Motorola Moto G51: Is This The Budget 5G Champion?
The arrival of 5G technology has been much anticipated, but its rollout has been slow. However, the budget smartphone market has already embraced the next generation of cellular connectivity. While many brands have jumped on the 5G bandwagon, Motorola might seem like a latecomer. However, they’ve been in the game since 2020 with the Moto G 5G. Now, Motorola is back with another budget 5G contender, the Moto G51, aiming to disrupt the affordable 5G market. Featuring the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ processor, a 120Hz refresh rate display, and an aggressive price tag, the Moto G51 seems like a compelling package. But does it hold its own against the likes of Redmi and Realme? Let’s delve into the details and find out.
Design and Build
The Moto G51 bears a striking resemblance to its sibling, the Moto G31, particularly around the camera module. However, it boasts a more angular, flatter design with distinct edges. The phone feels quite chunky at 208 grams and is constructed from polycarbonate.
The phone proudly sports an IP52 rating, offering some protection against splashes but not full water immersion. All the buttons, including the dedicated Google Assistant key, volume buttons, and the combined power/fingerprint sensor, are neatly located on the right side.
The bottom edge houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Type-C USB 2.0 port, the primary microphone, and a speaker. The Moto G51 adopts a hybrid dual-SIM configuration, allowing you to either use two SIM cards or one SIM card and a microSD card (up to 512GB) for storage expansion.
Display
The Moto G51 proudly displays a large 6.8-inch full-HD+ LCD panel, offering a vast viewing area for immersive multimedia consumption. The star attraction is the 120Hz refresh rate, guaranteeing a smooth and responsive scrolling experience, especially when navigating through menus or playing games.
Additionally, Motorola claims a 240Hz touch sampling rate, enhancing gaming responsiveness and ensuring quick reaction times.
Performance and Battery
The Moto G51 is powered by the newly released Snapdragon 480+ processor. This slight upgrade over the Snapdragon 480 boasts a higher clock speed, enabling smoother performance in general use and demanding tasks. It’s paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which may seem limited in this day and age.
The 5,000mAh battery provides plenty of juice to last through a full day of moderate usage, and you can recharge it quickly using the included 20W charger.
Software and Features
The Moto G51 runs Android 11, with a near-stock experience and the familiar Moto customisations, including Moto Gestures. These gestures allow you to perform actions using specific hand movements, enhancing the overall user experience.
Camera
Motorola equips the G51 with a triple rear camera system. The primary lens is a 50-megapixel camera, capturing detailed images with good color reproduction. It is accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera for wider perspectives and a 2-megapixel macro shooter for close-up shots.
Selfies are taken care of by a front-facing 13-megapixel camera located in a punch-hole cutout on the screen.
Connectivity
The Moto G51 is a 5G-ready device, which means you can take advantage of the next-generation network speeds when it becomes available. It also supports a handful of 5G bands, ensuring wide-ranging compatibility. Other notable features include Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and all the usual satellite navigation systems.
Conclusion
The Motorola Moto G51 represents a compelling offering in the budget 5G market. It checks all the essential boxes, including a vibrant 120Hz refresh rate display, a capable Snapdragon 480+ processor, and a relatively large 5,000mAh battery. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, dedicated Google Assistant key, and near-stock Android experience are icing on the cake.
Yet, limited RAM and storage, along with the somewhat chunky design, might make some users hesitant. The deciding factor for most will likely be the price. At Rs. 14,999, the Moto G51 is priced competitively in its segment. It remains to be seen if its performance and camera capabilities can truly justify its price tag and compete effectively against other budget 5G champions from brands like Redmi and Realme.
