Pre-orders for the Moto G5 Plus are now available on Amazon, with both the Standard Version and the Prime Exclusive - with Ads & Offers version available, to be released on March 31st.
The 32GB Standard Version G5 Plus is available for $230, or for $185 with Amazon Ads & Offers.
The 64GB Standard Version G5 Plus is available for $300, or for $240 with Amazon Ads & Offers.
Link to the 64GB Moto G5 Plus Prime Exclusive Version: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6NTIRH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I have really been wanting to get a Moto G5 Plus since hearing of the phone and reading about it several weeks ago, so I am really tempted to pre-order one now. I am thinking about getting the 64GB Prime Exclusive Version for $240 (that's actually $260 with tax, for me, here in Az), as saving that $60 is really inviting to me. However, I can't help but wonder how much the Ads & Offers might affect the user experience. Has anyone on here owned one of these Prime Exclusive with Ads & Offers phones? If so, did the Ads & Offers bother you much/at all? Did they noticeably affect anything while using the phone? And does having these Ads & Offers possibly affect the battery life? Or, as I suspect, are the ads not really bothersome and it's probably worth it to save the $60 to get the version with Ads & Offers?
I haven't really taken the time to research any others phones besides the Moto G and X series, and the Nexus 5X and 6P devices, so I can't help but be curious, for someone who is only going to be using the phone in the United States, are there any other phones that are available for around the $200-$250 price range that are as good as/possibly better than this Moto G5 Plus?
Moto g5 plus unlocked $250 with amazon prime ($300 with out prime )
64gb (you can add more with micro sd card)
4gb ram
Snapdragon 625
3000 mAh
No bloatware ( stock android )
Android 7.0
Great Performance
Wi-Fi calling
9 hours screen time ( 6 - 7 with heavy use )
Camera is not good in low light.
Moto G5, G5 Plus have been out for a long time now. I've got a refurbished G5 Plus that I've been trying to sell for $150 for a little while now but it's on the Amazon software channel, so not for everyone.
Moto G Plus (5th Generation) - Lunar Gray - 64 GB - Unlocked - Prime Exclusive - with Lockscreen Offers & Ads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6NTIRH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GxzdBb4PNB1D2
If you really want the G5+, get it unlocked thru Amazon US.
They sell it 2 ways in 2 variants:
When on sale, the Prime Exclusive models are a good deal, if you can live with the Ads & Offers on the lockscreen.
I'd say the Moto G5 plus, the 4GB RAM/64GB storage version. Can get it for $299, or $239 from amazon with amazon prime lockscreen ads (basically shows you a picture ad on your lockscreen [which you can get rid of with an app] but doesn't effect the rest of the phone). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6NTIRH/ref=twister_B01NCYZTP4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Compared to your phone now, you'd double the RAM, double or quadruple the storage, increase the resolution of the screen to full HD, vastly increase the LTE bands you could use, and get a fingerprint detector.
Buy a Moto G5 Plus for $185 on Amazon. Upgrade to the pixel in a few months and sell the g5 for $130+, or keep it as a backup for these situations.
My wife has one with the Amazon ads. They are unobtrusive. The G5 is decently fast(a million times better than the first 2 Moto g's), has a fingerprint scanner, a sd slot, and runs stock Android(or very close to it).
If my phone was stolen today, that's what I would do.
https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01N6NTIRH
Edit: Autocorrect typos
FYI, Pre-orders are now available for the Moto G5 Plus on Amazon, with both the Standard Version and the Prime Exclusive - with Ads & Offers version available, to be released on March 31st.
The 32GB Standard Version G5 Plus is available for $230, or for $185 with Amazon Ads & Offers.
The 64GB Standard Version G5 Plus is available for $300, or for $240 with Amazon Ads & Offers.
Link to the 64GB Moto G5 Plus Prime Exclusive Version: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6NTIRH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
The upcoming Moto G5+ will be $230 for 32GB with 2GB of RAM or $300 for 64GB with 4GB of RAM. Personally I think the 4GB version is well worth it, considering my old phone with 2GB kept lagging and force-closing apps. It meets your criteria for minimal bloatware and an SD slot, and the 625 is the best processor you'll get in that price range (relevant for gaming). I think any phone can stream to a smart TV. You can save a bit more with the Amazon version if you're willing to deal with lockscreen ads.
If you can give up NFC, have Prime, and can deal with lockscreen ads, the Moto G5+ with amazon ads could be a good choice. But that might be asking a lot. It can be had for as low as $185, but the better version (4GB of RAM) is $240.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6NTIRH/ref=twister_B01NCYZTP4?_encoding=UTF8&th=1
My next phone: Moto G5 Plus from Amazon, with ads.
I have the G4 now (same Prime "exclusive") and while I know there are ways to remove those adds from the lock screen, I've never bothered. Great phone, btw. Prefer it now to my old iPhone 6.
Also my anual cell phone costs for this year:
So 268/12=$22.33 per month, price of the phone included. Seriously, fuck contracts.
Does anyone know how this affects the discounted phones that Amazon sells like this one that utilize ads on the home screen? Would these be exempt through some loophole that the ads aren't coming from an app?
OK well she has this Moto G5 Plus the one with Amazon Ads so not sure if that can be unlocked to work internationally, it's unlocked for all US carriers but does that also mean international carriers. I will have to look into it.
https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01N6NTIRH?th=1
Moto g5 plus sounds like it would be great for you. Amazon sells them at a discounted price with Amazon ads on the lock screen, although over at /r/motog they have stickied a how to for removing them (apparently it's pretty easy). There are two different models, one is 64 gigs of storage plus 4 gigs of RAM for $239.99, or the 32 gigs of storage plus 2 gigs of RAM for $184.99. I decided to go for the extra storage and RAM myself, I figure that spending a little bit of extra money now will save me from having to upgrade for longer.
Here's a link to the phone:
Here's the link for how to remove the ads:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MotoG/comments/6e1cc4/moto_g_amazon_edition_remove_app_that_displays/
Hope this helps and good luck with your search!
From the list you've put together, I would actually suggest the Moto G5plus, for the fact it's really good bang for your buck especially if you get the "amazon ads" version. What that means is that you have amazon ads on your lock screen, which can actually be removed if you get a lock screen app. It costs less (sometimes less than half) of the other phones you've listed - to get a 4GB/64GB version you'd pay $300 for standard, $240 for amazon ads version. My reasoning behind this is that, in two years when you'll want to replace it, there'll be a whole host of <$300 phones with all the features you list (and more), and you'll be able to buy them and have a newer phone with a newer CPU which will be better configured for the time, and still have paid overall less than if you bought a Samsung Galaxy S8 in the first place.
https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01N6NTIRH
One thing, you DO need amazon prime, but as a student its deff worth it. $50 for a year (with which you'd still be saving $10 on the overall cost of the phone), but you get all the other stuff (1-2 day shipping depending on where you are, amazon prime video, amazon music, etc). For <$5 a month that's pretty good.
Also! If you're leaning towards T-mobile, you might want to check out mintSim (https://www.mintsim.com/plans/). I moved from Tmobile to them and am pretty happy with their service. They use T-mobile towers (so same coverage as Tmobile), but you pay for your service upfront which saves you a bunch of cash. Currently got a deal for paying 3 months upfront, getting unlimited talk and text on all plans with either 2GB ($11.67/mo) 5GB ($16.67/mo) or 10GB ($20/mo) of data per month.
https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01N6NTIRH?th=1 this is a moto g5 plus for 240ish, it has amazon ads, but it will work with verizon, sprint, tmobile and att...
Amazon has the 64gig version for 240.00 usd. Get it with ads
https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01N6NTIRH?th=1&psc=1
Same with the G5 Plus, the price for the Amazon and standard version appear the same now.
Same with the G5 Plus, the price for the Amazon and standard version appear the same now?
If I were you, I'd strongly consider one of the Amazon Prime phones like the Moto G Plus. You can get the 64gb version w/4gb of RAM for only $240 if you're a Prime member. I think you can pick it up for under $200 if you'd be willing to purchase a slightly used one from Amazon.