Lastly, the G7 Play and the G7 Power fall a half-step below the Moto G7. Though they have the same processor as the G7, they only have one rear camera each, and the G7 Play has a smaller.

Introduction

Motorola's launch event in Brazil was quite the Carnival. We got not one, not two, but four different Moto G7 devices. We haven't been always keen on this kind of fragmentation, but when done right, the consumers are more than happy to have more choices. So, please buckle up, as today we will take the Moto G7 Power for a ride.

The Power phones aren't new to Motorola, we've seen a couple of those in 2016, though the Android One-enrolled Moto One Power from last Fall is what comes to mind first. The G7 Power is more affordable though, as is the entire G7 lineup.

So, the Moto G7 Power has a large 6.2' 720p display with a notch for the selfie camera. It's not bezel-less, but it's rounded around the corners to match the G7's curves which is a nice touch.

Then we have the Snapdragon 632 chip working beneath that screen for a smooth experience. And looking at the specs of its processor and graphics, we are hopeful for its performance. There is also either 3 or 4 gigs of RAM depending on the storage option you opt for. Oh, and there is a dedicated microSD slot in case you make the wrong choice or just need to store a couple of seasons of your favorite TV show on your phone.

The Moto G7 Power has the same 12MP main camera as the vanilla G7, but behind a darker f/2.0 lens. And there is no secondary sensor for depth info, though the camera app can still shoot those fancy Portraits.

Finally, the Power stands for the beefy 5,000 mAh battery that should keep the lights on for quite some time. The G7 Power also supports 18W TurboPower charging, so it shouldn't take forever to recharge the thing.

Motorola Moto G7 Power specs

• Body: Plastic back and frame; Splash resistant; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 front
• Display: 6.2' LTPS IPS LCD, HD+ 720x1570px resolution display (19.5:9 aspect ratio), 279 ppi.
• Rear camera: 12MP, f/2.0 aperture, 1.25µm; phase detection autofocus, LED flash, Auto HDR. 4K/30fps video recording.
• Front camera: 8MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1.12µm, fixed focus, 1080p/30fps video recording.
• OS/Software: Android 9.0 Pie
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 (14 nm): octa-core CPU (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Silver), Adreno 506 GPU.
• Memory: 3/4GB of RAM, 32/64 GB storage; dedicated microSD slot for expansion.
• Battery: 5,000 mAh Li-Po (sealed); 15W or 18W charging.
• Connectivity: Single/dual SIM; LTE Cat. 7 (300Mbps download/50Mbps upload); Type-C USB2.0 port; Wi-Fi b/g/n; GPS, GLONASS; Bluetooth 4.2; FM radio.
• Misc: Rear-mounted fingerprint reader; single speaker - the earpiece; 3.5mm jack.

The Moto G7 Power is shaping as quite an interesting smartphone and should be a must-check for anyone who is after long battery autonomy. We are not that keen on the choice of chipset, but we guess it should perform admirably given the low 720p screen resolution.

Anyway, let's unbox the Moto G7 Power and get this review going.

Moto G7 Power unboxing

The Moto G7 Power is packed within one very nice looking green box. While it's not unique to this Moto, the maker definitely knows how to spice up its retail boxes and we give Motorola credit for that.

Inside the fancy box you'll find the G7 Power itself, a transparent rubber case, a USB-C cable, and a TurboPower charger rated at either 15W or 18W depending on your market.

Motorola Moto G7 Power review - Reader comments

• ILG

So, I am in the market for a new device. I have had the Moto z2 Force since it was introduced. I love my z2, but it's starting to show wear and tear, mostly the touch screen. If they would keep updating it and I could just fix the issues, I&#...

• Robert
• kgr

You will feel different if you do what I did have the middle speaker cleaned dirt buildup happens over time I had mine cleaned sprayed with air spray a professional technical company cleaned it plus put some sticky tape and all kind of dirt came out ...

• Robert
• kgr

Have the speaker cleaned there is a buildup in there of dirt or something in that middle speaker a professional technical company cleaned mine also took some sticky tape stuff and a bunch of dirt came out and then they sprayed it with air spray volum...

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The Moto g7 Power is a phone designed for one thing – exceptional battery life – and it certainly delivers. We saw well over two days’ battery life in regular use, and over a week sitting on standby. While the g7 Power’s battery life is incredible, it needs to do more than just last a long time to be a great phone. So, when you look beyond its longevity, does the g7 Power stand up to scrutiny?

The Moto g7 Power sits in the middle of Motorola’s budget g7 range – above the $199 g7 Play, but below the $299 g7 and $350 g7 Plus.

It also has one of the biggest batteries of any phone on sale, at 5,000 mAh. In fact, it’s almost twice as large as the battery in an iPhone XS.

But beyond the enormous battery, the g7 Power’s spec sheet doesn’t read too well. For example, it only has a 720p display, uses a middling Snapdragon 632 processor, and has a polymer (rather than glass) rear casing.

In many ways, it can be tricky to work out who the g7 Power is actually aimed at. Sure, we all want more battery life, but do we want it at the expense of other features?

For some people, the answer might be yes. If you’re one of these people, the g7 Power is perfect. If not, we’d look at the Moto g7 Plus.

In this review:

• Moto g7 Power battery life – How long does does its huge battery last?
• Moto g7 Power cameras – Can its single rear camera hold its own?
• Moto g7 Power performance – How fast is this new Motorola?
• Moto g7 Power screen – How impressive is its large display?
• Moto g7 Power design – Is it well built?
• Moto g7 Power cost – Is the g7 Power good value for money?
• Moto g7 Power – The verdict

How long does the Moto g7 Power's battery last?

Motorola claims that the g7 Power’s enormous 5,000 mAh battery will give you “up to 2.5 days on a single charge” – and we believe it.

In fact, we’d even say that Motorola has low-balled that battery figure slightly. When we tried the g7 Power, we could get close to three days’ power in typical usage – playing lightweight games, browsing social media, taking photos, and the like. When on standby, the g7 Power seems like it could last for a week.

Whenever we picked up the g7 Power, it always seemed to have ample power for the day ahead, even if we hadn’t charged it overnight. In fact, when we wanted to test the fast charging capabilities, we had to continuously play YouTube videos to get it to die.

The g7 Power’s fast charging is just that – fast. In one fifteen minute charge from flat, the g7 Power was able to give us close to 16 hours of battery.

Does the Moto g7 Power have good cameras?

The Moto g7 Power uses a single 12Mp rear camera and a single 8Mp selfie camera, and they’re ok.

Images from the rear camera are well-balanced and free from over-saturation, but aren’t quite as detailed as we’d like. The rear camera also seems to struggle with focusing at times, often taking a little while to work out and properly grasp the point of focus and adjust.

The front camera, on the other hand, isn’t quite as impressive. It produces overly-smoothed images which lack a fair amount of detail. The portrait mode works relatively well, and takes fairly decent snaps. But, if you’re after a phone to take the ultimate selfie, we’d steer clear of the g7 Power.

How fast is the Moto g7 Power?

As the g7 Power costs just $249, don’t expect it to challenge the fastest phones on the market. However, for most people, the g7 Power will be absolutely fine.

The g7 Power uses a middling Snapdragon 632 processor and has 3GB of Ram. That’s enough to run social media apps, watch videos, and do some basic multitasking without a hitch, but not enough to play the most power-hungry games.

The slower processor also means that it exerts less strain on the battery, helping to extend the g7 Power’s battery life even further.

How good is the Moto g7 Power’s screen?

The screen is our only real gripe with the g7 Power – it uses a 6.2-inch HD screen, with a tall 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

While having a large screen is great for watching TV shows and videos, the g7 Power’s low resolution 720×1570 pixel display often makes images appear a little soft.

It’s a real shame – especially when the g7 Plus’ 1080p display is so impressive – but it is worth remembering that the g7 Power does only cost $249.

Moto G7 Power Reviews

Like most phones nowadays, the g7 Power copies the designs pioneered on premium phones with a notch and slim bezels. The notch at the top of the screen, and bezels on the sides, are far from intrusive. The chin is quite large, but it does give you something to hold, which is particularly useful when playing games or watching videos.

Is the Moto g7 Power well built?

For a $249 phone, the g7 Power feels solid. Much of this feeling comes down to the sheer heft of the device – the g7 Power tips the scales at 193g. That’s only slightly less than the iPhone XS Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 9, both of which have larger screens and use metal and glass in their construction, rather than plastic.

This extra weight is one of the only real downsides to the g7 Power’s large battery. The plastic rear does feel on the cheap side, but again, this is a cheap phone. There is a little bit of wiggle in the g7 Power’s side-mounted power button and volume rocker, but nothing overly concerning.

You do get a headphone jack and expandable storage, both of which are nice to see. However, the headphone jack is top-mounted, like an old iPod, which is a slight annoyance when you have to turn it around after pulling it out of your pocket.

It’s also the only phone in the g7 range with stereo speakers – this isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s definitely nice to have.

Is the Moto g7 Power good value for money?

Undoubtedly. At $249, the g7 Power is a very strong phone. It’s got enough oomph to handle all manner of everyday tasks, and the cameras – while unremarkable – are perfectly good enough. The screen isn’t the best, but again, is fine for casual use.

However, both the regular Moto g7 and the g7 Plus have better displays and better cameras, while packing similar amounts of power. Neither cost significantly more, either.

So, if you really value a long battery life – perhaps you’re a frequent traveller, or you just don’t use your phone that much, and don’t want to get caught short – get the g7 Power. However, for regular use, we’d probably choose the g7 Plus.

Moto g7 Power verdict – Should you buy it?

If you need a crazy-long battery life, the g7 Power is probably your ideal phone. But perhaps the biggest compliment we can give the g7 Power is that, if you ignore the battery life, it’s still a good budget phone.

At $249, the g7 Power is good value, and is well worth considering if you’re after a cheaper Android phone.

Moto G7 Power Unlocked

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