Rapid Review: Motorola Moto G6 Plus

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Motorola’s smartphone business has been through some challenging times. After the mobile phone business was spun off, it landed with Google who later sold it to Lenovo where it sits today. And while other brands have garnered plenty of attention, Motorola has continued to create some decent Android handsets. The Moto G Plus is the company’s flagship smartphone and it’s a great phone that won’t break the bank.

What Is It?

The Moto G6 Plus is a dual-SIM smartphone. The “Plus” in the name denotes its 5.9-inch display, which is larger than the iPhone 8 Plus but smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S9+.

Although the Moto G6 Plus sells for a mid-range price, it is Motorola’s premium phone which means to could slip under the radar for those who want a high-end headset. You’ll need to look at the lower cost options to find this model. It boasts an impressive set of specs and, being dual-SIM, will appeal to frequent travellers and those who want one handset but are trying to keep their personal and business universes from colliding.

Specifications

Display 5.9 inches, 1080 x 2160 pixels, multi-touch, Corning Gorilla Glass
Storage 64 or 128 GB, expandable with up to 256GB via microSD
Processor and memory Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 with 2 or 4GB of RAM (depending on storage option)
Size and weight 160 x 75.5 x 8 mm, 167g
OS and Software Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS, FM Radio, USB-C
Cameras 12 MP (f/1.7, dual pixel PDAF) and 5 MP (f/2.2, no AF, depth sensor)
Battery Non-removable Li-Ion 3200 mAh

What’s Good?

There’s a lot to like about the Moto G6 Plus.

The screen delivers great looking images, clear text and sharp video.

Unlocking the device with the fingerprint scanner was a breeze. It was very quick and never missed a beat during the week I used this phone. I particularly liked that I could lock the phone using my fingerprint as well. That meant I didn’t have to look for the power button to shut the phone off. There’s also a face unlock option that works way faster, in my testing, than Apple’s FaceID for unlocking my device.

Although the Moto G6 Plus is larger than my usual handset, it wasn’t uncomfortable to hold. The rounded corners and edges meant it sat nicely in my hand although the very smooth Gorilla Glass rear meant I was concerned that the device would slip out.

The cameras did a fine job when I shot a few pics. However, the autofocus was a little slow.

What’s Bad?

Aside from the slow autofocus when taking photos, my only other problem, and it’s a small one, was that the back of the device can get grubby. The rear camera array protrudes slightly and it was especially attractive to dust and grime. Also, while the Gorilla Glass back looks great out of the box, it was a fingerprint magnet.

I’m also a little bemused by the bundling of Microsoft Outlook when the Gmail client is perfectly serviceable. But you can choose to bypass setting Outlook up during the initial phone setup process.

Should You Buy It

If you’re looking for a new Android handset, there’s a lot to like about the Motorola Moto G6 Plus. The display, performance and dual-SIM capability, at a sub-$500 street price make it a very compelling handset.

It may not boast the reputation of some other brands, but Lenovo has delivered a near-premium experience at a mid-range price.


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At Lifehacker, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

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