Whiplash

Now I know you have two questions. Yes, you read the title correctly, and no, you haven’t been warped back in time 20 years. Motorola cellphones are still a thing with the Moto G series.

Motorola’s latest budget bangers have landed in NZ, and I’ve been putting them through their paces. Here’s the honest rundown.

Out of the box

First impressions of the Moto G05? It’s a fairly big unit, a 6.7-inch screen, lighter than I expected a phone this size to be and a vegan leather back which makes it look and feel like it’s a phone that you would think cost a bit more than a night out in Auckland. No charger in the box, just the USB-C cable.

Now checking out the Moto G15, you can tell it’s the cooler, better-looking sibling. Same big 6.7-inch size, but after turning it on, now you’re getting a Full HD+ display. Looks more crisp and vibrant. Still plastic, still that vegan leather back, but it feels good and looks the part.

Specs and Features

Pros and Cons on the difference

Moto G05 – The Budget Battler

Pros:

• Cheapest of the bunch ($177.00 NZD @ time of review) – leaves you more cash for a pie and a V on the way home.

• Battery goes all day and then some – you’ll forget where your charger is.

• NFC for tap-and-go at the dairy – rare at this price.

• Bluetooth 5.0

• Dual-band Wi-Fi

• Clean Android OS, no annoying bloatware.

• Feels decent in the hand, looks better than you’d expect for the price.

• Still got a headphone jack and stereo speakers for the old-school tunes.

• Side button fingerprint scanner

Cons:

• That 720p screen is a bit fuzzy – like watching TV through your nan’s glasses.

• Only 64GB storage – go grab yourself a microSD card.

• Camera is strictly “it’ll do” – don’t expect Insta glory.

• No 5G, and the processor is strictly for the basics.

• Two years of security updates, no Android upgrades – not the phone for the long haul.

Moto G15 – The Budget Boss

Pros:

• Full HD+ display – finally, TikToks and YouTube look crisp.

• Double the storage (128GB) – more room for memes and fun selfies like Nic takes.

• Extra ultrawide camera – handy for group shots or those Coromandel landscapes.

• Same monster battery, same NFC, same Bluetooth, same Wi-Fi, same clean Android OS.

• Still got all the practical bits: headphone jack, side button scanner, stereo speakers, splash resistance.

Cons:

• Costs a bit more ($229.00 NZD @ time of review) – might not get a pie and a V on the way home every day.

• Same processor and RAM as the G05 – not any faster, just fancier.

• Still no 5G, and still only two years of security updates.

• No charger in the box – you’ll need to borrow one from your mate.

My Verdict

Both these Motos are built for value, not flash. The G05 is the ultimate “just works” phone, while the G15 is for those who want a little bit more without breaking the bank. That Full HD+ screen and extra storage make a real difference day-to-day. Neither of them are built to be a gaming phone, they’re too slow for it, even just your regular gaming apps. You will notice the slower response in everything compared to the more premium phones. For everyday Kiwi life – calls, texts, socials, and a bit of video streaming – I don’t think you’ll go wrong. The lack of long-term updates is a shame, but for the money, it’s hard to beat.

I think the Moto G05 and G15 would be great gateway smartphones for teenagers, you might get mad if they lose their phone. The phones do come with a 24-month warranty so maybe that will give you parents some peace of mind. When you compare them with iPhones or Samsung Galaxies, again, they’re not too expensive. Sure, they phones are not powerhouses, but for teens who need a reliable device, both models hit that sweet spot of meeting the needs of teens who will probably mostly use it for, pictures, messaging, music, and social media.

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Hayden Biddick

Empire gamer, 2IC Tech Cave dweller, esports fanatic and part time movie goer/reviewer

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