Friends+Design
- Nice looking (plastic) build with a gradient-like glossy back finish
- Ergonomic
- The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is snappy (the face unlocking isn't very quick though, so we'd recommend sticking to the fingerprint unlock for most users)
Display
- Good, crisp, vivid 6.3-inch FHD+ IPS display with good color reproduction
Software
- Motorola continues to pack simple stock Android in it's G-series, along with a bunch of useful Moto add-ons like Peek Display (always-on display), and Attentive Display (keeps the screen on while you’re looking at it), and Moto Actions (gestures like twist to open the camera, chop-chop for flashlight, lift to unlock, to name a few) - the overall software package is one of the best in the Android domain, especially if you like the simplicity of clean UIs
Performance
- Good mid-range performance backed by the Snapdragon 665 - daily use and casual games are smooth
- It's not the best performer in this price bracket though, and you will see the difference in high-end games like PUBG which will run in low graphics settings - if you are into gaming, you will be better off looking at Xiaomi and Realme phones in this price bracket, which tend to provide better performance bang for the buck
Camera
- Nice, versatile triple camera system - Primary 48MP sensor + 16MP ultra-wide angle lens (only for videos, it's an 'action-cam' as seen on the Motorola One Action, which lets you record horizontal videos while holding the phone vertically) + 5MP depth sensor
- The primary 48MP camera captures sharp and colourful images in the daytime
- Snappy and is quick to autofocus on objects, thanks to the laser autofocus system, which is great for a phone’s camera in this price range
- If you love creating videos, the action camera on the G8 Plus will open up a different perspective that’s not usually found in this budget segment - you can record videos holding the phone in a vertical position which improves stability - what you get is GoPro-like features, without splashing out on a new camera
- Videos also have electronic stabilization in place, which is pretty good at its job of keeping footage stabilized while shooting
- The 25MP selfie camera on the front is decent and so are the portrait pictures
- Overall, the cameras on the Moto G8 Plus are fairly good for the price bracket (though not the best - that status is taken by the Xiaomi and Realme phones in this bracket)
- Low light performance is average (though the night mode does help matters)
- You can't get ultra-wide pictures from the ultra-wide lens - it's only for videos
Audio
- Excellent stereo speakers setup, for this price range - the Dolby Audio speakers make watching videos on the phone truly delightful - if you’re coming from any other phone with a single loudspeaker, you will be pleasantly surprised
Battery
- Good battery life with a large 4000mAh battery - you should get 1.5 days of use with moderate usage
- 15W fast charging support with the TurboPower adapter provided in-the-box (it's not the fastest fast charging though - the phone takes close to 150 minutes to fully charge from 0-100%)
Verdict
- The Moto G8 Plus is another good all-round phone from a re-energized Motorola this year - with the versatile camera system array, stereo speakers, modern design, and a good battery life, it's an excellent option to consider if you specifically want a stock-Android-like phone - if stock Android is not a priority however, you can get a little better value for money with Xiaomi and Realme phones in this price bracket
