Motorola is going all-out this year with the Moto G7 series, launching four models at the same time. We've been covering Motorola phones for years and know that its budget phones have always stood for reliability and value.
Moto G7
Budget king
$300 at Amazon
Pros
- Reliable performance
- Premium design
- Works on all U.S. carriers
- Clean software
Cons
The Moto G7 is an all-rounder that gets the basics right. The hardware on offer is powerful for most day-to-day tasks, and the camera also holds up well. The glass back gives it a more premium feel, and Motorola has cut down on the bezels up front by switching to a waterdrop cutout. The 3000mAh battery easily delivers a day's worth of use and the software doesn't have a lot of clutter. Overall, the Moto G7 is a great budget phone for 2019.
Moto G7 Power
Battery champion
$225 at Amazon
Pros
- Great value
- Insane battery life
- Robust internals
- Works on all U.S. carriers
Cons
- 720p display
- No NFC
- Slow updates
The Moto G7 Power retains a lot of the same internal hardware as the G7 but adds a massive 5000mAh battery that's guaranteed to last over two days. It has 15W fast charging as well, which means you'll be able to fully charge the device in under two hours. The 720p display isn't as sharp as what you get on the G7, but it also ekes out more battery life from the device. If you need a solid budget phone with outstanding battery life, look no further.
Motorola is no stranger to the budget segment, and in recent years the brand has differentiated its products to better cater to global markets. That has resulted in the introduction of devices with large batteries and entry-level models with hardware that's just decent enough for everyday use. With four models in the G7 series, let's take a look at how the standard Moto G7 differs from the G7 Power.
The Moto G7 and G7 Power share a lot of specs
Motorola has switched up the design of its Moto G series a few times in recent years, and the current glass-backed design gives the phones a more premium look. Both the Moto G7 and G7 Power share a similar design aesthetic, with the main difference being the cutout at the top of the display. The standard G7 has a tiny waterdrop cutout whereas the G7 Power has a wider notch.
Both the Moto G7 and G7 Power feature a Snapdragon 632 chipset, but you get more RAM and storage on the former.
Both devices also have a chin that has the Motorola logo on full display, and the fingerprint sensors are tucked underneath the Batwing symbol at the back. The glass front and back is sandwiched by a polycarbonate frame, and Motorola has managed to do a great job retaining that upmarket feel with both devices.
The internal hardware is nearly identical as well: the Moto G7 and G7 Power are both powered by the Snapdragon 632 chipset. The G7 comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage as standard, and the G7 Power has a more modest 3GB/32GB configuration. That said, the G7 Power costs $75 less.
Both devices sport 6.2-inch IPS panels, but the G7 has an FHD+ display while the G7 Power has a 720p screen. As you'd expect, the display on the G7 Power isn't as sharp as that on the standard G7, but it's still a decent enough panel in its own right. Both devices charge over USB-C and have 3.5mm jacks.
The Moto G7 has a 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel camera configuration at the back, and the f/1.8 lens coupled with the secondary sensor give it a tiny advantage over the G7 Power in this regard. You still get portrait mode on the G7 Power, but it's software-based.
Things are even when it comes to the software side of things. Both phones run Pie out of the box, and Motorola's software experience continues to be fluid and clutter-free.
| Category | Moto G7 | Moto G7 Power |
| Operating system | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Display | 6.2-inch IPS LCD, 2270x1080 (19:9)
Gorilla Glass 3 | 6.2-inch IPS LCD, 1570x720 (19.5:9)
Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 632
4 x 1.8GHZ Kryo 250 Gold
4 x 1.8GHz Kryo 250 Silver
Adreno 506 | Snapdragon 632
4 x 1.8GHZ Kryo 250 Gold
4 x 1.8GHz Kryo 250 Silver
Adreno 506 |
| RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB | 32GB |
| MicroSD slot | Yes (up to 512GB)
Dedicated slot | Yes (up to 512GB)
Dedicated slot |
| Rear camera 1 | 12MP f/1.8 PDAF | 12MP f/2.0 PDAF |
| Rear camera 2 | 5MP f/2.2 | None |
| Front camera | 8MP f/2.2 | 8MP f/2.2 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.2 LE
GPS
FM radio | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.2 LE
GPS
FM radio |
| Audio | 3.5mm jack
Single speaker | 3.5mm jack
Single speaker |
| Battery | 3000mAh
Non-removable | 5000mAh
Non-removable |
| Charging | USB-C
15W | USB-C
15W |
| Water resistance | No rating | No rating |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor |
| Dimensions | 157 x 75.3 x 8mm
172g | 159.4 x 76 x 9.3mm
193g |
| Colors | Ceramic Black, Clear White | Ceramic Black, Marine Blue, Iced Violet |
The Moto G7 Power dominates when it comes to battery life
The Moto G7 Power's marquee feature is the 5000mAh battery. Combined with the 720p display, Motorola says the device will last over two days between charges. The added battery makes the device thicker by 1.3mm from the standard G7 and heavier by 21g, but on the bright side, the G7 Power vastly outmatches the G7 in this regard.
With a 3-day battery life, the Moto G7 Power will fundamentally change how you use your phone.
The G7 Power always manages to deliver screen-on-time in excess of 10 hours, and the fact that you don't have to plug in your phone for charging at the end of the day is pretty great. And when you do need to top up your device, the G7 Power has 15W fast charging.
The Moto G7 doesn't come close to these figures, but it still manages to deliver a day's worth of use. But if battery life is what you're after, the G7 Power is the obvious winner.
You can't go wrong with either device
The Moto G7 will be the default choice for many, but the Moto G7 Power is the better option for those that prioritize battery life. Its 5000mAh battery combined with the 720p display deliver unmatched battery life in this segment, and there aren't any devices at this price point that come close to the G7 Power's battery figures.
Motorola knows what sells in the budget segment, and that was the reason for the introduction of the Power series in the first place. The Moto G7 is a solid choice for $300, but if you're looking to save some cash, the G7 Power is a decent alternative at $225. You lose out on a high-res screen and memory, but the insane battery life more than makes up for it.
Moto G7
Budget king
$300 at Amazon
Premium design backed by all-round reliability
The Moto G7 costs $75 more than the G7 Power, while offering a higher-res screen, more RAM and storage, and a marginally better camera. You lose out on that gargantuan 5000mAh battery, but the G7 still delivers a day's worth of use consistently. If you're looking for a more future-proof device with reliable performance, the G7 is a better bet. If you want three-day battery life, get the G7 Power.
Moto G7 Power
Battery champion
$225 at Amazon
Similar design as Moto G7 but with a massive battery
The Moto G7 Power offers the best value of any Motorola device in 2019. It shares the same platform as the G7, but with a 720p display and 3GB/32GB memory configuration. On the bright side, the 5000mAh battery is an absolute monster that lasts up to three days on a full charge. That changes the way you use your phone, and if you don't mind the 720p screen the Moto G7 Power is a fantastic device.
