Moto G200 5G in the test: high-end technology makes for fun
With the Moto G200 5G, Lenovo subsidiary Motorola has launched a smartphone that should leave nothing to be desired - be it in terms of performance, camera or sound quality. In the xiaomist test you can find out whether these wishes have actually been fulfilled.
A color-intensive display, a fast chip, sharp and realistic photos, perfect sound - smartphone manufacturers promise a lot, but you don't always get what you get in the end. The Moto G200 5G ranks with such promises. With its new smartphone, Motorola not only wants to support 5G mobile communications , as the name suggests, but also generally offer a lot of technology for less than 500 euros. In our test, we looked at whether the smartphone really keeps what it promises.
Moto G200 5G: test conclusion
xiaomist rating: 7.2 / 10
The Moto G200 5G made a good impression in the test. Although the plastic case looks a bit cheap, the inner values of the smartphone make up for it for the most part. With the Snapdragon 888+, a powerful SoC clocks in the cell phone, which makes a variety of applications pleasantly fast. The three-dimensional sound advertised by the manufacturer is only used with the right headphones, but then ensures a clear sound. However, the camera quality could have been even better, so you should be prepared for some loss of detail.
But those who turn a blind eye to the camera and can do without a jack connection and expandable memory are well served with the Moto G200. You get a smartphone that has a lot to offer at a fair price of just under 450 euros (see Amazon) and whose smart control is a lot of fun.
Benefits:
5G mobile communications responsive display strong SoC IP certification convincing 3D soundDisadvantage:
The camera has its weaknesses, slow battery charging, no jack connection, no micro SD slotPackaging: It is also possible (almost) without plastic
When it comes to sustainability, the packaging of a device gives a first insight into how the manufacturer stands on this topic. Motorola did not disappoint me: the small box comes with almost no plastic packaging . The only drawback: the display of the Moto G200 was covered with a printed plastic film, which is only for decoration and can go straight into the garbage after unpacking. A factory-applied display film would be an advantage here, as other manufacturers already supply. Otherwise, the Moto G200 is found in a case that provides sufficient protection.
You will still find the operating instructions and a metal pen for the dual SIM slot in the package - an expansion of the 128 GB of internal memory (according to the manufacturer, optionally with 256 GB) is not possible . For quick charging, which I will go into below, you will find a USB-C charging cable with a corresponding 33-watt power supply.
Although it is probably practical for some users if the right power supply unit is also included, this should still be viewed critically in terms of sustainable packaging. Nowadays it can be assumed that most customers have a power pack for their smartphone. By doing without a power supply, the manufacturer saves not only costs but also electronic waste and packaging volume, which in turn has a positive impact on CO2 emissions . What is still positive about the Moto G200's power supply and charging cable: Both are covered in paper instead of wrapped in plastic, as is so often the case.
The smartphone itself, on the other hand, shines less when it comes to sustainability. As is already the case with many manufacturers, the battery cannot be replaced by users. Thanks to the fixed back, the mobile phone is protected against dust and dripping water according to IP52 certification. Furthermore, Motorola does not make it transparent to what extent sustainable production was taken into account for the device itself.
Motorola Moto G200 5G: chic or cheap?
When you open the box, you are greeted by a large-sized smartphone that I can only hold and operate securely with two hands . For the test, Motorola gave me the Moto G200 in the color Stellar Blue, a matte dark blue. You will find the dual SIM slot, a USB-C port, the microphone and the speaker on the underside. The volume rocker and the power button with integrated fingerprint sensor are on the outside right. On the left side there is another button, with which a voice search via Google Assistant is activated.
The back of the smartphone looks chic at first glance. However, Motorola has opted for a plastic case . Although this ensures fewer fingerprints and does not slip out of the hand as easily, it feels rather cheap. The three camera lenses are arranged one below the other in a "hump" on the left side. So if you put the back of the smartphone on a surface, it wobbles back and forth. The included protective cover doesn't quite compensate for this imbalance either.
Setup and operation: Google is in the foreground
On the Moto G200 we find Android 11 as the operating system . The provider has not yet announced an update to Android 12 on the product page for the smartphone, but we shouldn't worry since it's still quite fresh on the market. With Android 11, the smartphone works perfectly. At best, I find it worthy of criticism that the control is preset via swipe gestures - but in the settings you can also activate the control with the classic buttons on the bottom.
Another note about the keyboard : I noticed that there is no automatic space after punctuation marks. When writing, I find this very difficult to get used to, as I was used to the corresponding automation so far, the existing setting in the GBoard app only works for US English.
The manufacturer relies on Google services for the Moto G200, which is not only reflected in the button for the Google Assistant , Google's cloud services (Drive, Google Photos) are also closely linked to the software. If you have a Google account, the setup of the smartphone is done quickly.
Audio, games, films: finally pure entertainment?
Rich and clear sound - but only with the right headphonesMotorola states that the focus is primarily on the sound of the new smartphone and, thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon sound technology, wireless transmission to headphones with a well-defined sound should be convincing. The integrated Dolby Atmos audio format makes virtual surround sound possible, which is said to be even more realistic than stereo sound. Under the settings, under "Sound & Vibration", you will find the "Dolby Atmos" area, where you can specify the sound depending on the medium: Do you want the right sound for music or to be able to fully enjoy a series? Or do you just want to listen to a podcast?
I tried the different settings, but I wasn't surprised by the smartphone's speakers. A slight difference to my private Huawei Nova 5T and the Honor 50 can be heard in that the Moto G200 doesn't sound as tinny - the voices sound warmer in podcasts, as well as in phone calls via the activated loudspeaker.
However, the headphones really make the difference: when I connect the Beats Solo Pro headphones (view on Amazon) to the Motorola, I really get a bassy sound on Shirin David's "90-60-111" and clearer voices on various podcasts I listen to definitely not hear when connected to my private smartphone. And even over different distances, the Bluetooth connection remains stable.
On the other hand, one point that struck me negatively was the ring tones: When the cell phone first alerted me to notifications, the preset tone really frightened me, after which I went through all the sounds. Although I don't generally have high expectations of cell phone ringtones, everything on the Moto G200 sounds too electronic to me and lacks variation . In addition, I find the titles of the respective notes very inappropriate: There is the note "Tennis" and I hear two sounds similar to water drops, with "Whistles" a water drop. There is a "nudge" sound and a guitar chord sounds. The ringtones are not convincing for a smartphone where the manufacturer praises the sound.
Are you still looking for the right headphones? Then we have the right xiaomist overview for you here:
So a processor can be that fastI have nothing to complain about in terms of performance, quite the opposite. Motorola has opted for the Snapdragon 888+ processor and 8 GB of RAM. The Snapdragon 888+ is not the latest SoC from Qualcomm - the first devices with the successor Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 are coming onto the market these days, but at least the most powerful Qualcomm chip of 2021. It should still have enough power in the next few years bring. Together with the 144 Hertz display , the smartphone reacts immediately to any touch command without being too sensitive. The smartphone downloaded and opened an e-book with over 100 pages within a few seconds. It also quickly shares files with other devices via Bluetooth.
Gaming is also fun with the Moto G200, regardless of whether it's simple jump'n'run games or graphically demanding adventure games. And the sharp and colorful image of the Full HD+ display (2,460 × 1,080 pixels) comes into its own in series and films, although darker scenes are not entirely convincing. Since it is an LC display instead of the AMOLED panels that are otherwise common today, there are no optimal black values and the power consumption cannot be reduced by switching to dark mode. Still, it's a good display.
Smart and easy controlThe Moto G200 has been improved by the manufacturer with various AI functions : For example, there is CrystalTalk AI for better voice output, which filters out background noise. Various AI settings on the camera also ensure better use of light and easier triggering. The beta version of a digital image stabilizer is also integrated.
In addition, the smartphone is very intelligent and intuitive in terms of gesture control: If you lift the smartphone slightly, you can immediately read information such as the time, battery level, etc. on the preview display. If Spotify is open, the current song is displayed in full screen mode.
On the other hand, if the smartphone is placed with the display on a surface, the ringtone changes to vibrate when you pick up the phone. On the other hand, if you quickly turn the smartphone twice out of your wrist, the camera is activated. Motorola has been using these quick features for a few years, but they're still useful and reliable.
Motorola has integrated smart operating concepts into the G200. Together with the high performance and the good display, this makes everyday use fun.
Camera: Playing with contrasts
At first glance, the camera of the Moto G200 makes a solid impression for a smartphone in this price range: I was out and about in Berlin on a (of course) grey, rainy day and the smartphone still got a lot out of the pictures. Thanks to the 108 MP main camera, the colors of standard outdoor shots (middle lens) are emphasized, but in not perfectly lit interiors you still get bright images and close-ups in macro mode are detailed. In the gallery below you can see a comparison of some shots taken with the Honor 50, which is in the same price range and has similar camera equipment. This also cuts a good figure in pictures, but you can see slight weaknesses compared to the Moto G200.
At second glance, however, it becomes clear that Motorola rather plays with the contrasts . If you take a closer look at the pictures taken, you can see clear image noise at the edges of the picture of the park, for example, and the camera sharpens the branches of the surrounding trees again. With the Moto G200, you should be prepared for a loss of detail.
The Moto G200 reaches its limits in the maximum zoom: The AI image stabilization described above ensures that, in my opinion, the images are less blurred than on the Honor 50, but it does not replace an optical image stabilizer. I am still convinced of the quality of the Honor 50 for night shots, since the Motorola brightens up too much in night mode. Furthermore, the lower depth sensor (2 MP) of the Motorola does not make a difference in standard shots, nor in macro and ultra-wide-angle photos (triggered with the upper lens).
You can record 4K videos with the Motorola, but the manufacturer has limited itself to a frame rate of 30 FPS here, although up to 60 FPS are possible with the integrated graphics chip (Qualcomm Adreno 660). The videos still run smoothly, but the graphics chip could still have been used more.
By the way: The camera app in the Moto G200 supports dual video and dual photo recordings, in which the front and rear cameras record at the same time. For example, if you like trying out TikTok and Instagram, you can let your creativity run free.
Here we tell you how to shoot videos for your TikTok account:
Battery: Slow quick charge
With one charge, medium brightness and an average screen-on-time of 3 hours a day , the cell phone lasted almost two days for me, which was to be expected with a capacity of 5,000 mAh and was also indicated accordingly by the manufacturer.
However, the quick charge disappointed me as it actually was n't that fast . It took over an hour to charge from 8 to 100 percent. In fact, the included power supply only has an output of 33 watts. Manufacturers such as Xiaomi and OnePlus also offer faster charging technology in this price range. In addition, there is no way to charge the cell phone wirelessly. Although you don't always have to rely on a quick charge, especially if you primarily charge overnight anyway, a lot could have been done with the battery, which would have rounded off the smartphone's features.
Is your smartphone battery draining faster and faster? Then we have some tips for you in another xiaomist article:
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