Motorola Moto G7 Plus Review: Features | Specifications | Pricing

Where to buy

When you buy the "Plus" model of most phones, what you're typically doing is laying down extra dollars for a phone with more features, a larger display and a better camera. After all, if you didn't get those kinds of bonuses, how could you call a phone the "Plus" version?

Motorola's pitch for its 2019 "Plus" model in the Moto G family does have a few key improvements over the Motorola Moto G7, but they add up to a package that has a hard time justifying the $100 price premium for the Motorola Moto G7 Plus.

Design

• Essentially identical design to the Moto G7
• Camera bump
• Teardrop notch
• Included protective case

One of the key expected features of a "Plus" phone is that you'll get a larger display than you do for the regular model. It's expected, but in an unusual step, Motorola opted to put the exact same display and design into the Motorola Moto G7 Plus as you get with the regular Motorola Moto G7. That means you're looking at a 6.2-inch LCD display sitting in a 157x75.3x8mm plastic frame, with the teardrop notch at the top.

Like the Motorola Moto G7, the teardrop notch is essentially unobtrusive, which is a good thing because Motorola doesn't provide a way to turn the entire upper bar black to hide it. A lot of notched phones make that a feature for those who don't like the look of notches at all, but it's not present here.

The construction of the Motorola Moto G7 Plus is a simple plastic body with a distinctly "Motorola" design. There's one potential problem there because Motorola really hasn't updated its design language to any appreciable degree for the past couple of years.

This leaves the Motorola Moto G7 Plus with a rather conservative and in some ways dull design relative to what you can get in its price range. If you don't like flashy looking phones, that's fine, but it does feel like Motorola is simply resting on a design, rather than fine-tuning it or offering something genuinely different here.

I've been testing out the Moto G7 and Moto G7 Plus concurrently, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that, more than once, I've picked up one when I wanted the other. It can't help but feel a little cheap that the more expensive model doesn't have a bigger or better screen, or other distinguishing features to speak of.

That does mean that you're still getting a headphone jack, which will be pleasing news to fans of wired headphones. You also get a pre-installed plastic case to keep the Motorola Moto G7 Plus safe from bumps and drops, which is always a welcome inclusion.

Camera

• Dual 16MP/5MP rear lenses
• Secondary lens only provides focus effects
• 4K OIS video is a nice inclusion

The Plus model of a given phone typically does have additional camera features, but that's a tough ask in the budget category, where cameras are usually ordinary at best. The Motorola Moto G7 Plus features a dual camera array at the back, with the same secondary 5MP sensor as the Moto G7, but a beefed-up 16MP sensor.

It's running the same software for its default camera app, which keeps things simple and, for the most part, well within what we've seen previously for Motorola cameras.

As a basic smartphone camera, the Motorola Moto G7 Plus is entirely capable, but with one exception, it's rarely more than that. Like the Moto G7, there's a range of camera colouring tricks you can engage, but your results are just as likely to be woeful as wonderful.

One trick that Motorola does reserve for the Motorola Moto G7 Plus is the ability to shoot at 4K with optical image stabilisation. If you're shooting video on the run this can have a distinct effect on your overall image quality, although it does feel like an inclusion that not too many folks will actually use.

Motorola Moto G7 Plus sample photos

Performance

• Snapdragon 636 gives it a small performance boost over the Moto G7
• Android 9 onboard
• Motorola actions work well

Behind the display, Motorola does beef up the Motorola Moto G7 Plus relative to its cheaper sibling, but only a little. Where the Moto G7 has a Snapdragon 632 processor and 4GB of RAM, the Moto G7 Plus features a Snapdragon 636 and 4GB of RAM. It's not a huge processor jump, but it is one that's reflected in how well the two phones benchmark.

Here's how the Motorola Moto G7 Plus compares using Geekbench 4's CPU test:

And here's its comparative performance using 3DMark's Slingshot Extreme benchmark:

Within its category then, the Motorola Moto G7 Plus is a fine performer and one that won't likely leave you wanting in any significant way while using it.

However, benchmarks only tell part of the story here. I've been testing out the Motorola Moto G7 Plus at the same time as the Motorola Moto G7, and while the benchmarks do suggest superior overall performance, in day-to-day usage, you're not really all that likely to spot the difference. That's something of a problem for a phone that attracts a $100 price premium.

The Motorola Moto G7 Plus ships with Android 9 on board and Motorola's own generally quite light launcher on top. Like the Moto G7, it comes with Motorola's "Moto Actions" apps on board for features such as fast unlocking, screenshot taking or "chopping" the phone in the air to quickly switch on the flashlight. These aren't new features for this phone specifically, but they're a very nice and handy addition to its toolbox.

Battery life

• 3,000mAh battery provides solid performance
• Fast charging

Battery life is again one of those areas where you might expect a "Plus" phone to bring a little extra juice. Again, though, the Motorola Moto G7 Plus is identical to its cheaper sibling, with a 3,000mAh battery capacity. The really odd design choice here is that Motorola does have a phone this year with a much better battery capacity, but it's not the Motorola Moto G7 Plus. That battery benefit belongs to the Motorola G7 Power, which packs in a 5,000mAh battery.

Where there is some scope for improvement over the Moto G7 is with the Moto G7 Plus's slightly bumped up processor. While the performance gains aren't all that visibly apparent, it did allow the Motorola Moto G7 Plus to outpace its cheaper sibling in Geekbench 4's battery test:

That's a very linear battery test, but the Motorola Moto G7 Plus performs as you'd expect in day-to-day usage. You're not likely to get more than a day of usage out of the Motorola Moto G7 Plus, but that's a perfectly achievable figure.

The Motorola Moto G7 Plus charges via USB C and will do so quite rapidly with Motorola's own Turbo Power charger. It's quite easy to top up the battery if you are using it heavily on a given day and it's also compatible with QuickCharge 2.0 chargers if you're working from a different phone's charger.

Verdict

• A good performer, but with few real benefits over the Moto G7

The Motorola Moto G7 Plus does have some advantages over the Motorola Moto G7, but at its asking price, it's tipping at the bottom of the mid-range price tier, rather than being a true "budget" handset.

The problem here is that Motorola really hasn't provided a lot of reasons to opt for the Motorola Moto G7 Plus over the regular Motorola Moto G7. Presuming you're fine with the design, there's really not much in it in terms of the camera, the screens and batteries are identical and the processor really only shows improvements in small scale battery life. It's hard to see how that little difference translates into the official $100 price point difference.

Alternatives

The obvious competitor to the Motorola Moto G7 Plus has to be the Motorola Moto G7. It's essentially the same phone, but cheaper, and is recommended.

Motorola Moto G7

Motorola's value-centric phone

The Motorola Moto G7 brings simple style but plenty of value to the budget sector.

Buy Now

If you thirst for more battery power and want to stay within the Motorola family, the Motorola Moto G7 Power, available outright or on contract through Telstra, is worth consideration.

Motorola Moto G7 Power

Motorola's battery-packed phone

The Motorola Moto G7 Power has an incredible 5,000mAh battery.

Buy Now

At the Motorola Moto G7 Plus's price point, you could also consider a number of competing Android handsets.

If you're after a clean Android experience in a well-built frame, consider the Nokia 7.1.

Nokia 7.1

Nokia's HDR-ready Nokia 7.1

The Nokia 7.1 offers a superior display along with the power of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 636.

Buy at eBay

Or, alternatively, the Nokia 5.1.

Nokia 5.1

Affordable but stylish

The Nokia 5.1 provides a stylish phone for less than you might think.

Buy at eBay

If you're after a modified Android look in a stylish body, consider the Huawei Nova 3i.

Huawei Nova 3i

Great performance at a budget price

The Huawei Nova 3i combines Huawei's excellent Kirin processor with its camera smarts at a more affordable price point than its premium Mate series.

Buy Now

Pricing and availability

• Price: ~$300
• Where to buy: Amazon

Specifications

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