Many people appreciate what Motorola offers with its affordable Moto G series, but there’s been one consistent problem: bloatware. This annoying software has crept into the user interface, popping up as ads disguised as folders or unnecessary weather partnerships that make checking the daily forecast a headache. If you’re not careful during the setup, you might end up with several unwanted apps cluttering your device, which could make the experience frustrating.
Recently, I got my hands on the Moto G 5G (2025) and Moto G Power 5G (2025). I was cautious during the setup, wondering if the bloatware problem would persist. To my surprise, it seemed like Motorola had made significant changes. The usual avalanche of unwanted software didn’t show up, and the user interface felt much lighter and cleaner.
One of the most irritating features in earlier models was the shopping, gaming, and entertainment hubs. These were designed to look like helpful folders but were really just traps to install apps that users didn’t want. You might think they would organize your apps automatically, but often it turned out the opposite. You would open one of these hubs, see a list of pre-checked apps, and by clicking “Done,” you would trigger the installation of all those unwanted applications.
Fortunately, in the latest Moto G models, these irritating hubs have been removed, making the setup process a lot smoother and more straightforward. It felt like a breath of fresh air, like finally escaping a frustrating situation. While it’s true that in the past, you could opt out of these hubs during setup, I, like many others, had missed that opportunity a few times, making the experience cumbersome.
However, not everything is perfect. There are still a few bloatware apps on the Moto G 5G (2025) that you can’t avoid. Initially, I thought I had done well to avoid many unwanted applications when Motorola provided a list of apps to choose from. But, I soon discovered that applications like Chime, Block Blast, and a version of Solitaire filled with ads were unavoidable at first. Fortunately, I could uninstall them, but it’s puzzling why some applications are optional while others are not.
Another app that I hope Motorola will remove in the future is 1Weather. It’s unfortunate because I never expected to find a Motorola phone truly bloatware-free given its low price tag. However, with Hello UX becoming more streamlined, I really wish they would eliminate the 1Weather app, which is loaded with ads. From the moment you open it, it struggles to work smoothly and is bombarded with ads, which hinder your ability to check the weather quickly. Scrolling through the app can be incredibly slow due to interruptions from ads and external news articles, making it quite frustrating.
The good news about 1Weather is that it is optional. Although you cannot remove it during the setup, you can uninstall it quickly afterward. By doing so, your Moto G 5G (2025) will revert to the much faster and ad-free AccuWeather interface.
Even with minor issues, every little improvement counts for a budget-friendly phone. Motorola could have easily included more bloatware in this latest Moto G, but instead, they chose to make it lighter. So, I appreciate the changes made to this otherwise affordable phone priced at around $200.