Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play hands-on review

Introduction

Motorola hasn't exactly enjoyed a smooth ride on the smartphone scene, over the past few years. Still, amid all the profit turmoil, ownership changes and shifting branding strategies, the legendary Moto G family of devices managed to survive. In fact, it did one better, managing to remain pretty consistent in its high-value features and affordable pricing strategy.

With competition constantly mounting, balancing that equation becomes an increasingly daunting task. One which the Moto G6 line take on rather boldly. Many familiar aspect, Moto fans have come to love are thankfully intact. Fingerprint readers, dual camera setups and a snappy and clean Android experience, to name a few. All the while, Lenovo has managed to sprinkle in some trendy 2018 aspects. Tall 18:9 displays and arching glass back are just a couple of things that can help a product stay relevant on the hectic 2018 smartphone scene, with development and release cycles compressed to mere weeks.

Motorola Moto G6 Specs

• Body: Gorilla Glass 3 back; 153.8x72.3x8.3mm; 167 grams; p2i water repellent nano coating
• Screen: 5.7-inch, 18:9, FHD+ 2160x1080, IPS LCD, MAX Vision; Gorilla Glass 3
• Rear Camera: Main 12MP, f/1.8 lens; Secondary 5MP; LED flash; 1080p@60fps video recording
• Front Camera: 8MP, 1080p@30fps video recording; LED selfie flash
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, octa-core Cortex-A53 1.8GHz
• Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB, dedicated microSD slot for up to 128GB expansion
• OS: Android 8.0 Oreo
• Battery: 3,000mAh, Turbo Charge 15W
• Connectivity: Optional Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU, Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, USB Type-C
• Misc: Fingerprint reader in home button

Besides the standard Moto G6, in keeping with tradition, there is also the specked-up Plus. Also, after a notable absence from the otherwise flushed-out Moto G5 generation, the "Play" entry-level variant is also making a return.

Motorola Moto G6 Plus Specs

• Body: Gorilla Glass 3 back; 160x75.5x8mm; 167 grams; p2i water repellent nano coating
• Screen: 5.9-inch, 18:9, FHD+ 2160x1080, IPS LCD, MAX Vision; Gorilla Glass 3
• Rear Camera: Main 12MP, 1.4um, f/1.7 lens; Dual Pixel autofocus; Secondary 5MP; Dual-Tone LED flash; 4K@30fps video recording
• Front Camera: 8MP, 1080p@30fps video recording; LED selfie flash
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, octa-core Cortex-A53 2.2GHz
• Memory: 4/6GB RAM, up to 128GB, dedicated microSD slot for up to 128GB expansion
• OS: Android 8.0 Oreo
• Battery: 3,200mAh, Turbo Charge 15W
• Connectivity: Optional Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/GLONASS, Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, USB Type-C
• Misc: Fingerprint reader in home button

Upon first inspection, it appears market segmentation has been rather kind this time around. Both the Regular G6 and the G6 Plus get the new Max Vision, FullHD+ display, as well as the dual 12MP, plus 5MP main camera setup. That being said, for most regular users, the choice between the pair could actually come down to size preference alone. This lack of major sacrifices between tiers is no small achievement in itself.

Motorola Moto G6 Play

• Body: Plastic back; 154.4x72.2x9mm; 175 grams; p2i water repellent nano coating on some markets
• Screen: 5.7-inch, 18:9, HD+, IPS LCD, MAX Vision
• Rear Camera: 13MP, f/2.0 lens; Secondary 5MP; LED flash; 1080p@30fps video recording
• Front Camera: 8MP, 1080p@30fps video recording; LED selfie flash
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, octa-core Cortex-A53 1.4GHz
• Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB, dedicated microSD slot for up to 128GB expansion
• OS: Android 8.0 Oreo
• Battery: 4,000mAh, Turbo Charge 15W
• Connectivity: Optional Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS, Dual-band(some markets) Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, microUSB
• Misc: Fingerprint reader on back

Surprisingly, the Moto G6 Play is no major downgrade as well. Despite a different bill of materials, Motorola managed to preserve the styling mostly intact, in no small part, thanks to a 5.7-inch, Max View display, on the cheap. Plus, the Play manages to bring a treat of its own to the table, namely a large 4,000 mAh battery pack. Also, an on-screen navigation setup, with a fingerprint reader around back - a throwback to Moto G phones of yore.