The Best Motorola Phones (2026), Tested and Reviewed

The problem? There is a significantly better phone for just a little more: the Google Pixel 9a. Google will support that device for seven years, and it also comes with flagship-grade performance, better cameras, and more smart software features. The Moto G Stylus will only get two Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates. This is precisely why you should buy it on sale.

Best Moto G Under $300

I have good news and bad news. First, the good: Motorola’s latest Moto G Power 2026 is a pretty solid smartphone. Unlike last year’s model, performance isn’t super stuttery. It’s a little odd because Motorola didn’t actually change the processor inside the Power—it still employs the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 with 8 GB of RAM. I’m chalking it up to performance optimizations and the latest Android 16 version.

That leads us to the bad news: There’s not much difference between this phone and its predecessor; Motorola even removed wireless charging, which irks me, and the phone’s fun, bold colors are no longer available. It may not hit the highs of the 2024 Moto G Power, but at least it’s not a stuttery mess. What has been upgraded, then? The selfie camera now has a 32-megapixel sensor, and the battery capacity is slightly higher at 5,200 mAh. Battery life is truly excellent, as I managed to squeeze two full days of use out of this phone, though that’s with average use.

I like the fake leather texture on the back, which gives this phone some character. The 6.8-inch LCD is sharp and bright, and you get a reliable fingerprint scanner, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. It’s still IP68/69 rated, meaning it will be fine in heavy rain and even submerged in water for some time. Motorola also promises two Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The camera system consists of a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-MP ultrawide, and a 32-MP selfie camera. Photos from the primary shooter have washed-out colors and look processed, almost as if someone dialed up the “detail” slider to make the photo appear sharper. It can struggle with high-contrast scenes, and you generally have to be very still during capture to avoid a blurry photo. If you’re patient, you can end up with decent images, but cameras are not the Moto G Power’s strong suit. Even the upgraded selfie camera is just fine.

There’s not a ton of competition at this price, especially considering that the Moto G Power 2026 will dip to $250 or even $200 over the next few months during major sale events. If you can grab it on sale, it’s a decent Android phone, but I recommend saving up and waiting for the Moto G Stylus 2026.

Other Motorola Phones to Consider

I suggest you stick to the phones above, but here are other alternatives if you’re unsatisfied.

Motorola Edge 2025 for $500: Motorola is one of the few companies still making smartphones with waterfall displays, where the edges of the screen blend into the phone’s frame for a cool, almost bezel-less effect. Popular just a few years ago, the trend fell out of fashion because it was just harder to use the phone (bezels can be good!). I haven’t had as many issues with the touchscreen on this model, and while I think the overall aesthetic is nice with the vegan leather back, the Edge doesn’t impress as much as the stiff competition with its $550 MSRP. Performance is a little too choppy (I noticed a lot of lag in the camera app). The main camera is solid, but the lackluster software update policy makes it hard to recommend. It’s a much better deal when it dips during major sale events.

Motorola Razr+ (2025) for $800: The Razr+ (2025) is identical to the Razr+ (2024), except it employs Motorola’s titanium-reinforced hinge for improved durability. The specs are otherwise the same, but it sits in an odd middle-ground where it doesn’t offer a massive improvement over the Razr 2025, but doesn’t sit too far from the Razr Ultra. You might find the lack of an ultrawide camera annoying, especially for group selfies, and the battery here is the smallest of the current lineup. You can always save some cash and buy 2024’s Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which has good performance and solid cameras, but I highly recommend waiting for a sale. This phone has dipped as low as $580, which is fantastic for a folding phone.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Moto G 5G 2026 for $200: The Moto G 2026 is nearly identical to the Moto G Play 2026 below, except it has double the storage (expandable via microSD), supports slightly faster wired charging, and the front and rear cameras pack more megapixels. It’s a $20 difference, so if you’re eyeing either one, you really should go for the Moto G 5G 2026. Performance is similarly sluggish, though perfectly usable day to day (if you’re patient). Even with more megapixels, don’t expect much from the cameras; they can take passable photos in good lighting, but struggle a lot in low light. I was able to hit nearly two days of battery life with average use, and I like that this phone still has the headphone jack. However, keep in mind that it will only receive two Android OS updates and three years of security updates. I think you’re better off buying the Moto G Power 2026 on sale.

Moto G Play 2026

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Moto G Play 5G 2026 for $180: Motorola’s cheapest phone always sits in an awkward spot. Yes, for under $200, this is a serviceable handset that now features 5G connectivity. You get two-day battery life, a headphone jack, expandable storage, and a pretty nice design. But the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip with 4 GB of RAM is very sluggish—get ready to wait a second or two, sometimes more, for an app to launch or a webpage to load. Photo quality is passable; most of my images have lackluster colors. I took several calls, and the people on the other end generally complained about my audio quality, which isn’t great. It’s nice that this ultra-budget phone will get two Android OS updates, but I’d wait for the Moto G Power 2026 to eventually dip to $200 during major sale events.

What Motorola Phones to Avoid

Motorola Moto G 2025

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola phones diminish in value fairly quickly. You should avoid buying Moto G phones from 2024 or earlier. They likely won’t get any more Android version updates, and the prices aren’t drastically different from the latest models. I also don’t recommend buying the Moto G 2025 or Moto G Power 2025 anymore since their successors are here. Last year’s Motorola Edge 2025 or the aforementioned Razr+ (2025) are the oldest I’d go, so don’t consider anything else.

The Competition

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola’s top competition comes from Google, Nothing, and Samsung. If you asked me what phone to buy, I’d point you to the Google Pixel 9a ($499). It has most of the features folks want in a smartphone, including wireless charging. Nothing also has new devices, the Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro. They’re attractive, elegant, and affordable handsets, though carrier compatibility is not as straightforward.