Moto G51: A Late Arrival with Standout Features Yet Room for Improvement

Not long ago, the affordable 5G smartphone market in India was far less populated than its 4G counterpart, but by 2021’s conclusion, it’s fascinating to observe how most major brands in this arena have released at least one smartphone that supports 5G. While 5G is not yet mainstream and high-speed web browsing or video streaming remains on the horizon, current budget 5G smartphones primarily serve as a safeguard for future technology.

Recognizing this, Motorola arrives fashionably late with its new device, the Moto G51. However, this delay allows Motorola to analyze the competition and deliver a robust product, which it appears to have achieved well. Upon its launch, I found the features of the Moto G51 impressive, but now let’s explore if it can truly compete with Realme and Xiaomi.

Motorola Moto G51 pricing in India

The Moto G51 is priced at Rs. 14,999 and comes in a single configuration featuring 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. This budget device is offered in two colors: Bright Silver and Indigo Blue. For this review, I received the Indigo Blue unit.

Design of the Motorola Moto G51

The Moto G51 boasts a unibody design constructed from polycarbonate. It presents a soft matte finish with a dual-tone effect transitioning from blue to black, offering a subtle aesthetic. The fingerprint sensor is positioned on the right beneath the power button, with the volume rocker and Google Assistant key situated above it.

This unibody structure contributes to the phone’s durability, and Motorola has made it resistant to dust and water with an IP52 rating. However, it feels quite hefty at 208g, and its bulkiness can be cumbersome. A notable drawback is the matte finish, which attracts fingerprints easily; it goes from pristine to dirty in a flash. Additionally, the smooth matte surface makes the phone somewhat slippery, and after a week of use, I observed numerous scratches on the back.

The Motorola Moto G51 features three buttons on the right side

 

For users with average-sized hands, the high positioning of the volume key may be an inconvenience, as it sits above the power button. This was an issue with the Moto G31 (Review) but is more pronounced with the G51 due to its larger size. Operating the Google Assistant key will require the use of your other hand, as it is positioned too close to the top corner of the device. Fortunately, once the phone is unlocked, voice commands can be used without pressing it.

The device sports a 6.8-inch hole-punch display. While the bezels on three sides are slim, the bottom bezel is noticeably thicker.

Specifications and software of Motorola Moto G51

The Moto G51 introduces Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 480+ SoC, utilizing an 8nm fabrication process and providing a slight performance boost with a clock speed of 2.2GHz, compared to the 2GHz max of the Snapdragon 480. This model allows for external storage expansion (up to 512GB) via a microSD card slot incorporated in the hybrid dual-SIM tray.

Supporting 12 5G bands, the Moto G51 offers dual 5G standby. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and standard satellite navigation systems. It houses a 5,000mAh battery and includes a 20W charger in the package.

The Moto G51’s polycarbonate back is prone to scratches

 

Upon unboxing, the Moto G51 comes with a nearly stock version of Android 11. It features various theming options such as icon style and accent colors. The device also includes common Motorola gestures and a useful ‘Power touch’ feature, allowing quick access to a menu with shortcuts to apps or functions by double-tapping the power button. This modified version of Android offers a clean experience, and I didn’t find any preloaded third-party applications during the setup.

Performance and battery endurance of Motorola Moto G51

Day-to-day usage with the Moto G51 was smooth and responsive, attributed to its 120Hz refresh rate display. There were no noticeable lags, with swift app transitions while multitasking. Compared to the AMOLED screen in the more budget-friendly Moto G31, the LCD display feels like a downgrade; however, the 120Hz refresh rate alleviates this to some degree. The display showcases neutral colors and achieves adequate brightness outdoors.

At 6.8 inches, it’s quite expansive, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. I found the absence of stereo speakers disappointing, even though the bottom-firing speaker produced adequate sound during games and videos. For listening enjoyment, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack located at the bottom.

The Moto G51 possesses a 6.8-inch full-HD+ LCD screen

 

In benchmark tests, the phone performed admirably, delivering results in line with competitors utilizing MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoCs. The Moto G51 achieved 2,41,908 points in AnTuTu, and scores of 542 and 1,646 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core assessments, respectively. In GFXBench, it recorded 70fps and 14fps in the T-Rex and Car Chase tests, respectively, while earning 3,549 and 2,432 points in 3DMark’s Sling Shot and Sling Shot Extreme benchmarks.

While the software experience was satisfactory, gaming performance fell slightly short. The phone remained only a bit warm during gaming, which is a positive aspect. However, Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9: Legends did not run seamlessly at the default graphics settings, exhibiting sporadic lag. Reducing graphics settings improved performance. It’s clear this smartphone is not the best choice for intense mobile gamers, which somewhat undermines the appeal of a 120Hz refresh rate display.

The Moto G51 is equipped with a triple rear camera setup

 

Equipped with a triple-camera system, the Moto G51 features a 50-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens that also functions as a depth sensor in Portrait mode, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Selfies are captured by a 13-megapixel front-facing camera. The camera app offers a straightforward layout, with customizable positioning of modes. Most settings can be found under a gear icon, and the option to adjust the video recording frame rate is discreetly located next to the shutter button.

Motorola Moto G51 daylight camera shots. Top down: Close-up, primary camera, ultra-wide camera (tap to view full size)

 

Images taken in daylight were sharp and clear but exhibited some oversaturation. Nevertheless, they maintained great detail and dynamic range, displaying nuances in darker areas without clipping highlights. Photos from the ultra-wide lens lacked detail and came out noticeably softer. Additionally, the camera tends to overly sharpen indoor shots.

Motorola Moto G51 selfie samples. Top: Auto, bottom: Portrait (tap to see full size)

 

Selfies taken in daylight were clear and detailed. However, edge detection in Portrait mode was merely average. Macro shots appeared soft and lacked definition.

In low-light conditions, the camera’s noise reduction algorithms often resulted in softer images with flat textures. Night mode enhanced brightness but added noticeable noise. Under artificial light, photos turned out adequately, with noise levels manageable.

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Motorola Moto G51 low-light camera samples. Top: Auto, bottom: Night mode (tap to see full size)

 

Video recording quality was satisfactory, and the Moto G51, unlike the G31, allows selection between 30fps and 60fps. Stabilization was effective, yet detail levels were just average. In low-light situations, detail dropped significantly, and overall quality was subpar.

Conclusion

With the Moto G51, Motorola has focused on the intricacies that may go unnoticed from a quick scan of specs online but become evident with actual use. It features a quality 120Hz refresh rate display that exhibits decent fingerprint resistance. While the phone is quite bulky, it offers useful features like an IP52 rating. Additionally, there are no frustrating preloaded third-party applications, and the nearly stock software provides a simple and enjoyable user experience.

However, there are certain areas where the Moto G51 falls short compared to its rivals. For example, Realme’s Narzo 30 5G (Review) captures superior photos and performs better for gaming, all while weighing just 185g. If you’re looking for more storage, the Moto G51 might disappoint with its 64GB storage, which is expandable only by sacrificing the second SIM slot. Competing options like the Redmi Note 10T (Review), Realme Narzo 30 5G, and Poco M3 Pro 5G (Review) include variants with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, making them more appealing.

Despite its limitations, I still believe the Motorola Moto G51 is worthy of consideration, particularly for those seeking an entry-level 5G device for everyday use. It will also attract buyers interested in a nearly stock Android experience, offering essential features and some extras that are hard to find in this price segment. Competitive gamers, however, may want to consider the alternatives mentioned earlier, as the G51 may not meet their needs.

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