Motorola Moto G Play (2021)

The Motorola Moto G family of phones has always offered an excellent blend of affordable pricing and features. The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) is like the younger sibling of this year’s model group. Its specs are lower, but so is its price. So what are you getting and — perhaps more importantly — what are you not getting?

Design

The Moto G Play (2021) proves that you can still have style without a huge price tag. No, it’s not the most premium phone. But reviewers found the design impressive nonetheless. Many considered the inobtrusive camera a particularly lovely part of the design. It doesn’t protrude out the back like many new phones these days. Also, because it is centered, the phone won’t wobble all over the table. The bezels on the front were a bit larger than what you might find on competing phones, but not in a way that reviewers found unattractive.

Display

Reviewers stated that the screen was one of the most obvious things that hinted at the phone’s lower price. Reviews were a mixed bag accordingly. Some found the display didn’t show up well outdoors, while others found it plenty bright.

However, a lack of definition and dull colors are things on which reviewers could agree. A 720p screen in today’s market is rare already. By the time you stretch so few pixels (relatively speaking) across a 6.5-inch display, people will notice a difference when setting the phone next to virtually any other release in 2021.

Performance

This phone probably isn’t going to win any awards for performance either. True to its budget-friendly focus, reviewers found the phone handles everyday stuff like social media and browsing with ease. But when it came to games and intensive apps and multitasking, reviewers encountered stuttering and long loading times. The experience barely cut it in terms of enjoyability for most.

Software & Storage

Motorola ships the phone with Android 10. They also only guarantee one software update. Reviewers found that disappointing. Storage is also a bit lackluster, with only 32GB of internal storage on offer. However, the MicroSD slot allows you to add extra storage after purchase.

Cameras

Reviewers found a lack of dedicated night mode disappointing. Any picture taken in a poorly lit setting ended up grungy and murky. Even in good lighting, results only turned out so great, with the camera struggling with washed-out colors and low contrast. If you’re looking for a great photography or videography experience on a budget, this phone isn’t it.

Battery Life

Battery life sees opinions tick noticeable upward. Reviewers had nothing negative to say when it came to the phone’s endurance, with many getting multiple days of use out of a single charge.

Audio

As you can probably guess, the audio isn’t so great. That said, the phone includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, so grabbing your favorite headphones will quickly improve the listening experience.

Specs at a Glance

• Plastic chassis
• 6.5-inch 720p LCD display
• Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 processor
• 3GB of RAM
• Android 10
• 32GB of onboard storage with MicroSD card support
• 13MP main lens and 5MP selfie camera
• 5,000mAh battery

Bottom Line

The 2021 Motorola Moto G series phones are affordable for everyone, and the Moto G Play (2021) is particularly budget-friendly. It won’t win any prizes for its build quality or performance, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work for someone looking for a basic phone for light use or younger users. Just don’t expect to play the latest games, wow friends and family with your photography skills, or multitask all day. Still, the rest of the line-up is reasonably affordable too. This leaves many reviewers questioning the value of the Moto G Play (2021).

Phone Arena states, “[The phone is] functionality is quite good, but the Moto G Power is a considerably better phone for only thirty dollars more. Those who don’t require much from their smartphones will find the G Play’s clean software and great battery life quite attractive, but for everyone else, there are better options within the market, even within Motorola’s own lineup.”

PC Magazine says, “For tight budgets, the Moto G Play is hard to beat, especially for performance and battery life. But if you can spend a little more, our money is on the Moto G Power.”