Motorola’s G series has been a popular choice for budget-conscious consumers in India, but with the launch of the Moto G82 5G, the company is aiming to capture a higher price segment. Priced at Rs. 21,499 for the 6GB RAM variant and Rs. 22,999 for the 8GB RAM variant, the Moto G82 5G touts a 120Hz pOLED display, stereo speakers, an IP52 rating, and a 50-megapixel primary camera. Is this enough to justify the premium price, or are there better options available in the market? Let’s delve into the details of the Moto G82 5G and explore its strengths and weaknesses.
Moto G82 5G Price in India
The Moto G82 5G comes in two RAM variants: 6GB RAM priced at Rs. 21,499 and 8GB RAM priced at Rs. 22,999. Both variants have 128GB of storage. Motorola offers two color options: Meteorite Grey and White Lily.
Moto G82 5G Design
Motorola boasts that the Moto G82 5G is the slimmest and lightest smartphone in its segment. Drawing inspiration from the Motorola Edge 30, the phone features a flattened plastic frame, which reflects the modern design trend. Its curved edges ensure a comfortable grip and prevent discomfort in the palm.
The Moto G82 5G boasts a 6.6-inch pOLED display, employing the same technology as the higher-priced Motorola Edge 30. Motorola claims that the pOLED panel contributes to a thinner display and minimized bezels. The phone houses a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera.
The acrylic back panel, resembling glass, is designed to be less prone to shattering during accidental drops. The camera module protrudes slightly from the back panel and is positioned in the top-left corner. Motorola prominently displays its ‘batwing’ logo in the center. The Moto G82 5G comes with an IP52 rating, making it splash resistant against liquids.
While the Meteorite Grey unit is aesthetically appealing, it does accumulate fingerprints easily, necessitating frequent wiping. Thankfully, Motorola includes a clear case in the box to address this issue.
Moto G82 5G Specifications and Software
The Moto G82 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 octa-core SoC, the same processor found in the Moto G71 5G and the Vivo T1. Offering two RAM variants, the phone features 128GB of storage with a hybrid SIM slot. This means storage expansion comes at the cost of using a second SIM card.
Connectivity-wise, the Moto G82 5G supports Bluetooth 5.1, dual-band Wi-Fi, 13 5G bands, and dual-4G VoLTE. The 6.6-inch display boasts a full-HD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sampling rate. Additionally, the Moto G82 5G features stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. A 5,000mAh battery capable of 30W fast charging powers the device, and Motorola bundles a 33W TurboPower charger in the box.
The Moto G82 5G runs Android 12 out of the box with Motorola’s MyUX interface overlayed on top. This interface remains close to stock Android, featuring minimal customization. At the time of review, the device was running the April 2022 Android security patch. Motorola has committed to providing an update to Android 13 and three years of security updates, which ensures long-term support for the phone.
Bloatware is kept to a minimum, with only the Facebook app pre-installed, which can be easily uninstalled. The UI allows theming options through the Moto app, which also includes Moto Actions. These actions enable controlling various aspects of the smartphone, like the camera and flashlight, using gestures.
Moto G82 5G Performance
The Moto G82 5G handles daily usage seamlessly, without any lag or stutter. Even with the 6GB RAM variant, multitasking was a breeze, and app loading times were acceptable. The display impressed with its good viewing angles and sufficient brightness for outdoor use. Watching videos on the Moto G82 5G was an engaging experience, thanks to the immersive stereo speakers.
Benchmark tests revealed commendable performance scores. In AnTuTu, the Moto G82 5G scored 404,838 points. In Geekbench 5, it achieved 657 points and 1929 points in single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. The device performed well in 3DMark’s Slingshot benchmark, scoring 4031 points. In GFXBench, the Moto G82 5G managed 17fps in the Car Chase benchmark. These scores align with the Moto G71 5G and the Vivo T1, but the iQoo Z5, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, remains one of the most powerful smartphones in this price range.
Gaming performance on the Moto G82 5G was impressive. It could flawlessly run Call of Duty: Mobile at ‘High’ graphics settings with ‘High’ frame rate, delivering a smooth and lag-free gameplay experience. Playing for 20 minutes resulted in a six percent drop in battery level, with the phone becoming slightly warm to the touch but not excessively so.
Battery endurance on the Moto G82 5G was commendable. With a usage pattern involving Instagram, YouTube videos, calls, and web browsing, the phone comfortably lasted over a day. In our HD video loop test, the Moto G82 5G endured for 16 hours and 13 minutes. The 5,000mAh battery charged rapidly thanks to the bundled 33W charger, reaching 42 percent in half an hour and taking a little over an hour to reach full charge.
Moto G82 5G Cameras
The Moto G82 5G sports a triple camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera with optical stabilization (OIS), an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. For selfies, it’s equipped with a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The camera app is user-friendly and packed with features. Swiping left or right on the viewfinder allows easy switching between camera modes, and quick toggles for HDR (enhancing dynamic range in bright scenes) and auto-Night Vision (automatically activating in low-light conditions) are readily accessible.
Most photos captured with the Moto G82 5G during Mumbai’s monsoon season were taken under overcast conditions. Day time photos exhibited good detail, with nearby objects clearly identifiable. The phone automatically enabled HDR, which improved the dynamic range in the output. Photos taken with the ultra-wide-angle camera displayed similar color tones but lacked the same level of detail.
Close-up shots were crisp and accurately captured colors. The phone efficiently locked focus and produced pleasing soft bokeh for the background. Portraits showcased accurate edge detection, and the phone allowed fine-tuning the level of background blur in the output. Macro photos turned out decent, and the phone intelligently suggested switching between the primary and macro camera based on the distance between the device and the subject.
The Moto G82 5G’s low-light camera performance was impressive, automatically activating Auto Night Vision for quality image capture. It took approximately three seconds to capture a shot and delivered good detail for nearby objects, while distant objects appeared soft yet recognizable. Enabling Night Vision manually resulted in a brighter image with slightly enhanced detail.
Selfies taken with the Moto G82 5G were good in both daylight and low-light conditions. Selfie portraits featured accurate edge detection, although the phone applied a smoothing filter to the output. This filter can be disabled for users who prefer a natural look.
Video recording on the Moto G82 5G maxes out at 1080p for both the primary and selfie cameras. The stabilization wasn’t exceptional, and footage exhibited jitter during walking, particularly noticeable in low-light conditions. Despite the primary camera being equipped with OIS, the video stabilization performance was below average.
Verdict
The Moto G82 5G marks the first G-series smartphone to cross the Rs. 20,000 mark but remains below the Rs. 25,000 segment. Motorola has implemented a crisp display, stereo speakers, and splash resistance to differentiate itself from competitors. The Moto G82 5G could be appealing to those willing to stretch their budget beyond Rs. 20,000 for these features.
However, for a slightly higher price, options like the Realme GT Master Edition and the iQoo Z5 offer significantly better performance. Those prioritizing exceptional camera performance might consider the Realme 9 Pro+, which also delivers better video recording quality. Budget-conscious consumers seeking similar features to the Moto G82 5G could opt for affordable alternatives like the Moto G71 5G and the Vivo T1. Ultimately, the choice boils down to individual priorities, budget, and desired features.
Before making a decision, it’s essential to consider your specific needs and compare the Moto G82 5G with its competitors in the market.
