.358
479
1338
Oppo Realme 2
0.286
411
1437
Realme U1
0.283
518
1830
Xiaomi Redmi 5
0.378
503
1331
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
0.385
488
1268
Xiaomi Mi A1
0.351
551
1570
Huawei P Smart 2019
0.325
437
1345
Sunlight legibility is nothing worth praising, although the score is still fine for a budget phone. In real-world terms, the handset remains usable outdoors. Just don't angle it straight at the sun.
Sunlight contrast ratio
Apple iPhone XS 5.171
Apple iPhone X 5.013
Huawei Mate 20 Pro 4.965
OnePlus 5T 4.789
Samsung Galaxy S8 4.768
Asus ROG Phone 4.765
Samsung Galaxy S8+ 4.658
Samsung Galaxy S9 4.63
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 4.615
Samsung Galaxy S9+ 4.537
Samsung Galaxy Note9 4.531
Apple iPhone XS Max 4.516
Sony Xperia XZ3 4.502
Motorola Moto Z2 Play 4.459
Oppo R11 4.454
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge 4.439
Oppo RX17 Pro 4.434
OnePlus 3 4.424
Samsung Galaxy S7 4.376
Google Pixel 3 4.35
Huawei Mate 20 X 4.337
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) 4.324
OnePlus 6 4.321
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 4.291
vivo NEX Dual Display (second display) 4.289
HTC One A9 4.274
LG V40 ThinQ 4.256
Oppo R15 Pro 4.251
Samsung Galaxy Note7 4.247
Samsung Galaxy A3 4.241
Nokia 8 4.239
Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update) 4.234
OnePlus 3T 4.232
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) 4.22
Google Pixel XL 4.164
ZTE Axon 7 4.154
Samsung Galaxy Note8 4.148
Meizu Pro 7 Plus 4.147
OnePlus 6T 4.138
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge 4.124
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) 4.124
vivo V11 4.113
vivo NEX Dual Display 4.108
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal) 4.096
Samsung Galaxy Note5 4.09
Huawei P20 Pro 4.087
Xiaomi Mi 8 4.086
Meizu 15 4.082
Nokia 6 (2018) 4.052
Google Pixel 2 (pre-update) 4.023
LG V30 4.022
Huawei Nexus 6P 4.019
vivo NEX S 4.012
Honor Magic 2 4.01
Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro 3.998
OnePlus X 3.983
Vivo Xplay5 Elite 3.983
LG G7 ThinQ (outdoor) 3.978
Oppo R7s 3.964
Apple iPhone 7 3.964
Apple iPhone 8 (True Tone) 3.957
Huawei P9 Plus 3.956
Oppo Find X 3.954
Meizu Pro 6 Plus 3.935
Lenovo Moto Z 3.931
Xiaomi Mi 9 3.921
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) 3.918
OnePlus 5 3.914
Samsung Galaxy C5 3.911
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE 3.901
Samsung Galaxy C7 3.896
Samsung Galaxy A5 3.895
Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor 3.879
Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor 3.873
Motorola Moto G6 Plus 3.865
Samsung Galaxy A8 3.859
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) 3.842
Apple iPhone 6 3.838
Microsoft Lumia 950XL 3.837
Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018) 3.834
Sony Xperia XZs 3.818
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) 3.817
Motorola Moto X (2014) 3.816
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) 3.812
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) 3.804
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode 3.802
Xiaomi Redmi Pro 3.798
LG V20 Max auto 3.798
Sony Xperia XZ 3.795
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) 3.789
Apple iPhone 6s 3.783
Meizu Pro 5 3.781
Microsoft Lumia 650 3.772
Xiaomi Mi 6 3.767
Sony Xperia XZ1 3.765
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) 3.756
Nokia 8 Sirocco 3.745
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact 3.729
Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone) 3.725
Oppo F1 Plus 3.709
Vivo X5Pro 3.706
Sony Xperia X Compact 3.694
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) 3.688
Huawei P20 3.683
Apple iPhone SE 3.681
Huawei Mate 9 3.68
Samsung Galaxy A7 3.679
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact 3.675
Meizu PRO 6 3.659
BlackBerry Priv 3.645
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra 3.597
Huawei Honor View 20 3.597
Apple iPhone 7 Plus 3.588
Sony Xperia XZ2 3.58
LG G6 3.556
Samsung Galaxy S5 3.549
Apple iPhone 6s Plus 3.53
Motorola Moto Z Play 3.526
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) 3.523
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode 3.523
Acer Jade Primo 3.521
Microsoft Lumia 950 3.512
Oppo R7 Plus 3.499
Nokia 7 plus 3.479
nubia Z11 3.466
Huawei P10 Plus 3.456
HTC U Ultra 3.453
Motorola Moto G6 3.448
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra 3.445
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus 3.445
Samsung Galaxy J7 3.422
Motorola Moto G6 Play 3.419
Meizu MX5 3.416
LG V20 3.402
Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018) 3.397
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera 3.393
LG G7 ThinQ 3.39
Huawei P10 3.379
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3.378
Oppo R9s 3.352
Honor Play 3.349
Honor 8 Pro 3.341
Oppo F7 3.333
Oppo R7 3.32
Lenovo P2 3.316
Archos Diamond Omega 3.305
Honor 9 3.289
Xiaomi Mi 5s 3.276
Nokia 5 3.261
Nokia 6 (Chinese version) 3.244
Nokia 6 (Global version) 3.238
Samsung Galaxy J2 3.235
Oppo Realme 2 Pro 3.235
Sony Xperia X Performance 3.234
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 3.228
Motorola Moto X Play 3.222
Oppo F3 Plus 3.218
BlackBerry KEY2 3.212
Huawei Mate 9 Pro 3.206
Huawei P9 3.195
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 3.19
Motorola Moto G7 Play 3.18
Motorola Moto G7 Power 3.176
ZTE Nubia Z17 3.159
Oppo R11s 3.153
Lenovo Vibe Shot 3.113
Honor 8X 3.113
HTC U11 Life 3.108
Motorola Moto X Force 3.105
LG Nexus 5X 3.092
HTC U11 3.089
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite 3.087
HTC U12+ 3.085
Xiaomi Redmi S2 (Y2) 3.077
Huawei Mate S 3.073
Oppo F9 3.069
Huawei P Smart 2019 3.069
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL 3.065
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 3.061
Xiaomi Pocophone F1 3.059
Huawei Mate 20 3.052
Huawei Mate 20 Lite 3.051
Motorola One (P30 Play) 3.026
Apple iPhone 6 Plus 3.023
Asus Zenfone 4 ZE554KL 3.019
Sony Xperia XA1 3.012
Motorola Moto X4 3.012
Motorola Moto G7 3.011
Motorola Moto G7 Plus 3.01
Oppo Realme 2 3.006
Sony Xperia L1 2.994
Sony Xperia X 2.989
LG Q6 2.987
Huawei P10 Lite 2.974
Samsung Galaxy Note 2.97
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro 2.966
Huawei P20 Lite 2.952
Xiaomi Redmi 5 2.951
Huawei Mate 8 2.949
Sony Xperia XA2 2.938
Oppo Realme 1 2.932
Razer Phone 2 2.932
Xiaomi Redmi 4 2.92
Xiaomi Redmi 3S 2.913
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 2.913
Sony Xperia XA Ultra 2.906
LG G5 2.905
Huawei Honor View 10 2.896
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime 2.893
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 2.893
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus 2.884
Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB) 2.877
Sony Xperia XZ Premium 2.877
Sony Xperia Z5 2.876
Nokia 3 2.871
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium 2.867
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 2.862
Microsoft Lumia 550 2.851
Nokia 3.1 2.837
Realme U1 2.815
Lenovo Moto M 2.813
Nokia 7.1 2.804
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro 2.803
Sony Xperia Z5 compact 2.784
Honor 10 (Vivid) 2.757
Nokia 2 2.752
Meizu MX6 2.751
LG V10 2.744
Huawei Mate 10 (normal) 2.742
Motorola Moto G5S Plus 2.737
Xiaomi Redmi 3 2.735
Huawei Honor 7X 2.734
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) 2.714
Meizu M5 2.71
Xiaomi Mi A2 2.696
Sony Xperia M5 2.69
Xiaomi Mi A1 2.689
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 2.563
Huawei P Smart 2.563
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 2.561
HTC U11+ 2.556
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A (Y1) 2.556
Lenovo Moto G4 2.544
Lenovo K6 Note 2.544
Oppo F1 2.528
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 2.525
Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c 2.506
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 2.503
Huawei Honor 10 Lite 2.497
Lenovo Vibe K4 Note 2.254
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra 2.253
HTC U11+ (EU) 2.253
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) 2.249
Sony Xperia C4 Dual 2.235
Xiaomi Mi Note 2.234
Motorola Moto G (2014) 2.233
LG Nexus 5 2.228
Huawei P8 2.196
Meizu M5 Note 2.189
Huawei Honor 6 2.169
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 2.166
OnePlus Two 2.165
HTC One X 2.158
LG Aka 2.145
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20) 2.145
Archos 50 Diamond 2.134
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2.119
Xiaomi Mi 4S 2.095
Acer Liquid X2 2.084
Huawei P8lite 2.078
vivo V5 2.059
Moto G 3rd gen max manual 2.026
Xiaomi Mi 3 2.001
Xiaomi Mi Max 1.996
Sony Xperia E4g 1.972
The Moto G7 Play has three settings for color saturations - natural, boosted, and the default one - saturated. The color rendering, when left on saturated, is average at best with an average DeltaE of 6.8 and a maximum deviation of 12. The only saturated hues are the blues, which also hurt the white and grays a lot.
Unfortunately, opting for Natural won't change much, the blue tint still remains.
Battery life
The Moto G7 Play is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery - about right for the class. The G7 Play ships with either 5W or 10W charger, depending on the market. Ours came with a 5W one, and it replenishes 22% of the G7's depleted battery in half an hour.
Surprisingly, the Moto G7 Play posted impressive (for a 3,000 mAh battery) test scores across all of our routines and this earned it the final 103-hour Endurance rating. It did a great job at all tested scenarios - video, calls, web browsing and even stand-by performance.
Our battery tests were automated thanks to SmartViser, using its viSer App. The endurance rating above denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Motorola Moto G7 Play for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so that our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritty. You can check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
Speaker
The earpiece on the Moto G7 Play also doubles as a loudspeaker. The good news is the speaker scored a Very Good mark on our loudness test, and its audio is deep enough.
But the loudness varies a lot depending on whether the speaker is facing towards or away from you.
Speakerphone test
Voice, dB
Pink noise/ Music, dB
Ringing phone, dB
Overall score
Motorola Moto G6 Play
62.6
68.0
71.0
Average
Huawei Y7 Prime (2018)
64.9
70.5
71.9
Average
Honor 8X
67.1
72.9
81.6
Very Good
Moto G7 Play
66.6
74.4
81.8
Very Good
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
67.5
77.8
77.6
Very Good
Realme 2 Pro
69.1
74.8
81.4
Very Good
Moto G7 (Smart Audio)
70.2
71.9
84.6
Very Good
Moto G7 Plus (Smart Audio)
70.8
72.4
84.9
Excellent
Huawei P Smart 2019
69.5
73.6
86.0
Excellent
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
69.8
71.5
90.5
Excellent
Moto G7 Power
75.8
75.2
82.5
Excellent
Motorola Moto G6
81.1
75.7
83.7
Excellent
Audio quality
The active external amplifier part of our audio quality test saw the Motorola Moto G7 Play deliver output of average loudness and perfect clarity - par for the course these days, but it’s good to see that no corners were cut here to make the low price.
Headphones introduced a tiny bit of intermodulation distortion and an average amount of stereo crosstalk. They also dropped the volume a bit, relegating it to a below average rating. Still, all things considered, the G7 Play should be an adequate music player for everybody but the most demanding audiophile even.
Test
Frequency response
Noise level
Dynamic range
THD
IMD + Noise
Stereo crosstalk
Motorola Moto G7 Play
+0.07, -0.01
-90.0
90.1
0.0019
0.015
-92.9
Motorola Moto G7 Play (headphones)
+0.16, -0.10
-92.3
92.5
0.0069
0.164
-64.8
Motorola Moto G7
+0.04, -0.04
-93.6
90.9
0.0034
0.0100
-94.8
Motorola Moto G7 (headphones)
+0.06, -0.03
-90.5
93.2
0.0036
0.048
-62.5
Redmi Note 7
+0.04, -0.04
-90.7
90.7
0.0015
0.014
-94.5
Redmi Note 7 (headphones)
+0.05, -0.29
-92.5
92.5
0.024
0.296
-55.0
Huawei P Smart 2019
+0.02, -0.02
-93.1
93.0
0.0039
0.0088
-81.9
Huawei P Smart 2019 (headphones)
+0.64, -0.38
-88.6
91.9
0.0069
0.606
-50.6
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
+0.04, -0.04
-93.5
93.4
0.0011
0.0070
-93.4
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite (headphones)
+0.45, -0.18
-93.4
93.4
0.021
0.457
-54.9
Honor 8X
+0.01, -0.04
-92.3
92.4
0.0041
0.0085
-80.7
Honor 8X (headphones)
+0.45, -0.54
-92.2
92.8
0.0084
0.492
-51.5
Motorola Moto G7 Play frequency response
You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.
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