Reddit reviews Moto G5 Plus Case, TUDIA Carbon Fiber Design Lightweight [TAMM] TPU Bumper Shock Absorption Case for Motorola Moto G5 Plus (Black)

I bought the TUDIA lightweight case ($10.99 USD on Amazon), and it covers the bump perfectly to create a nice, flat back surface. And since it's lightweight, it hardly feels like there's a case at all. In fact, apart from the increased phone size, it feels a lot like my Moto G 1st Gen.

Note that this is the first case I've ever owned. I never really cared to use one in the past, but I bought this specifically to alleviate my concerns about the camera bump, and I can say that I'm 100% satisfied. (An added bonus is that it makes the phone totally black, since I don't particularly like the "lunar gray" or "fine gold" colors that the phone comes in.)

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TUDIA

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I use a TUDIA TPU case. It's thin, but helps flatten the camera bump in the back. My only qualm was it was a little slippery at first. With a little use, it's sticky enough to have a good grip.

> - As a person with small hands, coming from a 4.5" Moto G1 and my husband's 4.7" iPhone, I wish the G5+ was just slightly smaller, with perhaps a 5" screen. I appreciate that its dimensions were slightly reduced from last year's G4 Plus, and the larger display is nice at times, but one-handed operation can be a challenge. I know others probably disagree, and might prefer a 5.5"
>
> - This is obviously subjective as well, but the new styling isn't to my taste. I loved the previous G models' understated "black monolith" design, pure dark glass front and rubbery plastic back, next to which this one, especially the plastic faux-chrome around the edges looks a bit cheap, like it's trying to be something it's not, and is prone to showing scratches. More practically, the smooth plastic rim gives less of a secure hold - I never worried about dropping the old G, but did with the G5 Plus.
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> Fortunately, this is easily remedied with a simple, thin case like this TUDIA one, which also helps protect the protruding camera "bump" and lets the phone sit flat on its back. If only there was something to be done about that tacky "moto" logo on the front. though it's less prominent than photos suggest.
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> - The original Moto G was supposedly waterproof (to some degree), but G5 Plus is only splash-resistant
>
> - reversal of the power button & volume rocker, compared to their placement on all previous Moto G's and E's was inconsiderate to loyal Motorola users who are upgrading. I've finally gotten used to the new layout, but still carry an older Moto E as a backup phone on another carrier, which doesn't help.
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> I don't care about these, but others might:
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> - micro-USB rather than USB-C -- I have a pile of other devices still using micro-USB, and it's nice having to carry just one cable type
>
> - lack of NFC - I've no interest in Android Pay, which is a pain on a rooted phone anyway due to CTS/SafetyNet checks. NFC Tags might be nice, but similar things can often be done with Bluetooth (or Wifi) pairing-triggered profiles using the excellent Tasker app ($4 on Google Play).
>
> - US version (XT1687) accepts only one SIM card, NOT two. Beware that the included instruction paper implies otherwise, and also shows an incorrect placement for the SIM and MicroSD card! To avoid possibly getting a card stuck inside, go by the markings on the actual SIM-tray instead.
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> Note that G5+ models sold in Asia, Europe, and Latin America (XT1684, XT1685) do have NFC, and often Dual-SIM also (XT1685 only), but lack the US XT1687's compass, and usually come with less RAM & flash. International models leave out CDMA also - so, if you really care about NFC or Dual-SIM and want to consider importing an XT1685, it should work on AT&T and T-mobile, but not Verizon or Sprint.
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> REGARDING ROOT ACCESS: I chose the unsubsidized "Standard" version without Amazon ads, partly because root access is near the top of my requirements in a phone. Be aware that the "Prime Exclusive" version with ads reportedly CANNOT have its bootloader unlocked! Presumably this is to stop the user from removing Amazon's ad-serving app, but it means you'll never be able to get full control over the device you just bought.
>
> I don't know if paying the ad-removal fee back to Amazon will also release it for unlocking, but suspect not -- the unlock procedure requires going to a Motorola site and entering a unique hex string that's programmed into each phone at the factory (possibly derived from the IMEI, ADB serial number, etc.), then getting another unique hex string in return - Moto keeps track of which phones are unlock-eligible and which aren't, and would have to update their records after the fact based on whether Amazon's subsidy has been repaid, which probably doesn't happen. Please correct me if anyone knows otherwise.
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> If you have the version without ads, rooting is relatively easy, though it may void the 1-year limited warranty, so take a few days first to thoroughly check for defects. Beware that swiping right within TWRP Recovery to let it make its usual changes to /system may soft-brick the phone - this happened to me on my first attempt (it would cycle endlessly between Lenovo and Motorola logos on reboot, never reaching a lockscreen), but re-flashing stock firmware via fastboot fixed it. After that, I booted into TWRP again without flashing it (loading TWRP temporarily into RAM from the attached computer), then used it ONLY to install the Magisk ZIP.
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> I disabled Magisk's "Hide" mode because I don't need it (nothing I run uses SafetyNet), and it seemed to cause a slight slowdown and additional battery drain.
>
> * For control of the charging (ad hoc notification) LED, the magic command is 'su -c "echo 1 >/sys/class/leds/charging/brightness" ' to make this LED blink quickly; echo 0 to turn it off; echo 2 for a slow flashing, 3 for solid-on. Despite the name, you can't actually control brightness, only the blink rate. I made a simple Tasker script to flash it on new texts or missed calls, and extinguish when the screen transitions off -> on (not counting motion-activated Moto Display wake-ups): pastebin(dot)com(slash)SsUCa3fe
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> Suggestions for Moto / Lenovo to consider in future software updates:
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> - please improve the One-Button Nav feature with more customization options. I'd love being able to double-tap the fingerprint sensor to bring up my recent-apps menu, or to quickly switch to the previous app, as when double-tapping the on-screen soft Apps key when One-button Nav is disabled. Android Nougat added that quick-alternation feature, but it's much less handy when having to do a "swipe, swipe" gesture, as now.
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> Quick app-switching is the main reason I usually keep One-Button Nav turned off and use traditional software keys.
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> Also, consider giving the option for both One-Button Nav *and* the soft keys to be enabled at once. This would be useful quickly getting out of full-screen apps that make the soft-keys disappear.
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> - allow the earpiece Charging LED to optionally serve as Notification LED (off by default), without having to root the phone
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> In future phones (G6?), please consider improving the LED to be nice and bright/exposed as old early G's, and also making the battery removable, like on the non-Plus Moto G5 sold in other countries, or at least reasonably serviceable as on previous Moto phones with their removable back covers, even if this adds an extra gram or two of mass, or a mm of thickness. Having to weaken adhesive with a heat gun, pry the screen loose without breaking its delicate cables, and essentially disassemble the entire phone just to replace its battery is a big step backwards. It's sad to think how many of these otherwise excellent phones might eventually wind up in landfills, just because their batteries have worn out.

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