The Moto G82 5G is a good choice if you’re looking for a smartphone that has a straightforward user interface and can, for lack of a better description, perform a variety of tasks. Its respectable specifications in a stylish, lightweight body don’t mean you should ignore the device’s flaws, which include but are not limited to the inability to display Netflix HDR media and the slow wired charging rates. But to be very honest, the smartphone’s capable performance and uncluttered software environment help lessen the blow. ..

The Moto G82 is the newest mid-range phone from Motorola. It has a 50MP triple camera setup with OIS, stereo speakers, and a 10-bit AMOLED display with support for 120Hz refresh rate. It is slim and light, making it easy to carry around. The Moto G71 from earlier this year is built upon with the G82, which fixes the majority of its flaws but may be confusing to consumers looking for the best value possible.

Design

The G82 is a budget-friendly option that features a 6.6-inch display, a cleanly rounded corners, and a small rear camera bump. It is not overly heavy, but it could be difficult for smaller hands. The fingerprint sensor has undergone the most significant change, moving from the phone’s back to its side-mounted power button. It takes a little while for it to recognize your digits, but once it does, it is accurate enough.

If you have an IP52 rating, you are better protected from dust than you are from water, but if you get caught in a light downpour, it shouldn’t be a problem. The perforated pattern on the metal-effect rear reminds us of a high-end speaker grille. It has minimal branding and a professional appearance, which helps to mask the fact that it is inexpensive, but it is far too susceptible to fingerprint smudges. It is protected from scratches and scrapes by the included silicone case, which also aids in keeping it clean.

Moto G82 5G review: Display

The Motorola Moto G82 5G has a 6.6-inch, 120Hz OLED screen that offers great contrast and color for a budget-friendly phone. However, it is not the best display available and does not achieve the highest nits in direct sunlight. Overall, it is mostly fine. ..

We found the Moto G82 to be a bit too cold in our opinion. This is typical since a cooler tone might give the impression that a screen is brighter and punchier. The Moto G82 looks better after a minor adjustment, though. In the Settings menu, you can change the color of the Moto G82 from “Saturated” to “Normal,” and a temperature slider lets you make it appear warmer or colder.

The Moto G82 has a small blue-green tint when viewed at an angle, similar to several other OLED displays. This is consistent with stories we’ve seen claiming that the phone’s P-OLED display is an LG one rather than a Samsung one. The most recent Samsung OLED panels typically avoid this specific problem. This screen is 1080p, and it appears clear and sharp. The most noticeable improvement you’re likely to see with a phone, even if you spend a lot more money on it, is higher peak brightness in direct sunlight, and even that isn’t a guarantee.

Software

Motorola’s MyUX is based on Android 12, which is very similar to vanilla Android. The Moto app houses all extensions, including gesture control and design options. The security fixes were outdated as of the start of our assessment process and urgently required an update. We received an update around the end of the review, demonstrating that you should only anticipate an update every three months. Motorola only provides its smartphones with security upgrades for a total of three years. Two significant Android system updates are promised, but other providers, like Nokia or Samsung, currently supply far more. The DRM-L1 certification is given, enabling HD streaming on apps like Netflix and others.

Moto has a very limited range of apps, with the only other option being Google’s own. Everything else is hidden inside the Moto app. Most are either turned off by default or you can choose to use them during setup. Moto promises two years of new Android releases and three years of security fixes, however it isn’t always first in line for software and security updates. Only Nokia stands out as providing more at this price, and even then, only for specific handsets.

Hardware and performance

The Motorola Moto G82 has the traditional Moto UI and runs Android 12. You can observe the modifications made to Android’s Material Design in version 12 thanks to these relatively minor updates made to the Google blueprint. The components of drop-down menus are now stored in vibrant bricks. To give Android a more distinctive look and feel, you may alter its color through the Moto app.

The Moto G82 5G has a Peek Display which appears when the phone is picked up while you are asleep. The time and battery life are displayed. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset powers the G82 5G. The 6nm SoC conducts routine activities quickly and easily. Even when several apps are open in the background, switching between them is easy, and the device never lags or crashes. All of these are made possible with the 8GB RAM and 695 chipset.

Temple Run can be played for hours without experiencing any issues, but BGMI: Mobile will experience issues when played for longer periods of time and at high frame rates. Although it works for casual gaming, this phone is not suitable for serious gamers because the device heats up when playing demanding games. ..

The Moto G82 5G comes pre-installed with Motorola’s exclusive My UX on top of Android 12. Themes and backgrounds can be modified and personalized to suit a person’s preferences. Based on the color of your wallpaper, you can alter the icons’ and buttons’ colors using the Color palette. There is hardly any bloatware or adware in the user interface, which is very clean. Dolby Atmos and Facebook are the only pre-installed third party applications. Although Motorola has promised to release just one software update for Android 13, there have been three years’ worth of security updates. ..

Moto G82 5G review: Camera

The G82’s cameras are good for the most part, but it has one major flaw: its macro lens is terrible. It doesn’t produce good results, and you won’t need it very often. ..

The main shooter produces good images in a variety of lighting situations with clear clarity and superb color balance. With a little bit of fuzziness creeping in, low-light shots are mediocre but in a way that almost any phone under £400/$400 matches.

The Motorola Moto G5 Plus has a good camera, but it doesn’t have the best features or the best performance. ..

Moto G82 5G review: Battery life

The Moto G82 is a great phone for people who use a lot of multimedia and games. It has a long battery life, which is better than most phones at this price point.

The Motorola G82 performed admirably in our video loop test, lasting more than 16.5 hours. This is a remarkable result and compares favorably to the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max’s battery life. Motorola included a 33W charging adaptor in the box despite the fact that the phone supports 30W fast charging. The G82 took around 1 hour, 46 minutes to charge completely. Of course, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, which supports 67W and charges the battery in about 55 minutes, offers a faster charging standard. ..

Price and availability

The Moto G82 5G and the Moto G62, a more affordable variant with a less powerful processor, a thicker shell, and an LCD screen in favor of an OLED panel, were both unveiled in June 2022. While the G82 was not widely accessible in the US at the time of review, it is anticipated to cost roughly $365. It costs £289.99/$499AU.

Conclusion

The Moto G82 5G is a reliable mid-range phone that offers good features and worldwide use. It has Optical image stabilization for the primary camera, Bluetooth codecs for high-quality sound, and a sleek appearance.