Motorola has quietly sharpened its mid-range play with the Moto G17 and Moto G17 Power — two phones that make a clear promise: battery life and a useful camera, not flagship-level performance.

If you want a dependable everyday handset that doesn’t try to wow you with bleeding-edge specs, these are exactly the kinds of sensible choices that make sense for most buyers right now.

Performance: MediaTek Helio G81 Extreme in real life

Both models use the MediaTek Helio G81 Extreme (two Cortex-A75 at 2.0GHz + six Cortex-A55 at 1.7GHz) and an Arm Mali G52 MC2 GPU at 820MHz. That configuration delivers steady, everyday performance — multitasking, streaming and light gaming are comfortably handled.

Note the phones ship on Android 15, not Android 16; that’s a pragmatic decision that will divide opinion among buyers who expect the very latest OS. For most users, the combination of 4GB or 8GB RAM plus Motorola’s RAM Boost (which borrows internal storage for 8–16GB virtual RAM) will be plenty.

Screen and build that favour usefulness over flash

The 6.72-inch FHD+ LCD (20:9) runs at 60Hz and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, keeping the display large and durable rather than ultra-smooth. The panel is tuned for practical use — video, web, and reading — not for high-frame-rate gaming or HDR showcase.

The phone’s 165.67 x 75.98 x 8.17mm frame and 189.9g weight are unremarkable in a good way: comfortable to hold and topped with an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance. Colour choices include Pantone-certified Bordeaux Red, Alaskan Blue and Evening Blue.

Camera: a 50MP Sony sensor that matters

Motorola leans on a 50MP Sony LYTIA 600 main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and pixel-binning to deliver 1.6µm effective pixels — a setup that promises better light capture than you’d expect from an average mid-ranger.

It’s paired with a 5MP ultra-wide and a third sensor for ambient light/flicker control, while a 32MP front camera handles selfies and Full HD video at 30fps.

The software side includes Night Vision, portrait modes, live filters and Google Lens support, so the camera package is sensible and mature rather than flashy. Expect good daytime shots and competent low-light results when you’re reasonable with expectations.

Battery trade-offs: endurance vs charging speed

This is where the line between the two models is clearest. The Moto G17 packs a 5,200mAh battery with 18W TurboPower charging, while the Moto G17 Power pushes endurance further with a 6,000mAh cell and 30W TurboPower.

If battery life is your primary metric, the G17 Power is the obvious pick; if you value slightly faster charging in a balanced package, the standard G17 still holds its ground. This is the trade-off buyers need to accept: choice between absolute longevity and a more compact charging compromise.

Audio, connectivity and daily extras

Dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support deliver fuller-sounding playback than a single bottom speaker; the 3.5mm jack remains for wired headphones, and wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.4, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC and FM radio.

Security is handled with fingerprint and facial unlock plus Motorola’s Moto Secure and ThinkShield layers. Practical touches like Moto gestures and the built-in microphone round out a phone that aims to be quietly useful every day.

Software and AI features backed by Google

Moto includes Google Gemini integration and standard Google app services on Android 15, which gives users access to capable AI helpers and Google Lens features without extra bloat.

The software feel is clean and focused; this is not a heavily skinned experience, which will appeal to buyers who prefer minimal friction and predictable updates.

Price, availability and the verdict

The Moto G17 starts at approximately 19,000 rupees for the 4GB/128GB model and 22,000 rupees for the 8GB/128GB variant. The Moto G17 Power’s price hasn’t been announced yet; both are rolling out to select EMEA markets. In short: Motorola hasn’t tried to be everything to everyone.

These phones are deliberately practical — they pick sensible spec points, prioritise battery and camera usability, and keep software simple. This won’t please buyers chasing flagship benchmarks or the newest OS day-one, but for anyone who wants an honest, long-lasting daily driver with a solid camera and few compromises, the Moto G17 line is worth a close look.