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Verdict
Motorola has made a fairly significant step forward with its Moto G family this year, and the Moto G6 Plus is without doubt the finest of the three.
That said, the Moto G6 offers a strikingly similar day-to-day experience, and it’s questionable whether the Plus offers quite enough of an improvement for the extra money. Its screen is undoubtedly better, but it’s only slightly bigger, marginally faster, and the camera has only received a tiny spec bump.
Taken in isolation however, the Moto G6 Plus has the speed, refinement and all-round competence of a mid-range smartphone worth a lot more money.
Who's this for?
The Moto G6 Plus is perfect for those who are operating on a strict sub-£300 budget, but who want the general experience and fluidity of a more expensive phone.
It’s got fundamental high-end features like a glass design, a dominant 18:9 display, and a dual-camera system that will make your portrait shots pop.
There’s not an awful lot between this and the Moto G6, but if you’ve tried that phone and found the display a little underwhelming, or you really need the ability to shoot 4K video, you won’t go far wrong spending the extra on the Plus.
Should you buy it?
Motorola continues to rule the budget phone sector with the Moto G6 family, and the Moto G6 Plus is undoubtedly the best of the lot.
Its 5.9-inch 18:9 display is the stand-out component here, offering a big, bright, super-widescreen picture. Combined with decent performance and a competent camera, it’s a great pick for anyone with less than £300 to spare.
For most buyers on a budget, however, we suspect that the Moto G6 will be more than enough.
The Moto G6 Plus isn't the only impressive phone in the budget space. You'll find some of the main alternatives below.
Moto G6
Motorola’s default budget phone remains the one to beat, with a well-rounded spec list, classy build quality and a premium software provision.
In fact, while the Moto G6 Plus tops the G6 in terms of performance, screen quality and camera tricks, the margin isn’t half as pronounced as you might expect.
If spending an extra £50/$50 feels like a major stretch for you, know that the Moto G6 will offer a very similar experience indeed.
- Read our Moto G6 review
Honor 7X
The Honor 7X was one of the first phones to bring the top-end bezel-less design philosophy to the budget end of the market.
It’s a very well built phone with an all-metal body and a large, sharp 18:9 display. It also features a capable chipset and a competent dual-sensor camera. So far, so Moto G6 Plus.
It’s not quite as fast as the Moto G6 Plus though, and its custom UI drops the day-to-day usability considerably short.
- Read our Honor 7X review
Nokia 6 (2018)
Like the Moto G6 Plus, the Nokia 6 (2018) is a classy sub-£300 phone that impresses in the hand and doesn’t mess with stock Android too much.
It doesn’t take the same bezel-less approach to design as the Moto, however, which leaves it looking a little more dated. There’s no second camera lens for depth of field tricks, either.
However, the Nokia 6 shares a Snapdragon 630 chipset with the Moto G6 Plus, so it’s just as capable a performer. It’s also a good chunk of change cheaper.
- Read our Nokia 6 (2018) review
First reviewed: May 2018
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