Motorola has gained quite a reputation over the last few years for manufacturing some great value for money smartphones, and the company’s G5 Plus is the newest addition to the hugely popular Moto G line-up. For a price tag of just under Rs. 16,000 ($239), you’re getting a device that features a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display and powered by the Snapdragon 625 chip coupled with 4 GB of RAM to handle almost any task with ease. It even features an impressive 12 MP camera with an f/1.7 aperture to take some great low-light photos. Well we have no doubts regarding the capabilities of the Moto G5 Plus, but is it the only option in this price bracket? Certainly not, as you could similar hardware even at a lower price point. So, if you’re on the lookout for other options because of your budget and brand preference, here are the 8 best Moto G5 Plus alternatives you can buy:
1. Lenovo K8 Note
The Lenovo K8 Note is the latest smartphone that Lenovo has to offer for the masses, and it’s nothing short of exceptional in terms of sheer value. The device sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, and it’s powered by the MediaTek Helio X23 deca-core processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, which offers better performance than the Snapdragon 625 on the Moto G5 Plus. Coupled with up to 4 GB of RAM, users don’t have to worry about slowdowns at all, as it’s capable handling almost any task with ease.
Moving on to the camera, the device has a dual 13 MP + 5 MP camera setup with an f/1.7 aperture, which is something that’s missing on the Moto G5 Plus. That being said, the phone is limited to 1080p video recording, which is a bummer considering the fact that the G5 Plus is capable of shooting in 4K. Additionally, the secondary camera is rated at 13 MP that lets you take some very sharp selfies and groupies regardless of the lighting. As far as battery life is concerned, the K8 Note ships with a 4000 mAh battery to make sure the device doesn’t run out of juice in a day under moderate usage.
Buy:
US: (Not Available)
India: (Starts at Rs. 12,999)
Others: (Not Available)
2. ZTE Blade V8 Pro
Next on the list, we’ve got a budget smartphone from a relatively known Chinese manufacturer, ZTE. It’s called the Blade V8 Pro, and it packs similar hardware to the Moto G5 Plus for a slightly lesser price. The device sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display for some great viewing and color reproduction while consuming media. Under the hood, it packs a Snapdragon 625 chip and 3 GB of RAM that’s capable of handling day to day tasks without any slowdowns.
The ZTE Blade V8 Pro sports a dual 13 MP camera setup unlike the Moto G5 Plus that’s capable of shooting 4K videos in addition to taking some impressive stills, so there are no complaints in this department. The secondary camera is rated at 8 MP is which is good enough to take some crisp selfies and groupies with your friends. Lastly, the 3140 mAh battery should be good enough to last you through the day, under moderate usage, so there’s nothing to be concerned here.
Buy:
US: ($229)
India: (Not Available)
Others: ($229)
3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
Popular Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4 is the best selling smartphone in India for a reason, and that’s because of the hardware it packs for the price. Another reason for the sales numbers is because of the MIUI ROM that almost everyone loves. To be honest, it’s hard to match the likes of the Redmi Note 4 in terms of price-to-performance ratio. The device features a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display and is powered by the Snapdragon 625 chip coupled with up to 4 GB of RAM just like the Moto G5 Plus, but at a significantly lower price point. Performance wise, the Redmi Note 4 delivers as it’s able to handle almost every task that you throw at it.
As far as the camera is concerned, the device packs a 13 MP primary camera with an f/2.0 aperture that lets you take some impressive still photos, especially when you take a look at its asking price. The secondary 5 MP camera is decent when it comes to taking selfies and groupies with your friend, but don’t expect crisp quality. Lastly, the 4100 mAh battery on the Redmi Note 4 should be good enough to last you throughout the day even under heavy usage, so we’ve got no complaints in this department. When price is taken to consideration, the Redmi Note 4 manages to outshine the Moto G5 Plus in almost every department except for the camera, and this is exactly why it’s worth every penny that you’re paying for.
Buy:
US: ($175)
India: (Starts at Rs. 10,999)
Others: ($175)
4. Samsung Galaxy On Max
If you’re the person who’s not interesting in purchasing Chinese-branded smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy On Max is definitely worth taking a look at. Samsung is the world’s leading brand when it comes to manufacturing Android smartphones, so we’ve no doubts regarding the quality of this all-metal smartphone. The device sports a 5.7-inch Full HD IPS panel and is powered by the MediaTek Helio P25 processor whose performance is pretty similar to the Snapdragon 625 on the Moto G5 Plus. It also sports 4 GB of RAM, so there are no worries when it comes to multitasking performance.
The Galaxy On Max’s standout feature is its “flagship” 13 MP rear camera with an f/1.7 aperture that lets you take some breathtaking stills even in low-light situations. However, it lacks 4K video recording, a feature that we’ve all seen and loved on the G5 Plus. The secondary camera is rated at 13 MP with an f/1.9 aperture, which manages to do a splendid job in snapping some high resolution selfies with your friends. Lastly, the device packs a 3300 mAh battery that should be good enough to last you through the day under moderate usage.
Buy:
US: (Not Available)
India: (Rs. 16,900)
Others: (Not Available)
5. LG Q6
Prefer beauty over performance? Well, the LG Q6 might just be the smartphone that you’re looking for. The bezel-less trend has reached its peak this year, and if you want to hop on this bandwagon without breaking your bank, the Q6 is worth every penny that you’re paying for. The LG Q6 sports a near bezel-less 18:9 “FullVision” display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels for all the eye candy that you’ll need. Under the hood, the LG Q6 packs a Snapdragon 435 processor coupled with 3 GB of RAM, which is mediocre for the price point, but this phone is clearly not intended for performance-conscious users.
Moving on to the camera, the LG Q6 sports a 13 MP primary camera with an f/2.2 aperture, that lets you take some good stills, but falls short in comparison to the results you get on the G5 Plus. The secondary 5 MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture manages to do a decent job when it comes snapping selfies with your friends. When it comes to battery performance, the 3000 mAh battery on the Q6 is just average, but it can get you through a day under light usage. All in all, this smartphone is all about style rather than substance, so if the near bezel-less design is good enough to get your attention, just go for it without giving a second thought.
Buy:
US: (Coming Soon)
India: (Rs. 14,990)
Others: (Not Available)
6. Huawei Honor 6X
Next on the list, we’ve got a compelling smartphone from Huawei’s online brand, Honor. It’s called the Honor 6X and the smartphone has surely made a benchmark for budget phones when it comes to camera performance. Regardless, the device sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display that offers great viewing angles and visibility in sunlight. Under the hood, it packs Huawei’s own HiSilicon Kirin 655 octa-core processor along with up to 4 GB of RAM, that should be good enough to offer similar levels of performance like the Moto G5 Plus.
Now, speaking about the standout feature of the smartphone, i.e. the camera, the Honor 6X manages to impress us with a dual 12 MP + 2 MP camera setup that lets you take some great stills with shallow depth of field. It’s worth noting that the 2 MP sensor is monochrome, which should let you capture more light and make a noticeable difference in the pictures. The secondary camera is rated at 8 MP that you lets you take some sharp selfies and groupies with your friends. As far as battery performance is concerned, the 3340 mAh battery on this device should be good enough to last you throughout the day under moderate usage.
Buy:
US: ($179.99)
India: (Starts at Rs. 11,999)
Others: ($179.99)
7. Asus Zenfone 3
Asus’ Zenfone line-up has been doing pretty well in the budget segment and the Zenfone 3 is no exception in that regard, as it’s a great value for money smartphone. For starters, it offers similar hardware in comparison to the likes of the Moto G5 Plus. That’s right, the device sports a 5.5-inch “Super IPS+” display that offers some great viewing angles and visibility in sunlight. Under the all-metal chassis, the device packs the Snapdragon 625 processor coupled with 4 GB of RAM, that should be able to handle almost any task that you throw at it, so this not an area that you should be concerned about, at all.
Moving on to the camera, the Zenfone 3 sports a 16 MP primary sensor with an f/2.0 aperture that lets you take some great stills to show off your smartphone photography skills. When it comes to low-light photos, the Zenfone 3’s sensor has the edge over the Moto G5 Plus. It’s capable of recording 4K video just like the G5 Plus, so there’s no gripe from our side. The secondary 8 MP camera does a good job in taking some sharp selfies with your friends. Lastly, the 3000 mAh battery on the Zenfone 3 is average in comparison to the competition, but it can last you through the day if you’re a light user.
Buy:
US: ($309.99)
India: (Rs. 16.876)
Others: ($309.99)
8. Motorola Moto G5S Plus
Last on the list, we’ve got Motorola’s own smartphone that’s considered as an incremental upgrade over the existing Moto G5 Plus. It’s called the G5S Plus and it’s scheduled to be released by the end of this month. In terms of hardware, it’s pretty much the same as the Moto G5 Plus, except for the slightly larger 5.5-inch IPS display on the G5S Plus. The Snapdragon 625 chip along with 4 GB of RAM should be good enough to handle almost any task without breaking a sweat.
The camera department is where you’ll notice the stark difference between the G5 Plus and the G5S Plus. The upgraded smartphone sports a dual 13 MP primary camera with an f/2.0 aperture which is impressive if Motorola’s bold claims are to be gone by. The secondary camera has also been upgraded to 8 MP, in a move to take sharper selfies and groupies with your friends. When it comes to the battery department, there’s no change at all, as the G5S Plus packs the same 3000 mAh battery which is mediocre in comparison to what the competition has to offer at its price point.
Availability: (August)
SEE ALSO: Top 8 Galaxy Note 8 Alternatives You Can Buy
The Best Moto G5 Plus Alternatives You Can Buy
Although Motorola’s Moto G5 Plus is a great smartphone, it’s not the only smartphone that offers value for money in its price bracket. The competition is pretty high in the budget and mid-range segment and plenty of manufacturers have been constantly trying to grab a chunk of the market share by pushing out some impressive smartphones. Depending on your budget and brand preferences, your choices may vary. So, which one of these smartphones are you planning to buy, rather than getting your hands on the G5 Plus? Do let us know, in the comments section down below.
Abubakar Mohammed
