Moto G22: A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse with Impressive Features

Motorola has introduced a new economical smartphone in India known as the G22, which offers more than just basic functionality. Its standout features include a 90Hz display, 20W rapid charging, and a 16-megapixel front camera. Priced at Rs. 10,999, it enters the competitive budget market alongside devices such as the Realme C35 (Review), Redmi 10, and Samsung M12. After spending some time with the G22, I’m sharing my initial thoughts on the device.

The Moto G22 comes equipped with a variety of accessories for a budget-friendly smartphone. Included in the package are a clear silicone case, a USB Type-C cable, and a 20W charger, which is quite commendable.

Despite housing a large 5,000mAh battery, Motorola has managed to keep the weight minimal. The Moto G22 weighs only 185g and has a thickness of 8.5mm. The material used for its construction looks and feels impressive. While the back surface tends to attract fingerprints, they aren’t easily noticeable, especially on the Cosmic Black version I have. The G22 is also offered in Iceberg Blue, with a Mint Green variant set to release soon.

The Moto G22 features a flat 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen with an HD+ (1600×720 pixels) resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In my brief usage, I found the colors satisfactory and the brightness decent for outdoor use. The slight pixelation of icons and text in the interface subtly indicates the lower resolution of the display. The screen includes a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera, adding a touch of sophistication as most counterparts utilize dew-drop notches.

The Moto G22 offers an appealing premium aesthetic for its price

The Moto G22 comes with a single speaker positioned at the bottom and a headphone jack located at the top. The SIM tray accommodates a microSD card of up to 1TB, alongside two Nano-SIM cards. The fingerprint reader is embedded into the power button and works effectively. Although the G22 lacks an IP rating, Motorola asserts that it features a water-repellent design.

Powered by the MediaTek Helio G37 SoC, the Moto G22 introduces its capabilities for managing 90Hz refresh rate screens, but largely mirrors the Helio G35 and does not support 5G. In India, the Moto G22 is available in one configuration with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage.

The Moto G22 runs on Android 12 and Motorola has pledged three years of security updates. The user interface is polished and closely resembles the stock Android experience found in Pixel smartphones. There are only a few preinstalled applications, and familiar Moto gestures, like the double karate chop for flashlight activation and a wrist twist to open the camera, are included.

[IMAGE_3]

The camera setup on the Moto G22 takes inspiration from Motorola’s premium Edge series

Motorola has equipped the Moto G22 with a capable camera system. The rear houses a quad-camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The phone also includes a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. While the specifications suggest it should perform well for basic photography, a thorough testing in the full review will clarify its capabilities.

The Moto G22 presents an intriguing option at its price point, considering the range of features it includes. The bundled 20W charger, the promise of security updates for three years, and the high-resolution front camera are uncommon in this price bracket, especially within a single device. This combination of features lends the G22 a distinctive edge. However, a complete review will be necessary to determine whether the G22’s overall performance matches its specifications and if it is indeed a worthy purchase. Stay tuned for that.