Motorola Moto G06 Power: A Budget Contender
The Motorola Moto G06 Power effectively meets its design goals, providing essential smartphone functions, basic photography capabilities, and support for less demanding mobile games. Performance can be inconsistent, with noticeable stuttering, and the 720p display resolution is a significant limitation. However, its impressive 7,000mAh battery and respectable design offer considerable value for its price.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable price point
- Exceptional battery life
- Pleasing design aesthetics
Cons:
- Subpar performance
- Unremarkable display and resolution
- Lacks 5G and Wi-Fi 6 support
Motorola Moto G06 Power: Quick Overview
For individuals seeking a highly affordable smartphone capable of handling fundamental tasks, the Motorola Moto G06 Power is a strong candidate. Priced at just £89, this budget device facilitates core functions such as phone calls, WhatsApp messaging, and web browsing.
Naturally, this low price point comes with certain trade-offs. Performance is often sluggish, with frequent stuttering, particularly during more intensive operations. The display’s 720p resolution means that streaming movies and YouTube videos will not offer the highest visual quality.
Despite occasional delays, essential tasks remain manageable, similar to the experience on many other Motorola phones. The familiar and user-friendly Android 15 operating system, combined with Motorola’s straightforward Hello UI, ensures ease of use.
The G06 Power also includes camera capabilities, featuring a main camera that produces 12.5MP photos and an 8MP selfie camera. While not top-tier, these cameras can capture reasonably clear images in adequate lighting and support video calls effectively.
A recurring theme with this phone is the necessity to compromise on quality due to its budget price. For instance, it lacks 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, limiting access to faster network speeds. The IP64 waterproof rating offers only basic splash protection, and the integrated speakers deliver unrefined audio.
However, the device excels in specific areas, most notably battery life. Equipped with a substantial 7,000mAh battery, the G06 Power can easily last a full day of use, even with moderate engagement in power-intensive applications.
Another notable feature is the inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack on the top edge. This is a rare but welcome addition in modern smartphones, allowing for high-resolution wired audio without occupying the USB-C port, which can then be exclusively used for charging.
Overall, the Motorola Moto G06 Power delivers on its promise as an ultra-affordable device. While performance was inconsistent and the display unexceptional, these aspects are expected given the £89 price tag. It fulfills its purpose for the cost, making it a functional choice for anyone needing a phone under £90.
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Price & Availability
- Listed at £89
- Launched in October 2025
The Motorola Moto G06 Power is available in the UK from various retailers, typically priced at £89, though it has been observed for under £80 at times. It was released in October 2025 and comes in Laurel Oak or Tapestry color options.
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Specifications
The Motorola Moto G06 Power measures 171.4 x 77.5 x 8.8mm and weighs 220g. It features a 6.88-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1640 x 720 and a 120Hz refresh rate. Powering the device is a MediaTek Helio G81 Extreme chipset, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It launched with Android 15. The rear camera is 50MP f/1.8, while the front camera is 8MP f/2.1. The phone is equipped with a 7,000mAh battery and supports 18W wired charging, but lacks wireless charging.
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Design
- Basic yet modern aesthetic
- Subtle Pantone color choices
- Convenient 3.5mm audio port
The Motorola Moto G06 Power’s design is consistent with other Motorola G-series phones, offering a straightforward appearance. It features a sizable 6.88-inch screen, a robust feel, and a textured back casing. While not groundbreaking or exceptionally slim, it maintains a contemporary look.
All physical buttons are located on one side, a design choice that enhances usability, especially during activities like gaming, by minimizing accidental presses. The buttons are appropriately sized and easy to operate.
Motorola’s collaboration with color specialist Pantone brings unique color options to its devices. For the G06 Power, the Laurel Oak and Tapestry variants are understated and elegant, providing a refreshing alternative to the standard black, silver, or white phones typically offered by many manufacturers.
From a practical standpoint, a significant design advantage is the inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack on the top edge. This allows users to enjoy high-quality audio with wired earbuds or IEMs, such as the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones or the Sennheiser IE 200, without monopolizing the USB-C port, which can then be reserved for charging.
The phone also provides reasonable protection against damage. It incorporates scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3 and boasts an IP64 dust and waterproof rating. This means it is largely dustproof and can withstand multi-directional water splashes, like rain. However, this rating is less robust than some other Motorola devices, such as the IP69-rated Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, which can endure prolonged submersion.
- Design score: 3.5/5
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Display
- Basic 720p LCD screen
- Features a respectable 120Hz refresh rate
- Peak brightness of only 600 nits
While the G06 Power’s design appears adequate for a sub-£100 phone, its display reveals the device’s limitations.
A primary concern is the display’s low resolution for a phone released in late 2025. At just 720p, it falls short of Full HD, meaning movies, series, and online videos will not be viewed in optimal quality.
General picture quality is also quite poor. For instance, when viewing a YouTube video showcasing Costa Rica’s natural beauty, the vibrant greens of a lizard appeared washed out and artificial. In contrast, a mid-range Samsung phone rendered these greens with true-to-life richness, offering a much more engaging viewing experience.
Although display settings allow for adjustments between Natural and Saturated presentations and color contrast levels, achieving sharp detail and vivid colors comparable to more expensive models is not possible.
Beyond disappointing color reproduction, the display also exhibits underwhelming contrast and brightness. A peak luminance of 600 nits is low, even for a budget device, especially when compared to rivals like the Samsung Galaxy A15, which offers 800 nits. This low brightness makes the phone difficult to use outdoors, hindering readability and content visibility in bright conditions.
Despite its modest picture quality, the G06 Power’s display does feature a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a commendable aspect. This allows for smoother visuals in supported mobile games, potentially reaching up to 120 frames per second.
- Display score: 2.5/5
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Software
- Ships with Android 15
- Expected to receive three years of security updates
- Some pre-installed apps, but minimal AI features
The Motorola Moto G06 Power runs Android 15 out of the box, offering a customizable, user-friendly, and intuitive experience. Motorola has indicated that the device will be updated to Android 16 and will receive three years of security updates, which is standard for many G-series phones.
Motorola’s familiar UI enhancements are present, providing useful options such as gesture controls, an attentive display feature, and media controls. The interface is well-organized and straightforward, ensuring high accessibility for all users.
A notable positive aspect of the Moto G06 is its more restrained approach to AI functionalities. Unlike some other Motorola devices that might push numerous AI tools, this phone offers a more streamlined, less cluttered user experience. While some AI features are integrated, particularly within the camera and Google Gemini functionality, they are not central to the device’s operation.
However, the G06 Power is not entirely free of unwanted software. It automatically downloads several applications, such as Toon Blast, Block Blast, and Temu, which users may not desire.
- Software score: 3/5
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Cameras
- 50MP camera effectively captures 12.5MP photos
- Basic 8MP selfie camera
- Overall quality is adequate for the price
As anticipated for its price point, the Motorola Moto G06 Power is not a photographic powerhouse. However, it delivers acceptable results for a phone in this budget category.
The primary camera system is a 50MP Quad Pixel setup, which combines four pixels into one to produce 12.5MP images. Photos taken in various urban settings, both indoors and outdoors, met expectations for quality.
In natural light, subjects like buildings and cars appeared reasonably clear, though lacking in fine detail or dynamic range. Indoor photos showed similar results; a vase’s vivid blue was captured decently, but the intricate details of a rose within it were lost due to resolution limitations.
The G06 Power utilizes digital processing to enhance photos in low-light conditions, which performed fairly well. A night-time street photo, while showing some blurred details, had a generally solid overall appearance. In darker rooms, the camera managed to keep a pigeon figure easily discernible.
Zooming in quickly revealed the camera’s limitations, with significant loss of clarity and already low-detail elements becoming quite distorted. This is typical for cameras on phones in this price range.
The 8MP front-facing camera offers a similar experience. Self-portraits showed accurate skin tones and eye colors, though the images were not particularly bright. Finer details, such as facial lines and individual hairs, lacked sharpness, but the results were satisfactory.
Video recording capabilities are basic, supporting up to 1080p at 30fps, which does not compete with higher-end budget phones. Nevertheless, motion was smooth, and image quality remained stable.
A picture of buildings in the city, taken outdoors in natural light.
A picture of a vase, taken indoors in natural light.
A picture of a street in the city, taken outdoors at night.
A picture of a pigeon figure, taken indoors in low light.
A picture of a local book shop, taken during sunset.
- Cameras score: 3/5
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Performance
- Frequent stuttering issues
- Modest built-in speakers, but strong audio support
- No 5G or Wi-Fi 6 connectivity
Given its sub-£90 price, it is not surprising that this phone exhibits noticeable performance limitations.
Even with only a few applications open, consistent delays were observed when navigating menus, scrolling web pages, and launching software. Simple actions, such as exiting full-screen mode on a YouTube video, also caused slowdowns.
Consequently, more demanding applications are challenging for the G06 Power. Loading Genshin Impact, a graphically intensive 3D game, took a full minute. Once loaded, the game experienced considerable stuttering, though some segments were playable.
Ultimately, the phone’s MediaTek Helio G81 Extreme processor and 4GB of RAM are insufficient for serious mobile gaming. This model also proves somewhat weak for general productivity and daily tasks. Users who are not comfortable with occasional stuttering and delays may need to consider a more powerful device.
Regarding audio quality, the phone’s built-in speakers are not particularly impressive. During a movie, audio lacked control and balance, and in Genshin Impact, sound could become distorted. However, the phone supports Dolby Atmos, LDAC, and wired listening via its 3.5mm port, making it an excellent companion for quality earbuds or headphones.
Finally, it is important to note that the Motorola Moto G06 Power does not support 5G or Wi-Fi 6. This means users will miss out on the fastest network speeds and advanced connectivity options, which could be a deciding factor for some.
- Performance score: 2.5/5
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Battery Life
- Very high 7,000mAh battery capacity
- 18W wired charging
- Lacks wireless charging
Beyond its remarkably low price, the G06 Power’s battery life is its most compelling feature.
It boasts an exceptional 7,000mAh capacity battery, providing extended usage times. The processor is also not particularly power-hungry, contributing to a slow drain rate. Motorola claims up to 62 hours of battery life, and even with more intensive app usage, the G06 Power can easily last a full day without needing a recharge.
Battery health status, usage history, and other details are accessible in system settings. Additional options include a battery saver mode, adaptive battery toggling, and overcharge protection to maintain battery longevity.
Charging technology is fairly basic, with support for 18W wired charging but no wireless charging capabilities.
- Battery life score: 4/5
Should You Buy the Moto G06 Power?
The Motorola Moto G06 Power presents a compelling option for specific users, but it also has clear limitations.
Buy it if…
You need an affordable smartphone for basic tasks. Despite its display, camera, and chipset limitations, the Motorola Moto G06 Power capably handles essential functions like messaging and video calls. For under £90, its capabilities are more than reasonable.
You prioritize exceptional battery life. A standout feature of this phone is its impressive 7,000mAh battery, which can easily provide a full day of power, even with moderate use of demanding applications.
Don’t buy it if…
You expect strong performance. The G06 Power struggles with demanding applications, such as 3D games, and even basic navigation can feel sluggish.
You enjoy watching movies or series on your phone. The phone’s 720p resolution and low peak brightness result in a less-than-ideal viewing experience. For Full HD content, a device like the Motorola Moto G55 5G might be a better choice.
Motorola Moto G06 Power Review: Alternatives to Consider
When considering alternatives to the Motorola Moto G06 Power, other budget-friendly options offer different trade-offs.
Motorola Moto G55 5G
This model is priced higher but remains within the ultra-budget category. For approximately £100 more, it offers significantly improved performance, a Full HD display, better cameras, and a lighter design. While the price difference is notable, it represents a stronger overall choice for those with a slightly larger budget. You can read a full review of the Motorola Moto G55 5G.
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G
While a full review is not yet available, based on other Samsung budget devices like the Galaxy A15 and A35, the A17 5G is expected to offer functional but similarly constrained performance. It features a Full HD display, multiple cameras, 5G support, and a six-year security update commitment, making it a compelling option often available for under £170.
