If its efficiency was a smidge higher, this Moto could be a house run. It is value contemplating if cash’s tight, however spring for the Moto G Stylus in the event you can (even in the event you do not take care of the stylus). Remember, Motorola will possible announce a brand new model early in 2026.
Different Motorola Telephones to Take into account
I recommend you follow the telephones above, however listed here are different alternate options in the event you’re unhappy.
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{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
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{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola Edge 2025 for $430: Motorola is among the few firms nonetheless making smartphones with waterfall shows, the place the perimeters of the display screen mix into the telephone’s body for a cool, nearly bezel-less impact. Common only a few years in the past, the pattern fell out of vogue as a result of it was simply tougher to make use of the telephone (bezels will be good!). I have never had as many points with the touchscreen on this mannequin, and whereas I feel the general aesthetic is sweet with the vegan leather-based again, the Edge does not impress as a lot because the stiff competitors with its $550 MSRP. Efficiency is a bit too uneven (I observed a variety of lag within the digicam app). The primary digicam is stable, however the lackluster software program replace coverage makes it onerous to suggest. It is a significantly better deal when it dips throughout main sale occasions.
Motorola Razr+ (2025) for $700: The Razr+ is similar to the Razr+ (2024), besides it employs Motorola’s titanium-reinforced hinge for improved sturdiness. The specs are in any other case the identical, but it surely sits in an odd middle-ground the place it does not supply a large enchancment over the Razr 2025, however does not sit too removed from the Razr Extremely. You may discover the shortage of an ultrawide digicam annoying, particularly for group selfies, and the battery right here is the smallest of the present lineup. You’ll be able to at all times avoid wasting money and buy 2024’s Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which has good efficiency and stable cameras, however I extremely suggest ready for a sale. This telephone has dipped as little as $580, which is unbelievable for a folding telephone.
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{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Moto G 5G 2026 for $200: The Moto G 2026 is sort of similar to the Moto G Play 2026 under, besides it has double the storage (expandable by way of microSD), helps barely sooner wired charging, and the entrance and rear cameras pack extra megapixels. It is a $20 distinction, so in the event you’re eyeing both one, you actually ought to go for the Moto G 5G 2026. Efficiency is equally sluggish, although completely usable daily (in the event you’re affected person). Even with extra megapixels, do not anticipate a lot from the cameras; they’ll take satisfactory photographs in good lighting, however battle lots in low gentle. I used to be capable of hit practically two days of battery life with common use, and I like that this telephone nonetheless has the headphone jack. Nonetheless, understand that it would solely obtain two Android OS updates and three years of safety updates. I feel you are higher off shopping for the 2025 Moto G Energy or ready for the 2026 Moto G Energy and catching it on sale.
Moto G Play 5G 2026 for $180: Motorola’s most cost-effective telephone at all times sits in an ungainly spot. Sure, for underneath $200, it is a serviceable handset that now options 5G connectivity. You get two-day battery life, a headphone jack, expandable storage, and a reasonably good design. However the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip with 4 GB of RAM could be very sluggish—prepare to attend a second or two, generally extra, for an app to launch or a webpage to load. Picture high quality is satisfactory; most of my photographs have lackluster colours. I took a number of calls, and the folks on the opposite finish usually complained about my audio high quality, which is not nice. It is good that this ultra-budget telephone will get two Android OS updates, however when the Moto G Energy 2025 is on sale for $200 on Amazon and customarily presents sooner efficiency, double the storage, and higher digicam high quality, the Play is hard to justify.
What Motorola Telephones to Keep away from
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Motorola telephones diminish in worth pretty rapidly. You need to keep away from shopping for Moto G telephones from 2024 or earlier. They possible gained’t get any extra Android model updates, and the costs aren’t drastically completely different from the newest fashions. I additionally do not suggest shopping for the Moto G 2025 anymore since its successor is right here. Final 12 months’s Motorola Edge 2024 or the aforementioned Razr+ 2024 are the oldest I would go, so do not think about the rest.
The Competitors
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola’s prime competitors comes from Google, Nothing, and Samsung. If you happen to requested me what telephone to purchase, I’d level you to the Google Pixel 9a ($499). It has a lot of the options people need in a smartphone, together with wi-fi charging. Nothing additionally has new units, the Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro. They’re engaging, elegant, and inexpensive handsets, although service compatibility just isn’t as simple. Nothing’s sub-brand CMF additionally has an equally wonderful $279 telephone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
