Motorola Moto G53 review

introduction

The Motorola Moto G53 5G is part of the company’s revamped mid-range portfolio. The main novelty it brings to the table is 5G connectivity. While the G53 offers solid specs, adding 5G appears to have been costly.

Compared to its predecessor, the Moto G52, the G53 is equipped with a Snapdragon 4xx-class chipset, specifically the Snapdragon 480+, while the G52 sports a Snapdragon 680. There have also been some display downgrades. The G53 replaces the G52’s FullHD+ OLED panel with an IPS HD+ LCD. At least on the plus side, the refresh rate has gone from 90Hz to 120Hz on the G53.

The specifications of the Motorola Moto G53 at a glance:

• Body: 162.7×74.7×8.2mm, 183g; Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame; Water resistant design.
• Screen: 6.50″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 720x1600px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 270ppi.
• chipsets: Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8nm): Octa-core (2×2.2GHz Kryo 460 and 6×1.8GHz Kryo 460); Adreno 619.
• Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (uses a shared SIM slot).
• Operating system/software: Android 13.
• Rear camera: Broad (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, PDAF; Macros: 2MP, f/2.4.
• Front camera: Broad (main): 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4″, 1.12µm; o Broad (main): 16MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Drums: 5000mAh; Wired 18W (China, LATAM), wired 10W (International), reverse wired.
• Various: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); FM Radio (depending on market/region); 3.5mm jack; stereo speakers.

The rear cameras are also different. The 50MP main camera uses a smaller sensor with 0.64µm pixels (1.28µm with binning). As you might expect, the camera is limited to capturing 1080p video (at just 30fps, not 60fps like the G73). Also, there is a simple 2MP macro cam instead of an ultra wide angle camera.

Probably the most inexplicable downgrade of all, however, involves charging. Just like its predecessor, the G53 is equipped with a powerful 5,000mAh battery. Unlike it, however, the G53 only supports 10W charging in the international model and 18W in China and Latin America.

Despite these shortcomings compared to its predecessor, the Moto G53 still deserves a chance to impress us in practice. Join us on the following pages as we dig deeper.

Unpacking

The Moto G53 ships in a two-piece box made of cardboard and colored in a natural-looking cardboard brown. Motorola has been starting this recyclable packaging initiative for some time now. Even the minimal printing on the box is done with soy ink.

Inside, despite the lack of plastic, there’s still a cradle to protect your phone and a couple of compartments on the lower tier.

The G53 comes with a charger in the box. Also, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable. That sums up the accessory pack. There is no case or anything like that.