Motorola Moto G5 Plus
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-moto-g5-plus/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The splash-resistant Moto G5 Plus has a near stock version of Android Nougat, a good camera and video, and a metal build — and it’s extremely kind to your wallet.
The bad: There’s no NFC on the US model, and audio sounds tinny through the built-in speaker.
The cost: $219.99 to $229.99
The bottom line: With a long list of features you want and only a few that you don’t, there is no better budget phone than Motorola’s Moto G5 Plus.
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Apple iPhone SE
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-se-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: A small, hand-friendly design. Solid speed. Good front and rear cameras. More built-in storage (up to 128GB). The lowest priced iPhone you can buy.
The bad: Older giant-bezel design and limited screen size are love-it-or-hate-it. Hardware hasn’t changed since its 2016 debut.
The cost: $159.99 to $349.00
The bottom line: The iPhone SE is getting older, but its added storage options and strong performance running iOS 10 still make it a great choice for small-phone fans.
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Motorola Moto G5
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-moto-g5/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The Moto G5 costs little, but packs a full-HD screen, good cameras and enough power for your everyday essentials.
The bad: The dim screen can be difficult to read under bright lights and you’ll need to be careful if you want to get a whole day out of the battery.
The cost: $159.96
The bottom line: The Moto G5 is the phone to get if you want an everyday phone for as little possible, but if you want higher-end features like near-field communication then go for the G5 Plus.
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Alcatel Idol 5S
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/alcatel-idol-5s/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The Idol 5S has a premium build, amazing speakers, a fingerprint reader and it runs Android Nougat — all while being affordable.
The bad: It has the shortest battery life of any phone we’ve tested in the past two years.
The cost: $199.00
The bottom line: The Alcatel Idol 5s is an otherwise great budget phone, but the battery is its Achilles’ heel.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Associate Editor Patrick Holland, Senior Editor Andrew Hoyle, Senior Associate Editor Lynn La, Senior Editor Scott Stein and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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