Motorola Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power Announced: Helio G81 Extreme SoC and 50MP Camera
Motorola has once again expanded its popular Moto G series with the introduction of four new smartphones: the Moto G67, Moto G77, Moto G17, and Moto G17 Power. While we’ve covered the Moto G67 and Moto G77 in detail separately, this article will focus on the Moto G17 series, which brings impressive specifications and features tailored for users seeking a balance between performance, battery life, and camera capabilities. The Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power are essentially the same device with slight variations in RAM, storage, battery capacity, and thickness, making them ideal choices for different user needs.
Design and Build Quality
The Motorola Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power feature a sleek and modern design that aligns with Motorola’s current design language. Both devices boast a plastic back panel with a glossy finish, giving them a premium look while maintaining durability. The rear camera module is positioned in the top-left corner, housing the 50MP primary sensor along with additional lenses. The devices are available in multiple color options, including Cosmic Black and Glacier Blue, catering to a wide range of aesthetic preferences.
The Moto G17 Power, being slightly thicker at 8.8mm, accommodates its larger 6,000mAh battery without compromising on ergonomics. The Moto G17, on the other hand, is slimmer and lighter, making it more comfortable for one-handed use. Both models feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button, ensuring quick and secure unlocking.
Display: Immersive Visuals
The Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power are equipped with a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display offers a 20:9 aspect ratio, providing an immersive viewing experience for multimedia consumption, gaming, and browsing. With a peak brightness of 450 nits, the screen remains visible even under direct sunlight, ensuring usability in various lighting conditions.
The display supports a 90Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth scrolling and enhanced responsiveness, particularly noticeable during gaming and navigation. The inclusion of a punch-hole cutout for the front camera maximizes the screen-to-body ratio, offering an edge-to-edge display experience. Whether you’re streaming videos, playing games, or multitasking, the Moto G17 series delivers vibrant and sharp visuals.
Performance: Helio G81 Extreme SoC
Under the hood, both the Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power are powered by the MediaTek Helio G81 Extreme System-on-Chip (SoC). This octa-core processor is built on a 12nm process and features two high-performance Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0GHz and six power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores. The Helio G81 Extreme is designed to handle everyday tasks, multitasking, and light gaming with ease.
The Moto G17 comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, while the Moto G17 Power offers 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Both models support expandable storage via a microSD card slot, allowing users to add up to 1TB of additional space. This makes the Moto G17 series a versatile option for users who require ample storage for apps, photos, videos, and other media.
The inclusion of the Helio G81 Extreme SoC ensures smooth performance across various applications, from social media browsing to casual gaming. While it may not be as powerful as flagship processors, it strikes a balance between performance and efficiency, making it suitable for budget-conscious consumers.
Camera: 50MP Primary Sensor
One of the standout features of the Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power is their camera setup. Both devices are equipped with a 50MP primary sensor, which is capable of capturing detailed and vibrant photos in various lighting conditions. The primary sensor is accompanied by additional lenses, including a 2MP macro lens for close-up shots and a 2MP depth sensor for portrait photography.
The camera app offers a range of features, including Night Vision mode for low-light photography, Pro mode for manual adjustments, and AI scene detection for optimized settings. The 50MP sensor ensures that photos are sharp and detailed, even when zoomed in. For selfie enthusiasts, the devices feature an 8MP front-facing camera housed within the punch-hole cutout, delivering clear and natural-looking selfies.
Video recording capabilities include 1080p video at 30fps, providing decent quality for casual videography. While the camera setup may not rival flagship smartphones, it offers excellent value for its price range, making it a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts on a budget.
Battery Life: Power That Lasts
Battery life is a crucial factor for many smartphone users, and the Moto G17 series excels in this department. The Moto G17 Power is equipped with a massive 6,000mAh battery, ensuring all-day usage even for heavy users. The Moto G17, on the other hand, features a slightly smaller 5,000mAh battery, which still provides impressive endurance.
Both models support fast charging, with the Moto G17 Power offering 30W charging speeds. This means you can quickly top up your battery and get back to using your device without long downtime. The combination of large battery capacity and efficient power management ensures that the Moto G17 series can handle intensive tasks, gaming, and multimedia consumption without frequent recharging.
Software and Features
The Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power run on Android 13 out of the box, offering a near-stock Android experience with Motorola’s thoughtful customizations. The software is clean and bloatware-free, ensuring a smooth and intuitive user experience. Motorola has committed to providing regular security updates and at least one major Android version upgrade, ensuring that the devices remain secure and up-to-date.
Key software features include Moto Actions, which allows users to perform gestures for quick access to functions, such as chopping the phone twice to turn on the flashlight or twisting the phone to launch the camera. The devices also support Moto Display, which provides quick notifications and ambient display functionality.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Moto G17 series supports a wide range of connectivity options, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. The devices also feature a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio connectivity. Dual SIM support is available, allowing users to manage two phone numbers on a single device.
Additional features include a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for secure unlocking, face unlock for added convenience, and stereo speakers for an enhanced audio experience. The devices are also equipped with a water-repellent design, offering protection against accidental spills and light rain.
Pricing and Availability
The Motorola Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power are positioned as affordable smartphones, offering excellent value for their price. The Moto G17 is expected to be priced around $199, while the Moto G17 Power will likely be available for approximately $249. These competitive price points make the Moto G17 series an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers seeking a feature-rich smartphone.
The devices are expected to be available in select markets, including Europe, Latin America, and Asia, with availability details to be announced by Motorola. Given their impressive specifications and affordable pricing, the Moto G17 series is poised to be a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone segment.
Conclusion
The Motorola Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power are compelling additions to the Moto G series, offering a blend of performance, battery life, and camera capabilities at an affordable price. With their Helio G81 Extreme SoC, 50MP primary camera, and large battery capacities, these devices cater to a wide range of users, from casual smartphone users to photography enthusiasts.
While they may not boast the latest cutting-edge features found in flagship smartphones, the Moto G17 series delivers excellent value for money, making them a worthy consideration for anyone in the market for a reliable and feature-packed smartphone. Whether you prioritize battery life, camera performance, or overall usability, the Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power are sure to meet your needs without breaking the bank.