Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus are the latest updates to Moto's entry-level Android smartphone range, updating the Moto G5, and G5 Plus. As each new model has been introduced, the features and quality of the phone has increased, with the Moto G5S Plus featuring a dual-camera on the back, making it one of the most affordable smartphones with a dual-camera, but also one of the most expensive Moto G smartphones yet priced at £259.
Moto G5S Plus Features
The 5th generation of the Moto G, started with the G5 and Moto G5 Plus, following these, the G5S and G5S Plus were released as "Special Editions" of the G5. Here we go over the main differences between the smartphones.
| Moto G5 | Moto G5S | Moto G5S Plus | Moto G5 Plus |
| 13mp f/2.0 | 16mp f/2.0 | Dual 13mp f/2.0 | 12mp f/1.7 |
| 5mp f/2.2 selfie | 5mp f/2.0 selfie | 8mp f/2.0 selfie (with LED) | 5mp f/2.2 selfie |
| 5inch screen (1080p) | 5.2inch screen (1080p) | 5.5inch screen (1080p) | 5.2inch screen (1080p) |
| FullHD video | FullHD video | 4K video | 4K video |
| Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor |
| LED flash | LED flash | Dual LED flash | Dual LED flash |
| 16GB | 32GB storage | 32GB | 32GB storage |
The G5S Plus is the first dual-camera smartphone in the Moto G range, and features dual 13mp f/2.0 cameras on the back, for a blurred background effect. You can also select the area you want to keep in focus. The selfie camera has been upgraded to an 8mp f/2.0 camera, with an LED flash built-in. You can shoot a panoramic selfie-shot which will get more of the background in the shot.
The G5S Plus will record 4K (UHD) video at 30fps, and there are options to record slow-motion video. Video stabilisation is switched on automatically and is most effective when recording FullHD video at 30fps. You can also record FullHD video at 60fps.
The G5S Plus has a new, all-metal design, and no longer has a removable battery. This should give it additional strength should it be needed.
The fingerprint sensor can be used as a home key, as well as a back button if you swipe left. Swipe right to access recent apps. You can use it to unlock the phone as well.
The phone comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB Storage, which should be plenty. There's a MicroSD slot if you want to add more.
The Moto G5 series is said to be "water repellent" which means that it's not waterproof, so you should avoid water if possible. The Moto G3 was actually water resistant, which was nice. The phone is running Android v7.0 and the pre-installed software is limited to some of the more essential apps. This gives you more space for your own apps and makes the phone responsive in use.
Key Features
- Dual 13mp camera sensors
- f/2.0 aperture
- Dual LED flash
- 8mp f/2.0 selfie camera, with LED flash
- 5.5inch screen, 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass 3
- Auto HDR shooting
- 4K video, 30fps
- ISO100 to ISO3200
- MicroSD card slot
- Fingerprint sensor
- 3000mAh battery
- 3GB / 32GB (or 4GB / 64GB options in some locations)
- Available in "Lunar" grey or "Blush" gold
Moto G5S Plus Handling
The metal construction gives the smartphone a solid feel, and it is much more reassuring than a plastic or glass phone, feeling much stronger than some of these alternatives available. The metal body will be seen as an upgrade from the G5, which had a plastic cover on the back, but it has resulted in the phone no longer featuring a removable battery.
The fingerprint sensor is at the bottom and this can be used to unlock the phone once you've registered your fingerprint(s) with it. It also doubles as a home button, with left and right swiping letting you control the phone, most of the time, but not in every app.
On the side is the usual unlock / power buttons, and volume controls. The power / unlock button has a texture making it easier to find. There's a headphone socket on the top, and a MicroUSB socket at the bottom (not type-C).
The phone feels reasonably quick in use, with an AnTuTu Benchmark score of 63646, and a Geekbench score of: 846 (single-core), and 4277 (multi-core) putting it in the middle of the pack. The phone runs Android 7.1.1. and supports split screen apps so that you can view two different apps at the same time.
The 5.5inch screen has a resolution of 1920x1080 (FullHD), the screen is bright, and viewing it outdoors in bright light was quite good compared to other smartphones we had. In comparison, the Huawei Mate10 Pro seemed too "cold" with a blue tone, and the Samsung Galaxy S8 a little bit duller.
You can use the touchscreen to set the focus point, and pressing the photo button on the right-hand side will bring up the shooting modes, which includes:
- Professional mode
- Slow motion
- Panorama
- Video
- Photo
The Professional mode lets you manually adjust a number of different settings including metering, white balance, self-timer, ISO, and exposure compensation. You need to access the Professional mode to access full camera settings. Otherwise, the photo app is quite basic but does give access to auto HDR which will help give better dynamic range in tricky situations.
You can also quickly access the camera when the phone is locked by shaking or twisting the phone in your hand. The camera has quick shooting and is able to take a photo quickly after being unlocked.
Battery life - Battery life is rated at 3000mAh which is quite good for an entry-level smartphone. As the battery can’t be removed, you’ll need to take a USB charger if you think you're going to run out of power.
Moto G5S Plus Performance
The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
Motorola Moto G5S Plus Sample Photos
Sample Photos - The camera gives photos with bright colours and good levels of saturation and contrast. Noise is visible when viewing images at 100%, even when shooting at the lowest ISO speed available (ISO100). Auto HDR in normal shooting mode means that images are captured with increased dynamic range, however, dynamic range captured by the camera wasn’t as impressive as the Honor 9, which uses its dual cameras to capture more light.
Detail is reasonable, even into the corners of the frame, although images do appear to be overprocessed, which can give the impression of soft and "painterly" images, particularly if viewing them at 100%. There is very little distortion visible in images when shooting subjects with straight edges.
Motorola Moto G5S Plus ISO test images
ISO Noise Performance - Despite manually selecting the ISO speed, the camera didn't always give us exactly the same speed. Noise is well controlled up to ISO1600, although noise saturation starts to drop off at ISO800. Using the lowest ISO settings is recommended where possible, and noise reduction seems overly strong at all ISO speeds, reducing detail, and producing images that look a bit like a water painting when viewed at 100%.
Motorola Moto G5S Plus White-balance test images
White Balance Performance - Auto White Balance (AWB) performs well under tungsten lighting with a warm result. When using the tungsten preset, the result is much more neutral. AWB performs well under fluorescent lighting, and the preset isn't needed here. If you do use the preset, then the results are good. Results under mixed lighting are also good.
Digital Filters - There are no effects or filters available in the default camera app at the time of taking the photo, however, you can apply effects to images after you've taken them, or use any other app to take photos.
Video - The camera records 4K video at 30fps, FullHD video at 60/30fps. There's also a high-speed video option, that records at 120fps, at a reduced resolution of 1280x720. You can use the LED light on the back during video recording. The video playback features an option to stabilise the video, with reasonable, but quite artificial results. Electronic video stabilisation is available when recording FullHD video, and crops into the image quite noticeably. It can be fairly effective depending on how you move the camera. Your results may vary, depending on how steady you can hold the smartphone.
Value For Money
The Moto G5S Plus is available for £259 making it one of the cheapest smartphones available with dual cameras. Alternatives to look at include the following:
With colour and black and white cameras:
Honor 8, 5.2inch screen, £346 - Dual 12mp Colour and black and white
Honor 9, 5.15inch screen, £386 - 12mp colour and 20mp black and white
Nokia 8, 5.3inch screen, £499 - Dual 13mp cameras, one colour, one black and white
Huawei Mate10 Pro, 6inch screen, £699 - 12mp colour and 20mp black and white
With different focal lengths:
LG G5, 5.3inch screen, £284 - 8mp ultra-wide and 16mp wide-angle cameras
LG G6, 5.7inch screen, £410 - Dual 13mp ultra-wide and wide-angle cameras
iPhone 7 Plus, 5.5inch screen, £669 - Dual 12mp, wide-angle and telephoto
iPhone 8 Plus, 5.5inch screen, £799 - Dual 12mp, wide-angle and telephoto
Have a look at more smartphones in Best Budget Smartphones for Photography. You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
Moto G5S Plus Verdict
Dual cameras have been used on smartphones to enable different lenses, for example, an ultra-wide angle lens and wide-angle lens on the LG G5 / G6, or a wide-angle and a telephoto lens, on the iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus, or dual cameras with different sensors, such as a colour and black and white sensor on the Huawei Mate10 Pro, and Honor 9 to enable better detail or true black and white photography.
However, on the Moto G5S Plus, both cameras are the same, so that the only benefit is the ability to create "bokeh" or blurred background type photos. This is something some smartphones achieve using software alone, so isn't particularly exceptional, however, we probably shouldn't complain too much, as the Moto G5S Plus is one of the cheapest dual camera smartphones available.
Unfortunately, despite paying around £100 more for the G5S Plus, the images aren't significantly better than those from the Moto G5. The fingerprint sensor can be used as a home button some of the time, but it feels like Motorola hasn't told all of the apps, so you still have to use the on-screen home/buttons at times. This makes it quite frustrating, and you may as well just use the on-screen controls all the time to avoid the awkwardness.
There's an improved selfie camera, with an 8mp front-facing camera, and an equally bright f/2.0 aperture. Also quite unique, is a front-facing LED flash for selfies in low-light. But beyond this, we can't see much benefit in this model, over the G5 Plus.