Motorola Moto G06 review: Covers the basics at a rock-bottom price

Greatest Costs Right this moment: Moto G06

For Apple customers, a price range cellphone solely goes as little as £599 (for the iPhone 16e). For Android customers, a low-cost handset might price one-tenth of that. 

Motorola’s Moto G06 is the corporate’s sequel to the G05, which got here out in January, and with it comes a smattering of enhancements: there’s a much bigger display, the next refresh fee, higher mud and water resistance and a slight improve in heft.

Patrons taking a look at this cheap handset are most likely not these upgrading on a six-month cycle, nevertheless, and to its credit score Motorola has made a reliable gadget in its personal proper – albeit with some compromises.

Design & Construct

• Massive display
• Headphone jack
• Fingerprint scanner

There’s no hiding the truth that the G06 appears like a tool from final decade. Proper on the high of the 6.88-inch display is a teardrop notch for the selfie digital camera, a design alternative reminiscent of 2017, whereas on the backside is a hefty black chin.

Nonetheless, nevertheless, it has a decently massive display. Whereas the cellphone feels mild at 194g, it doesn’t really feel flimsy. On its again is a vegan leather-based (plastic) end which received’t decide up any fingerprints and is definitely tender, but it surely takes some getting used to when in comparison with the metallic end of dearer units. 

Motorola throws in a no-nonsense plastic case for added safety, which really feels higher than the kitchen-counter kind of circumstances on its dearer fashions, such because the Moto G86 Energy.

One other high quality the G06 can boast over its dearer counterparts is a 3.5mm headphone jack situated on the cellphone’s head, one thing that must be thought-about a necessity for price range units.

Locking the cellphone might be accomplished with a typical password or passcode, by means of a handy guide a rough face-unlock characteristic, or through the fingerprint scanner on the right-hand facet of the gadget – an affordable place for most individuals however one that might make this handset annoying for lefties. It might simply get replaced with an under-screen scanner.

Adam Smith / Foundry

Display & Audio system 

• 120Hz refresh fee
• Satisfactory colors
• Respectable sound

The Moto G06 comes with a HD+ show (1640 × 720) that helps a 120Hz refresh fee and may attain a peak brightness of 600 nits. 

On paper, these specs sound spectacular, however in apply, the display is barely satisfactory. Colors seem muted and washed out, and the general viewing expertise lacks the refinement seen on higher-end fashions such because the Moto G86 Energy.

Watching Wild Isles with David Attenborough’s narration over the UK’s landscapes highlights these limitations. Water that ought to shimmer with blue tones as an alternative appears gray, and underwater photographs lose the vibrancy of inexperienced kelp. When an orca’s darkish fin slices by means of the water, the G06 can’t fairly convey the inky depth you’ll count on, leaving the scene wanting flatter and fewer immersive.

The 120Hz refresh fee usually gives easy movement, but it surely doesn’t absolutely disguise the show’s shortcomings. Ghosting is noticeable when scrolling, with textual content showing blurry in movement.

Audio efficiency is equally practical however uninspiring. The built-in audio system are effective for informal listening, however their small measurement and restricted output imply that headphones are primarily required to get pleasure from richer, fuller sound. Whereas the show and audio system each serve their function, the G06’s {hardware} finally struggles to ship the vivid, immersive expertise that its bigger, pricier siblings can handle.

Specs & Efficiency

• 4GB RAM
• 64GB of storage
• “RAM Increase” mode

Our overview mannequin of the Moto G06 sports activities 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, though that may go as much as 8GB RAM/256GB ROM for many who need extra space for apps, pictures, and recordsdata. 

We wouldn’t suggest a storage improve although. There’s a slot for a 1TB microSD card which can doubtless be less expensive.

The precise operating of the gadget is one thing of a blended bag. Apps equivalent to Beeper, Gmail, and Google Maps all run adequately utilizing the Helio G81 processor – however solely as soon as every little thing has loaded. Open social media and it takes the G06 a bit time to carry up the keyboard and settle in. As soon as it has accomplished that, typing stays comparatively easy.

Equally, even video games like Pokémon Unite largely function nicely, though you’ll be able to really feel the cellphone straining to maintain up. Personally, I wouldn’t suggest utilizing this gadget for something extra strenuous than Sweet Crush.

Motorola telephones can use a part of the cellphone’s storage to spice up its processing energy by means of Moto’s “RAM increase” mode, which creates “digital RAM” out of your cellphone’s inside storage – shifting much less vital background processes into this digital house, releasing up precise RAM for the apps you’re actively utilizing. 

In principle this improves multitasking capabilities, however I didn’t discover a distinction and it may drain the battery quicker and put wear-and-tear on the storage chip. 

Moto G06 benchmarks

Cameras

• Pure color steadiness
• Transferring topics onerous to seize
• Ineffective zoom

The Moto G06 depends on a single 50Mp rear digital camera, supported solely by an ambient mild sensor. Picture high quality is completely serviceable for the worth, however what stands out most is its color accuracy.

In contrast to many price range Android telephones that try to compensate for weaker {hardware} with aggressive picture processing, Motorola has resisted the temptation to oversaturate. The G06’s color steadiness is refreshingly pure, producing pictures that really feel extra true to life than the overly vivid photographs typically seen from competing fashions. The draw back, after all, is that photographs lack the form of vibrant “pop” that may make social media pictures stand out.

In different areas, although, the G06’s limitations are onerous to disregard. Autofocus is noticeably sluggish when attempting to seize shifting topics equivalent to birds or animals, making it tough to get sharp photographs on the primary try.

High quality element is one other casualty of the single-lens setup. Textures that ought to seem crisp – just like the grain of a carved wood decoration – typically look smoothed over. In close-up photographs, delicate variations in lighting also can throw the main focus off. For instance, when photographing a slice of cake, the reflections on a close-by fork appeared barely blurred, and the fruit jam filling contained in the sponge seemed tender or out of focus.

The G06 additionally struggles with shadow element. Darkish areas are inclined to lose definition, and the digital camera typically fails to seize the depth and variation inside deeper tones. Blacks are certainly black, however delicate shades – such because the darker reds inside lighter hues – are simply misplaced, leading to flatter, much less dynamic photographs total.

Zoom efficiency, in the meantime, is nearly non-existent. With no devoted telephoto lens, any try to seize distant topics rapidly exposes the restrictions of digital zoom. When used to {photograph} a distant church surrounded by bushes, as an illustration, the ensuing picture lacks element and readability, as an alternative resembling a tender, impressionistic rendering relatively than a devoted illustration.

In the end, the Moto G06’s digital camera system is easy and reliable inside its limits. Its pure color steadiness offers it a sure honesty that some rivals lack, however the trade-off is a noticeable absence of depth, effective element, and suppleness. For on a regular basis snapshots in good mild, it performs nicely sufficient – simply don’t count on miracles in terms of movement, zoom, or texture.

Adam Smith / Foundry

Battery Life & Charging 

• Lasts greater than a day between fees
• 5200mAh battery
• Gradual charging

Motorola’s telephones have lengthy had a status for stable battery life, and the Moto G06 continues that development. In on a regular basis use – a mixture of net shopping, map navigation, video playback, and messaging – it comfortably lasted greater than a full day on a single cost.

The endurance is due to its sizeable 5200mAh battery, the identical capability present in final 12 months’s Moto G05. Sadly, charging speeds have taken a step again. The G06 helps solely 10W wired charging, in contrast with the 18W supplied by its predecessor, which makes topping up noticeably slower.

Including to the frustration, Motorola now not features a charging brick within the field. Utilizing the equipped USB-C to USB-C cable and a typical 9V third-party charger, the G06 reached simply 14% in quarter-hour and 28% in half-hour throughout testing. That’s effective in case you are inclined to cost in a single day, however not superb in case you want a fast energy increase throughout the day.

Software program & Apps

• Android 15
• Moto Unplugged app
• Hefty bloatware

The G86 Energy 5G runs Android 15, however solely has two years of safety updates forward of it – a major disappointment for a cellphone that can doubtless final for much longer, however won’t ever see the already-released Android 16.

The disappointments proceed with Motorola’s personal suite of extras excessive, and a bundle of bloatware. Quite a few apps, together with TikTok, AI browser Perplexity, LinkedIn, Amazon Music, Microsoft Copilot, Temu, Fb, Pinterest, Solitaire, Block Blast, Vita Majong, Toon Blast, Sweet Crush Saga, Reserving.com and Monopoly Go are all there by default – and whereas their presence may assist the model to maintain the cellphone’s price down, it reduces among the glamour of getting a brand-new gadget.

There are vivid spots within the customized software program layer. The gadget features a tidy “chip mode” for notifications, which consolidates alerts in a centralised “bubble view” on the house display – a visually pleasing and practical strategy to handle interruptions. 

The Moto Unplugged characteristic additionally allows you to disguise distracting apps totally for a set interval, not merely mute their notifications. That stated, it’s irritating that Unplugged can not (at this stage) be scheduled routinely in accordance with time of day (e.g. throughout work hours or at night time). That omission limits its usefulness.

Adam Smith / Foundry

Value & Availability 

The Moto G06 has an RRP of £109.99 within the UK. It’s at the moment accessible from Motorola’s web site for £100, however different retailers have it for significantly much less. You should buy it for £69 from Currys, or £69.99 from Amazon, placing it on the low finish of the price range market.

It’s not accessible within the US. However you’ll be able to see our high suggestions in our round-up of the perfect price range telephones we’ve examined.

Do you have to purchase the Moto G86 Energy 5G?

The Moto G06 is a practical, unambitious gadget that does simply sufficient to justify its place in Motorola’s line-up – however little extra. Battery life is stable, and color accuracy from the digital camera is surprisingly good, but nearly each power is offset by an apparent compromise.

Efficiency feels sluggish, charging is painfully sluggish, and the design appears a number of generations outdated. Even Motorola’s tidy software program touches can’t make up for the sheer quantity of preloaded apps or the quick replace window.

It’s a cellphone you’ll purchase as a result of it’s low-cost, not since you need it. Reliable, sure – however a bit dated and irritating to make use of.

Specs

• Android 15
• 6.88in, 1640 × 720 (HD+) LCD, 120Hz
• MediaTek Helio G81 Excessive
• 4GB / 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 64GB / 128GB / 256GB storage, expandable as much as 1TB microSD
• Entrance Digital camera: 8Mp, f/2.0
• Rear Digital camera: 50Mp, f/1.8, Quad Pixel, PDAF, LED flash
• Aspect-mounted fingerprint reader, Face Unlock
• 4G LTE, 3G WCDMA, 2G GSM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (twin band 2.4 & 5 GHz)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• USB Kind-C 2.0
• 5200mAh battery, 10W charging
• 171.35 × 77.5 × 8.31 mm
• 194 g
• IP64 water resistant design
• Construct: Glass entrance (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic body, eco leather-based again
• Launch Colors: Pantone Laurel Oak, Pantone Arabesque, Pantone Tapestry, Pantone Tendril