The Motot G5 Plus Is Premium

Not content with launching the best budget phone money can buy in the Moto G5, Motorola has also unveiled a G5 Plus version: a marginally larger, more powerful, svelter (and pricier) phone that's touching on mid-level ground at its £259 price point.

With the earlier Moto G4 Plus model we were left feeling a little confused about exactly who it was for. It came with a fingerprint scanner but no NFC (so no mobile payments), its 5.5-inch scale felt mammoth for a device that wasn't, ultimately, that much better than the standard Moto G4.

The G5 Plus leaves us feeling entirely different. This 5.2-inch device is only slightly bigger than its G5 brother, it comes with a much more sophisticated pill-shaped front-based fingerprint scanner, while bringing a design language that looks a lot higher-end than the price point might suggest. And it adds NFC, making that fingerprint scanner much more useful.

Of the two fifth-generation Moto Gs, this is the one to go for if you've got a little extra cash. And with the likes of the OnePlus 3T now commanding a £399 asking price, the £140 saving to be found in this Moto will make a lot of sense for those seeking to buy a handset outright without breaking the bank.

The Moto G5 Plus is a really interesting prospect. When once the mid-range market was awash with so-so phones, this near-£250 device sets out a strong stall of specs and style, in a category where many of the previous front runners are now up and away at the £400 price point. It clears the decks somewhat, leaving Motorola to take advantage.

As such the G5 Plus seems to flip around what the G4 Plus was all about. This new Moto feels like a phone with purpose, built for an audience that actually exists for such a device. From the camera performance to the overall design, if you’re not in the phone market seeking an over-powered processor in your device then this lil beauty ought to have everything sewn up.

The Moto G5 Plus will be available from late spring (end-of-April to early May anticipated) in fine gold and lunar grey finishes, priced £259. It’s currently only due to be stocked in Carphone Warehouse in the UK.