Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Motorola's new Moto One 5G looks familiar (Update: Verizon availability)
Update, October 16, 2020 (4:15 AM ET): Motorola’s Moto On 5G is now heading to Verizon. The phone will be available for $549.99, or $22.91 per month across 24 months thought the network. Users trading in a phone can also get up to $550 back towards the purchase across 24 monthly billing credits. The device will also support Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network.
The phone initially launched in the US in September as an AT&T exclusive priced at $444.99.
Original article, August 31, 2020 (09:00 AM ET): Motorola has already released a couple of 5G phones this year, and it’s now adding another device to its stable with the Moto One 5G. However, it looks like the new phone is actually a rebranded Moto G 5G Plus, released last month.
The manufacturer seems to be following realme and Xiaomi’s formula of rebranding devices with the Moto One 5G. That means you’ve got the same chipset, refresh rate, cameras, and battery size as last month’s device.
Moto One 5G specs and features
Nevertheless, the new phone is the first 5G-enabled device in the value-focused Moto One range, enabled by a Snapdragon 765 processor. Toss in 4GB of RAM and you have a phone that isn’t the most powerful device on paper (even compared to other mid-range 5G devices), but it should get the job done for the most part.
Aside from 5G connectivity, the Moto One 5G also has two other notable features. First up is a 6.7-inch LCD screen (FHD+) that packs a 90Hz refresh rate. Sure, it’s not OLED, but it should deliver smoother performance when scrolling, swiping through system menus, and while playing supported games.
The second standout feature is the 5,000mAh battery, which should deliver good endurance, though the high refresh rate and 5G connectivity will drain the battery at a faster rate than normal. But this is still a notably larger battery than the likes of the OnePlus Nord and Samsung Galaxy A51 5G. It’s unclear if Motorola is offering 15W or 20W charging here (we’ve got conflicting information from the firm), but you should still expect to wait a while for full top-ups.
See also: The best Motorola phones you can get
Switching to the all-important camera arena, the Moto One 5G offers your typical budget-focused quad rear camera setup for the most part. We have a 48MP main shooter, 8MP ultra-wide camera (118-degree field of view), 5MP macro camera with ring light, and 2MP depth lens. Much like the OnePlus Nord we’ve also got a dual-lens setup up-front, featuring a 16MP main shooter and an 8MP ultra-wide camera.
Rounding out the spec sheet is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, water-repellent design, 3.5mm port, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC.
Moto One 5G: Software updates, price, more
Motorola is also shipping Android 10 on the device but, unlike Samsung, it’s only promising one OS upgrade. If there’s any consolation, buyers will get two years of security upgrades, though again this isn’t much to write home about when others are offering up to three years of support.
Pricing and availability details haven’t been revealed by Motorola as of writing, bar saying that it will be under $500. We’ll update the article as soon as we hear more information in this regard, but given that the Moto G 5G Plus costs €349 (~$417), we’d expect similar pricing for the new device.