Motorola Moto G200 5G Review | Power-Packed Camera Superstar!
If you happen to be looking for a phone around £400 right now, the choice is nuts. You’ve got the OnePlus Nord 2, the Galaxy A52s 5G, a bit of Pixel action—there are so many good mid-range blowers. Into this space staggers the Motorola Moto G200 5G, the most expensive Moto G handset at £399 and one of the most powerful phones at this price with its Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset. There’s no denying the Moto G200 5G has serious grunt, but what about the rest of the experience? I’ve had my SIM inside this bad boy for the last week—here’s my full in-depth review.
Design & Build
The Moto G200 may have impressive innards, but the exterior isn’t quite as snazzy. Motorola’s design doesn’t feel as premium as some mid-range rivals, thanks to a plastic frame rather than glass. After a week of misadventure there are no scratches or scuffs on that plastic frame, and the display is still perfect even without a pre-installed screen protector. The back does get rather mucky after a bit of handling, but once cleaned the Stellar Blue finish looks smart. The distinctive camera housing slopes subtly away from the surface, giving the phone a bit of character.
Despite the plastic frame, the Moto G200 still weighs over 200 g. At 6.8 inches it’s one of the biggest mobiles of 2021, so you’ll want to use two hands. Water resistance is IP52—fine for a splash, but if you need full protection at this price, look at Samsung’s Galaxy A52 5G.
Software
The software experience has good and bad points. Bad point number one: Android 12 is already a thing, yet the Moto G200 ships with Android 11 out of the box, with no confirmed date for the Android 12 upgrade. Looking further ahead, Android 13 isn’t guaranteed either—Motorola says it will “consider” it. Security updates also tend to arrive more slowly than on Google, Nokia or OnePlus devices.
On the plus side, the near-stock Android vibe is enhanced by helpful Motorola additions: gesture controls, Ready For (wired or wireless desktop/TV output), Game Time, and Dolby Atmos audio tweaks. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor struggles with greasy fingers, but face unlock is available. The dedicated Google Assistant key on the left edge can’t be remapped, yet is placed high enough to avoid accidental presses.
Display & Audio
The 6.8-inch IPS panel misses out on OLED contrast and bold colours, though HDR10 support and a 144 Hz refresh rate (higher than the 90 Hz most OLED rivals offer) keep things smooth. The mono downward-firing speaker is basic and there’s no headphone jack, but Bluetooth 5.2 is rock-solid and Dolby Atmos tuning helps when streaming to wireless headphones or speakers.
Performance & Gaming
Snapdragon 888 Plus plus 8 GB RAM equals silky everyday running, even with the display locked at 144 Hz. Genshin Impact plays on boosted detail settings with only the occasional stutter. Motorola’s Game Time suite now includes streaming tools, though the rear gets toasty after extended sessions—dedicated gaming phones with active cooling will suit hardcore players better.
Battery Life
A 5000 mAh cell is generous, yet the first two days saw inconsistent drain. After that the phone settled, ending most busy days (Skype, streaming, camera use) with around 25 % left. A 33 W charger is bundled—neither the fastest nor the slowest at this price.
Cameras
Rear Setup
- 108 MP main: Pixel-bins to 12 MP shots that are sharp and colour-accurate in good light; occasional saturation and motion blur in tougher conditions. Night mode brightens dark scenes with expected grain.
- 13 MP ultra-wide: One of the better budget efforts, keeping tones consistent in strong light.
- 2 MP depth: Basic portrait helper; no telephoto.
Video
8K is offered, but 4K delivers smoother stabilisation and manageable file sizes. Footage can look flat in dim light, yet well-lit night clips come out clean with good audio and reliable focus.
Selfie
The 16 MP front camera produces decent detail in reasonable light, though tones can skew warm.
Verdict
After a week as my daily driver, the Moto G200 is an interesting £399 proposition. Strengths: class-leading performance from the Snapdragon 888 Plus, and a very capable 108 MP camera for the money. Weaknesses: IPS rather than OLED display, mono speaker, no headphone jack, and uncertain long-term Android update support. Everyday users after speed and solid photos will be happy; multimedia buffs or update-sticklers may prefer rivals.