Moto G Power (XT2041DL) Review - Tracfone Smartphone
By TracfoneReviewer
As the name suggests, the new Moto G Power packs a lot of great features starting with a 6.4" HD touchscreen, Octa-core processor, triple rear camera and Android 10.
It is also the first smartphone from Tracfone with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage, along with the newly released Samsung Galaxy A50.
The unlocked Moto G Power was released in April 2020 with the Tracfone version first available in the fall of 2020. (Keep up with all the new devices in our List of the Latest Tracfone Smartphones)
This device is actually the successor to the Moto G7 Optimo MAXX which Tracfone released earlier in 2020. Motorola did release a Moto G8, but it was only available internationally. The Moto G Power is technically the G9 Power, but for whatever reason Motorola is just going with the Moto G Power.
Here's our quick snapshot of this phone with our pro's and con's list.
Moto G Power Quick Facts
What we Like:-Excellent performance/storage
-Large HD screen
-Triple rear camera
-Android 10
-Great battery life
What we Don't Like:
-A little expensive
-No NFC
Just a quick look at the features on the Moto G Power should have many customers interested in this device and it certainly seems to offer just about everything Tracfone users have wanted for years, especially the storage and performance.
We will be comparing the Moto G Power with the previous Moto G7 Optimo MAXX that Tracfone only just released earlier in 2020. But the Moto G Power is, spec-wise, more similar to the new Samsung Galaxy A50.
Let's get to the full list of features and specifications on the G Power.
Tracfone Moto G Power (XT2041DL) Features and Specs
Below are the features followed by the technical specs
- Android Q 10
- 4G LTE capability
- Access to over 1 million apps on Google Play
- WiFi
- GPS
- Bluetooth 5
- Alarm Clock
- FM Radio
- MP3 Player
- Standard 3.5mm headphone jack
- Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
- SMS/MMS
- USB Type-C 2.0 connection
- USB Charger
- Fingerprint reader
- Water-repellent coating
- Hearing Aid Compatible
Moto G Power (XT2041DL) Specs
Size: 6.29'' x 2.98'' x 0.37'' in (6.88 oz)
Camera: Triple rear camera - 16 MP main camera, 8 MP wide angle and 2 MP depth sensor and 16 MP front camera
Screen: 6.4" FHD touchscreen with 1080x2300 resolution (399 ppi)
Processor: 2 Ghz Octa-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 665)
Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB and dedicated MicroSDXC card slot
Battery: 5,000 mAh with 37.5 hrs usage time (non-removable)
Motorola was first founded as an American telecommunications company back in 1928. But in 2011, after several years of significant losses and challenges, the company was split and the mobile phone segment of the company was sold to Google. Two years later, the Motorola mobile phone segment was sold again, this time to Lenovo.
It was during the ownership by Google that the popular Moto G line was first released, as an unlocked, budget smartphone that still packed features to keep up with all the daily needs of users. Since transitioning to Lenovo, that has continued with now the latest version, the Moto G8, just released.
Many Tracfone BYOP users are very familiar with the Motorola brand as it has released a number of low cost unlocked phones capable of being used with Tracfone going back to the original Moto G. The Moto G Power is also available unlocked, and can be used with any service provider.
Based on the specs sheet, the Moto G Power will continue this trend but let's take a closer look in our full review.
Tracfone Moto G Power Review
Touchscreen
One of the best features on the Moto G Power is the 6.4" full HD touchscreen. The IPS LCD screen has a resolution of 1080x2300 and a pixel density of 399ppi. This gives it bright, sharp images on the screen. It really is impressive that Motorola was able to pack such a solid screen into this phone. It is a nice upgrade over the G7 Optimo MAXX which had a much lower resolution 6.2" screen.
For the front facing camera there is a small cut out at the top-left side. It is a little odd at first, but maybe a better design than the teardrop on the G7 models.
Internal Performance - Storage, RAM and Processor
Here's where the Moto G Power really shines with a great combination of RAM, storage and processor.
Starting off with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 which is a very good mid-level processor that has eight cores; 4x2.0 Ghz and 4x1.8 Ghz. Combine that with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage to make one solid smartphone that can handle everyday tasks like social media and web-browsing with ease, and even perform well with more resource intensive apps and games.
The only other device to offer this level of performance from Tracfone is the Samsung Galaxy A50 which is also more expensive. Most other smartphones, like the Moto G7 Optimo MAXX, have 32 GB internal storage or less, and only 2 to 3 GB RAM.
Even for those who aren't interested in a phone for gaming or other resource intensive apps, the internal specs on the Moto G Power mean that it will be more capable at keeping up and running efficiently for years to come.
Camera
Another big feature we find on the Moto G Power is the triple rear camera system which includes a 16 MP main camera, 8 MP wide angle camera and a 2 MP macro and depth camera. The front camera is also a 16 MP sensor for selfies and more.
This is one of the first phones from Tracfone with a triple camera setup and it offers a lot more flexibility, especially with the wide angle shooter. Image quality and features are great for a phone in this price range, and it comes with Phase Detect Auto Focus (PDAF), flash, HDR, Panorama and more.
The 2 MP macro camera is actually a neat feature as it automatically switches on when you get close to an object to get extra details and a nice blurry background.
For video, the rear camera shoots 4K at 30fps as well as 1080 at 30/60fps and the quality is very good overall.
For a 'budget' phone, the Moto G Power still delivers a great camera for the price and it is more than capable for everyday social media sharing and more.
Want to take better photos? We created a guide with 8 tips for better cell phone pictures to help.
Battery
Excellent battery life is a key feature on the Moto G Power and it delivers that thanks to a large, 5,000 mAh battery. The phone also comes with 10W fast charging, which isn't as fast as some other phones, but still helps the phone charge quickly. The battery on the Moto G Power will last for several days with light usage, or easily a full day with heavy usage.
The battery is non-removable.
Android OS
The Moto G Power comes with the new Android Q 10, the latest version, which has both performance and security improvements over past versions. It also has a number of new features such as gesture navigation, location privacy controls, better notification controls and the ability to create or scan QR codes for your WiFi network.
The operating system is well optimized to go with the camera and processor for excellent seamless use and Motorola includes fairly minimal bloatware.
Get the most from your smartphone with out list of the Best Android Apps.
Design
When it comes to design, the Moto G Power is fairly simple and functional. It is actually just a little smaller and lighter than the previous version, while still increasing the screen size by 0.2".
On the right side of the phone are the usual power and volume buttons while the left side has the SIM and external MicroSD card slot. On the bottom of the Moto G Power are the USB Type-C charging port, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, the speaker and microphone. And finally the top has a noise canceling microphone and speaker, with the fingerprint sensor on the back. The Moto G Power comes with a great stereo sound due to the utilization of both the earpiece and speaker on the top and bottom.
The phone is made from plastic, but still feels solid. Always best to get a case for your smartphone though, and here are some options on Amazon. Even a simple silicon case can go a long way in protecting your phone from scratches and drops.
The Moto G Power does not have NFC or any face unlock capabilities, which may be a concern for some. But we don't often see these features in budget phones.
Conclusion
There is a lot to like about the Moto G Power and for a budget phone, it does not feel like it with the impressive performance, great storage, triple camera, big screen and long battery life. In fact, it might be the best new camera available from Tracfone in 2020.
If we have to find anything that it lacks, it would be a few features that are mostly available on more expensive devices. The Moto G Power does not have NFC or any face unlock technology. It is also almost twice as much as the Moto G7 Optimo MAXX.
Even with the price , we still find the Moto G Power an excellent option as it just doesn't have a downside and should be a phone to last for a couple years.
If you currently have a Moto G7 Optimo MAXX should you upgrade to the Moto G Power? The Moto G Power does bring improvements in almost every way over the G7 Optimo MAXX which means upgrading would not be a bad decision but the G7 Optimo MAXX is also still a solid device and there might be some bigger and better options in 2021.
Where to Buy the Moto G Power (XT2041DL)
The G Power is available from several online retailers, some with airtime bundles and more, which is usually the best value.
View the Moto G Power on Amazon for $119 (limited time deal)
View the Moto G Power on HSN with airtime bundle for $175
View the Moto G Power on Tracfone.com for $169
Some of these deals may change quickly. We will continue to update.
Moto G Power User Manual and Tutorials
Learn more with the User Manual or view the Moto G Power tutorial to learn more about specific technical questions or leave a comment below!
This concludes our review of the Moto G Power, we hope you found it useful!
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9 comments :
I bought this specifically for the 64 gb storage only to find out you can't format an sd card for internal storage. Do you know if the Samsung Galaxy A50 has the same limitation?
I purchased the Moto G Power specifically for the 64 mb memory. I didn't realize a SD card could only be formatted as external memory. Do you know if the Samsung Galaxy A50 has the same limitation?
Have had this phone for 2 months, it is really nice. Though the screen dimension and battery are larger, it has smaller physical phone dimension and weighs less than my old ZTE MAX Pro. This phone is similar in width to other phones (measure old phone and compare), but is taller and the screen goes edge to edge. Fingerprint reader works really well, be sure to train it using the orientation of your finger as you'll use to unlock it (for me it is holding solely in left hand).
I'll give 2 pieces of advice.
1) If you load numerous apps then you'll notice how the Motorola launcher will show very few icons on your screen. It seems to be written for small screen phones. I use the free Evie to pack more app icons on the screens. Need to enable the 3 navigation buttons on the bottom of the screen instead of swiping from the edges, though. All non-stock launchers have this limitation per Android design. And I had trouble with games with the side screen swiping anyway.
2) Enabling some "Moto" functions really drain the battery. My battery always seemed to last 4 days, then all of a sudden it lasted only 2. A view in Settings/Battery/Usage revealed Moto was using 50% of the battery. I just disabled functions that I didn't use and battery use has been 4 days ever since. I disabled Flip for DND, Moto Display Peek Display, Moto Display Attentive Display. Flip for DND may be OK, try it if you use that.
p.s. I got from HSN for $160 including bonuses of a year of service, case, and car charger. The Moto included wall charger was NOT a turbo charger, get a fast one elsewhere for $6 or so. With the correct charger the batter lasts 4 days and recharges in about 3 hours.
HSN price currently $119.99 Jan 23, 2021
includes tracfone service for 365 days 1500 minutes etc.
https://www.hsn.com/products/motorola-moto-g-64-hd-tracfone-with-1500-mintextdata-fo/9750600?fbclid=IwAR1BWGgOnJaiP_0rD5DY6ogN8486tLQAiUNLHoTumLPeu4JF-Pl8krJmspI
I am considering the unlocked Moto G Power. I currently have a account with Tracfone. Pay as I go. Current phone is a old Alcatel one touch A460g. Will I be able to buy the unlocked Moto, use the sim from my Alcatel and have Tracfone transfer my current phone number? Thanks in advance, Ralph
Does this phone have a 64 bit operating system? Motorola is known for putting 32 bit operating systems on 64 bit capable phones.
Upgraded from the Samsung J7 Crown. This is my first Moto phone and the Power G is the best Tracfone I've ever owned. Great specs, not loaded up with bloatware and great customer service from Tracfone.
Purchased from Tracfone's Ebay store for $119.99, that included 1 year of service, 1500 air time minutes, 1500 texts and 1.5 gigs of data. Great deal!
I've been using a factory unlocked LG Stylo 4 which worked great with Tracfone EXCEPT that I got no voicemail notifications. Someone told me they only work with Tracfone branded phones. I put up with that for a couple of years but often forgot to check to see if I had voicemail. After arriving for a medical appointment and finding out it had been cancelled because I never got the voicemail message, I'd had enough. I had my eye on this phone from the Tracfone store on EBay for quite some time as it is a really good deal for $!20 with a free year of service, etc. (The only thing that came with it that was a piece of c**p was the case - just a snap-on plastic one that offered NO drop protection.) I know there is a 2021 model of this phone but after watching a YouTube video comparing them it looked like the 2020 model was the one to buy. I activated the phone with a phone call as the online method didn't recognize the MEID number on the card. Thought I was in for a long slog with a service representative but I when I punched in the number it went right through. Everything was automated; I never talked to a real person. EVERYTHING in my account (and I have a LOT of minutes, etc.) transferred to the new phone and all of the extras were added very quickly. I had taken a screen shot of my totals just in case. The phone was ready to use in only 5 or 10 minutes. When I tried to set up the voicemail on this phone it kept asking me for my password instead of going through the set-up process. I figured I'd have to call Tracfone to get that straightened out. I finally tried my old password and my voicemail opened right up. I've never had voicemail transfer from an old phone to a new one! One happy Tracfone customer. If you are looking for a Tracfone, the last place to look to buy one is the Tracfone website! There are much better deals out there from EBay, Amazon and HSN.
I've been using the Moto G Power for about 1 year and 4 months. I liked this phone, but the microphone recently stopped working properly. I'm disappointed. I'll probably buy a Samsung phone to replace it.
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