We analyzed 365 verified reviews from actual users of the Motorola Moto G45 to understand what they really think. Our method is direct: we identify what people say about key aspects of the phone, including its value, camera, screen, design, performance, software, and battery. We then count the positive, negative, and neutral mentions for each feature to calculate a satisfaction score. This article presents that data, showing the phone’s real-world strengths and weaknesses based on the experiences of hundreds of owners.
💰 Value for Money: Great Phone, Tricky Deals
When analyzing the Value for Money offered by the Motorola Moto G45, the story is overwhelmingly positive, driven by a core belief among users that they have secured a device that punches far above its weight class. An incredible 93% of owners express positive satisfaction with the phone’s cost-to-performance ratio, a figure that sits a full 9 points above the category average.
This isn’t just a matter of saving a few dollars; it’s the profound feeling of getting an exceptional deal. One user captured this sentiment perfectly:
This was truly my wife’s dream phone… we finally got the specs of a 10-million Rupiah phone in this Motorola G45.
Others echo this surprise, listing features they didn’t expect at this price point:
For 2 million you get NFC? 5G? face recognition? a clear and good camera? stable video? This is really cool.
The consensus is that the phone is “cheap, but the quality isn’t cheap,” providing a smooth and capable experience for daily use without a hefty price tag.
Promotional Frustrations
However, the experience is not without its frustrations, which center on unmet expectations beyond the device itself. While the phone is a star, issues with bundled items and extras are a noticeable blemish, with only 45% of mentions regarding these topics being positive. This is more than double the category average of 21%, but it still represents a significant point of user friction.
The primary source of this frustration stems from promotional SIM cards. One user bluntly called the offer a “gimmick,” stating:
The description says there’s a 1-year bonus XL package… but the purchase bonus is fake, the 1-year XL quota gimmick isn’t real.
Another confirmed this disappointment:
They said it comes with an XL SIM card with a 45GB quota valid for 1 year. Turns out it’s an empty XL card with no quota.
These issues, while not related to the phone’s hardware, create a sense of being misled and tarnish an otherwise stellar initial impression.
Competitive Landscape
Placing the Moto G45 in the competitive landscape reveals just how strong its core value proposition is. Its 93% satisfaction score on cost-to-performance is nearly identical to that of formidable rivals like the OnePlus Nord CE3 (94%) and Samsung Galaxy A24 4G (94%), proving it competes at the very top of its class.
More tellingly, when it comes to the frustrating issue of missing or problematic add-ons, Motorola’s 45% positive score, while imperfect, is substantially better than Samsung’s 30% and the Nothing Phone (2a)‘s dismal 0%. This suggests that while Motorola stumbles on its promotional bundles, it is navigating a common pitfall of the budget segment better than many.
It is only the OnePlus Nord CE3, with a 70% positive rating in this area, that demonstrates a clearly superior out-of-the-box experience, setting the standard for how to properly manage customer expectations.
Trade-Off: The Motorola Moto G45 delivers an exceptional core smartphone experience for its price, but buyers must accept the risk that promised promotional extras may fall short of expectations.
📸 Camera: Bright Day, Dark Night
The camera system on the Motorola Moto G45 presents a story of two distinct user experiences: one of delight in its unexpected intelligence and stability, and another of frustration with its fundamental limitations.
For many, its performance in good lighting is a standout achievement for its price point. Driven by surprisingly capable video stabilization, its core Image and Video Quality earns a 75% positive sentiment score. This nearly matches the category average of 78% and rivals competitors like the Nothing Phone (2a) and Samsung Galaxy A24.
Users described it as having:
very stable camera and video quality
Another noted that in well-lit scenarios, it is “a top performer in its price class for video.”
Low-Light and Zoom Weaknesses
However, this daylight competence masks a significant weakness that emerges when the sun goes down or when users try to zoom. The experience is marred by poor low-light performance and degraded zoom quality, which users find particularly disappointing.
One owner lamented,
For camera use in night conditions, there’s a lot of noise,
Another described a similar letdown with video:
When you zoom in 5X while recording video, the quality becomes very blurry and the image breaks.
Frustrating Feature Omissions
This is compounded by a frustrating omission in its feature set. Despite a 61% positive rating for its camera modes—driven by praise for tools like dual-cam recording and AI object removal—users keenly feel the absence of a modern staple. As one person pointed out:
The main camera doesn’t have a wide-angle feature.
This sentiment was echoed by another who wished, “I wish it had an ultra-wide lens, it would have been more awesome.”
Competitive Software Edge
In the competitive landscape, this creates a clear choice for potential buyers. While the Moto G45’s general image quality is on par with the Samsung Galaxy A24 4G (73%), its standout advantage lies in its software features.
According to user feedback, neither the Nothing Phone (2a) nor the OnePlus Nord CE3 generated positive mentions for their camera modes. This makes the Moto G45 a more compelling choice for those who value creative flexibility. One user celebrated its “AI feature to remove objects, set blur, and change photo colors,” highlighting a level of software intelligence that its direct rivals seemingly lack.
This means a buyer is choosing between Motorola’s versatile software and another brand’s potentially more consistent, if less feature-rich, hardware.
Trade-Off: The Motorola Moto G45’s camera offers impressive stabilization and creative features for its price, but this comes at the cost of poor low-light performance and a complete lack of an ultra-wide lens.
📱 Screen: Good Enough, Not Great
The screen experience on the Motorola Moto G45 is a complex story of managed expectations, where users find surprising comfort despite clear technical shortcomings. For a segment of owners, the display outperforms its on-paper specifications.
They describe a viewing experience that, while not premium, is perfectly adequate for daily use. One user notes,
The screen is HD+, but strangely, it doesn’t hurt my eyes.
Another was pleasantly surprised, stating:
I thought it would be bad, but it’s not as bad as I thought. Honestly, the screen is really nice compared to other HD screens on other phones.
This sentiment highlights that for some, the practical usability for watching videos and scrolling social media outweighs the lack of high-end features.
The Satisfaction Gap
However, the underlying data reveals a significant satisfaction gap. The phone’s display quality scores a meager 39% positive sentiment, falling dramatically short of the 83% category average.
This 44-point deficit is rooted in a conscious decision by Motorola to use older technology. Users are acutely aware of this, with many pointing out the phone’s primary weakness:
Its weakness is the resolution, which is still only HD+ and not AMOLED.
This sentiment is echoed by another owner who felt they had to sacrifice resolution for a low price. The frustration isn’t just about missing features, but a tangible drop in quality for those accustomed to modern displays. One reviewer remarked:
The minus is the screen is only HD+ at 269ppi because my eyes are used to screens with high ppi resolution.
Competitive Disadvantage
This trade-off becomes a critical disadvantage when placed in a competitive context. The Moto G45’s 39% positive rating for display quality is utterly eclipsed by its rivals, most notably the Samsung Galaxy A24 4G, which boasts a stellar 94% satisfaction score for the same factor.
This 55-point difference represents a chasm in user experience. While Moto G45 owners are making peace with a “good enough” screen, Samsung users are enjoying a display that is a key selling point.
This stark contrast means that for any potential buyer prioritizing visual quality, the Moto G45 is at a severe and immediately noticeable disadvantage.
Trade-Off: Users are consciously sacrificing a class-leading display for the phone’s overall affordability, a compromise that becomes starkly apparent when viewed next to its rivals.
✨ Design: Comfort Trumps All
The Design of the Motorola Moto G45 proves to be one of its most compelling strengths, driven by an exceptional focus on how the phone feels in the hand. The story here isn’t just about looks, but about surprising everyday comfort.
A perfect 100% positive score for its ‘Size and Handling’—a massive 29 points above the category average—reveals the core of its appeal. Users are not just satisfied; they are relieved and delighted by a device that defies the trend of oversized phones.
As one owner puts it:
not too big like a cutting board and light, not even 200g.
Another praised its ergonomics, describing it as a:
lightweight smartphone, not heavy, comfortable to hold.
This feeling is complemented by a premium aesthetic, which scores a high 93% positive rating, thanks to materials that punch above their weight. Users feel they’re getting more than what they paid for, with one noting, “the quality of the vegan leather back case is luxurious,” while another added, “the back design looks luxurious.”
Minor Build Quality Issues
However, the experience isn’t flawless. While impressive, the ‘Build Quality and Materials‘ score of 82% positive sentiment, though higher than the 76% category average, hides some minor yet noticeable imperfections.
A few discerning users pointed out small assembly issues, with one remarking that:
when I touch it, it feels like something is not precise on the edge of the back case.
This suggests that while the materials look and feel premium, the fit and finish may not be perfect on every unit. Another user noted that the included case was lacking, nudging them to purchase a more robust one separately because the provided:
soft case feels not sturdy enough to protect the phone.
How It Stacks Up Against Rivals
These details become critical when comparing the Moto G45 to its rivals. Against the OnePlus Nord CE3, the Moto’s design is a clear ergonomic winner. The Nord CE3’s dismal 50% positive score for size and handling makes the Moto G45’s perfect 100% score a decisive factor for anyone prioritizing one-handed use.
The comparison with the Nothing Phone (2a) is even more telling. While the Nothing Phone (2a) scores a perfect 100% on aesthetics, its build quality score is a shockingly low 43%. This positions the Moto G45—with its solid 82% for build quality—as the far more practical and durable choice, offering a premium feel that is built to last, not just to be looked at.
Clear Win: The Moto G45 delivers an exceptionally comfortable and premium-feeling design that decisively outclasses its competitors in the aspects that matter most for daily use.
⚡ Performance: Speed, Heat, Throttling
Examining the performance of the Motorola Moto G45 reveals a device that overwhelmingly satisfies users with its raw speed, but this snappy experience comes with important nuances. The core of its positive reputation stems from its exceptional processing power and speed, which earns a stellar 94% positive sentiment, a full 11 points higher than the category average.
For users, this isn’t just a number on a spec sheet; it translates into a consistently smooth and capable daily experience. Owners celebrate how the phone handles everyday demands with ease, with one noting:
For a casual user and, of course, a daily driver, this phone is quite capable of being put to hard work.
This reliability extends to more demanding tasks, as another user was pleased to find that it’s a surprisingly viable tool for content creators on a budget:
even editing with CapCut is no problem.
Thermal Management Concerns
However, the story isn’t one of unblemished excellence. The primary area of concern is the phone’s thermal management. While its 53% positive score in this area is significantly better than the bleak 33% category average, it still points to a very mixed experience.
Users find that the phone’s speed can generate noticeable heat, creating a tangible drawback. As one owner described:
For a new device, it gets hot relatively quickly if you open many applications at the same time.
This thermal issue appears to have a knock-on effect on intensive tasks like gaming. While many are happy with its gaming capabilities, some perceptive users feel the phone is holding back, with one remarking:
When playing games, for some reason, it feels like the FPS performance is limited, like the visuals and gameplay can’t be maximized.
This suggests the phone may be intentionally throttling performance to manage its temperature.
Competitor Comparison
This performance profile creates a very clear picture when placed next to its competitors. The Moto G45’s 94% positive score for processing speed leaves the Nothing Phone (2a) in the dust at just 71%. This makes it a far better choice for those who crave a fluid user interface, as one user bluntly put it:
smoother than processors like the Helio G99.
But for buyers concerned about heat during intense use, the choice becomes more complex. While the Moto G45 handily beats the Nothing Phone (2a), which received zero positive mentions for thermal management, it is completely outclassed by the OnePlus Nord CE3, which boasts a perfect 100% positive score for keeping its cool under pressure.
Trade-Off: The Moto G45 offers class-leading processing speed for a delightfully fluid daily experience, but this comes at the cost of inconsistent thermal management that can throttle performance during intensive gaming.
🤖 Software & OS: Clean, Unstable, Missing
Clean, Ad-Free Interface
The Motorola Moto G45’s software and operating system present a classic tale of two extremes. On one hand, users are overwhelmingly positive about the phone’s clean, streamlined interface, a key factor that elevates their daily interaction with the device. Drilling down into the hidden data, we see that the UI smoothness and user experience score an impressive 82%, a full 8 points above the category average.
This isn’t just a number; it translates into a tangible sense of relief and satisfaction for users who are weary of cluttered interfaces. They celebrate the “simple, not weird” design and, most importantly, the absence of intrusive ads.
The good thing is there’s little built-in software, so it doesn’t take up memory; we can download what we need, unlike Samsung which already uses up 1/3 of the capacity right away.
This clean slate is a core reason for their satisfaction, providing a snappy and responsive feeling that users describe as “flawlessly smooth.”
Frustrating Instability and Missing Apps
However, this clean experience is frequently disrupted by a significant lack of polish. The underlying software stability scores a mere 46%, revealing a foundation riddled with frustrating inconsistencies. While this is surprisingly much better than competitors like the Nothing Phone (2a) which scored 0% on this factor, it’s still a major source of annoyance for Moto G45 owners.
Users report specific, maddening bugs that detract from the otherwise smooth interface. One owner detailed a particularly vexing issue:
Only one thing is very annoying: the loudspeaker volume is sometimes unstable, going up and down when playing songs, videos, or even Duolingo.
Beyond bugs, users are also puzzled by the omission of basic, expected applications. As one person noted:
There are no pre-installed apps like a gallery or file manager, so I was a bit confused and had to download other apps to see my saved photos or files.
These unforced errors create a user experience that feels unfinished.
The Competitive Picture
In the competitive landscape, this creates a complicated picture. The Moto G45’s ad-free, stock-like Android is a powerful weapon against competitors whose heavily skinned interfaces are a known point of frustration. Yet, its stability falls short of the more polished, if more bloated, experience offered by the Samsung Galaxy A24 4G, which scored a more reassuring 54% for stability.
This leaves potential buyers with a clear choice: embrace the clean, fast, and refreshingly ad-free Motorola experience, but be prepared to navigate a landscape of occasional bugs and missing essentials that betray a lack of final polish.
Trade-Off: The Moto G45 offers a refreshingly clean, ad-free software experience that users love, but it comes at the cost of noticeable bugs and a lack of polish that can disrupt daily use.
🔋 Battery: Long-Term vs. Daily
When it comes to the battery of the Motorola Moto G45, the story is a classic case of long-term vision clashing with daily reality. Users are drawn to the brand’s reputation for durability, a trust reflected in a 59% positive score for longevity and health features—a full 15 points above the category average. This isn’t just about a battery that lasts the day; it’s about a phone that will last for years.
Buyers express this sentiment clearly, with one hoping,
I hope it lasts as long as my previous Motorola, which I used for over 6 years.
This desire for a reliable, long-term investment is a significant reason people choose this device.
Slow Charging Frustration
However, this focus on the future comes at a significant cost to the present. The most glaring issue is the charging speed, which receives a dismal 18% positive rating, falling an astonishing 51 points below the category average of 69%. This isn’t a minor inconvenience; it’s a major frustration that feels out of step with modern expectations.
One user bluntly stated,
Nowadays, 20W is no longer considered fast charging,
while another expressed disappointment with the marketing, noting,
It’s supposed to be Turbo, but it’s still slower than a Samsung A16 charger.
This slow pace turns a routine task into a daily drag, completely undermining any sense of modern convenience.
Daily Stamina vs. Rivals
This feeling of being outpaced is amplified when the Moto G45 is placed next to its rivals. While its daily battery life earns a passable 69% positive score, it’s overshadowed by the superior stamina of competitors like the OnePlus Nord CE3 (87%) and the Samsung Galaxy A24 4G (82%). This noticeable difference in daily endurance is not lost on users, with one remarking that the battery is
not more efficient than Samsung and Xiaomi.
The decision for a potential buyer becomes stark: the Moto G45 offers superior long-term health features compared to these rivals, but in return, they must accept a battery that doesn’t last as long through the day and takes significantly longer to recharge.
Trade-Off: A user must decide if the promise of long-term battery health is worth enduring the daily frustration of a battery that offers less stamina and far slower charging speeds than its main competitors.
Bottom Line
- ✅ Exceptional value: A 93% satisfaction score on cost-to-performance confirms users feel it delivers specs and features far above its price point.
- ⚠️ The screen is a critical flaw: With a meager 39% positive rating, the HD+ display is the phone’s single biggest hardware compromise.
- 🔻 Feels like a step back: Charging speed is a major letdown, scoring a dismal 18% positive sentiment—a massive 51 points below the category average.
- 🏁 Crushed by competition on display: The phone’s 39% screen satisfaction is dwarfed by the Samsung Galaxy A24 4G’s 94%, a massive 55-point difference in user experience.
- 💡 Clean but buggy software: While users love the ad-free UI (82% satisfaction), they are frustrated by instability, with software reliability scoring only 46% positive.
- 💡 The Bottom Line: An ideal phone for those who value in-hand comfort and a clean UI over screen quality and charging speed.