Motorola Signature Review: specs and features, camera quality test, gaming benchmark, user opinions and photos

Motorola Signature – a slim flagship that's almost compelling to buy

Almost on the verge of being considered a fully Chinese company, Motorola hasn't lost the popularity it built in the early 2000s. The signature design, beloved by millions, has been partially carried over to modern smartphones, and many models offer a more than optimal price-to-features ratio. However, sometimes the developer's new products lack just a few touches, if not perfection, then at least a genuine competitive edge. The subject of today's review fits this description.

The device's design is minimalist, yet memorable and charismatic. Unique color options for cases less than 7 millimeters thick, a stylish photo module assembly, a metal frame, full IP68 water and dust resistance, and barely noticeable display bezels with an integrated fingerprint scanner make the device look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The 6.8-inch AMOLED panel doesn't strive for record-breaking image clarity at a 2780x1264 pixel resolution to maintain energy efficiency. LTPO technology is also used for this purpose. However, the flagship 165Hz refresh rate, incredible peak brightness of 6500 nits, and meticulously calibrated color reproduction are simply outstanding.

The technical specifications include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 CPU, 12GB/16GB RAM, and an Adreno 840 GPU. This combination delivers virtually the highest performance for Android devices. Over 3,000,000 points in the AnTuTu benchmark bring the responsiveness of the Android 16 interface to perfection, while gamers will be able to immerse themselves in the most resource-intensive 3D games at the highest graphics settings and a frame rate of 90-120 FPS. Of course, containing the power of such a chipset in a compact all-in-one device is challenging; throttling is noticeable, although mostly in synthetic benchmarks. However, the phablet's battery life is a bit of a disappointment. A small 5200 mAh battery, by today's standards, delivers 7-8 hours of screen-on time. But at least there's fast wireless (50W) and wired (90W) charging. With 256/512/1024 GB of storage, every buyer will find the right amount to suit their needs.

Three 50-megapixel cameras are responsible for the camera's photography: a main Sony LYTIA 828 sensor and a periscope LYT-600 telephoto lens (3x optical zoom), both equipped with hybrid stabilization, along with a wide-angle Samsung ISOCELL JNS lens. This trio covers a wide range of shooting scenarios, delivering excellent detail in virtually any lighting, while the number of objects in the frame and their motion have little impact on photo and video quality. There's virtually no noise or blur. Rich and loud stereo sound, NFC contactless payment, and 5G and eSIM support round out the device's list of strengths. However, the hefty price tag and several controversial aspects prevent it from being a clear recommendation.