The Motorola Moto G Play is the Worst Phone Of 2023 π
Summary
TLDRIn this Tech Daily review, Wade harshly critiques the 2023 Motorola Moto G Play, deeming it the 'worst phone of the year.' He argues that despite its low cost, the phone's outdated hardware, poor software experience, and lack of updates make it an unwise purchase. Wade highlights the phone's subpar display, slow performance, and outdated camera, urging consumers to consider other budget options that offer better value and updates.
Takeaways
- π The 2023 Motorola Moto G Play is considered the worst phone of the year by the reviewer, Wade from Tech Daily.
- π° Despite its low cost, the phone is deemed not worth purchasing even for those on a tight budget or receiving it for free.
- π± The Moto G Play is criticized for using cheap or outdated components, making it a 'parts bin special'.
- πΊ The phone has a large 6.5-inch display but with poor resolution and brightness, and a low screen-to-body ratio.
- π The fingerprint sensor is outdated, resembling designs from a couple of years ago, and does not align with current Motorola devices.
- π The internal storage is a meager 32GB, with half used by the OS and pre-installed apps, necessitating an SD card for most users.
- π It has a headphone jack and USB-C charging, but the latter is not remarkable as even the cheapest competitors have moved on from Micro USB.
- π The phone's battery life is praised for lasting two days on a single charge with light use, despite the slow charging speed of 10 watts.
- π€ The MediaTek Helio G37 processor and 3GB of RAM result in a sluggish and unresponsive user experience.
- π± The Moto G Play is still running on Android 12, with no update to Android 13 in sight, making it feel outdated in terms of software.
- π· The camera setup is underwhelming, with a 16MP main lens and additional low-quality sensors, resulting in poor image and video quality.
Q & A
What is the main issue with the 2023 Motorola Moto G Play according to Wade from Tech Daily?
-The main issues are that it is a parts bin special with cheap or outdated physical components and it has the slowest and clunkiest software experience with Android 12, which is unacceptable at this point.
Why does Wade consider the Moto G Play to be the worst phone of the year?
-Wade considers it the worst because it combines outdated hardware with poor software performance and lacks modern features and updates, making it a frustrating and outdated experience for users.
What design elements from previous years does the Moto G Play retain?
-The Moto G Play retains the Motorola dimple fingerprint sensor, a design from a couple of years ago, and a large bottom chin with thick black borders, which are outdated design cues.
What is the screen resolution and pixel density of the Moto G Play, and how does it affect the viewing experience?
-The screen resolution is 720p with a pixel density of 270 pixels per inch, which results in a pixelated and not very bright display, making the viewing experience poor.
How does the Moto G Play's internal storage compare to what Wade considers acceptable for a modern smartphone?
-The Moto G Play has only 32 gigabytes of internal storage, with 50% used up by the OS and pre-installed apps, which Wade finds unacceptable as storage is not expensive and should be more generous.
What processor is used in the Moto G Play, and how does its age affect the phone's performance?
-The phone uses the MediaTek Helio G37 processor, which is an entry-level chipset launched in 2020, making it nearly three years old and significantly affecting the phone's performance.
Why does Wade believe the lack of a major Android update for the Moto G Play is a significant problem?
-Wade believes it's a problem because it shows Motorola's lack of support for its customers and leaves the phone with outdated software, which can lead to security issues, app compatibility problems, and other software bugs.
What alternative options does Wade suggest instead of the Moto G Play for a budget-conscious consumer?
-Wade suggests considering renewed Samsung A51, other Samsung smartphones, a used Pixel 4A, or the Nokia G10, all of which have better specs and are updated to Android 13.
How does the Moto G Play's battery life compare to its charging speed, and what does Wade think about this aspect?
-The battery life is good, lasting two days of light use, but the charging speed is slow at 10 watts, taking 3-4 hours to charge fully. Wade finds this inconvenient.
What are the camera specifications of the Moto G Play, and how does Wade evaluate its camera performance?
-The camera setup includes a 16-megapixel main lens, a 2-megapixel macro, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, along with a 5-megapixel selfie camera. Wade evaluates the performance as poor, with no detail, over-processed images, and choppy, out-of-focus video.
What is Wade's final recommendation regarding the purchase of the 2023 Moto G Play?
-Wade strongly advises against purchasing the Moto G Play, calling it a cash grab and a waste of money, and urges Motorola to stop releasing such outdated and frustrating phones.
Outlines
π Disappointment: The 2023 Motorola Moto G Play Review
In this paragraph, Wade from Tech Daily expresses his dissatisfaction with the 2023 Motorola Moto G Play, dubbing it the worst phone of the year. He empathizes with those who have purchased it but emphasizes that even as a budget option, the phone is not worth the investment. Wade notes the phone's outdated physical components, slow software experience with Android 12, and lack of a refreshed design. He also points out the phone's large size with a low screen-to-body ratio, poor display quality, and minimal internal storage, which necessitates the use of an SD card. Despite these shortcomings, Wade acknowledges the presence of a headphone jack and USB-C charging as minor redeeming features.
π‘ Performance and Software Lament for the Moto G Play
The second paragraph delves into the Moto G Play's subpar performance and outdated software. Wade criticizes the phone's use of the MediaTek Helio G37 processor, a nearly three-year-old chipset, and the insufficient 3GB of RAM. He highlights the phone's inability to handle multiple apps effectively, resulting in a slow and unresponsive user experience. Furthermore, Wade expresses frustration over the lack of a major Android update, noting that the phone still runs Android 12 despite being a 2023 model. He compares the Moto G Play unfavorably to other smartphones that offer better specs and updated software for a similar price, arguing that the phone is a poor value even when offered for free or at a discount.
π The 2023 Moto G Play: An Outdated, Uninspiring Choice
In the final paragraph, Wade concludes his review by summarizing theζ©ζ G Play's numerous shortcomings, including its outdated camera setup, poor battery charging speed, and lack of modern features. He reiterates that the phone is a poor choice for consumers, regardless of the price, and criticizes Motorola for releasing a device that is essentially a collection of old parts and software. Wade implores viewers not to purchase the Moto G Play and urges Motorola to cease producing such inferior devices. He invites viewers to share their thoughts in the comments and reminds them to follow Tech Daily on social media and subscribe to the YouTube channel for more content.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Motorola Moto G Play
π‘Parts bin special
π‘Android 12
π‘Screen to body ratio
π‘Internal storage
π‘Mediatek Helio G37
π‘Geekbench scores
π‘Android updates
π‘Battery life
π‘Camera setup
π‘E-Waste
Highlights
The 2023 Motorola Moto G Play is considered the worst phone of the year.
The phone is a parts bin special, assembled with cheap or outdated components.
It features the slowest and clunkiest software experience with Android 12.
The Moto G Play lacks a refreshed design and resembles older Motorola models.
The phone has a large 6.5-inch display with thick borders and a low screen-to-body ratio.
Internal storage is a mere 32 gigabytes, requiring an SD card for minimal app installation.
A headphone jack and USB-C charging are included, but the screen resolution is a low 720p.
The 90 Hertz display doesn't provide a smooth user experience due to poor performance.
Powered by a nearly three-year-old MediaTek Helio G37 processor and only three gigabytes of RAM.
Performance is frustratingly slow, with the phone struggling to handle multiple apps.
The Moto G Play has not received a major Android update, remaining on Android 12.
Other budget phones offer better specs and have been updated to Android 13.
Motorola promises only one major update for the Moto G Play, making it outdated upon purchase.
The phone's battery life is long, lasting two days of light use, but charging is slow at 10 watts.
Camera quality is poor, with outdated sensors and no advanced features like night mode or stabilization.
The Moto G Play is criticized as a cash grab, offering outdated technology at a deceptively low price.
The phone is not recommended, with better alternatives available even at a similar price point.
The video concludes with a call for Motorola to stop releasing such low-quality devices.
Transcripts
what's going on guys my name is Wade
with tech daily so this is the 2023
Motorola Moto G play and it is the worst
phone of the Year by far I'm sorry if
you bought this I'm not trying to be
mean or make you feel bad about your
purchase even the cheapest lowest spec'd
smartphone is still useful for some
people I totally get that it's just even
if you only have a hundred dollars to
spend or even if you're getting this
phone for free from a major carrier it's
simply just not worth it when you
consider all of the other smartphones
both new and old that you could buy
instead now I also know that this isn't
a new phone it's been out for like eight
months already but the thing about
Motorola devices is that they tend to be
heavily promoted on Amazon they always
seem to be on sale for a big discount
which probably entices people the
holiday shopping season is fast
approaching and these phones are sold
for a long period of time sometimes over
the course of two or more years from the
major carriers all of this is a recipe
for Motorola to wind up attracting a ton
of customers to this phone over the next
few months and Beyond and I want to make
sure a potential purchaser has all the
information also if you already watched
marquez's video on this phone from a
while back a lot of his thoughts and
information are now totally outdated
this phone is an even worse buy than it
already was when it first launched and
I'm gonna explain why there's really two
main issues with the 2023 Moto G Play
It's a parts bin special a phone that
was put together with cheap or outdated
physical components Motorola probably
had lying around from previous phones
over the years and it also has the
slowest and clunkiest software
experience still Android 12 by the way
which at this point is just unacceptable
physically the Moto G play looks like a
Motorola device from a year or two ago
it didn't get the refreshed design like
all the other Moto G devices so it
doesn't even fit in the lineup and more
closely resembles the design of the 2021
G stylus or 2022g power perhaps Motorola
did in fact use the actual rear cover of
a smartphone from a couple of years ago
for this G play at 6.5 inches it's a
pretty big phone I know a lot of people
will appreciate the big display but with
those thick black borders and huge
bottom chin there's a ton of wasted
space and the phone feels a lot bigger
but a lot taller than it probably should
but such a low screen to body ratio the
design overall mimics a budget device
from a number of years ago the final
outdated design cue is that Motorola
dimple around back that's the
fingerprint sensor something Motorola
had on their smartphones for a long time
but not within the last year or two
except for this phone the fingerprint
sensor works just fine and I actually
don't mind the placement it just doesn't
align with anything that's been released
this year the gplay does have a couple
of other physical things that people
might appreciate like an SD card slot
but this phone only has 32 gigabytes of
internal storage it has to have an SD
card if you want to install any more
than like a dozen apps on it or if you
wind up taking a couple hundred pictures
I'm honestly stunned that Motorola
shipped a phone with this little
internal storage it's not like storage
is all that expensive nowadays anyway
and I mean 50 of it is used up right out
of the box by the OS and pre-installed
apps it's crazy there's a headphone jack
on this phone which is nice I guess and
it charges via USBC which might seem
like an odd thing to say but the
cheapest Samsung a series phones
sometimes still have Micro USB ports
seriously so at least it's not that bad
now for as nice as the big screen might
seem on this phone it's actually a
pretty poor viewing experience overall
this is a 720p resolution screen which
means at this size you can literally
pick out the pixels from a normal
viewing distance you get a pixel density
of just 270 pixels per inch so it's not
sharp by any means and it's also not
very bright at all all in fact I found
it to be the dimmest Moto G device by
far at 60 or 70 brightness this phone is
comparable to other Moto G devices set
to 20 or 30 brightness off axis viewing
is also quite poor and all this is
because it's an IPS LCD display and not
a new one at that there aren't any specs
that stand out with the display and it
doesn't seem to be covered in any
notable current Gorilla Glass so the
glare is pretty bad too it is a 90 Hertz
display though which theoretically would
mean that it's fast and fluid and snappy
with your Taps and swipes but the phone
performs so poorly that it never
actually looks like it's running at 90
Hertz there's never a smooth scroll or a
Seamless app transition at all so I
don't even understand why they bothered
with 90 Hertz naturally we need to talk
about performance now and the software
experience and this is actually where
marquez's original thoughts on this
phone have sort of become outdated
inside this phone is powered by The
mediatek Helio G37 processor which is an
entry-level chipset that was originally
launched in 2020. so we're talking a
nearly three-year-old low level
processor inside this phone you also get
three gigabytes of RAM which is one gig
less than what I would consider to be
the bare minimum for any smartphone
nowadays and worst of all as of August
when I'm filming this video the Moto G
play is still running Android 12. so the
hardware is bad enough here are the
geekbench scores but you don't need a
complicated performance test to show
that this phone can't handle much just
open three or four apps and you'll
quickly see that it's slow and clunky
and oftentimes totally unresponsive is
it usable sure I guess if you like just
need a phone to make a phone call or to
look something up on the internet from
time to time then yeah it's a phone it's
at least going to keep you connected to
the world but I wouldn't say that it's
real liable I wouldn't say that you
could do anything quickly or efficiently
I'd even go as far as to say it's an
outright frustrating experience just
trying to do those basic tasks and I'm
not sure why even for a hundred or so
dollars or even for free that anyone
would subject themselves to something
like this the lack of a major Android
update though is what really grinds my
gears in marquez's video one of the
points he made was that even for his
cheap and as low spec as this phone is
it's still modern and current and it'll
get Android updates that like a two or
three year old smartphone that might
also be 100 to 200 bucks wouldn't
otherwise get but now eight months later
after that video we see that that's
literally not the case this phone
doesn't have the Android 13 update even
though we're weeks away now from Android
14 launching on Flagship devices so
buying the Moto G play right now
literally means you're buying a 2023
device with a 2022 software experience
and like internal specs from 2020. it's
unequivocally not a modern Android
device by definition certainly not in
software and especially not in hardware
and this is where the argument of buying
a couple years older device that does
get Android updates is even stronger for
a little more than 100 right now you
could get a renewed Samsung A51 which
has Android 13. it also just has better
specs across the board or you could get
like 20 other Samsung smartphones I mean
even the a03s for as bad as those are at
least got updated you could also get a
used pixel 4A for 130 bucks even the
Nokia G10 has Android 13. and I know
what you're thinking well all those
phones be done getting updates after
this year while the Moto G play gets
more updates in the future uh literally
no Motorola promises only one major
update for this phone so whenever it
does get Android 13 that's it and is it
really an update if Motorola is already
a year behind anyway they're basically a
year behind right now and look I know
not everyone even cares about Android
updates but you should a little bit
because at a bare minimum it shows that
any company like Motorola cares about
supporting its customers during the
duration of time they own their products
and it also protects the consumer from
security issues and app compatibility
problems and other software bugs to
Motorola's credit there have been some
minor software updates for this phone up
to this point but I think the
combination of old underpowered internal
components and last year's software just
leads me to believe that this phone is
more or less a quick cash grab from an
unsuspecting customer who just needs any
phone and Motorola isn't concerned with
what happens afterwards but that really
isn't how you should be treating a
customer on the bright side since this
phone has a dim low resolution display
the least powerful processor available
and basically one-year-old software if
you do end up actually using this phone
it'll last for forever the 5000 million
amp battery inside this thing easily
carries the phone through two days of
light use which is probably how most
people would use this phone anyway but
the few times it does need to be plugged
in well with just 10 watt wired charging
speeds you'll be waiting around three or
four hours at least before it juices
back up to a hundred percent and last
but not least the cameras are also bad
that shouldn't be surprising at this
point essentially Motorola just took all
the spare old camera Parts they had
lying around the cheapest ones possible
and used them here you get a 16
megapixel main lens and then the two
megapixel macro and 2 megapixel depth
sensor both of which are the
quintessential budget phone camera
add-ons that are basically worthless the
selfie camera is also a rough five
megapixel shooter the camera features
include portrait mode Pro controls
Panorama and time lapse and that's
basically it no night mode no slow-mo no
video stabilization no video shooting
Beyond 1080 30 no wide angle I mean can
you take a picture or video with this
phone yes is it going to look good no
not at all there's no detail at all in
any shot it's a ridiculously over
processed image with smoothed out bits
in some areas and choppy bits and other
areas way too saturated the dynamic
range is awful video is so incredibly
choppy and out of focus this just is not
a camera setup you'd expect to have on
any phone in 2023 regardless of the
price point now look I know I'm probably
sounding pretty harsh but here's the
bottom line Motorola a company that
seems to want to be environmentally
friendly with their soy ink and minimal
cardboard boxes with no charging
accessories or at least a phone that is
arguably E-Waste it's a phone that
consists of parts and pieces from
devices that launched two or three years
ago they have up to this point not even
bothered to keep the phone updated
software wise but yet they originally
launched and sold this thing for 107 70
dollars it obviously wasn't worth that
price it's not even selling at that
price anymore and even at its Perpetual
discount of like a hundred or so dollars
there's 20 other smartphones I would
recommend instead of this one even older
budget phones that are at least updated
to Android 13. this phone to be brutally
honest is just a cash crab deceptively
aimed at individuals who just need a
cheap phone to stay connected to the
world but who wind up wasting their
hard-earned money on something that's
outdated frustrating to use won't ever
get updated seemingly and is just a
total waste of money it won't last a
person more than a year anyway so please
don't buy this thing and Motorola quit
releasing phones like this there's no
reason to so there you go those are my
honest thoughts on the 2023 Moto G play
what do you guys think am I being too
harsh let me know in the comments down
below I'd love to hear your thoughts of
course hopefully you guys did enjoy this
video though or at least found it
somewhat helpful be sure to follow Tech
daily on Twitter and subscribe to the
tech daily YouTube channel if you
haven't already
I'll see you guys later
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