Motorola Moto G87 Full Review – Mid-Range Done Right
SmartphonesThe mid-range smartphone market is where most people actually live. The Motorola Moto G87 is built squarely for that majority — people who want a great daily experience without the anxiety of carrying an expensive piece of glass everywhere. A large OLED screen, a 200-megapixel camera system, a waterproof body rated beyond most phones in its class, and storage that laughs at the concept of running out of space: these are not specs you expect at this tier.
The trade-offs exist, but they fall in places that matter far less to most people's day-to-day lives than the marketing spreadsheets suggest.
Editor's Rating
8.5 / 10
Excellent for everyday users & outdoor lifestyles
Key Highlights at a Glance
6.78" OLED Display
120Hz refresh, HDR10+, 450 ppi
IP69 Waterproof
High-pressure jets & 1.5m submersion
200MP Main Camera
OIS, phase-detection AF, 4K video
512GB Storage
12GB RAM + expandable memory
Design and Build: Slim, Solid, and Genuinely Waterproof
Physical Presence
At 183 grams and just 7.3mm thick, the G87 sits in a confident middle ground — present enough to feel substantial in hand, but not the brick-like weight that makes you regret deep trouser pockets. That 7.3mm profile is notably slim for a phone with this feature set; many competitors at similar price points carry noticeably more bulk.
The footprint — 164.5mm tall and 77.3mm wide — puts it in large-phone territory. One-handed use for extended periods will be a stretch for smaller hands. This is a two-handed phone for most people most of the time.
Durability That Actually Means Something
The G87 carries an IP69 rating — and that distinction matters more than it sounds. Most phones that advertise water resistance stop at IP67 or IP68, covering accidental drops in still water. IP69 is a different standard: it means the phone can withstand high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. Think kitchen sink splashes, rain caught sideways in a storm, and muddy outdoor conditions — not just the bathroom counter scenario. The 1.5-meter depth rating adds conventional submersion protection on top.
Why IP69 matters: This is the kind of durability that changes how you treat a device. You stop worrying. You use it in the rain. You hand it to a child. That psychological shift has real value that doesn't show up in benchmark charts.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i — the latest generation of Corning's entry-level impact protection line, designed specifically for the mid-range segment. It offers meaningfully better drop and scratch resistance compared to older generations, while not being the full Gorilla Glass Victus tier found on flagship devices.
Display: An OLED Screen That Punches Above Its Class
The Panel
The 6.78-inch OLED panel is the G87's most immediately noticeable feature. OLED technology means each pixel produces its own light — blacks are true black, colors have genuine depth, and contrast is effectively infinite. No mid-range LCD can replicate this, and at this screen size, the difference is visible every single day.
At 450 pixels per inch, text is crisp beyond any threshold where sharpness becomes meaningfully perceptible. The 1272 × 2772 resolution is unusually tall for this class, giving content more vertical breathing room — particularly useful when reading, browsing, or watching widescreen video without uncomfortable letterboxing.
Smoothness and HDR
The 120Hz refresh rate means on-screen motion flows at twice the speed of a standard 60Hz display. The practical effect is that everything feels more responsive and natural, even when you're not consciously thinking about it. Reverting to a 60Hz phone after using one of these feels like going back to a CRT monitor.
HDR10+ Support
Streaming services with HDR metadata render with expanded brightness range and better shadow detail.
Always-On Display
Shows time and notifications while idle — consuming minimal power as only relevant pixels light up.
No Dolby Vision
Dolby Vision content won't render in its full certified format — a minor gap for Apple TV+ or Disney+ subscribers.
Performance: Capable, Efficient, and Honestly Positioned
The Chipset
The MediaTek Dimensity 6400 is built on a 6-nanometer manufacturing process — smaller nanometer figures mean more power-efficient silicon. This chip isn't built to compete with flagship processors. It's built to handle everything a non-gaming, productivity-focused user throws at it with smooth efficiency and without draining the battery unnecessarily.
The configuration pairs two performance-oriented cores running at up to 2.5GHz for demanding tasks with six efficiency cores at 2GHz for everything else. The device intelligently routes workloads — heavy tasks get the fast cores, background operations stay on the efficient ones. The result is better battery management without sacrificing responsiveness when you need it.
Memory and Storage
12GB RAM
LPDDR4 at 2133 MHz
More apps stay loaded in the background simultaneously. Switch between a dozen apps without anything needing to reload — a tangible improvement over the 6–8GB typical of the segment.
512GB Internal Storage
Expandable via microSD
Flagship-tier storage at a mid-range price. Roughly 50,000–100,000 photos at typical resolution, thousands of songs, and dozens of large apps — with room to spare. Storage anxiety eliminated.
Gaming and Graphics
The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU handles casual gaming, streaming, and media processing competently. Titles like casual puzzlers, social games, and lighter action games run well. DirectX 12 support keeps the device current for graphics standards that matter for app compatibility.
Camera System: 200 Megapixels and What That Actually Means
Main Camera: Resolution as a Tool, Not a Boast
The 200-megapixel main sensor deserves a clear explanation. In default shooting mode, the camera uses pixel-binning — combining multiple smaller pixels into one larger, more light-sensitive pixel — to produce sharp, well-exposed shots fast in most conditions. The full 200-megapixel mode is engaged deliberately, capturing extraordinary detail useful for aggressive cropping or large-format printing.
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) compensates for hand movement during the shot through hardware correction, not software guessing. In low light or when capturing moving subjects, OIS produces sharper images than digital stabilization alone. Phase-detection autofocus locks quickly and holds on moving subjects — important for pets, children, and anything that doesn't sit still.
Camera Specifications Overview
| Feature | Main Camera | Front Camera |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 200MP + 8MP | 32MP |
| Aperture | f/2.2 & f/1.8 | f/2.2 |
| Stabilization | Optical (OIS) | None |
| Autofocus | Phase-detection + Touch AF + Continuous AF | Fixed |
| Max Video | 4K @ 30fps | Standard HD |
| Flash | LED Flash | None (display flash) |
| Slow Motion | Yes | No |
| RAW Capture | No | No |
| HDR Mode | Yes | |
| Manual Controls | ISO, exposure, focus, white balance | None |
| Optical Zoom | None (digital only) | N/A |
Limitations Worth Knowing
- No optical zoom — cropping in degrades image quality at greater distances.
- No RAW file output limits post-processing latitude in software like Lightroom.
- HDR10 recording is not supported in video mode — videos won't carry HDR metadata.
- No front flash — low-light selfies rely on the display as illumination.
Battery Life and Charging: Built for Full Days
The battery is sized for confident all-day use. Most users — social media, messaging, calls, occasional video — will finish the day with charge remaining. Heavy users who stream video continuously or run GPS navigation for extended periods will push closer to the edge. Honest assessment: this is a reliable one-day battery for most people, not a two-day phone.
30W Fast Charging
Meaningful top-up in ~30 min from critically low
Charger Included
Increasingly rare in the industry — included in box
No Wireless Charging
A genuine daily friction point if you rely on charging pads
No Reverse Wireless
Cannot charge accessories or earbuds wirelessly
Software: Android 16 with Practical Privacy Tools
Running Android 16 — the latest major version — means current security standards, the most recent design language, and full access to the latest app ecosystem. Motorola's approach is light-handed, producing a cleaner, faster experience than heavily customized Android skins from other manufacturers.
Privacy Controls
- Clipboard warnings — alerts when apps read copied content
- Per-app location privacy controls
- Camera and microphone access controls with on-demand revocation
- App tracking blocking built in
- On-device machine learning — AI processing stays on the phone
Productivity Features
- Split-screen multitasking
- Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode
- Full-page scrolling screenshots
- Offline voice recognition — works without internet
- Live Text (text selection from images)
- Dynamic theming adapts to your wallpaper
- No Focus Modes — managing distraction is more manual
Audio and Connectivity
Audio
Stereo speakers are present, creating a wider and more immersive audio image for media and speakerphone calls compared to mono setups.
The 3.5mm headphone jack is absent. Wired headphone users will need a USB-C adapter — inexpensive and widely available, but an extra step. Bluetooth 5.4 offers stable connections and improved efficiency.
Connectivity
- 5G support — current and future-ready networks
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) — reliable for streaming and browsing
- NFC — Google Pay and contactless payments supported
- Bluetooth 5.4 — current generation standard
- 1 physical SIM + 1 eSIM — ideal for travelers
- GPS + Galileo satellite positioning — improved urban accuracy
- USB-C connector
- USB 2.0 speeds — large file transfers over cable are slow
- No Wi-Fi 6 or 6E
Who the Moto G87 Is For — and Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Everyday users who want a premium screen and camera experience without flagship pricing
- Outdoor and active users who need genuine waterproofing beyond bathroom-splash survival
- Anyone tired of running out of storage — 512GB removes this problem entirely
- Privacy-aware Android users who want current software and meaningful controls
- People upgrading from an older device who will notice every improvement the G87 brings
- Mobile gamers targeting sustained high-frame-rate play in demanding titles
- Audiophiles using LDAC or aptX HD wireless headphones for lossless audio
- Wireless charging users who have built a charging ecosystem around pads
- Telephoto photography enthusiasts — no optical zoom beyond the primary focal length
- RAW photo shooters who edit in Lightroom or similar and need full sensor data
How the Moto G87 Compares to the Mid-Range Field
| Feature | Moto G87 | Typical Mid-Range Competitor |
|---|---|---|
| Display Type | OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Often LCD at this price; OLED less common |
| IP Rating | IP69 (high-pressure jets) | IP67 or IP68 most common; IP69 very rare |
| Main Camera | 200MP + OIS | 50MP–108MP typical; OIS less common |
| Internal Storage | 512GB | 128GB–256GB standard |
| RAM | 12GB | 6GB–8GB common |
| Wireless Charging | No | Increasingly present in upper mid-range |
| Premium Audio Codecs | Basic Bluetooth only | Some competitors offer aptX or LDAC |
| Headphone Jack | No | Varies; still present on some competitors |
| Android Version | Android 16 | Android 14–15 typical at launch |
The G87 leads on display technology, waterproofing depth, storage, and RAM. It trails on wireless charging and premium audio codec availability.
Honest Strengths and Where the G87 Falls Short
Where It Genuinely Delivers
The IP69 rating is the most underappreciated specification on this phone. At this price tier it's genuinely unusual, and it changes the relationship between user and device in meaningful ways. Combined with Gorilla Glass 7i, the G87 is built to survive real life more convincingly than most of its peers.
The OLED display at 120Hz and 450 ppi is simply excellent for the price bracket. There's no caveat attached to that. Media consumption, reading, and general use are all elevated by a screen of this quality.
512GB of storage at this tier is extraordinary — it eliminates a category of daily phone anxiety entirely. The combination of 12GB RAM and Android 16 means the software experience will remain fluid and current-capable for years, not just at launch.
Where It Asks for Compromise
The absence of wireless charging is the most likely daily frustration for users accustomed to it. As wireless charging infrastructure becomes more common in homes and offices, this feels like a more significant omission than it would have a few years ago.
The chipset is positioned firmly in the mid-range performance tier. It handles daily tasks well, but extended gaming sessions and heavy on-device video editing will reveal ceilings the hardware can't clear.
No RAW photo capture limits the camera's appeal to serious photographers despite the headline resolution. USB 2.0 speeds mean the generous 512GB of storage is slower to access over cable than it should be — a mismatch that shows when backing up large content volumes.
Common Questions Before You Buy
Final Verdict: A Focused Mid-Range Phone That Gets the Fundamentals Right
The Motorola Moto G87 makes deliberate choices, and those choices tell you exactly who this phone is built for. Motorola prioritized the things that affect daily experience most directly: a premium OLED screen, serious waterproofing, a camera system with real depth and optical stabilization, and storage so generous it stops being a consideration. Those are the right priorities for the majority of smartphone users.
The concessions — no wireless charging, a mid-tier chipset, USB 2.0 transfer speeds, no RAW capture, no premium audio codecs — are real, and shoppers should weigh them against their own habits honestly. If wireless charging is central to how you live with your phone, the G87 will frustrate you daily.
For everyone else — and that's most people — the G87 is a carefully constructed device that overdelivers on screen quality, protection, storage, and camera capability relative to what the mid-range typically offers. It's the kind of phone you stop thinking about after the first week, because it simply handles everything without drama.
Recommended For
Daily users, outdoor-active lifestyles, photography enthusiasts on a budget, and anyone stepping up from an older or budget device who wants a meaningfully better experience.
Skip It If
Wireless charging, premium Bluetooth audio, or sustained heavy gaming are non-negotiable priorities.
