It shouldn't really come as a surprise that Motorola truly shines in the affordable smartphone game, even though they occasionally venture into premium foldable category.
And true to form, they've brought out the Moto G34 5G, keeping it wallet-friendly. Kicking off at just ₹10,999, this is Motorola's fist phone of 2024, and it packs a pretty interesting set of specifications. Keep reading our Moto G34 5G review to find out how it performs.
Moto G34 5G Price and Availability
The Moto G34 5G price in India starts at ₹10,999 for the 4GB RAM and 128GB storage model. The higher-end version with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is set at ₹11,999.
Launch offers include a ₹1,000 additional exchange discount and Jio benefits worth ₹2,000 cashback plus ₹2,500 in vouchers, effectively bringing the prices down to ₹9,999 and ₹10,999. The phone will be available on Flipkart and select retail outlets starting January 17.
Moto G34 5G Unboxing
The box includes the phone of course, and there's also a 20W charging adaptor and USB-C charging cable. Additionally there's a sim ejector tool and a manual. There's no case included in the box.
Moto G34 5G Design
We've been sent the Vegan leather variant of the Moto G34, which not only looks premium but is also great at keeping those pesky fingerprints away.
The ocean green colour is a standout, but if the vegan vibe isn't your thing, there are two more choices - ice blue and charcoal black. These come with an acrylic glass finish, which is just a fancy term for high-quality plastic.
Anyway, the G34's design is smartly accented with a matte camera island that houses two cameras, adding a nice contrast. Additionally, the rear panel features the iconic Motorola 'batwing' logo smack in the middle, with the rest of the design being clean and uncluttered.
The phone's built with a plastic flat frame and has smoothly curved corners, making it comfortable to hold. Plus, it's pretty lightweight at just 181 grams, so it's easy on the hands.
In terms of utility, Motorola's packed in some handy features. You've got a headphone jack, a solid pair of stereo speakers, and the option to expand the storage up to a whopping 1TB. Plus, it's got an IP52 rating, meaning it can handle a few splashes of water without any trouble.
Moto G34 5G Display
On the front, there's a sizable 6.5-inch 20:9 LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600. It's got decent sized bezels all around but the punch hole cutout is refreshingly smaller compared to some of the bigger ones on pricier phones.
You'll also love the HD streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix, thanks to its Widevine L1 support. And it comes with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling rate, making everyday scrolling super smooth. Sure, it's an HD+ panel, and yeah, some other phones in this range might offer Full-HD+.
But it's still a good display. The colours are bright and lively, especially for a non-OLED screen and you won't even spot the pixels unless you're really looking for them, so for your everyday binge-watching, it's absolutely spot on. This screen also offers 580 Nits of peak brightness, so I could easily use it outdoors under the sun.
Also Watch: Oppo Reno 11 Pro Review
Moto G34 5G Camera
The Moto G34 sports a dual sensor setup on the back, featuring a 50MP primary sensor paired with a somewhat unnecessary 2MP macro sensor. The main camera captures crisp, vibrant photos in well-lit conditions, offering impressive quality for its price. However, in low light, the images tend to show graininess and a reduction in sharpness.
Being a Motorola phone, the camera app is loaded with various modes to maximize the potential of the 50MP sensor. It includes things like a dedicated night mode and manual options, enhancing the shooting experience.
In terms of video, the Moto G34 records 1080p at 30fps with both its rear and front cameras. The video quality is what you would typically expect from a budget phone - decent but not extraordinary. The 16MP front camera delivers average but satisfactory selfies, perfectly fine for casual video calls or quick selfies.
Moto G34 5G Specifications and Software
The Moto G34 5G specifications include a Snapdragon 695 SoC, a chip that's been the heart of several affordable phones in 2023. I know it's not the newest kid on the block, but it packs a punch, handling almost every game with ease.
It's teamed up with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, making day-to-day performance smooth. You might notice a few lags here and there, which is pretty standard for this price range, but overall, it runs smoothly.
A big shoutout goes to the stock Android UI for keeping things simple and user-friendly. This is about as clean as an Android phone gets without splurging on the pricier Google Pixel phones.
There are a few pre-installed apps, but you can get rid of them easily if they're not your thing. Plus, it comes with the latest Android 14 – always a nice touch. However, do bear in mind that Motorola is offering just one year of Android update and three years of security updates, so that's something to consider.
Moto G34 5G Battery
Battery life is really good thanks to the 5,000mAh battery, and should get you through a day and a half with light to moderate usage. There's a 20 Watt fast included in the box, and the phone takes 30 minutes to attain a 30 per cent battery. A full charge takes roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Moto G34 5G Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable Price: Starts at ₹10,999.
- Eye-Catching Design: Available in unique vegan leather and other finishes.
- Solid Camera: 50MP primary sensor delivers vibrant photos in good lighting.
- Good Display: 6.5-inch LCD with HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate.
- Clean Software Experience: Runs on stock Android 14.
Cons:
- Limited Camera Versatility: 2MP macro sensor is somewhat unnecessary.
- Average Front Camera: 16MP selfie camera is satisfactory but not exceptional.
- Limited Software Updates: Only one year of Android updates.
Moto G34 5G Review: Should you Buy it?
The Moto G34 5G is definitely a value-packed deal. The main camera does a great job and the user interface is super clean, making everyday tasks a breeze. Plus, it's got enough power under the hood for some gaming action when the mood strikes.
The display impresses too, holding its own despite being HD+ resolution. And that vegan leather design really sets it apart in a crowd of similar phones. So, if you're on the hunt for a smartphone that ticks nearly all the boxes and doesn't break the bank, the Moto G34 is your go-to choice.