GSMArena Team,
16 February 2025.
1. Introduction, specs, unboxing2. Design, build quality, handling3. Our lab tests – display, battery life, charging speed, speaker4. Software and performance5. Camera, photo and video quality6. Final words, our verdict, pros and consMotorola Signature specificationUser opinions and reviewsReview comments (35)
The competition
Pricing for the Motorola Signature has been all over the place, especially in the EU. The MSRP was originally slated to be €1,000, but some countries saw a consequent price hike to as much as €1,300. For the purposes of choosing competitors, we will assume that you are shopping in the €1,000 ballpark.
Let’s start in camp Samsung, where you can comfortably purchase a base 256GB 12GB Galaxy S25 Ultra. The higher-storage 512GB 12GB model costs right around the €1,000 mark, so we are spot-on price-wise. As for specs, the Galaxy arguably has a better display, though not by a lot and not in every way and arguably a more competent camera setup. There are also a few little extra features sprinkled here and there, some of which the Moto doesn’t have a direct counterpart for. That and the admittedly subjective, but still very real allure of One UI to some buyers. Plus, the promise of up to seven major OS updates, matching the Moto. Or rather the other way around.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra • OnePlus 15 • Honor Magic8 Pro • Realme GT 8 Pro
Also retailing at right around €1,000, the OnePlus 15. This one has the Moto beat in terms of raw power thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Most of the rest of the specs sheets of the two phones trade blows back and forth. Though the OnePlus 15 does have an undeniable leg up in the battery department with its huge 7,300 mAh pack and 120W fast charging.
Also hovering right around the €1,000 mark – the Honor Magic8 Pro. It is also rocking the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and arguably has a more sophisticated and fleshed-out camera setup than the Motorola Signature. Once again, you get a pretty large battery, though its actual capacity can vary a fair bit depending on which region you are shopping from.
Why not consider the Realme GT 8 Pro? It is another proper flagship, rocking the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Granted, the brand is a bit more “out there” and not necessarily a household name, but we promise the GT 8 Pro won’t disappoint. It offers a great build, does not skimp on the display or the camera department and has a large 7,000 mAh battery.
Now that we’ve seen what kind of flagships one can get for the asking price of the Motorola Signature, it becomes clear that the Motorola Signature launch pricing is too enthusiastic. We expect the phone’s price to go down considerably, so we will also mention a few devices in the same feature class.
The Xiaomi 15T Pro is an excellent choice with its premium build, great display, powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset and a camera setup that includes a 5x optical zoom telephoto.
Xiaomi 15T Pro • Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra • Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
Also in camp Xiaomi, when looking for good value, it is generally a good idea to explore the Poco line. The F8 Ultra is about as good as Poco’s get. It even has the top-dog Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 5x telephoto, plus a large 6,500 mAh battery, all for a really reasonable price.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is also an interesting choice. If you have your heart set on One UI but don’t necessarily want or need to spring for a full-fat S25 Ultra, the FE is a great option.
Our verdict
The Motorola Signature brings a well-rounded, premium experience with very few obvious weak spots and plenty of highlights that justify its top-tier positioning.
The design and build quality are excellent, with a sleek yet sturdy chassis and Motorola’s typical attention to durability. The display is another standout – sharp, vibrant and highly capable, even if its manual brightness isn’t class-leading. The stereo speakers are superb as well, delivering loud and rich audio that easily ranks among the best in the segment.
Performance is undeniably flagship-grade. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 isn’t the absolute fastest chip available right now, it is more than powerful enough for everyday use and gaming. The main drawback is sustained performance, as the phone throttles quite aggressively under prolonged load and can get noticeably warm.
Battery life is solid but not particularly exciting by modern flagship standards. Endurance is respectable, and the charging setup is versatile with fast wired and wireless options, but competitors are starting to push capacity further.
Where the Signature delivers a strong showing is in imaging. The quad 50MP camera system is versatile and capable across all focal lengths, with the main and telephoto cameras producing pleasing results in good lighting. That said, video tuning isn’t perfect – daytime clips can look a bit contrasty on the main and telephoto cameras, while detail levels are only average, especially in lower light. The ultrawide camera also trails slightly behind the rest of the setup with softer output overall. Still, the system remains well-rounded and dependable for everyday shooting.
Motorola’s clean Hello UI remains a major selling point. It’s fast, uncluttered and packed with thoughtful extras like Smart Connect and Moto AI. The promise of up to seven major Android updates is also a huge confidence booster for long-term ownership.
At its asking price, the Motorola Signature doesn’t earn an automatic recommendation. While it is undeniably well-rounded and easy to like, the competition in this segment is a notch above in terms of features. We wouldn’t actively discourage anyone from picking one up, but at its current price, it wouldn’t be our first choice. We are sure, its price will cool off quickly, and at around 700€, it will be a solid recommendation.
Pros
Premium build with IP68/IP69 rating and slim design.
Excellent LTPO AMOLED display with 165Hz refresh rate.
Very capable quad 50MP camera system.
Loud, high-quality stereo speakers tuned by Bose.
Clean Hello UI with useful extras and long update promise.
Versatile connectivity, including Wi-Fi 7, UWB and desktop mode.
Cons
Aggressive thermal throttling under sustained load.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 isn’t competitive at this price point.
No eSIM support in some regions.
Motorola’s 50W wireless charging dock is no longer available.
Current prices