Moto G8 announced: A modest upgrade for a modest phone

The Moto G series is one of the more popular budget smartphone families out there, generally offering everything you need and nothing you don’t in a relatively affordable package. We’ve already seen the Moto G8 Power and Play in the last few months, but now the firm has debuted the Moto G8 proper (i.e. the Moto G8, rather than a new variant called Moto G8 Proper).

The new phone seems like an evolution over the Moto G7 rather than a massive upgrade. For one, the old phone’s Snapdragon 632 processor and 3,000mAh battery is now replaced by a slightly more powerful Snapdragon 665 and a beefier 4,000mAh battery.

Oddly enough, Motorola’s spec sheet reveals that the new phone has 10W charging versus 15W charging for the old phone. Coupled with the bigger battery, that means you can expect your new phone to take much longer to charge than the G7.

That isn’t the only downgrade we see here, as the new phone sports a larger 6.4-inch LCD screen that tops out at HD+ resolution versus the Moto G7‘s 6.2-inch FHD+ panel. Resolution differences aren’t always apparent, but the fact that you’ve got a slightly larger screen and a lower resolution means you’re more likely to notice fuzzy text on the new phone.

Fortunately, the Moto G8 features a more flexible camera experience on paper. We’ve got a triple rear camera setup, packing a 16MP main shooter, 8MP ultra-wide camera (119 degree field of view), and a 2MP macro camera. Switch to the front, and an 8MP camera in a punch-hole cutout handles your selfies.

Other noteworthy details include 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, Android 10, a 3.5mm port atop the device, and a water-repellent coating.

Moto G8 price and release date

The Moto G8 has gone on sale in Brazil at a recommended price of 1,299 Reals (~$282), although a promotion means you can get it for 1,143.2 Reals (~$248). Motorola says it’ll be available in the coming weeks in Asia, Australia, Europe, and Latin America. Furthermore, it adds that the device will be available in the UK via Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis at a recommended price of £179 (~$231).

Do you think the Moto G8 is a worthwhile upgrade over the G7? Give us your thoughts in the comments!