Price and specifications of Motorola Moto G5S Plus advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Network and Connectivity

The Motorola Moto G5S Plus supports a wide range of network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring compatibility with most carriers around the globe. The device supports 2G, 3G, and 4G bands with a notable range: from GSM 850 to LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 5 among others. It also supports HSPA with speeds up to 42.2/5.76 Mbps and LTE Cat7 with speeds of 300/150 Mbps.

Launch and Availability

Announced in August 2017, the Moto G5S Plus was made available immediately upon release. It marked another stride for Motorola in the budget smartphone market, capitalizing on its reputation for offering reliable performance at an affordable price.

Design and Build

The Moto G5S Plus boasts a sturdy construction with a glass front protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and an aluminum back and frame, which not only gives it a premium feel but also enhances its durability. Its dimensions of 153.5 x 76.2 x 8 mm and weight of 168 g make it relatively sleek and manageable for single-handed usage. The device also offers Single SIM and Hybrid Dual SIM models, catering flexibility for users’ needs.

Display Features

It features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD screen with a full HD resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, ensuring vibrant visual output with a pixel density of approximately 401 ppi. The screen-to-body ratio of around 71.3% offers a decent viewing area for media consumption and gameplay, safeguarded by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for added resilience against scratches and minor impacts.

Platform and Performance

Under the hood, the Moto G5S Plus is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 chipset, built on the 14 nm process. This is paired with an octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and an Adreno 506 GPU, providing ample performance for daily tasks and moderate gaming. The phone initially runs on Android 7.1 Nougat with the possibility of an upgrade to Android 8.1 Oreo, enhancing user experience with newer features and security updates.

Memory and Storage

The device is equipped with two variants of internal storage: 32GB with 3GB RAM and 64GB with 4GB RAM, allowing users to choose based on their usage demands. Additionally, the microSDXC card slot allows storage expansion, utilizing the shared SIM slot for added versatility.

Camera Capabilities

The Moto G5S Plus sports a dual main camera setup with two 13 MP lenses. The primary lens has an aperture of f/2.0, facilitating decent low-light photography. The camera supports features like dual-LED dual-tone flash and panorama shots. It also records video in multiple resolutions, including 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, supported by gyro-EIS to smooth out handshakes.

Front Camera

On the front, there's an 8 MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture, capable of rendering bright selfies thanks to the accompanying LED flash. Video recording on the front-facing camera is available in 1080p at 30fps and 480p at 120fps, giving users dynamic options for capturing selfies and video calls.

Audio and Multimedia

The phone comes with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, catering to traditional wired audio preferences alongside its wireless capabilities. For prolonged multimedia consumption, the device offers an endurance rating of 81 hours.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with dual-band and Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP, LE, EDR, and aptX support. Positioning is handled by GPS and GLONASS, ensuring accurate navigation, and in certain markets, NFC is supported for easy pairing and mobile payments. The USB connectivity for the G5S Plus is based on microUSB 2.0 integration.

Battery and Charging

Fueling the Moto G5S Plus is a non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery, which supports 15W fast charging. This ensures users can quickly top up their devices to full power in less time.

Sensors and Additional Features

For additional functionality, the device is packed with a range of sensors including a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, and proximity sensor. These facilitate enhanced security and intuitive operation for the user.

Market Variants and Price

The Moto G5S Plus is available in colors like Lunar Gray and Fine Gold. It was launched with several model numbers such as XT1803, XT1805, and others, to cater to different regional requirements. Upon its release, the phone was priced around 160 EUR, aligning well with its feature set and providing value for money.

Durability and Tests

Performance tests reflect satisfactory results with GeekBench scores around 4331 (v4.4) and GFXBench results of 3.8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen), showcasing decent performance metrics for its class. Display contrast ratios at 1354:1 (nominal) and 2.736 (sunlight) indicate clear visibility in various lighting conditions, supported by substantial audio levels for voice, noise, and ringing scenarios.