Moto G5S Plus

1. Rigid finishing design

The Moto G5S Plus features a bold design from Motorola, with sharp curved angles giving it an unmistakable appearance.

The monolithic frame is covered from the back to the rim, the point is lightly cut by a diamond cut along the edge. Feelings on the hand, but the machine is heavy and somewhat rough. Personally think G5S Plus will suit you guys more.

The point I like on Moto machines recently is that they are equipped with a one-touch fingerprint sensor with touch-sensitive home key, integrating both the navigation gestures extremely well.

The Moto G5S Plus kinda marks a shift for Motorola because it leans into more premium materials in their mid range lineup. Compared to the earlier model, which used a mix of plastic and metal, this one feels more solid, because it comes with an all metal unibody build. So yeah, the aluminum in the construction not only helps it last longer, it also boosts the look , making it feel more expensive than the actual price it asks for.

Overall design wise you get those smooth curves and chamfered edges, which makes it a bit easier to hold, without that awkward grip thing. The metal back is also slightly curved, so the device kind of sits snugly in your palm like it was made for comfort more than just looks. Up front, the phone is mostly taken over by a 5.5-inch display, and sure the bezels are kinda thick by todays standards , but at the time of launch that was pretty normal for mid-range phones.

Another thing people usually notice is the fingerprint sensor below the display on the front. It’s quick and accurate, so unlocking feels pretty reliable. And here’s the interesting part, Motorola added gesture controls into the fingerprint sensor, meaning you can swipe or tap to move around the interface, and in some cases you might skip the on screen navigation buttons. That also frees up a bit more real estate, which is nice.

On the back of the phone there’s this dual camera setup sitting inside a circular module that sticks out a bit and it feels kinda iconic, Motorola always goes that route. You can tell the camera bump is there, but it doesn’t look that huge, so it wont really wobble hard when you put it down flat. Below that module the Motorola logo is clearly there, and the rest of the back looks pretty clean and minimal, with those antenna lines quietly worked into the upper and lower edges of the panel, nothing too loud.

The Moto G5S Plus comes with a few color choices too, like Lunar Gray and Blush Gold, so you can kind of match your vibe, or at least choose something that feels right. The build quality is excellent for the price range, i mean when you press on it there aren’t any creaks or flexing sounds. Metal is used in the body which helps with scratches and little impacts, though, it still makes sense to use a case especially if you’re worried about drop moments.

2. Brightness screen is quite high, good display, good color

The G5S Plus has a 5.5-inch Full HD display on an IPS panel, a traditional 16: 9 aspect ratio, and not a thin bezel such as the Vivo V7, Oppo F5 or Nova 2i.

The ability to display themselves judged pretty well with true color, good viewing angle and comfortable outdoor display.

Moto also did not forget to equip its midrange devices with exclusive features such as the on-off display.

The Moto G5S Plus comes with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD screen, and the resolution sits at 1080 x 1920 pixels, so you get about 401 PPI. That Full HD setup was pretty common for mid-range phones back then. In practice it gives sharp visuals, pretty clear text and overall it’s nice for lots of stuff, like checking the web, scrolling, or watching videos, without feeling too grainy.

With an IPS LCD panel, you also get solid color accuracy plus wide viewing angles, so the display doesn’t turn washed out when you look at it from the side. The tones feel lively though not too over saturated, and the whites look clean and crisp… still it’s a good idea to use a protective case to help avoid damage from accidental drops. The display’s brightness levels are also commendable, with sufficient luminance to ensure visibility in outdoor conditions, although direct sunlight can still pose a challenge.

One area where the display falls short is in its contrast levels and black reproduction.

Since it is an IPS LCD panel, the blacks really are not as deep as what you’d get with AMOLED, so you may see that a bit of the dark color looks slightly washed out during movies or in games where there are a lot of shadow details. Still, this kind of compromise is kinda normal and a lot of users will probably consider it okay, especially at this phone price point

Motorola also added a Night Mode feature , it cuts down the blue light coming from the screen during evening hours. The idea here is to ease eye strain and help you wind down, or even fall asleep easier after using the phone at night. You can schedule it too, so it switches on and off automatically, depending on what you prefer.

Overall , the display on the Moto G5S Plus ends up being a pretty solid performer for its category. It won’t really keep up with the richer contrast you see on higher end OLED devices, but it still gives a decent visual experience. For most people it should be more than enough.

3. Good performance, smooth experience

If you are looking for a medium-sized machine with decent performance, smooth experience, then I guarantee under 7 Moto G5S Plus will be a good candidate.

With a Snapdragon 625 chip and 4 GB of RAM – 32 GB ROM, running on pure Android 7.1 platform, nothing should be hard to get G5S Plus.

Under the hood, the Moto G5S Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, a chipset that was widely used in mid-range smartphones at the time due to its balance of performance and power efficiency. The Snapdragon 625 i s like an octa core processor, crafted with a 14nm manufacturing process, and it uses eight Cortex-A53 cores that run up to 2.0 GHz. Also, the phone comes with either 3GB or 4GB RAM, depending on the particular variant , and it includes either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage which is already built in. That storage can be expanded using a microSD card too.

In day to day use, the performance of the Moto G5S Plus feels pretty smooth ,and it responds quickly enough for most routines. The Snapdragon 625 chipset provides what you’d call steady muscle for everyday stuff, so apps open fast, and switching between them is handled well, especially if you choose the 4GB RAM option. You can keep several applications running at the same time without major slowdowns, which makes it a fairly dependable pick for people who tend to juggle lots of activities during the day.

For gaming, it also does better than you might expect at its price level. The Adreno 506 GPU alongside the Snapdragon 625 can tackle most games from the Google Play Store. That includes heavier titles like Asphalt 8, and PUBG Mobile as well. Of course, for the most demanding games you may have to tune the graphics down to medium ,or even low, but overall play feels steady ,with very few frame drops, stutter, or weird hiccups.

One of the big pluses of the Snapdragon 625 is that it s power efficiency or whatever you want to call it. Since it s built on a 14nm process, the chipset is made to push solid performance while also keeping power draw low, and well that usually means better battery life. You can see that on the Moto G5S Plus too , where it manages pretty good endurance even if it has a not very huge 3,000mAh battery.

On the software side , the Moto G5S Plus runs almost stock Android 7.1 Nougat straight out of the box, then there s an update to Android 8.1 Oreo that s available too. Motorola takes a kind of clean , uncluttered path here, with less bloatware than you d expect, and the interface feels close to Google s original Android idea. So you get a smooth and responsive day-to-day feel , and honestly it s also simpler to get updates, because there are fewer extra custom features and small tweaks that would have to be handled first.

Motorola has put in a couple own upgrades, like Moto Actions and Moto Display. With Moto Actions, people can do these little gestures, for example chopping the phone twice to switch on the flashlight, or twisting the wrist to jump straight into the camera. Then there’s Moto Display, which gives you a quick, glanceable look at notifications when the phone gets picked up, or when brand new notifications show up – but the screen does not fully wake, you know. Honestly, these things feel pretty subtle and handy, they fit in with the overall user experience, not like they’re trying to drown the user in unnecessary gimmicks.

4. Dual camera delete background, medium quality

The Moto G5S Plus is equipped with a dual-camera rear-facing camera with the same resolution of 13 MP, F / 2.0 aperture, and LED flash.

Image quality in full light conditions is relatively stable, color fidelity.

I like it when the interface allows automatic HDR.

The G5S Plus has a dual camera clone that removes the Moto X4-like font, which removes the algorithmic font with long focal length.

The algorithm is pretty good, there are still some places but the middle-range devices that have dual cameras are just as good.

The point I like about the Moto’s clearing-up camera is that the algorithm does not push the light too high, in a light-up fashion to match the tastes of the girl.

The lack of light, the more details, the camera, of course, the image can not be deleted better.

Personally, I still think that the dual camera camera with a smiley-free camera is a highlight for the G5S Plus in the mid-range segment.

One of the headline features of the Moto G5S Plus is its dual camera setup on the back, and honestly it was getting more and more common in smartphones around the time it showed up. The phone uses two 13MP sensors, one takes standard color shots, and the other is dedicated to pulling depth information for portrait photos , giving that bokeh style effect.

Photo Quality

In decent lighting, the Moto G5S Plus main camera does pretty well, you get images with good detail and color accuracy. Focusing feels fast, and most of the time the results are sharp with a pleasant amount of contrast. The dynamic range is also decent, though it doesn’t really bring advanced HDR processing to the party. So in tougher lighting, you might see overexposed highlights, or darker shadows that look a bit too undercooked.

Because it has dual cameras, you can create depth-of-field looks, people also call it portrait mode , or bokeh effect. When you use it the right way, the blur behind the subject can end up looking kinda nicely softened, and the person or object stands out more clearly. Still, the edge detection isn’t always spot on, and the software can have a tough time separating the subject from the background, especially if there’s messy lighting or busy textures. That sometimes causes odd artifacts, or blur that ends up looking a little unnatural in certain areas.

In low light conditions, the Moto G5S Plus’ camera performance starts to show its limitations a bit , images often look noisier, with less fine detail and a noticeable drop in sharpness. The camera’s aperture size and the lack of optical image stabilization, OIS, really play a role here. So it becomes more difficult to capture crisp photos in dim environments. Still, with some patience, and careful handling, it’s totally possible to pull off usable shots in low light, especially if you lean on whatever light is around, like lamps or nearby streetlights.

As for the front facing camera, it’s an 8MP sensor with an LED flash, which is a genuinely useful little add-on for selfies when lighting is low. For the most part, it does well for self portraits, delivering images with solid detail and fairly natural skin tones. And that front LED flash makes a clear difference, specially for night-time selfies, or when you’re indoors and the room light is kind of poor.

Video Recording

The Moto G5S Plus can record 4K video at 30fps, also 1080p video at 30fps and 60fps. The overall video quality is decent , with the camera managing good detail and motion that looks relatively smooth. But, just like in still photos, the absence of OIS means the footage may look shaky if the phone isn’t kept still, or if you’re recording while walking. The electronic image stabilization, EIS, helps a little, yet it’s not nearly as effective as optical stabilization would be.

The phone also has a slow motion video mode at 120fps at 720p resolution, and yes it can be fun to experiment, a bit. But the slow motion results are not the best, there’s noticeable noise and also a drop in sharpness compared to normal video capture. The sound on the recordings is decent, not amazing though, the microphone grabs clear audio, but in louder or busier surroundings it can struggle a little and you notice that.

So overall, the camera on the Moto G5S Plus isn’t exactly a game changer, it’s more like a versatile and solid mid range smartphone experience. The dual camera arrangement and the option to record 4K video are welcome extras, especially for a device at this price. Still, it’s smart to keep expectations realistic, particularly for low light situations, and also the portrait mode limitations, they can be a bit restrictive at times.

5. The battery life is comfortable for 1 day

Battery pack is quite popular, 3,000 mAh. Having enough of a day’s work from 8am to about 7pm, there are still more than 10% of the battery.

On average, things like turn on wifi – 4G alternate, hear – call, text, surf facebook, OTT chat and messenger, browse the web with Chrome, listen to online music on Soundcloud, take pictures, watch Youtube, … I have more than 5 hours onscreen on this machine.

The Moto G5S Plus comes with a 3,000mAh battery, and that’s pretty normal for a smartphone of this size, you know, and this kind of lineup. Since it uses a power-sober Snapdragon 625 processor, and the Full HD display isn’t exactly demanding, the battery life feels solid overall… just not earth-shattering or super rare.

Most days, in real life use, the Moto G5S Plus can run through the entire day on one charge if you keep things moderate. That typically means things like web browsing, scrolling social networks, watching videos, and yes, a bit of light gaming too. But if you’re more of a power user, doing heavier stuff like long gaming rounds, or you record video often, then by later afternoon or evening you might start thinking about the charger, pretty fast.

It also supports fast charging, through the included 15W TurboPower brick, which is honestly a nice perk. With TurboPower, you can top up from 0% to roughly 50% in about 30 minutes, that’s good for quick restarts between meetings or just when you are in a hurry. Getting back to 100% from empty usually lands around 1.5 to 2 hours, which feels pretty much in line with what you’d expect from a device like this ,nothing super odd there really.

Now, one spot where the Moto G5S Plus kind of falls a bit short is the lack of support for wireless charging. For many people it may not matter much ,especially at this price, but still, it’s a capability some users actually want and it can be noticeable since wireless charging is now pretty normal in mid-range and flagship phones.

If battery endurance is your main concern, Motorola does include a battery saving mode inside the software. It works by limiting background activity, dialing back performance a little, and lowering the screen brightness so the phone stretches its remaining charge longer. That s pretty handy when you’re trying to squeeze in a few more hours of use before you can reach a charger.

Software

The Moto G5S Plus basically runs on a near-stock sort of Android, and that is one of its bigger selling points, like honestly. When it first released, it shipped with Android 7.1 Nougat, but later it got updated to Android 8.1 Oreo. Motorola seems to stick with a minimalist software idea, meaning the user interface stays pretty close to Google’s original Android vision, with not too many pre-installed apps ,and not many heavy custom skins that could drag things down.

Because of that, you end up with this pretty smooth, responsive day to day feel, with quick app switching and not much delay. The absence of bloatware really helps too, since it saves storage space and keeps things running well, even after months. So for people who want a direct, intuitive Android experience without all these added extras, the Moto G5S Plus pretty much nails what you would expect.

Still, Motorola did include a couple proprietary bits that make the phone easier to use. Moto Actions is a good example, it lets you do certain gestures to turn on features fast. Like the chop motion mentioned before, which turns on the flashlight, and also the double-twist move to bring up the camera. Those are implemented pretty well, they add a bit of handy convenience, but they don’t fully overcomplicate the whole experience.

Another handy software part is Moto Display, it sort of gives you this quick glance view of notifications and the current time, like when you pick up the phone or when a new notification lands. It’s especially useful if you want to check what’s going on without really waking the whole device, so in practice it can help with conserving battery life.

For updates Motorola has historically been pretty decent about security patches and big OS updates but honestly it depends on the model and also the region. The Moto G5S Plus did get an update to Android 8.1 Oreo, though, and after that it’s unlikely to get any further major Android version upgrades beyond that point. So yeah, if long-term software support is kind of your priority, it’s good to keep that in mind.

Connectivity and Network Performance

The Moto G5S Plus brings a pretty solid mix of connectivity options , for the most part it matches what most people tend to expect. You get 4G LTE on most major bands , so compatibility stays decent with many carriers across the world. In everyday use the network performance is mostly reliable, you usually see a strong enough signal and call quality feels pretty steady. There’s also dual SIM built in , that can be handy if you juggle two phone numbers or if you like using a local SIM when you travel, it’s kind of the same idea just more convenient.

On the Wi-Fi side , things hold up well too. It supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, so you can choose what fits better depending on how your router is setup. Bluetooth 4.2 is included for linking up wireless accessories, like headphones or speakers. Sure, it’s not the newest Bluetooth thing on paper, but honestly it does the job for most simple and common uses.

Then there’s the classic 3.5mm headphone jack, and yes it’s getting more uncommon on newer phones. Having it is a real plus for anyone who still prefers wired headphones , or for people who already own higher quality audio gear that depends on a traditional jack.

One area where the Moto G5S Plus kind of shows its age is in the use of a micro-USB port for charging and that general data transfer stuff. When it came out, a lot of smartphones had already moved over to USB-C, which is the more modern standard. USB-C is usually faster for moving data, and the connector is reversible , so you don’t have to keep flipping it around, you know. The micro-USB port on the G5S Plus still works, and it’s supported pretty widely, but it does feel a little dated compared to that newer USB-C vibe.

The phone also brings NFC (Near Field Communication) along with it. With NFC you can do mobile payments through services like Google Pay , and you can also do quick pairing with compatible gear. It’s a practical inclusion, and it makes the device feel a bit more flexible overall.

Audio Quality

The audio experience on the Moto G5S Plus is fine, though it’s not really anything to write home about. You get a single speaker that fires out from the bottom, and yes it can get loud enough. But in terms of actual sound quality, it stays kind of average. It’s totally okay for casual listening, like streaming videos or using speakerphone during calls. Still, it doesn’t have the kind of depth and richer tone you tend to hear on phones with dual speakers, or with more advanced audio setups.

When it comes to headphone audio, the Moto G5S Plus does a bit better, honestly. Having a 3.5mm headphone jack is a real plus, it lets people plug in their favorite wired headphones without using an adapter, or some weird in between thing. The sound quality via the jack is pretty good, you get clear reproduction and there is enough loudness for everyday listening. The phone also includes basic sound tuning, like equalizer options, so you can tweak things a little, based on what you prefer at the moment.

If you are more into wireless audio though , Bluetooth 4.2 helps keep a steady link with most Bluetooth headphones and even speakers. Sure, the lack of more advanced codecs such as aptX could bother audiophile types , but for most users the wireless experience still feels fine, and honestly pretty satisfactory.

Conclusion

When the Moto G5S Plus came out it really stood out inside Motorola’s mid range lineup, mostly because it blended a nice look with solid day to day performance and camera results, all while still staying on a fairly affordable level. The all metal build, plus that pretty near stock Android feel , made it easy for a lot of people to pick it up if they wanted something dependable and straightforward, without extra “bells and whistles”.

The dual camera arrangement, even if it is not flawless, gave more room for photography styles, and extras like TurboPower fast charging and Moto Actions sort of rounded out the whole experience. With the Snapdragon 625 processor working along with a decent amount of RAM , most tasks felt smooth enough, and the battery life was honestly better than expected for the kind of efficient hardware inside.

Still, there are trade offs , as there always are. The missing USB-C port, the speaker quality that sits in the middle, and the way the camera struggles in low light are the places where the Moto G5S Plus starts to show its age. On top of that , software support has likely gone as far as it will , so you shouldn’t expect further big updates beyond Android 8.1 Oreo.

If you are one of those users who wants a solid, dependable smartphone but also doesn’t want to pay too much, the Moto G5S Plus is still a pretty workable choice, especially if you can catch it on a discount. It gives you a no-nonsense Android vibe, with just enough stuff to keep most people satisfied. Still, if what you care about most is the newest tech and the freshest software updates, then looking at newer budget phones could actually make more sense .

So yeah, in short , the Moto G5S Plus shows what Motorola can do when it comes to quality phones without the heavy price tag. It might not be the flashiest gadget around , and it isn’t loaded with every extra feature under the sun, but it does the essentials well, and honestly for many users that is the whole point.

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Định Bia

Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst

Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.