The Best Motorola Phones (2026), Tested and Reviewed

The issue? There’s a considerably higher cellphone for just a bit extra: the Google Pixel 9a. Google will help that system for seven years, and it additionally comes with flagship-grade efficiency, higher cameras, and extra good software program options. The Moto G Stylus will solely get two Android OS upgrades and three years of safety updates. That is exactly why you should purchase it on sale.

Finest Moto G Underneath $300

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola

Moto G Energy 2026

I’ve excellent news and unhealthy information. First, the nice: Motorola’s newest Moto G Energy 2026 is a fairly stable smartphone. Not like final 12 months’s mannequin, efficiency is not tremendous stuttery. It is a bit odd as a result of Motorola did not truly change the processor contained in the Energy—it nonetheless employs the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 with 8 GB of RAM. I am chalking it as much as efficiency optimizations and the newest Android 16 model.

That leads us to the unhealthy information: There’s not a lot distinction between this cellphone and its predecessor; Motorola even eliminated wi-fi charging, which irks me, and the cellphone’s enjoyable, daring colours are now not obtainable. It could not hit the highs of the 2024 Moto G Energy, however not less than it is not a stuttery mess. What has been upgraded, then? The selfie digital camera now has a 32-megapixel sensor, and the battery capability is barely larger at 5,200 mAh. Battery life is really glorious, as I managed to squeeze two full days of use out of this cellphone, although that is with common use.

I just like the pretend leather-based texture on the again, which supplies this cellphone some character. The 6.8-inch LCD is sharp and shiny, and also you get a dependable fingerprint scanner, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. It is nonetheless IP68/69 rated, that means will probably be effective in heavy rain and even submerged in water for a while. Motorola additionally guarantees two Android OS upgrades and three years of safety updates.

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

The digital camera system consists of a 50-megapixel principal digital camera, an 8-MP ultrawide, and a 32-MP selfie digital camera. Images from the first shooter have washed-out colours and look processed, nearly as if somebody dialed up the “element” slider to make the picture seem sharper. It will possibly wrestle with high-contrast scenes, and also you typically must be very nonetheless throughout seize to keep away from a blurry picture. In the event you’re affected person, you’ll be able to find yourself with first rate pictures, however cameras should not the Moto G Energy’s robust swimsuit. Even the upgraded selfie digital camera is simply effective.

There’s not a ton of competitors at this worth, particularly contemplating that the Moto G Energy 2026 will dip to $250 and even $200 over the subsequent few months throughout main sale occasions. In the event you can seize it on sale, it is a first rate Android cellphone, however I like to recommend saving up and ready for the Moto G Stylus 2026.

Different Motorola Telephones to Take into account

I counsel you stick with the telephones above, however listed below are different alternate options when you’re unhappy.

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola Edge 2025 for $500: Motorola is likely one of the few corporations nonetheless making smartphones with waterfall shows, the place the sides of the display mix into the cellphone’s body for a cool, nearly bezel-less impact. Common just some years in the past, the development fell out of style as a result of it was simply tougher to make use of the cellphone (bezels may be good!). I have never had as many points with the touchscreen on this mannequin, and whereas I feel the general aesthetic is good 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 digital camera app). The principle digital camera is stable, however the lackluster software program replace coverage makes it arduous to suggest. It is a significantly better deal when it dips throughout main sale occasions.

Motorola Razr+ (2025) for $800: The Razr+ (2025) 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, however it sits in an odd middle-ground the place it does not provide 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 digital camera annoying, particularly for group selfies, and the battery right here is the smallest of the present lineup. You possibly can all the time avoid wasting money and purchase 2024’s Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which has good efficiency and stable cameras, however I extremely suggest ready for a sale. This cellphone has dipped as little as $580, which is incredible for a folding cellphone.

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

Moto G 5G 2026 for $200: The Moto G 2026 is almost similar to the Moto G Play 2026 beneath, besides it has double the storage (expandable by way of microSD), helps barely quicker wired charging, and the entrance and rear cameras pack extra megapixels. It is a $20 distinction, so when you’re eyeing both one, you actually ought to go for the Moto G 5G 2026. Efficiency is equally sluggish, although completely usable each day (when you’re affected person). Even with extra megapixels, do not anticipate a lot from the cameras; they’ll take satisfactory images in good lighting, however wrestle quite a bit in low mild. I used to be capable of hit practically two days of battery life with common use, and I like that this cellphone nonetheless has the headphone jack. Nevertheless, take into account that it should solely obtain two Android OS updates and three years of safety updates. I feel you are higher off shopping for the Moto G Energy 2026 on sale.

Moto G Play 2026

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

Moto G Play 5G 2026 for $180: Motorola’s most cost-effective cellphone all the time sits in an ungainly spot. Sure, for beneath $200, this can be a serviceable handset that now options 5G connectivity. You get two-day battery life, a headphone jack, expandable storage, and a fairly good design. However the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip with 4 GB of RAM could be very sluggish—prepare to attend a second or two, typically extra, for an app to launch or a webpage to load. Photograph high quality is satisfactory; most of my pictures have lackluster colours. I took a number of calls, and the individuals on the opposite finish typically complained about my audio high quality, which is not nice. It is good that this ultra-budget cellphone will get two Android OS updates, however I might await the Moto G Energy 2026 to finally dip to $200 throughout main sale occasions.

What Motorola Telephones to Keep away from

Motorola Moto G 2025

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola telephones diminish in worth pretty rapidly. You must keep away from shopping for Moto G telephones from 2024 or earlier. They seemingly received’t get any extra Android model updates, and the costs aren’t drastically totally different from the newest fashions. I additionally do not suggest shopping for the Moto G 2025 or Moto G Energy 2025 anymore since their successors are right here. Final 12 months’s Motorola Edge 2025 or the aforementioned Razr+ (2025) are the oldest I might go, so do not take into account anything.

The Competitors

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola’s prime competitors comes from Google, Nothing, and Samsung. In the event you requested me what cellphone to purchase, I’d level you to the Google Pixel 9a ($499). It has many of the options of us need in a smartphone, together with wi-fi charging. Nothing additionally has new units, the Cellphone (3a) and the Cellphone (3a) Professional. They’re engaging, elegant, and inexpensive handsets, although provider compatibility is just not as easy.