Intro
In September 2022, Motorola introduced the Moto G72, a new addition to its budget lineup, featuring a 108 MP camera, a 6.6-inch P-OLED display with vibrant colors, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and TurboPower 30W fast charging, priced at $300 .
Specifications
- Release date: 2022, October 3
- Colors: Meteorite Gray, Polar Blue, Mineral White
- Dimensions: 160.5 x 74.4 x 7.9 mm.
- Weight: 166 g.
- Screen: 6.55" inc, 1080 x 2460, P-OLED
- Camera : Triple, 108MP
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
- Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM
- Battery: 5000, Li-Po, non-removable
- Network: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
- Operating system: Android 12
- Sensors: Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity
If you are curious to find out all the details before reading the full review, visit the page for Motorola Moto G72 Specs, where you will find even the smallest detail about the phone.
Price
The Moto G72 shares similarities with the new Edge 30 Fusion, and its difference from the G71 is the lack of 5G. To compensate for this, Motorola offers a high-quality 120 Hz P-OLED screen with 10-bit color, capable of displaying a billion shades. It also has a 108MP primary camera that captures more light for brighter low-light photos, compared to the regular 50MP cameras in other G-series models.
The budget Moto G72 delivers impressive performance even for demanding users. With its MediaTek Helio G99 processor, it can seamlessly handle high-definition video playback, games and multiple applications. The 6nm chip offers 20% improved gaming performance and power efficiency under heavy use, comparable to the higher-end Moto G82 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 695.
Design
From 2022 The G-series has a distinctive design with rounded edges and a camera island on the back. However, the Moto G72 departs from this with a squarer camera island with rounded corners and a two-tone design. The back edges have a curved shape.
The back design resembles the elegant Motorola Edge 30 Fusion series. The smartphone is comfortable to hold, with a matte plastic back that is resistant to dirt and scratches. The frame is also made of plastic. Despite its affordability, it doesn't feel like a cheap device.
The phone has a nice look on the front panel, with a small hole for the front camera, minimal and nicely rounded bezels and a convenient in-display fingerprint scanner. Available in two colors "Meteorite Gray" and "Polar Blue".
Although there are limited options, both colors are attractive and will appeal to most users. The side frame is plastic and matches the color of the back with a matte finish and glossy edges.
There is a hybrid SIM card slot: on the left for two SIM cards or one SIM and a microSD card for increased memory. The right side has a conveniently located volume rocker and power/lock button.
The G72 has a noise-canceling microphone on top and features Dolby Atmos-equipped stereo speakers, with one at the top of the screen and one near the bottom. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C charging port and a second microphone, as well as three speaker holes at the bottom. The device boasts solid build quality and has IP52 protection against splashes and light water exposure, a common feature in Motorola devices.
Screen
The phone features a 6.6-inch P-OLED display with 2400x1080 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compatibility. P-OLED technology ensures high color accuracy and low battery consumption. The display is stunning, reminiscent of higher-end phones and makes a great first impression. It won't cause eye strain for extended use, is compact and boasts clear visuals, rich colors and visibility from any angle.
The 120Hz refresh rate offers a smooth and visually appealing scrolling experience. There are three display modes: Auto, 60Hz or 120Hz. Auto mode adjusts to optimize between smoothness and battery life. The "Extra Dim" function, which lowers the minimum brightness for bright OLED displays, can be accessed through the quick settings. This is useful when using the phone before going to bed, as the reduced brightness will not strain the eyes.
Motorola has its own version of "Always-on Display" called Peek Display, where the time and messages are displayed on the lock screen at a glance. The screen activates for a few seconds when the device is picked up, touched or shaken, using a dark background and minimum brightness to save power. This feature was introduced at Motorola before other manufacturers developed full AoD functionality.
Hardware
Moto G72 is powered by MediaTek MT8781 Helio G99 SoC, updated with 6nm TSMC N6 process for improved power efficiency in gaming smartphones. The SoC features 8 cores with 2 high-performance ARM Cortex-A76 clocked at 2.2 GHz and 6 ARM Cortex-A55 clocked at 2.0 GHz. Graphics are handled by the ARM Mali G57. With LPDDR4X RAM up to 2133 MHz and UFS 2.2 memory, the chipset enables fast data access, including support for a 108-megapixel camera.
8 GB of RAM is enough for an undemanding user, without problems when switching between applications. The phone works as fast as the leading models, handling all tasks, including demanding 3D games.
Camera
The camera is the outstanding feature of this smartphone. It consists of three modules: a main 108 MP camera (still rare for a mid-range phone), an 8 MP ultra-wide and a 2 MP macro camera. Optical stabilization enables stable video recording and better picture quality in low light.
Ultra Pixel technology enhances photos by combining 9 pixels into one large pixel, preserving detail and color while reducing storage space.
However, being a mid-range device, low-light photos may have reduced detail and clarity, and moving objects may look slightly blurry, as is common with all mid-range phones.
The Moto G72's night mode delivers impressive and clear photos for a $300 smartphone. The software and cameras work seamlessly to produce well-lit, blur-free images with minimal digital noise after taking several photos and processing them.
The wide-angle camera is decent, with good contrast and dynamic range and minimal distortion in the corners. However, photos tend to be darker compared to those taken with the main camera. A macro lens often takes blurry photos. Better results can be expected if manual adjustments are made.
The device records 1080p video at 30 or 60 fps, but no 4K mode is available. Video quality is smooth and stable with fast autofocus, but autofocus is jerky in 60 FPS mode. Available modes include slow motion, selective color, delay and dual recording. The camera app interface is standard Motorola and user-friendly with a Pro mode that offers full control over settings such as white balance, ISO, autofocus, exposure, shutter speed and features such as selective color, panorama, live photos, filters live, RAW, etc.
A sound
The Moto G72 features stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack with Dolby Atmos surround effects that can be adjusted using preset options or custom tone settings. Speaker quality and volume are good, with minor imperfections noticeable only at maximum volume. The headphone jack is a nice addition, with sound quality depending on the headphones used.
Software
The Moto G72 runs Android 12, which may be considered outdated by some. The look and user experience is similar to stock Android, making it a good choice for those who prefer an unmodified operating system.
The Moto app offers unique features not found on Google, such as design themes, gesture controls (eg double shake to turn on flashlight, double twist of wrist to activate camera, three-finger tap for screenshot, screen down for silent mode) and others. Here are some of the features:
-Moto Display: display time and notifications on the lock screen with the ability to quickly view with a touch. Activates in seconds when you pick up the device or wave your hand over it, with a dark background and minimum brightness to save power
-Active display (doesn't turn off if you look at it)
-Ability to split the screen into two parts
-Ability to launch applications and other settings for gamers in a separate window during gameplay.
Battery life and charging
The Motorola Moto G72 has a 5000 mAh battery that provides good battery life. Its energy-efficient processor and display help conserve battery life. The battery can last about 2 days with normally used applications such as: social media, web browsing, maps and messaging, even with occasional photography.
The phone ships with a 30W charger, which is decent for a mid-range device, but slower than some other devices that offer 45W or higher charging speeds. The 5000 mAh battery takes an hour and a half to fully charge.
Conclusion
The Moto G72 provides all the desired features for a model in this price range. It offers a solid multimedia experience, decent camera capabilities and a processor suitable for casual gaming. Battery life is also adequate. In addition, it runs Android 12, which is almost stock, with light customization via MyUX, and has a design that is considered attractive by some.
Motorola Moto G72 video review
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on our team's personal experience with the Motorola Moto G72 and third-party sources. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and reliable information, readers should keep in mind that this is a subjective assessment. The writing of this article was not paid for or sponsored by Motorola.
