Motorola moto g power (2025) review

Design and Durability

This is a substantial phone rather than a compact one. Its 6.8-inch display and 77.1 mm width suit reading and video, but buyers who frequently use a phone one-handed should pay attention to the overall size. Leaf Green and Slate Gray are finish choices, not different performance versions.

The protection ratings are a more meaningful change from the 2024 model’s basic water-repellent design. Motorola documents controlled fresh-water immersion testing up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. It also warns against pressurized water, says resistance decreases with wear, and excludes liquid damage from its warranty. I would treat the protection as help with an accident, not permission to deliberately soak the phone.

Motorola’s MIL-STD-810H testing adds evidence about specified environmental tests. It is not a promise that the phone is indestructible or that damage from rough treatment will be covered.

Display

The display provides a generous surface for messages, maps and streaming video. Its Full HD+ resolution is a useful step above the lower-resolution panels found on some inexpensive phones. The refresh rate can reach 120 Hz, making scrolling more fluid when the application and phone settings allow it.

This is an LCD, despite conflicting retailer metadata describing it as OLED. It therefore does not offer the same individually unlit black pixels as an OLED screen. I would prioritize the larger reading area here rather than expect premium contrast for films watched in a dark room.

The increase from the predecessor’s 6.7-inch screen is modest. An owner already comfortable with the 2024 model should not expect that small diagonal change to transform daily use.

Performance and Storage

The processor is the main reason to keep expectations grounded. PCMag recorded lower CPU benchmark results than on the Dimensity 7020-equipped 2024 model and found demanding gaming uneven.² A newer model number does not make this a performance upgrade.

Android Authority also noticed occasional hesitation in ordinary use.¹ For calls, messaging and basic browsing, that may be an acceptable trade for a lower price. For frequent gaming or a phone expected to stay responsive through several years of heavier applications, I would spend more on the processor rather than the finish.

Both US unlocked finishes have 8 GB of physical memory. Motorola’s advertised total of up to 24 GB includes RAM Boost borrowing as much as 16 GB from storage; it is not a 24 GB RAM phone.

The memory-card slot is useful for downloaded media and photos, but it does not turn every application or protected download into something movable. Check your existing storage use before assuming a card solves every capacity problem.

Cameras

The main camera handles ordinary photographs, while the ultrawide helps fit a group or building into the frame. Its autofocus also supports close-up macro photography. The additional rear window is an ambient-light sensor, not a third photographic camera.

Android Authority found the camera more useful in good light than in darker scenes, where detail suffered.¹ I would regard it as adequate for casual records of a day rather than a reason to buy the phone. Optical stabilization helps with camera movement; it cannot prevent a moving child or pet from blurring.

There is no dedicated telephoto camera. Digital zoom changes framing without supplying the optical reach of a separate zoom lens.

Video is a particular limitation: the 2025 model records at up to 1080p30 on its rear and front cameras. Motorola documented 1080p60 for the predecessor’s main rear camera. That loss matters if smoother motion recording was part of how you used the older phone, even though many casual clips will be fine at 30 fps.

Battery and Charging

Wireless charging remains an appealing convenience at this end of the market. A pad on a desk or bedside table can make regular charging easier without repeatedly connecting a cable. It was already present on the 2024 model, so existing owners are not gaining the feature by upgrading.

The wired limit is also unchanged at 30 W. Motorola requires a compatible TurboPower adapter to reach it, and using a higher-rated charger does not increase the phone’s maximum. The reviewed US unlocked listing includes a cable, SIM tool and documentation; budget separately for the wall adapter or wireless pad.

Android Authority found battery life sufficient for its normal daily use.¹ Your own result will depend on reception, navigation, screen brightness and gaming. The 5,000 mAh specification describes capacity, not a guarantee of a particular number of days between charges.

Connectivity

The headphone socket is a practical advantage if you already have wired headphones or want to avoid charging another accessory. NFC is present for compatible contactless functions, and the physical SIM plus eSIM arrangement gives more than one activation option where your carrier supports it.

Motorola documents Wi-Fi 5, not Wi-Fi 6, and the USB-C port uses USB 2.0 data speeds. Those limits are unlikely to dominate ordinary messaging or streaming, but moving a large collection of videos by cable will not feel like using a modern high-speed USB connection.

The US unlocked model supports sub-6 5G. Check the carrier’s activation requirements for the exact phone; an unlocked label does not guarantee every network feature or every service plan.

Software and Support

Motorola’s published plan is two major Android upgrades and three years of security support. Its current device-specific support page gives January 2028 as the security endpoint, with timing subject to market and carrier differences. Buying the phone now does not start another three-year period.

That remaining window is central to the value judgment. A low purchase price is less compelling if you intend to keep your next phone well beyond the published support period. I would compare the cost over the years you realistically expect to use it, rather than judge the discount alone.

The one-year manufacturer warranty listed for the US unlocked phone is separate from software support. Neither the update plan nor the protection ratings removes the need to check the seller’s terms for the actual unit.

Alternatives

A discounted Pixel 9a is worth comparing if photography, an OLED display and a longer software commitment matter more than the Motorola’s headphone jack and expandable storage. Google’s seven-year window begins in April 2025. The trade is giving up those two useful physical connections rather than getting every feature for more money.

If you already own the 2024 moto g power, I would be inclined to keep it while it still meets your needs and remains supported. The new protection ratings may be worthwhile for a particular buyer, but charging is unchanged, performance is not improved in the cited testing, and main-camera 1080p60 recording is lost. This is a more persuasive first purchase at a good price than a routine annual upgrade.

Verdict

The moto g power (2025) is an affordable option for a buyer who values a large screen, wireless charging and familiar physical connections. I would consider it at a worthwhile discount for modest daily use. Demanding games, consistently strong cameras and a long remaining support window are better reasons to choose a different phone.