Moto G73 5G review

Searching for an affordable, mid-range cellphone that may deal with all of your on a regular basis duties? You’ve come to the precise place.

On this evaluation, we’ll be analysing the strengths and weaknesses of Motorola’s Moto G73 5G, some of the high-profile handsets within the Moto G line. There are 12 telephones in complete to select from, starting from the €149 Moto G22 to the €329 Moto G82.

However with a lot competitors at the same worth, can the G73 actually stand out? Right here’s our full evaluation.

Design & Construct

• Aspect-mounted fingerprint sensor
• 3.5mm audio jack
• Plastic exterior

The Moto G73 is a handsome cellphone from each angle. It adopts a easy design, however nonetheless manages to appear like a premium handset. Its enticing symmetrical rear digicam module actually helps.

At simply 8.3mm and 181g, it’s a comparatively skinny and light-weight cellphone. The plastic exterior covers each the again and curved body – sustaining the identical color scheme all through makes it look actually spectacular.

If you happen to’re not a fan of the Midnight Blue you see in pictures, the G73 can be accessible in Lucent White. On each fashions, the color scheme extends to the amount and energy buttons, which is a pleasant contact.

These buttons are all on the precise aspect of the cellphone as you employ it, leaving the left nearly utterly empty. On the backside, you’ll discover the USB-C charging port and even a 3.5mm audio jack, a uncommon function on fashionable smartphones.

The SIM tray can help two nano playing cards and a microSD, with the latter permitting for expandable storage.

Alfonso Casas / Foundry

That energy button talked about above can be the place you’ll discover the fingerprint sensor. It’s inbuilt right here, fairly than underneath the show like on another telephones. However this doesn’t really feel like a compromise: it’s quick and dependable, simply what you’d need.

It’s additionally value mentioning the G73’s waterproofing, though it’s inferior to you is likely to be hoping for. There’s no official IP score right here, however the design means it ought to be capable of deal with a lightweight rain bathe with none points. Simply don’t drop it right into a swimming pool.

Alfonso Casas / Foundry

Motorola has included each the USB-C charging cable and an influence adapter within the field, alongside a transparent silicone case. It gives first rate safety, and it’s what we’ve come to anticipate from many Android cellphone makers as of late.

Display & audio system

• 6.5in show with 120Hz refresh price
• Full HD+ decision
• Strong LCD panel, however lacks distinction

Show is one thing Motorola has given particular consideration to on the G73. It’s a 6.5in, 2400×1080 panel, with a 120Hz refresh price guaranteeing glorious fluidity.

As that is an inexpensive cellphone, it’s not shock to see an LCD display fairly than OLED. Even so, the show provides loads of element and vibrant colors which actually pop. It will probably additionally attain 405 nits of brightness, making it clearly seen in most out of doors environments.

Nonetheless, in the event you examine it side-by-side with an OLED cellphone, you’ll discover that blacks typically seem gray and distinction is barely missing.

Alfonso Casas / Foundry

Whereas utilizing the show, you’ll discover slower speeds than telephones which can be considerably costlier. However that is primarily on account of a sooner course of – not inadequacies with the show.

Display responsiveness is mostly good, and also you’ll solely discover a slowdown in comparison with flagships whereas gaming.

The show is interrupted by a punch-hole selfie digicam, however bezels elsewhere are comparatively slim. I simply want Motorola would cease persisting with such a big chin.

Alfonso Casas / Foundry

By way of audio, you’ll discover stereo audio system and Dolby Atmos help on the G73. The cellphone is among the best-sounding telephones at this worth level, regardless of some distortion at excessive volumes.

Specs & efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 930 and 8GB of RAM
• Spectacular efficiency
• 256GB of expandable storage

Efficiency is among the key promoting factors of the Moto G73. It’s outfitted with MediaTek’s 6nm Dimensity 930 chip, alongside 8GB of RAM.

The Dimensity 930 may be very a lot a mid-range chip, so efficiency is healthier than you may anticipate from a cellphone at this worth. It handles all of the fundamentals with relative ease, and also you’ll solely actually run into issues when operating probably the most demanding apps and video games.

Motorola has made a cellphone that competes properly with a number of the greatest mid-range telephones you should buy, regardless of costing round £100/€100 much less normally:

There’s extra excellent news with regards to inner storage. Not solely is 256GB pretty beneficiant by low-cost cellphone requirements, it’s additionally expandable by way of a microSD card.

Connectivity is strong, too. The Dimensity 930 has 5G help inbuilt, when you additionally get Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. There’s additionally NFC, that means you need to use the cellphone for Google Pay.

Digital camera & video

• Respectable 50Mp important digicam
• Underwhelming 8Mp ultrawide
• Good 16Mp selfie lens

Cameras could make or break a contemporary smartphone – even at this extra inexpensive worth level. The G73 can take some enticing pictures, but it surely’s a good distance from being greatest in school.

Its 50Mp, f/2.2 important lens is undoubtedly the spotlight. In good lighting, you will get some actually spectacular pictures from this cellphone.

Alfonso Casas / Foundry

The 50Mp sensor is the one one of many three right here to help autofocus, and it makes an enormous distinction to the purpose and shoot expertise. Supplied there’s sufficient pure gentle, you’ll be able to anticipate good publicity and a good quantity of dynamic vary. Pictures are usually true to life, avoiding the frequent tendency to oversaturate.

Nonetheless, there’s an enormous drop-off in picture high quality in low-light circumstances. Focus takes loads longer, whereas grainy areas and noise start to look. Pictures are missing intimately, even when there’s some synthetic lighting.

A software-based evening mode improves this considerably, however you continue to lose quite a lot of definition and dynamic vary.

That important lens is joined by only one different on the again of the cellphone: an 8Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide. It provides a 118º discipline of view that’s helpful in lots of conditions, but it surely’s not almost as detailed because the 50Mp digicam.

See some digicam samples within the slideshow under:

The cellphone’s picture processing is mostly good, however solely actually for enhancing pictures the place the lighting is already good

And not using a devoted macro lens, close-up photographs depend on software program. It’s very hit-and-miss, with spectacular outcomes attainable however depending on a gentle hand and getting precisely the precise distance from the topic. It’s not value spending a lot time with.

Nonetheless, the 16Mp front-facing lens is far more spectacular. It delivers higher than anticipated edge detection for portrait mode, whereas common selfies supply pure tones and a good degree of element. It’s value noting that colors on common selfies (left) usually seem redder than portrait selfies (proper).

The G73 also can file 60fps video utilizing the principle digicam, and make use of digital zoom as much as 6x. However dynamic vary is missing, and you may’t change to the ultrawide with out one other drop-off in high quality.

You’re restricted to 30fps for video from the selfie digicam, however with no picture stabilisation of any description, it’s not an awesome choice in the event you plan on shifting round in any respect. It isn’t an awesome selection for creating TikTok or Instagram content material.

Battery & charging

• 5000mAh battery
• Spectacular battery life
• Respectable 30W charging

Moto G telephones have lengthy been related to nice battery life, and that’s no totally different on the G73.

It’s outfitted with a 5000mAh cell which may sometimes final a full day of utilization – even with a lot of intensive duties on the go. Even in the event you plan to make use of a lot of GPS and cellular knowledge and maintain brightness excessive, battery life holds up properly.

Alfonso Casas / Foundry

The 120 nits of brightness for our battery take a look at is decrease than standard, however the G73 lasted 13 hours and 48 minutes earlier than operating out of cost. Environment friendly administration of energy consumption is among the cellphone’s most spectacular options.

Once you do have to cost, there’s a 30W adapter included within the field. It took the cellphone from 0-51% in quarter-hour, however we’ve come to anticipate even sooner speeds from fashionable smartphones.

Software program & updates

• Runs Android 13
• Very near ‘inventory’ Android
• Solely two years of OS updates

The software program expertise on Motorola telephones is commonly probably the greatest issues about it. That’s true for the G73, which runs a model of Android 13 that’s very near the ‘inventory’ expertise on Google Pixel telephones.

In actual fact, the one actual addition are Moto Actions, a spread of gestures which can be utilized as shortcuts for particular actions. It’s value taking time to be taught these, as they’re genuinely helpful.

However the very best factor in regards to the Moto G73 software program is the dearth of bloatware – pointless software program pre-installed onto the machine. There’s principally none right here, which is admittedly refreshing. It’s a pleasure to make use of a cellphone with such a clear, slick software program expertise.

If you happen to’ve by no means used a Motorola cellphone earlier than, don’t fear. There isn’t a lot of a studying curve right here, regardless of intensive customisation choices being accessible. Detailed lock display notifications additionally reduces the variety of time you’ll want to unlock the machine, which advantages battery life.

Value & availability

There’s just one configuration of the Moto G73 accessible. It consists of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and can set you again £269.99/€299.

Whereas the cellphone isn’t accessible on contract with any UK or European networks, it’ll work with any legitimate SIM card. However you’ll be able to’t purchase it within the US.

It’s simply over the standard threshold for a price range cellphone, however cheaper than most mid-range handsets. It appears set to go head-to-head with Xiaomi’s £279/€299 Redmi Word 12 5G.

Verdict

The Moto G73 is a powerful cellphone which performs properly in lots of areas. However Motorola’s personal Edge 30 Neo solely prices barely extra, but represents an enormous efficiency improve.

In comparison with the G73, the Neo has a extra highly effective processor, higher OLED show, a lot sooner 68W charging and improved cameras.

So, why must you purchase the G73 as an alternative? It has nice battery life (regardless of comparatively sluggish charging), a good LCD display and 256GB of storage, however there are not any standout options right here.

If you happen to’re pondering of shopping for a cellphone round this worth level, it’s undoubtedly value contemplating alternate options earlier than selecting the Moto G73. You may discover one thing you want higher for a really comparable sum of money.

Specs

• 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with 2400×1080 decision
• LCD show with 120 Hz refresh price
• 20:9 facet ratio with 405 nits max brightness
• MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor
• IMG BXM-8-256 graphics
• 8GB of RAM
• 256GB of storage
• Fingerprint reader on aspect button
• Cameras
  • 50 MP, f/1.8 important
  • 8 MP, f/2.2 ultrawide
  • 16 MP, f/2.4 selfie
• Helps twin SIM (nano SIM)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• Dolby Atmos stereo audio system
• Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.3
• NFC
• 5000mAh battery
• 30W wired charging
• Android 13
• 161.4 x 73.8 x 8.3mm
• 181g