There’s a lot to like about the new Moto G64, considering its starting price of Rs 14,999 (currently selling for Rs 13,999). Motorola is amping up the game by introducing an optical image stabilisation (OIS)-enabled 50MP camera for crisper shots, a rarity in the segment. The battery size has been significantly increased to 6,000mAh while remaining thoughtful of the design and weight. Other utilities include a water-resistant design (IP52), a 3.5mm jack, a new processor, fast charging, and 5G – all things that matter to price-sensitive customers.
But how does the Moto G64 perform in real life? Let’s find out.
Verdict
The Moto G64 is a reliable smartphone for those whose priorities lean towards performance and design. The biggest focus is the 6,000mAh battery, capable of providing all-day battery life even with maximum settings enabled. Its cameras perform well in daylight, though low-light photography needs improvement. If you’re into gaming, there are some more compelling options in the market. But for daily users, Moto G64 won’t disappoint.
Design and display
The Moto G64 features a plastic build, which isn’t a surprise at this price range. However, the material does not feel sub-standard, and the back offers a smooth matte finish, which does a good job of hiding fingerprint smudges and tiny scratch marks. For added durability, Motorola also provides a transparent case in the box.
Motorola deserves credit for maintaining the weight at under 200 grams and thickness at 8.89mm despite packing a 6,000mAh battery on the Moto G64. Ideally, I’d prefer a slimmer smartphone, but that’s the cost to bear for a lengthy battery backup. At least, that gets compensated by the multi colour options. I am reviewing the green variant, which I quite like. The brand also provides choices in Pearl Blue and Ice Lilac, both equally appealing in appearance.
The Moto G64 also houses all the standard ports and buttons. The left includes a hybrid SIM card slot, and the right side houses the volume and power buttons. The Moto G64 includes a physical fingerprint scanner embedded into the power button, which is fairly responsive if your thumb is clean and dry.
There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack located at the bottom next to the Type-C charging port. However, its placement could have been improved. The current positioning poses a challenge, as the grip might not be too comfortable when both the charger and wired earphones are plugged in simultaneously.
While the design of the Moto G64 is mostly thoughtful for the price, the display experience seems average. The phone comes with a 6.5-inch IPS display, which offers a full HD+ (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The size of the screen is adequate for reading and watching videos. Even the brightness is decent under harsh sunlight. The problem lies in the colour calibration, which feels somewhat washed out. Naturally, certain areas and shades may not appear as vibrant as they would on an AMOLED display.
Motorola has previously utilised pOLED displays in this range, which can help deliver richer colours. Perhaps employing the same display technology in the Moto G64 could have provided an edge. However, the slightly less punchy viewing experience is somewhat offset by the stereo speakers onboard. Additionally, there’s support for Dolby Atmos for a 3D audio experience with both wired and wireless earphones.
Cameras
The Moto G64 includes a 50MP primary camera with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide camera capable of taking macro shots. The front side houses a 16MP camera for selfies.
By default, the Moto G64 processes images with high saturation, and as a result, the shots feature a warm orange-ish hue. Contrast and shadows also lean on the higher side to make photos look more dramatic. That makes photos from Moto G64 more social media-ready. This applies to both primary and ultra-wide camera outputs.
However, the former can capture sharper images (at least in daylight), thanks to the OIS support. On the other hand, the ultra-wide camera can be inconsistent with results, especially if a human subject is involved. Colours around the corners can also get washed out in some cases.
Overall, daylight photos are satisfactory considering the price point. However, in low-light conditions, photos may lack clarity or accurate colours or sometimes both. If you’re able to adjust the lighting and stability, perhaps with a tripod, results may still include high contrast. Enabling the night mode may also help to an extent. Yet, achieving a crisp photo with balanced colours remains a challenge, a common issue among most phones in this range.
The 16MP selfie camera takes shots similar to that of the primary camera, though some photos may include even warmer tones. You can adjust the output by enabling or disabling the “Image preference” option, though achieving the skin complexion may require some editing. Videos from the Moto G64 are average at best. While the stability in videos is decent, colours tend to be inconsistent.
Performance
Motorola smartphones are generally best suited for productivity-focused smartphones as the brand pays particular attention to the software experience backed by capable hardware. The same applies to the Moto G64.
It draws power from the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC. The base variant offers 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. The unit I am reviewing includes 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage for Rs 15,999 (MRP Rs 17,999). The phone utilises UFS 2.2 and LPDDR4X RAM.
In benchmarks, the Moto G64 achieves decent scores on the Geekbench, AnTuTu, and Burnout test for throttle. It achieves relatively higher scores than Realme 12X and POCO X6 Neo in the same tests. Other latest smartphones, including Realme P1 and Vivo T3x, are ahead in some areas.
Beyond numbers, the Moto G64 is capable of handling daily tasks in real life. If your priorities lean towards gaming, the Moto G64 can run BGMI and Call of Duty, though the Realme P1 or Vivo T3 might be better companions. The G64 supports HD graphics in BGMI, but the performance is decent, if not the best.
However, the Moto G64 has a lot to offer for performance-focused users. Some native apps, including interactive widgets, MotoHub, and Motorola Notifications also add versatility. The phone ships with Android 14, and the UI is mostly clean. There are some pre-installed apps, but they can be easily uninstalled. Sadly, it is expected to receive one single major Android OS update.
Battery
The new 6,000mAh battery helps with a much-improved battery backup. In the PCMark battery test, the Moto G64 lasted for over 18 hours (flight mode enabled), a very respectable score. For daily usage, users can easily expect an all-day battery with the maximum settings enabled. With modest features in the background, expect a battery backup of over a day.
The phone can handle 30W charging, but it comes with a 33W charger in the box. I like the bundled black charger, which is similar to what Motorola usually provides with its Edge and high-end G-series phones. However, charging takes longer due to the battery size. It took around 30 minutes to charge just 29 percent, and getting to a full charge takes well over an hour (nearly 80 minutes).
Final Verdict
The Moto G64 proves to be a value-for-money smartphone, especially if you’re able to buy the smartphone at Rs 13,999. It can be an ideal option for those who prioritise performance, battery, and a minimal design. The front and rear cameras are decent too. The tall display offers a standard viewing experience, though the presence of an AMOLED or pOLED display would’ve given it an edge.
For gamers, the Moto G64 can handle heavy titles, including BGMI and COD, though the Vivo T3x or Realme P1 remain a better choice.
If your priorities don’t heavily lean on gaming but rather on overall performance for daily tasks such as browsing and reading, the Moto G64 won’t disappoint.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Reasons to buy:
- Minimal design. Plus, matte finish to protect from fingerprint smudges.
- Decent performance, thanks to MediaTek SoC. Plus, a clean software experience.
- The rear cameras perform decently in the daylight.
- Users can expect long battery backup with the 6,000mAh battery onboard.
Reasons to not buy:
- The Moto G64 may not be ideal for gamers, especially in this segment.
- Charging takes over an hour.
- The display performance is average at best. No AMOLED display.
