Motorola Moto G05 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Motorola Moto G05 is a 2024 entry-level phone on the MediaTek Helio G81, with a 6.67-inch 90 Hz IPS LCD rated at 500 nits, a 5200 mAh battery with 18 W charging, and an IP54 body at 189 grams. Our catalog scores it 26 on everyday use and 86 on compactness, with the 4/64 GB trim tracked near $130 new. A single 50-megapixel main camera without stabilization covers photography. The Motorola Moto G04 is the cheaper sibling below it, while the Motorola Moto G24 is the similarly priced alternative of the line.

Display and design

The 6.67-inch IPS LCD refreshes at 90 Hz with a 500-nit rating, scoring 29 on our screen axis: large and smooth by entry standards, basic in brightness. IP54 splash sealing is a genuine extra at this price, and the 189-gram body with an 86 compactness score stays practical.

Performance

The Helio G81 posts an everyday axis of 26 and a gaming axis of 0: calls, messaging and light apps define the envelope. Tracked trims carry 4 to 8 GB of RAM, and the two-year software window is closing now, so the update runway should be assumed short.

Camera

The camera axis of 10 rests on a single 50-megapixel main sensor without stabilization, with no ultrawide, telephoto or video specification in our records. Daylight snapshots are the scope, identical in ambition to the rest of the entry class.

Battery and charging

The 5200 mAh battery scores 44 on our battery axis — slightly above the entry norm, with the frugal platform stretching runtimes — while 18 W charging earns a charging axis of 0, the slowest refill tier we track. Overnight charging is the practical rhythm.

Verdict

Near $130 new for 4/64 GB, the Moto G05 is a communication-first device with two real extras: splash sealing and a slightly larger cell than the class norm. Performance, camera and charging speed all sit at entry level; the G24 is worth comparing if camera resolution matters more than sealing.