Moto G9 Play review

Moto G9 Play offers great value with a 48MP camera, 5000mAh battery, and solid performance, all at an affordable price.

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Moto G9 Play is an affordable Android phone that stands out if you overlook newer Chinese brands like Realme and Xiaomi. It offers a large screen, good storage, solid performance and a decent camera for nice shots in the right conditions.

Some extra features make it even better. It has a night camera mode and a louder-than-average speaker, which is rare in this price range. Unlike some other Moto G models with stereo speakers, it has a mono speaker but it’s still impressively loud and clear.

Night Vision mode, usually in pricier Moto models, boosts low-light photos noticeably. While it doesn’t elevate all photos, it’s a nice touch for an entry-level camera.

Compared to other budget phones like Nokia 3.4, Moto G9 Play offers stronger performance and more value for the price. While it has a 720p display, unlike Xiaomi Redmi Note 9’s Full HD+ screen, screen quality is still solid for its price.

Moto G9 Play Specification

Category	Specification
📶 Network	GSM / HSPA / LTE
📅 Launch	Released August 2020
📏 Body	165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm, 200 g, Plastic build
📱 SIM	Single or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM)
🖥 Display	6.5-inch IPS LCD, 720 x 1600 pixels
💻 OS	Android 10, upgradable to Android 11
🔧 Chipset	Snapdragon 662
🧠 CPU	Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz, 4×1.8 GHz)
🎮 GPU	Adreno 610
💾 Memory	64GB/128GB storage, 4GB RAM
📸 Main Camera	48 MP (wide), 2 MP (macro), 2 MP (depth)
🤳 Selfie Camera	8 MP
🔊 Sound	Loudspeaker, 3.5mm jack
🔋 Battery	5000 mAh, 20W fast charging
🎨 Colors	Forest Green, Sapphire Blue, Spring Pink
💵 Price	About 430 EUR

Moto G9 Play Price and Availability

Moto G9 Play is now available in the UK and Australia. It’s priced at £159.99 or AU$299 which is about $220, making it the most affordable model in the G9 lineup, sitting just below the Moto G9 Power.

For the U.S., situation is different. Motorola released Moto G Play in the U.S. at CES 2021 which is similar to the Moto G9 Play but not identical. Moto G Play has slightly lower specs and costs $169 (around £124 or AU$217).

A separate review of the Moto G Play for U.S. buyers will be available soon.

Moto G9 Play Design

Moto G9 Play has a plastic back and sides but from a distance, it could pass for a pricier phone, maybe around $400/£300. It has a large screen, teardrop notch and a design that mimics curved glass and aluminum look of more expensive phones. However, only screen and camera cover are glass; rest is plastic including side buttons.

If you want a phone with a glass back, consider options like Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro or OnePlus Nord, but they come at a higher price. Moto G9 Play feels like what you’d expect for its cost and it holds up well for budget.

This phone has useful features like a headphone jack, USB-C charging and a rear fingerprint scanner. It unlocks in about half a second, which is a bit slower than some but not noticeable in everyday use.

Moto G9 Play’s rear cameras are arranged in a square, similar to iPhone 12 Pro. While it’s not as refined, it gives the phone a more expensive look at a glance.

Lastly, Moto G9 Play has a water-repellent nano-coating. It’s not waterproof but it’s better protected against accidental splashes than many budget phones.

Moto G9 Play Display

Moto G9 Play has a 6.5-inch LCD screen with a 720 x 1600 resolution. It’s not high-end but it’s still quite good for the price.

Colors are decent but not super bright, even in ‘saturated’ mode and it doesn’t support HDR. Screen looks fine from different angles, with only a slight drop in brightness. We measured the brightness at 400cd/m² which is okay but not as bright as premium phones. It’s clear enough outdoors, though it could be a bit brighter in direct sunlight.

Display runs at 60Hz, so it’s not as smooth as some other phones with 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rates. However, after a day or so, this isn’t too noticeable.

Overall, large screen works well for most apps and games. Some phones in this price range like Xiaomi Redmi 9 and Redmi Note 9, have sharper 1080p displays which make text look crisper.

Moto G9 Play Camera

Moto G9 Play has three cameras on the back, but only one main lens that you’ll actually use often. There’s no zoom or ultra-wide view, just a standard lens. The other two lenses—a 2MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor—are basic and mostly for specific effects. The macro lens isn’t very useful, while the depth sensor helps create blurred backgrounds in Portrait mode, adding a nice effect to photos.

The main camera is 48MP and does a decent job, especially in good lighting. Indoor photos can look a bit soft and lacking in detail, but the camera uses HDR to balance shadows and highlights, and the colors look natural in daylight.

A highlight of Moto G9 Play is its Night Vision mode which helps brighten low-light photos and adds detail by combining multiple shots. This feature is rare for budget phones, and it makes a noticeable difference in night photos though it works best for non-moving subjects.

Video recording is limited to 1080p with best results at 30fps to keep footage stable. Front camera is 8MP and performs well for selfies in good lighting. It also has Portrait mode to blur background, helping subject stand out.

Moto G9 Play’s camera is basic but capable of taking decent photos with some extra features to enhance low-light and portrait shots.

Specs and Performance

Moto G9 Play features Snapdragon 662 chipset, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. This setup provides smooth performance for everyday use with apps loading a little slower than more expensive phones, but without noticeable lag. It’s an easy phone to use and performs well for its price.

In terms of gaming, it runs titles like Fortnite and PUBG at acceptable frame rates. Asphalt 9 may have some frame drops, but it’s still enjoyable. For heavy gaming you might want a phone with a stronger processor like Snapdragon 7-series.

Battery Life

Moto G9 Play has 5,000mAh battery that lasts well over a day, even with light use. On lighter days, you’ll still have over 40% charge by bedtime. Battery is reliable, and you won’t need to worry about charging it throughout the day.

Additionally, it supports 20W rapid charging, so you won’t need an extra charger to swiftly top up. Nevertheless, as would be expected for a phone at this budget, wireless charging is not available.

Pros and Cons of Moto G9 Play

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
🎵 Good speaker	📱 Some rivals have sharper screens
💸 Low price	🚫 No 5G
🌙 Useful night photography mode	🧳 Plastic build
🎮 Decent gaming performance	🔲 Display not Full HD
🔋 Solid battery life	📸 Camera lacks advanced features
🧑‍💻 Clean software	🎥 Limited video recording options
🎧 Headphone jack	⚡ No wireless charging