Motorola Moto G7 Power, analysis: I wish my mobile had this battery

Since Lenovo acquired Motorola in early 2014, many things have changed in the telephone division of one of the oldest brands in this industry. Some believe that the Moto G is no longer what they once were. We have seen how the Moto X were relegated to a second position not once, but twice, and how the firm tried to enter the complex terrain of modular smartphones through the Moto Z series, with a concept that, to say True, it is the only one that has managed to maintain a certain continuity from the moment of its arrival, something that not all who have tried can boast.

But not everything has changed. Year after year, Motorola stays true to the tradition of introducing new models of the Moto G series. The series of mid-range terminals that began back in 2013 with Google did not take too long to become one of the sagas with the best reception by the public due to the fantastic relationship between quality and price of its models. Now, in the middle of 2019, we already have among us the seventh generation of this family, made up of no less than four different models, and we have been able to spend several days with the version whose surname had never made its way through the Moto G series: the Motorola Moto G7 Power.

Of all the models presented by Motorola at the beginning of February, the Moto G7 Power ranks in the lower half of the catalog. Its technical section is somewhat below the Moto G7 and Moto G7 Plus, but it is not a worse phone. On the contrary. For me, this is the best Moto G of 2019, and I want to explain my reasons to you.

Index of contents:

  • Datasheet
  • The best
  • Worst
  • Cameras
  • Andro4all’s opinion
  • Price and where to buy

Motorola Moto G7 Power, features, and specifications

Motorola Moto G7 Power
specs
Dimensions 159.43 x 76 x 9.3 mm. 193 grams of weight.
Screen 6.2-inch LTPS LCD with 19: 9 aspect ratio
Resolution and density HD+ (1.570 x 720 píxeles). 403 PPI
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 632. 1.8 GHz octa-core CPU and Adreno 506 GPU
RAM 4 GB
Operating system Android 9 Pie
Storage 64 GB expandable by microSD
Cameras Rear: 12 MP, f2.0, PDAF, 1.25um pixels, LED flash. Front: 8 MP, f2.2, 1.12um pixels
Battery 5,000 mAh with fast charging Turbo Charge (15W)
Others The rear fingerprint reader is integrated into the logo, USB Type C, Moto functions, Moto display, 3.5 mm headphone jack, FM radio.
Connectivity Bluetooth 4.2 LE, aptX, Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi hotspot, GPS, AGPS, LTEPP, SUPL, GLONASS, NFC (select markets only), dual nano-SIM

The best of the Moto G7 Power

Autonomy

Autonomy5,000 mAh capacity, an efficient processor thanks to the Kryo 250 Silver technology of its eight cores, Android 9 Pie, and a screen whose resolution is only HD. This is the magic formula that allows the Motorola Moto G7 Power to go through the two days of use without disheveled and still have the battery to withstand the first hours of a third party.

The device’s Autonomy is its main attraction – hence its surname, which Motorola has previously used in models like the Motorola One Power with 4,850 mAh – and this is demonstrated by every hour that passes without the battery level appearing to decrease at all.

“The Autonomy of the G7 Power is its main attraction, and this is demonstrated by every hour that passes without the battery level appearing to decrease at all.

And since an image is worth a thousand words, what better than some snapshots of battery cycles during my period of use with the terminal:

Even the experience of having to go through the charger is positive. In general, mobiles that integrate batteries of such capacity require several hours to recharge fully. In this case, thanks to the 15 W Turbo Charge fast charging technology, the Moto G5 Power can go from 20 to 50 in just under 20 minutes and from 0 to 100 in just over an hour and a half.

Software

SoftwareThe Motorola Moto G5 Power arrives with Android 9 Pie inside, like many other terminals presented at the end of last year and the beginning of this. What stands out about the device as far as Software is concerned is the lack of extra additions or functions that only serve to swell the catalog of parts without considering the usefulness. The Moto G is Software as close to the Google Pixel as it could be that of mobile with Android One.

The only changes that we see on an aesthetic level concerning the Software that we could see in a Pixel or Android One are the teal color instead of blue in the different menus or shortcuts, which suggests that Motorola has taken the basis of AOSP and only has added a couple of brush strokes. The typography of the lock screen is also somewhat different by not using the Roboto font, and in the system settings, we find a single option added by the company: “Moto.”

“That of the Moto G7 Power is a software as close to that of the Google Pixel as it could be that of mobile with Android One

Within the Moto settings, we find the possibility of configuring the Moto Actions or the Moto Screen, two menus with parameters that by default we would not find in “pure” Android, but that Motorola has seen fit to add to improve the experience further:

  • Moto Actions
    • Lift to unlock: use the front camera to unlock the phone when looking at the screen.
    • Multimedia controls: use the volume keys to change songs, even when the screen is off.
    • Screenshot editor.
    • Screenshots by tapping with three fingers.
    • One-button navigation: Moto’s gesture navigation system, very similar to how it will be native to Android, starting with Android Q.
    • Quick flashlight: This allows you to turn the flashlight on or off by shaking the mobile.
    • Quick capture: take a photo by turning the phone twice with a flick of the wrist.
    • Swipe to shrink: This makes it easier to use the mobile with one hand by reducing the size of the content that appears on the screen.
    • Please pick up the mobile to silence it when a call is ringing.
    • Flip the phone over to activate Do Not Disturb mode.
  • Moto display
    • Smart display: displays information such as notifications when it is turned off.
    • Attentive display: stays on while watching.

Many of these options are not new, and in fact, some are inherited from the first generations of the Moto G series. Others, on the other hand, such as gesture navigation, have been introduced recently and undoubtedly add points to the user experience. . Another detail to highlight related to the Software is that the Moto G7 Power – like the rest of the models in the series – are among the first to incorporate Google’s Digital Wellbeing tools beyond the Pixels and mobiles with Android One.

Performance

PerformanceClosely related to the previous section is the performance aspect. And it is a lot of faults that the Moto G7 Power works as well as it does; it is the Software that runs inside.

The fluidity is absolute when opening applications, switching between them, and even when returning to those stored in memory that has not been used for several hours – the 4 GB of RAM, in models like this, is much more than enough. We will rarely see slowdowns or frame drops in system animations. Ultimately, the Snapdragon 632 delivers, and it does so exceptionally.

And it has even more merit when we compare the device’s performance with that of models like the Nokia 7.1, which we analyzed just a few weeks ago, even though the Finnish model has a processor that on paper should be superior – the Snapdragon 632 counts. With 8 Kryo 250 cores at 1.8 GHz and the 636 with 8 Kryo 260 cores at 2.2 GHz – and the Moto comes out the winner in practically all day-to-day situations in terms of power and ease. Refers.

The worst of the Moto G7 Power

Design and display

I have absolutely nothing against plastic or notch, but the design of the Moto G7 Power is objectively worse than that of the G7 and G7 Plus. In addition to being the only one of the three that bets on this material -whose touch goes back directly to 2014-it is the one that has somewhat less stylized lines, with a large “chin” and a notch that occupies a considerable area of ​​the upper part.

“For a 6.2-inch diagonal size, the HD + resolution of its screen seems somewhat poor.

And the same with your screen. The panel is good; I have no complaints about color reproduction, contrast – very good despite being an LTPS – or brightness levels – both maximum and minimum – are concerned, although the viewing angles can be improved. However, for a size of 6.2 inches diagonally, the HD + resolution seems somewhat sparse, and the blur is noticeable in situations such as when editing photos, watching videos, or reading text for long periods. As a positive point, it is clear that the reduced resolution of the panel helps everything move perfectly, in addition to significantly reducing energy consumption – as if you needed it.

So are the cameras of the Moto G7 Power

So are the cameras of the Moto G7 PowerNo dual cameras or experimental sensors on the longer-range model of the Moto G7 series. A single 12-megapixel camera leads the rear, with f2.0 aperture and phase detection autofocus –PDAF–, which does not lack any of the options that its older brothers also incorporate, such as portrait mode, the ability to emphasize a single color in an image or live filters. Thanks to the fact that the terminal is compatible with ARCore, Google’s augmented reality platform, AR stickers are also included, which until not long ago were exclusive to Google Pixels.

As for the video, there are interesting options such as slow motion and fast motion recording or live streaming on YouTube through the native camera app. Another highlight is the “Cinematography” option, which allows one object in an image to be kept in motion while the rest remains stable, and then exported as a GIF. The possibility of recording video at 4K resolution and 30 FPS is also included, undoubtedly a detail that is appreciated considering that few mobiles in this price range include it.

Behavior in the day, portrait mode, night, and video

Behavior in the day portrait mode night and videoThe results are as expected: when we are in situations where the light is in our favor, we can obtain decent results in most cases, with the correct level of detail and colors. In addition, the HDR mode – automatic – is responsible for keeping the appearance of noise at bay in those more complex captures. Of course, when it comes to enlarging the photographs, we find one of the typical problems of the models in this range, a noticeable loss of detail in the photograph’s elements, translated into what is commonly known as the “watercolor effect.”

The portrait mode through the rear camera only uses the software capabilities of the device. This is especially noticeable in the processing time required to apply the background blur effect after taking the photos. This mode, in addition, will only work with human faces, and in case of trying to make portraits of objects or animals, we will obtain “normal” images without the “bokeh” in the background. In terms of results, a bit more precision is lacking in edge detection when the subject in the foreground displays complex shapes, as well as the sharpness of the subject itself due, again, to the high capture and processing time which usually results in slightly blurred images with the slightest movement.

When the light falls, the noise is seen more frequently, and the level of detail of the captures drops noticeably. Despite this, taking advantage of the “Pro” mode can capture much more dignified images.

The 8-megapixel front sensor can capture good quality images outdoors and when the light is good, especially if it is not faced with two powerful light sources that can lead the sensor to overexpose and burn the background. When lighting is insufficient, noise is often present, and the lack of detail is noticeable.

Moto G7 Power: opinion and final thoughts from Andro4all

Moto G7 Power opinion and final thoughts from Andro4all1As I said initially, the Motorola Moto G7 Power is my favorite model of all those in the series. It does not have the best screen, nor the best camera, nor is it the prettiest. But even so, the differences in terms of design are not flagrant in addition to having the same Snapdragon 632 processor of the Moto G7 – and which has proven to have nothing to envy to the 636 of the G7 Plus – and thanks to its brutal Autonomy It is – for me – the only one capable of contributing something different to an extremely saturated segment such as the mid-range segment, where manufacturers find it increasingly difficult to gain a foothold.

Therefore, to whether or not it is worth buying the Moto G7 Power, my answer is a resounding yes, especially because despite being a device as capable as the other models in the Moto G7 series, it is also one. one of the cheapest. Its price is just over 200 euros.

“It does not have the best screen, nor the best camera, nor is it the most beautiful, but the Moto G7 Power brings something different – and very welcome – to a segment as saturated as the mid-range is.

And yes, maybe for the same price there are better-designed mobiles, with better screens or with infinitely superior cameras. But few can boast of offering what is probably the best Autonomy in its segment, accompanied by the closest possible Software to Android in its cleanest edition and a repertoire of specifications capable of meeting the mark under any situation.

All this makes it a unique terminal, and today, from my point of view, only the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite could cope with offering a similar experience. However, it would be necessary to decide whether the 1,000 mAh of Extra battery and the most modern, efficient, and powerful processor of the Moto or the best design -something objective-, the reduced price and the Full HD screen of the Chinese model.

Price and where to buy the Motorola Moto G7 Power

Price and where to buy the Motorola Moto G7 PowerThe Motorola Moto G7 Power is already on sale, like the other models in the series. The version with more battery and protagonist of this analysis has a price of 209 euros and is available in common stores such as Amazon. It is available in the colors black and “ice violet.”

In favor

+ Autonomy: simply incredible.
+ Software: clean and with minimal but useful additions.
+ Performance: The Snapdragon 632 performs well under any situation, and the 4GB of RAM is appreciated.

Against

– Design: its appearance is not as neat as that of the Moto G7 and G7 Plus
– Audio: it only has a front speaker (in the notch), whose audio leaves a lot to be desired.
– It does not have NFC

Conclusions

The Moto G7 Power could be asked for more in some aspects, but then it would cease to be a single mobile and would become one more of an ultra-saturated segment, coming to rival its brothers from the G7 series. If you are looking for a bestial autonomy accompanied by a very fast charge, a solvent performance in all situations, and Software as close as possible to “pure” Android, this is your mobile.

Punctuation

8.0 Moto G7 Power By

Reusing the classic Moto G formula and adding a beastly battery, Motorola has managed to create a one-of-a-kind mobile.