Moto G55 Review: Smooth 120Hz OLED Display on a Budget

The Moto G55 enters the competitive budget smartphone arena with a unique proposition: an alluring 120Hz OLED display at an impressively accessible price point. While 5G connectivity is absent, this device focuses on delivering a visually immersive experience without compromising on core features. Let’s delve into the Moto G55’s strengths and weaknesses to determine if its vibrant display truly elevates it above its peers.

Design & Build: Familiar Yet Functional

The Moto G55 adheres to Motorola’s established design language, sporting a sleek and understated aesthetic. Its plastic construction, while not exuding premium vibes, feels robust and well-assembled. The phone’s slim profile and subtly curved edges ensure a comfortable grip, making it effortless to hold and use for extended periods.

The rear panel showcases a captivating gradient finish that shimmers under different lighting conditions. The camera module is elegantly integrated, blending seamlessly into the overall design. The fingerprint sensor, embedded within the power button on the side, offers convenient and reliable unlocking. While not groundbreaking, the Moto G55’s design is pleasing to the eye and practical in everyday use.

Display: A Visual Feast

The Moto G55’s crowning jewel is its 6.55-inch OLED display with a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This combination delivers an exceptional visual experience, with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and fluid animations. Scrolling through menus, browsing web pages, and watching videos feel incredibly smooth and responsive.

The display’s punch-hole cutout houses the front-facing camera, maximizing screen real estate without compromising on aesthetics. Its brightness levels are adequate for most indoor and outdoor scenarios, although direct sunlight can sometimes hinder visibility. While the lack of HDR support is a minor drawback, the OLED panel’s inherent contrast and color accuracy compensate for it.

Performance: Adequate for Daily Tasks

Powering the Moto G55 is a MediaTek Helio G85 processor, a capable chipset that efficiently handles everyday tasks. Paired with up to 8GB of RAM, the phone delivers smooth performance for web browsing, social media, email, and light gaming. Multitasking is also managed adequately, although resource-intensive apps and demanding games can occasionally push the phone to its limits.

Benchmark scores indicate that the Moto G55 sits comfortably in the mid-range segment. While not the fastest phone on the block, it offers respectable performance for its price point, ensuring a satisfying user experience for most users.

Camera: Capable in Good Light

The Moto G55 features a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. In well-lit conditions, the primary sensor captures impressive photos with good detail, dynamic range, and accurate colors. The depth sensor aids in portrait mode shots, creating a pleasing background blur effect.

Low-light photography is a challenge, as with most budget smartphones. Images tend to exhibit noise and loss of detail in dimly lit environments. The phone’s Night Mode helps to mitigate some of these issues, but don’t expect flagship-level results. The 16MP front-facing camera takes satisfactory selfies, perfect for social media sharing and video calls.

Battery Life: A Day’s Worth of Power

The Moto G55 houses a 5000mAh battery, offering respectable all-day endurance with moderate usage. With typical use cases such as web browsing, social media, and casual gaming, the phone comfortably lasts a full day on a single charge. Heavy users might need to top up towards the evening, but the phone’s 30W fast charging capabilities ensure quick and convenient recharging.

Unfortunately, wireless charging is absent, which is a minor trade-off for the phone’s affordability.

Software & User Experience: Near-Stock Android Delight

The Moto G55 runs on a near-stock version of Android 12, providing a clean and clutter-free user interface. Motorola’s subtle software additions, such as Moto Actions and Moto Display, enhance the overall experience without overwhelming the user. The phone’s software performance is smooth and responsive, devoid of any noticeable lag or bloatware.

Motorola’s commitment to software updates is commendable, with the company typically providing timely security updates and at least one major Android version upgrade. This ensures that your Moto G55 remains secure and up-to-date.

Connectivity & Additional Features: Essential Connectivity

The Moto G55 offers the essential connectivity features, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. While 5G connectivity is absent, the phone’s 4G speeds are adequate for most users. The phone also features a dedicated microSD card slot for expandable storage, allowing you to expand its 128GB internal storage further.

The phone’s water-repellent design provides protection against light splashes and rain, but it’s not fully waterproof. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome addition, offering flexibility for those who prefer wired audio.

Buying Recommendation:

Who’s it for? The Moto G55 is an excellent choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a smartphone with a captivating display and smooth performance for everyday tasks. It’s also suitable for those who value a clean Android experience and timely software updates. If you’re not concerned about 5G connectivity and prioritize a visually immersive experience, the Moto G55 is a strong contender.

Pros:

• Vibrant 120Hz OLED display
• Clean and intuitive Android experience
• Good battery life
• Expandable storage
• Affordable price point

Cons:

• No 5G support
• Average low-light camera performance
• No wireless charging

Overall:

The Moto G55 successfully carves a niche for itself in the budget smartphone market with its exceptional OLED display and well-rounded feature set. While it makes certain compromises to achieve its affordable price point, its strengths lie in its visual appeal, smooth performance, and clean software experience. If you’re seeking a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn’t compromise on the essentials, the Moto G55 deserves your consideration.