Tracfone Moto G Power 5G (2023) Review, Specs and Features
A large, 6.5" full HD touchscreen, MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor, Android 13 and 5G network capability are some of the top features in the 2023 Moto G Power 5G. The Tracfone version also has 128GB internal storage, 4GB RAM, and a 50MP camera.
For 2023, Motorola has released a number of different phones with several of them coming to Tracfone Wireless at subsidized prices. The Moto G Play 2023 and Moto G Stylus 2023 are two such options recently made available. The 2023 Power has the best performance and features of the three, and is the only one to offer 5G network access. (see all the new phones in our List of Latest Tracfone Smartphones)
The Moto G Power 5G 2023 is also available unlocked with 6GB RAM and 256GB storage, but it also has a $299 retail price.
Let's start with the pro's and con's list.
Moto G Power 5G Quick Facts:
What we Like:
-Full HD screen with 120hz refresh rate
-Excellent battery life
-Nice improvement over previous model
-Low price from Tracfone
What we Don't Like:
-Not the most powerful processor
-No NFC
-Mediocre Cameras
Improving on last year's model is always good to see in a smartphone and Motorola has done that with the Moto G Power 5G but they've had to increase the retail price to do it. However, the Tracfone version appears to have a very reasonable list price.
Some of the nice improvements include the 1080p display with fast 120hz refresh rate, the 128GB storage, and the most notable feature, 5G network capability.
There is still no NFC, a feature that allows contactless payments from your phone, and it is a feature some other budget phones are getting, like the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G.
Let's see full list of features from the new Power below.
Tracfone Moto G Power 2023 (XT2311DL) Features and Specs
Below are the features followed by the technical specs
- Android 13
- 5G compatible (Verizon)
- Access to the Google Play Store with over 1 Million Apps
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Alarm Clock
- MP3 Player
- Standard 3.5mm headphone jack
- Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
- SMS/MMS
- USB Type-C 2.0 connection
- USB Charger (10W charging speed)
- Sensors: Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
- Water-repellent design
- Hearing Aid Compatible
Moto G Power 5G 2023 (XT2311DL) Specs
Size: 6.42 x 2.94 x 0.33 in (6.53 oz)
Camera: Triple Rear Camera - 50MP, f/1.8, (wide), 2MP (depth), 2MP (macro), 16MP front camera
Screen: 6.5" Full HD IPS LCD screen with 1080x2400 resolution (405 ppi) and 120hz refresh rate
Processor: Octa-core (MediaTek Dimensity 930) Processor
Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 128 GB and dedicated MicroSDXC card slot
Battery: 5,000 mAh with about 36 hrs usage time (non-removable)
About Motorola
Motorola has a long history and was originally founded as an American telecommunications company back in 1928. 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.
During the ownership by Google, 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, the Moto G line has continued with a number of variations released each year.
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 2023 is also available unlocked and can be used with any service provider.
The 2023 Power is returning to it's roots, keeping the large battery, and now bringing a much more powerful processor compared to last year's model. Let's get to the full review.
Tracfone Moto G Power 5G 2023 Review
Touchscreen
With a 6.5" full HD IPS LCD screen that has 120hz refresh rate and 1080x2400 resolution, the Moto G Power 5G offers a great upgrade over the previous model, and a nice viewing experience.
The faster refresh rate helps the phone feel snappy when scrolling or browsing on the phone, and the 405 ppi pixel density leads to crisp, clear images and video.
The phone has the common 20:9 screen ratio, and a screen to body ratio of about 84% which is typical with a slightly larger bezel at the bottom of the phone.
While this screen is no AMOLED (which has deeper blacks, and better brightness) it is still pretty good and most phones with the higher-end screen come at a much higher price.
Performance - Storage, RAM and Processor
The Power comes with 4GB RAM, 128GB storage and the MediaTek Dimensity 930 octa-core processor. The increased storage and improved processor are another big improvement over the 2022 Power. And the Dimensity 930 processor includes 5G network capability.
The unlocked version of the 2023 Power comes with 6GB RAM and 256GB storage which would have been very nice to see on this Tracfone version. Unfortunately, the lack of RAM does make a difference when the device is multitasking and will impact gaming performance for those more resource intensive games.
While the Dimensity 930 processor is an improvement, and handles the majority of tasks just fine, it isn't the most powerful processor, and will struggle when it comes to serious gaming. For a more powerful phone, consider the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G (coming to Tracfone soon) or the Google Pixel 6a.
Camera
On the back of the phone is a triple cameras setup with 50MP main shooter, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor as well as an LED flash. The front has a single, 16MP selfie camera in a hole punch style cutout on the screen.
Let's just say, and this is true for almost all budget smartphones, the camera is not the strong point with the Moto G Power 5G. The 2MP macro camera is pretty useless and offers soft, dark images. The 50MP main shooter does adequately in good lighting, with bright, vibrant colors, but struggles when shooting in lower light situations. There are a handful of different photo settings, including night mode, portrait, dual capture and high res.
The front selfie cam functions just fine, but like the rear camera, struggles once lighting is reduced.
For video, both the front and rear cameras shoot 1080p at 30fps with usable quality for social media or sharing with friends.
Camera quality on high-end smartphones has advanced significantly in recent years, making the mediocre quality of budget phones that much more noticeable. It's not that the Moto G Power 5G 2023 has a bad camera, it's that it doesn't keep up with much more expensive phones, which is to be expected. For a better camera experience (and somewhat higher price) consider the Google Pixel 6a ($219) or Samsung Galaxy A54 5G ($299).
Battery
The Moto G Power lineup was first known for exceptional battery life and large, 5,000 mAh batteries, both features that have spread in the budget phone category, and features we find on the 2023 model.
Thanks to the large battery and efficient processor, the Power is rated for 38hrs talk time, and with low to moderate use, will easily last a full day, and likely 2 or 3 days.
To recharge the big battery, it has 15W fast charging, which is an improvement from last year, but still pretty slow. Plan to put it on the charger overnight.
Android OS
It is nice to see Android 13 included with the Power 5G and it offers a number of performance and security updates over the previous versions. Motorola's update policy is not the best, with just one major update (to Android 14) planned for somewhere down the road when it becomes available. Samsung has a much better update policy, for those planning to keep the phone for more than a few years.
Android 13 builds on Android 12's major 'material you' update with several additional features including auto-theming icons, expanded color theming options, and some alternative lock screen options. There are also some increased privacy and security controls.
Design
Motorola phones tend to have a certain design and feel, and the 2023 Power continues that with very familiar button locations and all plastic construction. It does feature a water repellent design, for protection from casual splashes, and the back of the phone has a nice textured feel.
The Power has the volume and power buttons on the right side, with the power button doubling as the fingerprint reader and offering a fast response to unlock the phone. There's a standard 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom, along with the speaker and USB charging port.
A noticeable bump out on the back of the phone is where the rear cameras are clustered, but for those that will use a cover or case with the Moto G Power 5G, it likely won't be noticeable. On the left side of the device is where the SIM card and MicroSD card trays are located.
There's no getting around the fact that this is a budget phone, but overall the design is great and something Motorola has perfected over the last few phones.
Conclusion
After stumbling slightly with the 2022 Power, Motorola has bounced back to offer a very solid option in the Moto G Power 5G. It has enough performance for the majority of users, an excellent screen, plenty of battery life and 5G. For those that like Motorola phones and long battery life, it is a great option.
However, there are many other options available, with the Google Pixel 6a a main contender and also recently made available from Tracfone. The pixel has a more powerful processor, better cameras, and a better software update policy. For those that want a little more and are willing to spend a little more, the Pixel is a great choice.
The unlocked version of the Moto G Power 5G has a retail price of $299 which is steep considering what it offers. The Tracfone version, however, has an initial retail price of $119, which is a significant discount and immediately makes the Power much more interesting. At that same price is the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, which has a similar, full HD screen, but less storage and an older processor. The Moto G Power 5G would be a better pick.
The Bottom Line: If a large battery and Motorola brand name are important, the discounted price of the Tracfone Moto G Power 5G is really hard to beat. Plus the Moto G Power 5G beats Motorola's other new phones, the Stylus and Play, in performance and features.
Moto G Stylus (2023) and Moto G Play (2023) vs Moto G Power 5G 2023
The 2023 Moto G Power offers a number of improvements over both the Play and Stylus that Motorola released this year. The Power has a much more powerful processor than either of the other two, and offers 5G network capability. The Power has more RAM than the Play, and more storage than both the Play and Stylus. It also has a better camera setup, and a full HD screen.
With the Moto G Stylus 2023 coming to Tracfone priced at $149 ($30 more than the Power), the only feature it offers is a stylus, which isn't worth the price for most.
The Moto G Play is only a little cheaper than the Power, but much less powerful when it comes to RAM, storage and processor and a no-brainer to go for the Power 5G.
Where to Buy the Moto G Power 5G 2023 from Tracfone
Find the Moto G Power online from the retailers below:
Get the Tracfone Moto G Power (2023) w/ airtime bundle from HSN or QVC - $89-$99
Also available from Amazon, Tracfone, and Target for $99-$119
Moto G Power 5G User Manual and Device Tutorials
Get the most from your phone with the Moto G Power User Manual and Device Tutorials from Tracfone.
If you are new to Tracfone, Start with our Beginners Guide!
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6 comments :
Worth upgrading from my Tracfone Moto G Power 2022, which I've had for about a year? I am a pretty basic phone user.
I recently purchased this phone and find that the touch sensitivity needs to be adjusted but I cannot find anything in the settings to do this. I have to actually bang on the screen several times when I'm trying to select something. Has anyone else had this problem with this phone? I bought it to replace the Moto g power 2020 and did not have the problem with my old phone.
I had a similar problem with a Moto E7. When you "Google" this it seems a lot of Moto phones have this issue. Moto addressed this in one of their blogs, but they never offered a fix. Guess we just have to live with this flaw. You get what you pay for! lol
No MP3 player
I had the '21 Stylus 5G, which picked up 5G in my home and everywhere else. Imagine my surprise when I got the '23 Power 5G, and it only gets 4GLTE in my home. Outside the house, it wavers between 4GLTE and 5G.
Definitely worth upgrading. This is the BEST deal on QVC right now. $89-$10 discount = $79 with a year's worth of service and 1.5gb of data and all the rest!
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