Motorola Moto G8 review - a smartphone with pure Android for 14 thousand rubles

In 2020, Motorola has already pleased with new smartphones, including the first flagship in a long time, Edge +. But today we are talking about a model that is much more relevant for Russian users - the Moto G8 for 14 thousand rubles. The smartphone stands out for its interesting design and runs on pure Android, but can it please with something else?

Specifications
Design and ergonomics
Screen
Software and performance
Sound and vibration
Camera
Autonomy
Outcomes

Specifications

Platform	Android 10
Display	6.4 inches, 1,560 × 720 pixels, IPS, 60 Hz, 268 PPI
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, Adreno 610 video accelerator
Memory	RAM - 4 GB, ROM - 64 GB (support for memory cards up to 512 GB)
Cameras	Primary: 16 MP, 1/2, 8 ″, f / 1, 7, Laser AF; 8 MP, f / 2, 2, 13 mm (wide angle); camera for macro photography - 2 megapixels. Front: 8 MP, f / 2.0
Connection	2 × nanoSIM, Wi-Fi 5, GPS, GLONASS, Bluetooth 5.0, GSM / GPRS / EDGE / LTE
Battery	4000 mAh, charging 10 W
Dimensions (edit)	161, 3 × 75, 8 × 9 mm
The weight	188 g

Design and ergonomics

The body of the smartphone is a polycarbonate “boat” in which all the electronics are packed. It looks concise and modern, albeit without the gloss of flagship models. The plastic is glossy, but the prints are not striking. This is largely due to the white color and textured background. A blue version of the device is also available.

The coating of the case is quite unusual, it may even seem that there is a layer of varnish on top of the textured substrate. A similar solution was used back in the LG G2 in 2012. Only there was a flagship from the A-brand, and here we are dealing with a budget device.

The monolithic design makes the smartphone feel sturdy and reliable. The set comes with a silicone case, but this is more of a pleasant bonus, rather than mandatory protection. Still, plastic is more resistant to drops than glass and metal. In addition, the smartphone is not slippery and lies confidently in the hand.

On the back there are cameras and a fingerprint scanner with a logo. The sensor works on the capacitive principle, reading the potential difference over many areas. Recognition is fast and accurate, but the scanner refuses to work with wet fingers.

Unfortunately, the smartphone did not receive an NFC module, which means that Google Pay contactless payment is not available here. This is perhaps the main disadvantage of the device.

The volume and power buttons are located on the right side, it has a corrugated surface - it's easier to feel it blindly. On the left is a hybrid SIM and microSD card slot.

The bottom end is reserved for the USB-C connector, a multimedia speaker and microphone, and on top there are a second microphone and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Screen

Almost the entire front side is occupied by a 6, 4-inch IPS-display with rounded corners and a cutout for the front camera. The frames are small, but the bottom margin is wider than the rest - a screen cable is hidden under it.

The matrix resolution is 1 560 × 720 pixels, which in terms of the diagonal gives a pixel density of 268 PPI. This is a "fair" value since the screen has a traditional RGB structure. Nevertheless, the fonts show "ladders" and the pixel grid.

The black color appears faded due to the backlight, and at an angle it generally becomes gray. The color rendition of the screen is calm; saturation lovers will hardly like this. In the settings, you can choose one of three color presets, but the difference between them is insignificant.

The margin of brightness is sufficient to keep the image readable outdoors, the anti-reflective coating also helps. Another good thing is an oleophobic film, so that your finger easily slides on the glass, and prints can be removed without problems.

Software and performance

The Moto G8 runs pure Android 10. Motorola is famous for its good support for its models, and the new product will not be an exception - the absence of all kinds of add-ons will speed up the release of global updates and security patches.

It is equally important that the smartphone is built on the current and popular Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset, made using an 11-nanometer process technology. It includes eight Kryo 260 cores with a frequency of up to 2 GHz, an Adreno 610 graphics accelerator and a coprocessor for neural networks.

The SoC is complemented by 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. Internal storage can be expanded up to 512GB if needed using microSD cards.

Motorola Moto G8: features in World of Tanks: Blitz

An uncluttered system and powerful hardware platform ensure a great day-to-day experience. In addition, the new product copes well with heavy games - in World of Tanks: Blitz with medium settings, we get 60 FPS with rare drawdowns in loaded scenes.

Sound and vibration

There are no stereo speakers, the only multimedia speaker is located at the bottom and easily overlaps with a horizontal grip. The volume reserve is sufficient not to miss a call; it is better to take headphones to watch video.

But the presence of an audio jack pleases. The SoC's built-in Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec can easily drive 80-ohm Beyerdynamic DT 1350s. The sound is loud and clear.

Unfortunately, the vibration motor here is the same as in other budget cards. The tactile feedback is weak and incomplete, you should not rely on it when the smartphone is in your pocket. And it's better to turn off vibration altogether in the settings, so as not to annoy.

Camera

The Moto G8 has three rear cameras. The standard 16 megapixel module is equipped with a fast f / 1, 7 aperture lens. An 8 ‑ megapixel "width" and a 2 megapixel macro camera complement it. The front camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels.

Also, the novelty is equipped with a laser focusing sensor, but the aiming speed is poor. You have to wait for the smartphone to focus on the desired object and take a few frames for insurance.

During the day, the standard camera takes good pictures, but when backlit, chromatic aberrations appear in the form of rainbow reflections. The wide-angle one also does not differ in quality, but pleases with a large angle of coverage.

The worst is the situation with night and macro photography. In both cases, you have to deal with extremely tight dynamic range and noticeable noise.

Standard camera

Wide-angle camera

Macro photography

Standard camera

Selfie

The video is recorded in 4K resolution with a frame rate of 30 FPS, there is no electronic stabilization. Also, the smartphone does not support H.265 encoding for effective compression, which is why such videos take up a lot of memory.

Autonomy

A 4000 mAh battery is responsible for powering all components. Taking into account the low screen resolution and energy efficiency of the platform, this capacity is enough for two days of battery life. Although games and regular use of the camera can drain the battery by the evening of the first day. So, in an hour in World of Tanks: Blitz, the charge sank by 15%. A full recharge from a 10-watt bundled adapter takes about 1.5 hours.

Outcomes

The Russian price of Motorola Moto G8 is 14 thousand rubles. You shouldn't expect something serious for this money, but the smartphone has shown itself well: it has a high-quality and practical body, fast firmware, decent performance in games, good sound in headphones and a long battery life.

The low class of the device is given by the screen, cameras and vibration. The main disadvantage is the lack of NFC. If this moment is not critical, then the novelty deserves attention.