Motorola Moto G54 5G review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Motorola Moto G54 5G is a 2023 budget phone that still covers the essentials: a 6.5-inch 120 Hz LCD, a 5000 mAh battery and a Dimensity 7020 chip, in a light 177-gram body with an IP52 rating. Our catalog scores it 45 on the everyday axis and 93 on compactness, with a launch price near $179 for the 8/128 GB configuration; used listings currently ask around $231, a quirk of thin used supply rather than rising demand. For its direct heirs, the Moto G (2025) carries the same formula forward, while the Moto G85 5G adds an OLED panel for a little more money.

Display and design

The 6.5-inch IPS LCD refreshes at 120 Hz, which keeps motion fluid even though peak brightness is a modest 560 nits; indoors the panel is pleasant, and outdoor readability is workable but not flagship-grade. At 177 grams with an IP52 splash rating, the phone is easy to handle one-handed and tolerant of light rain. The plastic build is typical of the segment and none the worse for it.

Performance

The Dimensity 7020 earns an everyday axis of 45 and a gaming axis of 8 in our model: web, messaging, maps and social apps run smoothly at 120 Hz, but demanding 3D titles need reduced settings. The 8 GB of RAM in the common configuration is generous for the price and keeps background apps from reloading. This is a communication-first phone, and within that scope it rarely stumbles.

Camera

A 50-megapixel main sensor with optical stabilization anchors the rear, supported by a small auxiliary module; the camera axis of 16 reflects the segment's reality. Daylight shots are shareable and stabilization helps handheld clips, but low-light results degrade quickly. Video capabilities are basic, matching the phone's position as an essentials-first device rather than a camera pick.

Battery and charging

The 5000 mAh battery is the quiet strength here: combined with an efficient chip and an LCD panel it delivers a battery axis of 40, comfortably a full day of light use. The trade-off is 15 W charging, which scores 0 on our charging axis; an overnight or extended midday charge is the routine this phone expects. There is no wireless charging at this price.

Verdict

The Moto G54 5G is a sensible used pick for a secondary device, a first phone, or any budget where essentials trump polish: the screen is smooth, the battery is dependable and the weight is kind. Its two-year software window from 2023 has closed, so security updates are the main long-term concern and the strongest argument for the newer Moto G (2025) instead. At its used price it competes with newer entry models on even terms only if you value the 120 Hz panel and light body.