In the crowded entry-to-mid smartphone tier, the Motorola G45 5G stands out by delivering 5G connectivity and a few noteworthy specs at a budget price. If you’re looking for a device that brings modern features without breaking the bank, the G45 5G makes a compelling case.
Design & Build
The Motorola G45 5G presents a clean, polished design that belies its budget status. It has a 6.5-inch display (we’ll get more into that later) and a fairly slim form-factor which makes one-handed use more feasible than many larger budget phones. According to the official spec sheet, the dimensions are approximately 162.7 × 74.64 mm (so it’s moderately sized) and it has a weight and build that feel solid for its class.
The back panel is available in colors like “Brilliant Blue”, “Brilliant Green” and “Viva Magenta”.
Motorola also promotes good ergonomics and a design language that doesn’t look cheaply made.
While the material is likely plastic (common at this price point), Motorola has added touches like Gorilla Glass 3 protection for the screen.
Overall, the design succeeds at delivering a modern feel without premium-flagship cost.
Display & Multimedia Experience
One of the stronger points of the G45 5G is the display. It features a 6.5-inch LCD (IPS) panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate. While the resolution is modest (HD+ 720×1600 in some regions) rather than full FHD, the high refresh rate helps make scrolling and animations appear smooth and responsive.
For budget buyers, a 120Hz refresh rate is a tangible upgrade in user experience: smoother UI, more fluid motion, which helps even with basic specs. The trade-off is that you don’t get the same resolution or sharpness as higher tier phones, so if you’re someone who watches a lot of movies or reads tiny text, you may notice it.
In the multimedia department, reports mention that it includes Dolby Atmos support for enhanced audio experience. Also, the headphone jack is present (important for many users) and Motorola often includes relatively clean software (more on that later).
Performance & Hardware
Under the hood, the G45 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset.
This is a budget/upper-budget tier 5G capable processor (6nm process, octa-core) that provides 5G connectivity and decent everyday performance. According to listings, the RAM options are 4 GB or 8 GB, paired with 128 GB storage.
For typical usage—web browsing, social apps, video streaming, light gaming—the performance feels adequate. In fact, one spec table lists an Antutu score around 449,055 for the 8/128-option in this class.
This is respectable for this segment.
On the connectivity side: it supports 5G (sub-6 GHz) in appropriate markets, which gives a “future-proof” feel compared to purely LTE devices. According to the support page, it has 5G bands and other connectivity features.
One important caveat is that with a 720p display in some regions, and a mid-tier processor, this phone isn’t designed for hardcore gaming at ultra settings. But for everyday users the trade-off is acceptable given the price.
Cameras
Camera systems in budget phones always involve trade-offs, and the G45 5G is no exception—but the specs are solid for the class.
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Rear: 50 MP primary sensor + 2 MP (likely depth or macro) in many listings.
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Front: 16 MP selfie camera.
The 50MP main camera gives good detail in well-lit conditions, and the software processing from Motorola tends to deliver accurate colours and usable results for everyday photography. Some reviews mention the texture and skin tones are acceptable. The secondary lens is modest; you won’t get the ultra-wide or strong telephoto that premium phones provide. Low-light performance is decent but obviously not as strong as higher-end phones.
For video, expect 1080p capture rather than full 4K at high frame-rates, and stabilization is adequate rather than exceptional (in this price class). If your usage is casual photography and social-media content, the camera setup is more than serviceable.
Battery Life & Charging
Battery life is a key consideration for budget users, and the G45 5G does reasonably well here. It houses a 5,000 mAh battery in most markets.
Given the moderate resolution display and mid-tier processor (versus power-hungry flagship chips), you can expect full-day usage under mixed tasks.
Charging speed is modest though: some listings show 20 W charging support, which is acceptable but not blazing fast.
In summary: expect good endurance, reasonable charge times, but not the fastest charging or ultra-long battery life of flagship class devices.
Software & Features
The G45 5G ships with Android 14 (in markets like India) with Motorola’s “Hello UI” or “Moto UI” on top.
Motorola tends to keep its software fairly clean, with fewer bloat apps compared to many budget brands, which is a plus for long-term usability.
In terms of updates: while not flagship-tier update support, it promises security updates for multiple years—one listing mentions 1 year of OS upgrade and 3 years of security patches.
Not perfect, but decent for this class.
Other features worth noting: microSD card slot (up to 1 TB) in many markets, side-mounted fingerprint sensor or under-display depending on region, standard USB-C port, and 3.5 mm headphone jack in some variants. One spec sheet also mentions Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection.
What’s Good & What’s Not
Pros:
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5G connectivity at budget pricing: a major plus for future-proofing.
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120 Hz refresh rate display: smooth UI/UX.
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Respectable 50 MP rear camera for the class.
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Large 5,000 mAh battery giving decent endurance.
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Clean software experience with relatively fewer bloat apps.
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Expandable storage via microSD in many markets.
Cons / trade-offs:
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Display resolution is HD+ (720p) rather than full FHD+ in some regions—so visible if you inspect closely.
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Charging speed is modest.
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Secondary cameras are weak compared to premium multi-lens systems—no ultra-wide or strong telephoto.
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Update support is decent but not flagship-level (just 1 OS upgrade in some markets).
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Some competitors may offer full HD displays or faster charging at similar prices depending on region.
Who Should Buy It?
If you’re a user who:
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Wants 5G connectivity now (or soon) but on a budget.
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Values smooth UI/UX (120Hz refresh) more than ultra-high resolution.
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Uses the phone for everyday tasks: social media, video, messaging, moderate gaming.
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Wants clean software and decent build without the premium flagship price.
Then the Motorola G45 5G is a smart choice. On the other hand, if you are:
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A power user who needs ultra-high resolution display (FHD+ or more), professional-grade cameras, or fastest charging.
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A gamer who demands highest graphical settings for hours.
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Looking for long OS update support for 4-5 years.
Then you may want to look at phones slightly higher in budget.
Final Verdict
The Motorola G45 5G succeeds in its mission: providing a modern 5G smartphone experience with a couple of standout features (high refresh rate display, decent main camera, 5,000 mAh battery) in an accessible budget. While it doesn’t hit every premium spec, it hits the right ones for most everyday users.
If you value smoothness, 5G readiness, big battery, and don’t mind trade-offs like 720p display or slower charging, the G45 5G offers very good value. In short, it’s a phone that “gets the essentials right” and does so without over-inflating the price tag. For many budget-conscious buyers, that’s exactly what’s needed.