Review Summary
Expert Rating
When it comes to the entry-level segment, there are very few smartphones that offer a near-stock Android experience. Motorola is joining the fray with its recent G-series smartphone, Moto G04. The handset is priced in India at Rs 6,999 for the base 4GB RAM variant, while the 8GB RAM option will set you back by Rs 7,999. In this Moto G04 review, we take a look at whether the real-world performance justifies the asking price of the smartphone. Check it out.
Table of Contents
Verdict
The Moto G04 can serve as your go-to entry-level smartphone. It’s adept at handling basic tasks and comes with the latest software that provides one of the cleanest experiences within the segment. The cameras and other aspects of the smartphone are good, if not better than its competitors.
Design and display
The Moto G04 flaunts a matte finish around the back, which may give you a vegan leather impression, especially with the Sea Green colour variant. The handset also comes in Concord Black, Satin Blue, and Sunrise Orange shades. The overall design of the smartphone mirrors that of other recently launched G-series smartphones, such as the Moto G24 Power and Moto G34. For perspective, the camera module is seamlessly integrated into the phone’s surface, with only a slight hump where the two rings for the camera sensor and an LED flash are placed.
The handset also doesn’t get smudged easily either, and the edges are flat for a comfortable grip. With its roughly 179 grams weight, the device is also easy to hold for prolonged usage. The handset is IP52 certified against minor splashes of water. As for I/O, the phone boasts a USB Type-C port at the bottom edge, while the top edge features a 3.5mm headphone jack. There is a single bottom-firing speaker, fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos, to offer relatively crisp audio with a 50-60 percent volume level. For security, the Moto G04 sports a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which is both quick and accurate to unlock the device.
Talking about the display, the Moto G04 features a 6.56-inch IPS LCD panel that bears a centred punch-hole for the selfie camera, HD+ resolution, and 90Hz refresh rate. While the quality indoors is satisfactory with nice and bright colour calibration, sunlight legibility is slightly underwhelming, reflecting its budget-oriented nature. The touch response is fluent, and the 90Hz refresh rate works fine across the UI and supported apps.
Cameras
In terms of optics, the Moto G04 boasts a 16MP AI primary camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. These cameras offer features such as portrait mode, night mode, time-lapse, and FHD video recording. However, one should not expect exceptional camera quality. The device’s cameras are rather basic, providing images with acceptable details and colour accuracy primarily in well-lit environments. They also excel at face detection and image processing.
Additionally, portrait shots appear satisfactory for the price with slight smoothing and blending. The low light performance of the smartphone is average at best. The images lack both detail and sharpness, and there is a persistent noise across the frame.
Performance and software
The Moto G04 is powered by a Unisoc T606 chipset paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of user-expandable storage. The handset offers a budget-centric performance capable of handling basic tasks such as communications, navigation, and streaming. The phone’s AnTuTu and Geekbench scores further indicate that it is only good for some low-end games such as Candy Crush, Subway Surfer, and Ludo. Nevertheless, the handset returned with an impressive 93 percent score on the CPU Throttle test, suggesting a well-optimised performance for handling intense loads.
Software-wise, the Moto G04 boots MyUX based on Android 14 out of the box. The software delivers a closer-to-stock Android experience with similar app icons and themes. There are a few third-party apps pre-installed, which can be removed if desired. The handset also comes with several Moto gestures, including Chop twice for a flashlight, double-pressing the power button to launch the camera app, a three-finger screenshot, and more.
Battery and charging
The Moto G04 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery. Given that the phone is meant for basic usage, it should comfortably last up to a day. In our 30-minute YouTube video playback test in HD resolution with 50 percent brightness and volume level, the handset consumed just 5 percent battery life. When it comes to charging, the included 10W charger takes roughly two and a half hours to achieve a full charge from 0-100 percent, which is slightly on the slower side.
Final verdict
The Moto G04 presents a compelling option for its asking price, offering a near-stock Android experience and an acceptable performance for regular day-to-day tasks. Additionally, the handset boasts a clean design, offers a comfortable grip, and is IP52-certified against minor water splashes. While the camera quality is adequate, it may not satisfy photography enthusiasts. If that’s your priority, the itel A70 is worth checking out. Its 13MP AI camera captures slightly better images with vibrant colours (although boosted), and better dynamic range than its counterpart. However, the A70’s performance might be somewhat restrictive given it only comes with 4GB RAM.
The Motorola smartphone is equipped with 6GB and 8GB RAM options. This should make the Moto G04 a solid choice for those seeking affordability without compromising essential features.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Reasons to buy
- Near-stock Android experience with limited third-party apps.
- Clean design with a comfortable grip and IP52 splash resistance rating.
- Satisfactory performance for basic tasks.
Reasons not to buy
- No major software update expected
- Camera quality could be better
 | Rs. 6,906.00 | Go To Store |
