Introduction :

The Motorola Moto G53 5G is a member of the brand-new mid-ranger lineup. The primary innovation it offers is 5G communication. Although the G53 has good specifications, adding 5G seems to have been an expensive addition.

The Moto G53 is equipped with a Snapdragon 4xx class processor, specifically the Snapdragon 480+, as opposed to the Moto G52’s Snapdragon 680. There have also been some monitor upgrades. The FullHD+ OLED screen of the G52 is replaced with an HD+ IPS LCD one in the G53. On the positive side, the G53’s refresh rate has increased from 90Hz to 120Hz.

Quick facts about the Motorola Moto G53 :

Body: 162.7×74.7×8.2mm, 183g; Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame; Water-resistant design.
Display: 6.50″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 720x1600px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 270ppi.
Chipset: Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm): Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6×1.8 GHz Kryo 460); Adreno 619.
Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
OS/Software: Android 13.
Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, PDAF; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.
Front camera: Wide (main): 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4″, 1.12µm; or Wide (main): 16 MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm.
Video capture: Rear camera: [email protected]; Front camera: [email protected].
Battery: 5000mAh; 18W wired (China, LATAM), 10W wired (International), Reverse wired.
Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); FM radio (market/region dependent); 3.5mm jack; stereo speakers.

Design :

The Moto G53’s aesthetic is best characterized as simple, unobtrusive, and respectful. It’s the kind of phone that will fit in perfectly in any setting. This is partially because of the color scheme. You can purchase the phone in Ink Blue, Arctic Silver, or Pale Pink. The hues are all very subdued.

The Moto G53 strikes a nice balance between a boxy overall look and subtle curvature for in-hand comfort. The middle frame, for instance, is pretty flat along its straights and then curvy around the edges.

Although the rear of the G53 is flat, the edges do have a chamfer. One that the chamfers on the center frame meet, which is undoubtedly a unique appearance. The camera island has rounded corners and a chamfer, but it also has a fairly boxy appearance.

The G53’s front is nearly completely flat. The device’s complete perimeter is surrounded by a black “ring” that is created by the display bezels that extend downward.

The front display assembly, the flat back screen, and the middle frame that sits in the midsection make up the G53’s construction.

Build quality :

The phone has almost no movement and feels very sturdy. Additionally, there is no hollowness on the back of the gadget, which you might find on cheaper models.

The middle frame and back of the G53 are both composed of plastic. However, the rear successfully mimics frosted glass, and the frame appears to be made of metal. Both surfaces don’t hold on to much dirt or grease and are fairly simple to maintain clean.

Although we are unsure of the precise type of glass used or how resistant it will be to drops and scratches, the front of the G53 is covered in glass.

Speaking of resistance, the G53 has an interior nano-coating that is unique to Motorola and a water-resistant construction. However, there is no recognized ingress protection grade.

Connectivity :

The inclusion of 5G connectivity in the Moto G53, as we previously stated, is one of its advantages over the Moto G53. It is provided by the X51 5G/LTE modem built into the processor. It ought to enable theoretical maximum download speeds of up to Cat 15 (800 Mbps) on LTE and 2.5 Gbps on 5G.

For local networking, the G53 and its Snapdragon 480+ processor provide dual-band Wi-Fi ac and Bluetooth 5.1 with LE. NFC, BDS compatibility, GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo are additional features. However, the latter is based on the industry. There is a 3.5mm audio port but no FM radio.

The G53’s Type-C port has USB Host (OTG) capability but is only wired for USB 2.0 data connectivity (up to 480 Mbps). Although Motorola does not promote the G53 as being “ready for” its “ready for” platform, we still tested it and found that there is no video output from the Type-C port.

There are numerous devices inside the G53. There is a magnetometer and compass combination (MEMSIC mmc56x3x), a light and proximity sensor combo (BOSCH bmi3x0), and an accelerometer and gyroscope combo (BOSCH bmi3x0). (AMS AG tmd2755). There isn’t a gauge on the ship.

A convenient IPS display :

A 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen is included with the Moto G53. The G52, its predecessor, has a 6.6-inch FullHD+ OLED touchscreen available. So, it’s quite a clear decline. The monitor can now refresh at 120Hz instead of 90Hz, which is the only bright spot.

Although the G53’s display performance isn’t exceptional, it is adequate given its price. On the slider, we were able to test the brightness at 489 nits, with a maximum auto boost of 599 nits in bright outdoor circumstances. Neither number is particularly remarkable. When using the G53 outside in the heat, we did have some difficulty.

“Saturated” and “Natural” are the two color options available on the Moto G53. The sRGB color space is what the default saturated mode tries to encompass. Although its color tone is a little too cool for our tastes, the included temperature slider can be used to adjust it.

High refresh rate :

The Moto G53 has a 120Hz display, as was already stated. There are three refresh rate choices available in its settings: 60Hz, 120Hz, and Auto. The first two are very simple; all that is required is that the phone be tuned to a static 60Hz or 120Hz frequency.

However, the G53 offers additional refresh rate settings in addition to 60Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz. In actuality, those frequencies are 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. As with other Motorola phones, there is no 48Hz option. With a highly responsive and content-aware system in place, auto refresh rate mode fulfills its promise of AI-driven automatic refresh rate swapping.

In reality, what occurs is that the OS keeps an eye on what is displayed right now. When it detects movement, it decides whether it needs a boost up to 90Hz or higher to 120Hz, and then responds appropriately. In our experience, the technology performs remarkably well.

Here is a brief demonstration of how effectively Auto refresh rate mode recognizes things like the BlurBusters UFO test in a browser and then a video playing in both a local player and YouTube and switches to the ideal refresh rate on the move.

When it came to high refresh rate gaming, automatic refresh rate setting wasn’t entirely dependable. We tested a few games that we knew could render at frame rates higher than 60, and while the Moto G53 occasionally activated its 120Hz option to do so, other times it operated at 60Hz.

Auto-playing games: evaluation of the Motorola Moto G53 Auto-playing games: evaluation of the Motorola Moto G53 Auto-playing games: evaluation of the Motorola Moto G53

Battery life :

A sizable 5,000 mAh battery powers the Moto G53. Additionally, the Snapdragon 480+ has previously shown itself to be a very effective processor. The Moto G53 performs admirably in this regard as well, earning a superb endurance rating of 123 hours in our in-house evaluation. This matches other Snapdragon 480+ smartphones like the Moto G51 and Moto G62 perfectly.

The Moto G53 performs especially well in evaluations of off-screen networks. Additionally, the Snapdragon 480+’s built-in X51 5G/LTE modem is showing to be quite effective.

Charging speed :

There is no need to mince words—the Moto G53 charges slowly. terribly so. Since Motorola decided to stop supporting TurboPower charging, we have no clue why. The G52, which it replaced, has 30W charging. This function is present on even the cheaper Moto G23. Unfortunately, the G53 is limited to base 10W charging, so we must deduct some significant points.

Basic is what we really mean when we state it. The Moto G53’s included charger is designed for a [email protected] output. As basic as USB power goes, that is. With the aid of that, we were able to take the G53 from completely lifeless to just 12% in 15 minutes and 22% in 30. We took a staggering 2:35 hours to charge fully.

Speakers :

One channel is handled by a specialized bottom-firing speaker on the Moto G53, and the other is handled by an amplified earpiece. This is a fairly typical approach.

This characteristic makes the speakers on the G53 less than perfectly balanced, but on the plus side, they can get fairly loud. However, there is a lot of distortion at high volumes, particularly from the top speaker/earpiece, so that is both a pro and a con. You can be guaranteed that your phone will always ring, at the very least.

The Moto G53 has a dedicated bottom-firing speaker for one channel, and an amplified earpiece for the other. This method is pretty typical.

The speakers on the G53 are less than perfectly balanced as a result of this feature, but on the positive side, they have a respectable volume range. The top speaker/earpiece in particular exhibits significant distortion at high volumes, which is both a pro and a negative. At the very least, you can count on your phone to sound constantly.

new Android 13 :

The Moto G53 runs a very streamlined, almost AOSP-looking version of Android 13 with only a few Moto modifications on top because it is a Motorola phone. We continue to think that this uncluttered appearance is a selling point that applies to all Moto products.

Recent AOSP versions have large, bubbly buttons—four on the first draw, up to eight on the second—and a full-screen notification shade that make the Quick Settings and notification shade stand out.

I’ll move on to apps, which got a makeover with Android 12. For widgets of various sizes, the widget picker provides responsive samples. By integrating with the Material You theming engine, the new API enables dynamic coloring, enabling widgets to adjust to the wallpaper.

Although it’s hidden behind a slightly modified Moto-specific theming engine, the Material You auto-theming function is still present. Accent colors depending on your wallpaper are still available, and they will be applied to Google applications and the settings menu. You can obtain a variety of dynamic wallpapers from Motorola’s separate Interactive wallpapers program.

Personalization is the first area; it is here that OS-native auto-theming found a permanent home. In addition to Google’s own wallpapers, there is a large selection of Moto wallpapers available. You can also use AI to make your own wallpaper using images from your gallery.

The motions follow. You’ve probably already noticed Moto’s karate cut motion for turning on and off the flashlight, as well as his twisting motion for opening the camera app. Both continue to function when the gadget is locked.

With face unlock, the lift-to-unlock gesture works well because the device unlocks as soon as you pick it up and glance at the screen. There is also a swipe-to-split feature that launches split-screen productivity. Double-tapping the phone’s back will perform a custom move as well.

Performance :

The Snapdragon 480+ processor powers the Moto G53 5G device. The Snapdragon 480+ is an improved version of the Snapdragon 480, which debuted in 2021 as the Snapdragon 4xx series’ first chip to enable 5G connectivity. With eight Kryo 460 Silver (Cortex-A55) and two Kryo 460 Gold (Cortex-A76) CPU cores each operating at up to 2.2 GHz, the Snapdragon 480+ is constructed using an 8nm LPP technology. On board are an X51 internal 5G/LTE modem and an Adreno 619 GPU. LPDDR4X RAM can be combined with the Snapdragon 480+ up to 8GB. 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage are features of our test model.

common dual camera setup :

Another place where Motorola made a downgrade from the Moto G52 was the camera setup. The phone’s ultrawide camera is no longer present. The Moto G53’s only rear cameras are a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP macro camera.

The primary camera uses a Tetracell-filtered 50MP Samsung ISOCELL S5KJN1 1/2.76″ sensor with 0.64 m pixels. It has PDAF and is mounted behind an f/1.8 lens, but nothing more elaborate like OIS. A 2MP OmniVision OV02B10 camera is the additional one on the rear. The sensor is 1/5″ and has 1.75 m pixels. This camera only has fixed focus and has an f/2.4 lens.

Last but not least, the Moto G53 has a face camera that is either an 8MP, f/2.0, or a 16MP, f/2.2. The former in our model has an 8MP Samsung ISOCELL 4H7 sensor. (S5K4H7). It has 1.12 m individual pixels and a 1/4″ optical size. In a picture, autofocus is absent.

The Motorola camera software is your standard fare. The camera settings are organized in a carousel formation that can be customized. The less frequently used shooting modes are found in the hamburger menu at the right end of the carousel.

Pro mode, which is compatible with both rear cameras, offers you complete power over the camera’s settings, including white balance, ISO, autofocus, shutter speed, and exposure compensation. Even a graph is present.

Selfies :

The 8MP face camera performs admirably. Plenty of detail is present, but finer skin structure is lost in the process. Although skin tones aren’t precisely natural, colors look nice. Once more, the focal plane is fairly broad and accommodating.

Selfie portraits also appear great. Although not always accurate, subject separation and detection are almost always precise, and the background blur is of exceptional quality.

Our opinion :

The Moto G53 5G is not an especially thrilling gadget. With features like stereo speakers, a sturdy construction, a 120Hz refresh rate with excellent management, and a sizable battery with long battery life, it provides a respectable overall product. Its streamlined Android 13 OS is quick and packed with a ton of helpful but unobtrusive Moto extras. We are confident that the phone will meet the needs of less demanding consumers.

There is no sense in wasting time trying to hide the fact that the Moto G53 5G is not a particularly good deal at the moment. For whatever reason, Motorola merely chose to significantly reduce the G5X line’s features in order to support 5G connectivity. We only need to compare the G53 to its G52 predecessor to see some of these significant shortcomings, such as the use of a rather unimpressive 720p LCD screen rather than a 1080p OLED panel, the absence of an ultrawide camera, and the Snapdragon 480+ chipset’s subpar performance. Some reductions are outright puzzling, such as the choice to switch from 30W fast charging to basic 10W charging in 2023, which is practically nonexistent even at this price point.

As we already stated, the Moto G53 can be perfectly adequate for a less demanding user, especially if your carrier offers you a good contract deal. The retail price sticker, however, may cause us to continue searching since better phones are frequently available.