Motorola Moto G Power 5G: A Brilliant Camera, a Frustrating Touchscreen (701 User Reviews Analyzed)

We analyzed 701 verified reviews from actual users of the Motorola Moto G Power 5G. Our process is straightforward. We identify and categorize every mention related to key product aspects, such as its screen, camera, performance, and battery life. We then assign a sentiment—positive, negative, or neutral—to each comment. The scores you see in our analysis represent the percentage of positive mentions for each specific feature, giving you a clear picture of what real owners think.

💰 Value for Money: Great Phone, Hidden Costs

The story behind the Motorola Moto G Power 5G‘s excellent Value for Money score is one of overwhelming satisfaction with its core proposition: delivering performance that feels far more expensive than its price tag.

The central pillar of this sentiment is the phone’s outstanding performance in overall satisfaction versus cost, where it achieves a remarkable 92% positive rating, soaring 8 points above the category average. This isn’t just a number; it represents a feeling of making a savvy financial decision.

Users repeatedly express relief and vindication for skipping premium-priced flagships. One stated:

I don’t need a $1000 phone. This phone does the same as the higher price phones.

Another owner echoed this, remarking how the device “felt very feature friendly while being at a cost range of a hand-me-down samsung,” a sentiment that speaks volumes about the perceived quality exceeding its cost.

Post-Purchase Frustration

However, this feeling of getting a great deal is significantly undermined by a common post-purchase frustration. An extremely low 8% positive score for unexpected costs or missing items—a stark 13-point drop from the 21% category average—pinpoints a major annoyance.

The human story here is one of initial excitement turning to disappointment upon unboxing. The primary culprit is the lack of a charging block, a detail that catches many off guard. As one user lamented:

It doesn’t come with a charger or a charger box. So I was pretty disappointed with that.

Another buyer detailed the issue more pointedly:

I would have given it five stars but come on no charger but a cable without a USB plug for power to charge it. Moto may think everyone has extra wires.

This omission forces an unforeseen additional purchase, tarnishing an otherwise stellar value proposition.

Competitive Context

This contrast becomes even clearer in a competitive context. The Moto G Power 5G’s core value is its strongest weapon against rivals, with its 92% satisfaction-to-cost score handily beating the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G‘s 80%.

This significant 12-point advantage is what converts shoppers, leading to comments like this:

Love the phone wish I would have tried Motorola sooner. Definitely wouldn’t have spent so much on Samsung.

Yet, Motorola seems to have created a new weakness for itself. While its predecessor, the Moto G Stylus 5G, was much better about including accessories (with a 27% positive rating for in-box items), the G Power 5G’s 8% score on this same factor creates a frustrating self-inflicted wound that alienates loyal and new customers alike.

Trade-Off: Users gain access to performance that feels far more valuable than its price, but this exceptional deal is soured by the near-certainty of having to make an immediate, unexpected purchase for a charger.

📸 Camera: Flagship Quality, Budget Limits

The camera performance of the Motorola Moto G Power 5G tells a story of surprising excellence, especially for its price point. The driving force behind this satisfaction is its core image and video quality, which earns an exceptional 90% positive sentiment. This score soars a full 12 points above the category average of 78%.

For users, this isn’t just a number—it’s the feeling of getting a premium feature for a budget price. Many are genuinely shocked by the results, with one user declaring:

pic quality & variety of options… is just as incredible as the most expensive androids & iPhones on the market today.

This sentiment is echoed by another who found the experience transformed a routine purchase into an exceptional value discovery, stating the camera’s performance is on par with more expensive devices.

camera quality are on par with a flagship, if not a little better.

Key Limitations

However, this high praise is not without its specific limitations. While overall quality is celebrated, users who push the camera in more demanding situations pinpoint its weaknesses.

The experience falters significantly in specific scenarios like low-light photography and when using the zoom function. One reviewer who was otherwise satisfied clearly laid out the compromise:

Night photos are not very good and doesn’t have the same zoom but I was completely aware of this before the purchase.

Other minor frustrations surface around niche features, with another user noting a specific weakness.

The micro camera is hard to focus also.

These issues define the camera’s limits: it excels in everyday use but falls short for more specialized or challenging photography.

Competitive Advantage

This balance of impressive general quality and specific weakness becomes especially compelling when viewed against its competition. The Moto G Power 5G’s 90% positive score for image quality represents a massive 18-point leap over both its direct competitor, the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, and its predecessor, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023), which both sit at 72%.

This dramatic improvement is a tangible benefit that upgrading users clearly notice and appreciate.

better picture taking than my old phone.

For shoppers comparing models, this data reveals a clear and tangible advantage that makes the Moto G Power 5G’s camera feel like a standout feature in its class.

Trade-Off: Users gain flagship-level quality in everyday photos at a budget price, but sacrifice performance in low light and zoom capabilities to get there.

📱 Screen: Bright View, Lagging Touch

The screen experience on the Motorola Moto G Power 5G is a tale of two distinct, opposing stories. Users are drawn in by a bright, vibrant display that excels in key areas, only to be frequently let down by a significant functional weakness that undermines the daily experience.

Bright, Vibrant Display

On one hand, the phone’s display quality is a clear highlight, driven by its impressive brightness that significantly outshines its peers. With an 83% positive rating for brightness and outdoor visibility—a full 9 points above the category average—users feel a tangible benefit, especially when compared to rivals.

As one owner noted, “the screen gets super bright,” which another user found makes it “good for video or movies.” This brightness, combined with the display’s general quality, which earns an 82% positive score, creates a compelling visual package. Owners praise this, saying, “Display is crisp, clear and colors pop,” making it a “perfect screen to watch your shows on the go.”

A Frustrating Flaw in Responsiveness

However, this positive visual experience is severely compromised by a glaring issue with responsiveness. The phone’s touchscreen accuracy scores an alarmingly low 32% in positive sentiment, lagging 11 points behind the category average of 43%. This isn’t just a number; it translates into a source of constant user frustration.

People report that basic interactions become a chore, with one explaining:

I have a problem with the screen when I touch it to enter something; you have to do it 2 to 4 times before it will respond.

Another user shared a more detailed frustration, highlighting a lack of user control over a persistent flaw:

The screen doesn’t react correctly… It doesn’t seem to have a setting for touch screen calibration

This weakness becomes even more apparent in the competitive landscape. While the phone’s 83% brightness score trounces the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G (56%) and A14 5G (50%), its advantage ends there.

The Moto G Power’s 32% score for touchscreen responsiveness is significantly worse than both its predecessor, the Moto G Stylus 5G (43%), and the competing Samsung Galaxy A14 5G (46%). This regression means that while the screen is visually superior for watching content, interacting with that content is a gamble, turning what should be a simple task into a potential source of irritation.

Trade-Off: The Moto G Power 5G’s screen presents a stark choice: you get a bright, visually appealing display superior to its competitors for media consumption, but you must accept the high probability of daily frustration from an unreliable and unresponsive touch experience.

✨Design: Beauty vs. Brittle Build

The design of the Motorola Moto G Power 5G tells a compelling story of visual flair meeting physical fragility. At first glance, users are overwhelmingly captivated by its appearance, with sentiment for its aesthetics reaching an exceptional 95% positive rating. This score outshines the 88% category average, signaling that people feel they’re getting a device that looks more expensive than it is.

Owners describe it as a “beautiful nice sleek phone,” with one noting its premium feel:

It looks very classy in the inexpensive case I purchased.

The unique materials also draw praise, particularly the “very smooth leather backing that surprisingly doesn’t get hot,” which adds to its upscale impression.

Fragile by Design

However, this impressive aesthetic is dangerously undermined by a significant flaw in its construction. The phone’s build quality scores only 67% positive sentiment, a concerning 9 points below the category average of 76%. This isn’t just a number; it represents a real-world frustration for owners who discover the phone’s delicate nature too late.

The screen is the primary point of failure, with numerous users sharing cautionary tales. “The glass is really cheap and fragile,” one user warned, adding:

…it was barely even a foot drop and shattered.

Another expressed similar disappointment after a minor incident:

It’s just very brittle; the slightest drop and there goes your screen. Didn’t have it a week till it was cracked.

This fragility seems to contradict the brand’s reputation for toughness, as one long-time user noted it is “not made as good as the other Motorola phones I’ve had in the past.”

Competitive Context

This stark contrast becomes even clearer next to its key rivals. The Moto G Power 5G’s 95% aesthetic score easily surpasses the Samsung Galaxy A15 (89%) and A14 (82%), making it a more visually striking choice.

Yet, that beauty comes at a practical cost. The phone’s 67% score for build quality is trounced by the more resilient Samsung A15 (76%) and A14 (71%). This data reveals a deliberate choice for potential buyers: opt for the stylish Motorola and risk a broken screen, or choose a plainer-looking Samsung for peace of mind.

While Motorola has made improvements—this model’s build quality is a 10-point jump over its predecessor—it still hasn’t closed the critical gap with the competition, leaving users handling a beautiful device with extreme care.

Trade-Off: Buyers get a phone that looks far more premium than its direct competitors but must accept a significant compromise in screen durability that falls well below the category standard.

💪 Performance: Multitasking Marvel, Gaming Misfire

The Motorola Moto G Power 5G’s performance is a story of exceptional everyday capability, carried by a surprisingly powerful ability to juggle tasks. The hidden engine behind this satisfaction is its outstanding multitasking capability, which earns a perfect 100% positive sentiment from users—a full 17 points above the category average.

This isn’t just a number; it translates into a fluid, frustration-free daily experience. Users feel they’ve gotten more than they paid for, with several attributing this to a pleasant surprise in the phone’s hardware. As one person discovered:

this phone is even better than they list… they say its 4 gb ram but it is actually 8gb.

This extra memory is the practical reason the phone can “handle all daily needs” and provide “enough storage for all of my apps,” making it feel like a reliable tool rather than a budget compromise.

Gaming Performance Hits a Wall

However, this smooth daily operation hits a wall when it comes to intensive gaming. With a positive score of 67%, gaming performance is the phone’s weakest link, falling a significant 7 points below the category average of 74%. For users, this means the phone is not built for serious play.

The experience is often one of interruption and disappointment. One user noted:

Tried a few games just to see how it handles. Started hanging after a few mins.

Another gives a clear verdict for potential buyers:

The processor is way too slow for gaming… I wouldn’t recommend if you’re looking for a phone to game on.

Performance vs. The Competition

This trade-off becomes even clearer when positioned against its rivals. The Moto G Power 5G decisively outperforms its Samsung competitors in the areas that matter for everyday use. Its perfect 100% score in multitasking dwarfs the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G’s 40% rating, meaning users are far less likely to experience lag when switching between apps.

While some users report the Moto can feel sluggish compared to premium brands, one owner who switched brands noted it has:

more power and durability than the Samsung you’d sent.

Interestingly, while gaming is the Moto’s soft spot, it still scores better than both the Galaxy A15 (61%) and Galaxy A14 (58%), making it the superior, if still imperfect, choice for casual gamers in this price bracket.

Trade-Off: Users get exceptional multitasking power for daily use that punches well above its weight class, but they must sacrifice a smooth experience for demanding gaming.

🤖 Software & OS: Smooth UI, Unstable Core

Regarding the Software & Operating System on the Motorola Moto G Power 5G, users find themselves navigating a contradictory experience. While they appreciate the clean and intuitive user interface, persistent stability problems create significant frustration, painting a picture of a well-designed system undermined by unreliable execution.

Smooth User Interface

The positive side of the story is rooted in the device’s user experience and UI smoothness, which garners a 69% positive rating. Users aren’t just satisfied; they’re relieved by how easy the phone is to get up and running.

This practical benefit is a standout feature for many, who feel the setup is seamless. As one user noted, “The ability to export my settings from my old phone and import them to this new one worked great.”

This sentiment is echoed by others who found it “super easy to activate and set up.” Beyond the day-to-day interaction is praised for its simplicity, with one person explaining their return to the brand:

Tried a Samsung and came back to Moto… Menus a little more intuitive and back up and running quickly.

Frustrating Stability Problems

However, this smooth surface hides a turbulent undercurrent of software stability issues, which received a low 26% positive score. For users, this isn’t a minor annoyance; it’s a fundamental breakdown in reliability that disrupts core functions.

The problems range from frequent crashes, with one owner reporting, “Apps and websites constantly freeze,” to critical connectivity failures where “many a time apps will say no connection yet the 4Glte logos are still on screen.”

For some, the consequences are more than just inconvenient. One user with diabetes had to return the phone for a deeply personal reason: “this phone is not compaible with the OmniPod 5 insulin pump app,” a stark reminder of how software incompatibility can have serious real-world implications.

Competitive Context

In the competitive landscape, this software story becomes even more complex. While the Moto G Power 5G’s stability score is low, it surprisingly outperforms its direct rivals, the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G (16%) and A14 5G (22%).

This suggests that while Moto users are justifiably frustrated, their experience may actually be slightly better than what they would find with competing budget phones, which suffer from even more severe stability problems.

This data adds a layer of irony to one user’s vow to “stick with Samsung” next time, a move that the numbers suggest might lead to even greater frustration. It seems that in this price tier, a degree of software instability is a common compromise.

Trade-Off: The Moto G Power 5G offers a pleasantly intuitive and clean user interface, but it comes at the cost of frustrating software instability and compatibility issues that can disrupt daily use.

🔋 Battery: Powerhouse endurance, frustrating charge

The battery performance of the Motorola Moto G Power 5G is a story of exceptional strength undermined by a frustrating weakness. The core promise of the “Power” branding is delivered emphatically through its outstanding battery life, which earns an 86% positive score from users—a full 12 points above the category average.

This isn’t just a number; it translates into tangible freedom and peace of mind for owners. Users repeatedly celebrate this longevity, with one explaining,

With battery saver on it will last 2-3 days between charges.

For those who are forgetful or simply want to escape the wall outlet, this is a game-changer, as another owner noted,

Having a multi-day battery takes care of the problem pretty handily!

The Charging Experience

However, this bright spot is dimmed by significant user frustration with the charging experience itself. While the introduction of new charging methods earns a 52% positive score, which is 20 points above the category average, this figure hides a deep divide in user sentiment.

The pleasure of new features like wireless charging, which one user called a “nice upgrade from the previous model,” is directly countered by anger over what’s missing from the box. Multiple users were dismayed to find an incomplete charging setup, with one writing,

I can’t use my proper cord to charge my phone as they didn’t come with the actual charging block for the device.

This omission transforms a moment of unboxing into one of immediate annoyance and additional expense.

Competitive Context

In a competitive context, this conflicting performance makes the Moto G Power 5G a compelling but complicated choice. Its 86% positive score for battery life gives it a noticeable edge over direct competitors like the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and A14 5G (both 81%) and marks a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Moto G Stylus 5G (76%).

Furthermore, the highly-praised debut of wireless charging creates a massive feature gap, as competitors lag with abysmal positive scores of 3% and 11% for their charging methods. For users upgrading or cross-shopping, the Moto offers a demonstrably longer-lasting and more modern charging experience, but only if they are willing to overlook or immediately spend more money to fix the out-of-the-box practicalities.

Trade-Off: The Motorola Moto G Power 5G offers genuinely outstanding, multi-day battery life that is a clear win over its competitors, but this freedom is compromised by the frustrating experience of not including a complete, functional charging system in the box.

Bottom Line

• ✅ A surprisingly premium camera: The single best feature is its camera quality, earning a 90% positive score that represents a massive 18-point lead over its main Samsung rival.
• ⚠️ Fundamentally flawed performance: The biggest complaint is daily usability, combining an unresponsive screen (32% positive score) with unstable software (26% positive score) that causes frequent freezes.
• 🔻 Feels like a step back: Users feel the phone is a regression, with screen responsiveness scoring 11 points lower than its predecessor, making basic interaction a chore.
• 📉 The missing charger ruins the value: The value proposition is sabotaged by the lack of a charger, causing satisfaction with in-box items to plummet to 8%—a huge 19-point drop from the prior model.
• 🏁 A clear trade-off vs. competitors: It crushes the Samsung A15 on camera performance (+18 points) and multitasking (100% vs 40%), but is significantly more fragile with a build quality score 9 points lower.
• 💡 The verdict for budget shoppers: Ideal for those who prioritize a fantastic camera and multi-day battery life but can tolerate a fragile build and frustratingly laggy experience.