Moto G6 Play first look

Get to work with the game Moto G6

The game Moto G6 is the baby of the new range of cheap smartphones from Motorola. That does not mean that it is smaller, only that it has a slightly smaller number of functions and less powerful components than its brothers, the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus. Fundamentally, it also comes with the lowest price at only £ 169.

The first Moto G for cheap Android phones did the same as the Nexus 7 for low-quality Android tablets. He made them obsolete. It was the only option if he wanted a good smartphone experience for less than £ 150. He forced any other manufacturer to step up or go home.

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Since then, Motorola has gradually improved the Moto G, and the range now seems to serve what people need, even if it is not What do they want most? It's where smart money is spent.

Motorola's G-series phones have always offered excellent value for money, and nothing has changed on first impressions: you can not get a better investment for your money.

Being the entry- The level model means that the Moto G6 Play does not come with as many features as the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus. There is no facial recognition or dual cameras, for example. And instead of the metal-on-plastic design of the G5, Motorola has opted for a more faithful polymer back (plastic, for you and me). However, it feels good.

The Moto G6 Play has its own party piece, however. It has a massive 4000mAh battery that Motorola says can provide up to 32 hours of mixed use on a single charge. A battery of that size along with a low-power processor means that the G6 Play should offer a stellar battery life.

Moto G6 Play – Design and Screen

The Moto G6 Play comes with a new 18: 9 screen, which means it feels different to previous models. It's a bit taller and narrower than the G5, but it comes with a much larger 5.7-inch screen. That makes it ideal for watching movies and TV while traveling, while still being a good size to keep in your pocket.

The IPS screen is bright and powerful. It is a pity that it is a slight degradation with respect to the 5-inch Full HD screen last year, but it is not too remarkable. It still qualifies for what Apple doubles the quality of & # 39; Retina & # 39 ;, which means it can not detect pixels from normal viewing distances.

The loudspeaker is also very noisy for video calls, and because it is now located on the front, it is not easily dimmed when it is held.

For a phone that costs less than £ 200, the Moto G6 Play feels solid, if not luxurious. The frame is made of metal and the bezel is thin. It does not have an edge-to-edge screen, but it's not far away. The back is now made of plastic instead of the metallic style of the previous model. It is still easy to grip and comfortable in the hand thanks to some ergonomic curves.

With a weight of 175 g it means that it also has some weight. That's 30g more than the G5, but not so much that it becomes tedious to use it with just one hand. What it means is that it feels like a much more expensive phone than it is.

The Play may not have the premium feel of the G6 and G6 Plus with a glass top, but if you're worried about having two glass surfaces to accidentally crush, then it's the sensible choice.

One of the things I prefer in the most economical G6 Play is the location of the fingerprint sensor. It is located in a dimple on the back of the phone, exactly where your index finger could rest. It is easy to use and is more useful than the sensors on the front of other phones.

The Moto G6 Play will come in two colors when launched. These are the brilliant "Fine Gold" and the much darker "Deep Indigo".

Moto G6 Play – Camera

The G6 Play comes with a 13 megapixel rear camera with an aperture f / 2.0 and automatic focus phase detection. If that sounds familiar, it's because those specifications are identical to those of the G5 camera from last year.

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As the phone I tried was still a preproduction model, part of the camera software was not finished. However, it is likely to match the Moto G5 and that means great shots in good lighting and uninspiring in low light conditions.

The front camera has been raised. This is now 8 megapixels and comes with a front LED flash for selfies in the dark. It also has a "beautification" mode, if what you are really looking for is the smooth style of Action Man or Barbie.

Moto G6 Play – Specifications

The Moto G6 Play comes with the same processor as last year's G5, but that should not be a cause for concern. I discovered that Play is soft and receptive, just like the G5.

The Snapdragon 430 comes with a solid Adreno 505 graphics chip, which means you can play most high-powered 3D games without noticing a lot of nerves. or fallen frames.

The G6 game now comes with 3GB of RAM as standard, which should keep things running smoothly compared to the 2GB in the basic G5. It also comes with more serial storage, 32 GB above 16 GB. Of course, there is also the option of a microSD card to further increase storage, if desired.

One of the biggest benefits of buying a Moto G is that it runs Android stock, with only a few bells and whistles added. to certain applications like camera one. Google's Android is still more cunning and it's rarely an improvement when manufacturers add their own layer on top.

It also means that Moto G6 Play should receive Android updates faster than other phones, and that can only be a very good thing.

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Many mobiles have been uploaded to the USB-C car, but Moto G6 Play is not one of them. It still uses a micro-USB port for charging and data transfer. However, you have a TurboPower charger included for fast charging, something that Apple does not include with its £ 1000 iPhone X. According to Motorola, you can get six hours of use from a quick 15-minute burst.

If you like the idea of ​​USB-C, then you can choose the Moto G6 or G6 Plus. These come with the reversible connector, among a series of other updates.

Fortunately, the three phones include NFC for easy pairing and Android Pay, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack that is missing in so many flagships. There is also Bluetooth 4.2 if you prefer to use wireless headphones.

What you do not get with those more expensive phones is the huge 4000mAh battery. If the battery life is one of your main concerns, the Moto G6 Play should be a very tempting proposal.

Moto G6 Play – Price and release date

The Moto G6 game will cost only £ 169 without a SIM card. The sale date is still TBC.

First Impressions

The likes of Honor and Xiomi have made the mobile budget much more competitive, but the Moto G6 Play is still one of the most complete phones you can pick up for less money. from £ 200. All signs point to the G6 Play being a great Motorola phone. Our full review will arrive soon.