Motorola continues to solidify its position in the entry-level smartphone market with the launch of the Moto G45 5G, within a month of launching the Moto G85. This latest addition to the G-series offers a sleek design, a capable 50-megapixel camera, a robust 5,000mAh battery, and 5G connectivity—all at a budget-friendly price. But how does it stack up against its competition in the sub-Rs 13,000 segment? Let’s dive into the details.
Sleek Design with Vegan Leather
Motorola has always placed emphasis on delivering premium design even in its budget devices, and the Moto G45 5G is no exception. Despite housing a large 5,000mAh battery, the phone manages to remain lightweight at just 183g and maintains a slim profile with an 8mm thickness. The standout feature is the vegan leather back, which adds a touch of sophistication and a pleasant feel in hand. This design choice mirrors Motorola’s more expensive models, giving the Moto G45 a premium look and feel that belies its affordable price tag.
The back panel is clean, featuring only the Motorola logo and a dual-camera setup housed on a slightly elevated island. The camera rims match the color of the back panel, seamlessly blending into the design. On the sides, you’ll find a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that doubles as a power button, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-C charging port, and a speaker grille at the bottom. Overall, the Moto G45 5G’s design is both practical and stylish, making it one of the more attractive options in this price range.
Bright Display with Thick Bezels
The Moto G45 5G sports a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 20:9 aspect ratio, ensuring smooth and seamless transitions when scrolling or gaming. The display is impressively bright, offering vivid colors that remain visible even under direct sunlight. This makes it a great option for outdoor use. Additionally, the device is IP52-rated for protection against dust and water splashes, adding a layer of durability.
However, the thick bezels, particularly at the bottom, are a noticeable drawback. While this is common in budget smartphones, a thinner bezel would have enhanced the viewing experience. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which should provide adequate protection against minor drops and scratches.
Despite the bezels, the overall experience of consuming content, gaming, and browsing social media on the Moto G45 5G is enjoyable, thanks to its vibrant display and smooth refresh rate.
Decent Performance with Clean UI
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 processor, the Moto G45 5G delivers decent performance for its price. On the connectivity front, the Moto G45 supports 13 5G bands, VoNR (Voice over New Radio) support, up to 4x carrier aggregation, and 4×4 MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology. These features ensure excellent connectivity and fast data transfer speeds, even in areas with weaker network coverage. Whether streaming HD videos, downloading large files, or gaming online, the device offers a reliable and smooth experience with minimal disruptions.
For those who rely on benchmark scores, the Moto G45 5G achieved a single-core score of 943 and a multi-core score of 2137 on Geekbench. These scores indicate that the device is well-suited for basic tasks and can handle moderate multitasking, though it may struggle with more demanding applications. The general performance remains stable, with no significant heating issues even during prolonged use or charging. The device handles day-to-day tasks like social media browsing, streaming videos, and basic multitasking with ease.
It’s also worth noting that the Moto G45 runs Android 14 with a clean user interface, free from bloatware—a refreshing change from competitors like Poco, Xiaomi, and Realme. The phone is guaranteed to receive an upgrade to Android 15, along with three years of security update support, ensuring the device remains up-to-date for the foreseeable future.
Impressive Battery Life, Average Charging Speed
One of the standout features of the Moto G45 5G is its 5,000mAh battery, which easily lasts more than a day with regular use. Whether you’re streaming content, browsing the web, or making calls, the battery won’t let you down. With the provided 20W charger, the phone charges from 0% but takes over 1.5 hours to reach full capacity—a bit of a drawback for users who need a quick power-up.
Capable Cameras with a Minor Hiccup
The Moto G45 5G features a 50MP quad-pixel primary camera along with a 2MP dedicated macro camera setup on the rear and a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. The rear camera excels in capturing vivid and clear images, particularly in well-lit conditions. However, the camera takes some time to process images after they’re clicked, which can be frustrating when trying to capture a moment on the go or a certain action. The portrait mode performs well, with decent edge detection, though the rear camera tends to deliver better results than the front. The camera’s performance is solid for its price range, but the lag in processing images might be a dealbreaker for those who prioritize photography.
Price and Verdict
The Moto G45 5G offers a lot for its price, starting at Rs 10,999 for the 4GB + 128GB variant and Rs 12,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant. It boasts a sleek design, a bright display, and dependable performance, all while delivering solid battery life. However, the thick bezels, slow charging speed, and minor camera issues may deter some potential buyers. For those looking for a budget-friendly 5G smartphone with a clean UI and decent overall performance, the Moto G45 5G is a strong contender.
