If its efficiency was a smidge higher, this Moto can 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 probably announce a brand new model early in 2026.
Different Motorola Telephones to Think about
I counsel you follow the telephones above, however listed below are different alternate options in the event you’re unhappy.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola Edge 2025 for $400: Motorola is likely one of the few corporations nonetheless making smartphones with waterfall shows, the place the perimeters of the display screen mix into the cellphone’s body for a cool, virtually bezel-less impact. Widespread only a few 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 might be good!). I have not had as many points with the touchscreen on this mannequin, and whereas I believe the general aesthetic is sweet with the vegan leather-based again, the Edge would not impress as a lot because the stiff competitors with its $550 MSRP. Efficiency is just a little too uneven at this worth (I seen lots of lag within the digicam app). The primary digicam is strong, however the lackluster software program replace coverage makes it laborious to advocate. It is a a lot better deal when it dips throughout main sale occasions.
Motorola Razr+ (2025) for $650: The Razr+ is equivalent 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 would not supply a large enchancment over the Razr 2025, however would not sit too removed from the Razr Extremely. You may discover the dearth of an ultrawide digicam annoying, particularly for group selfies, and the battery right here is the smallest of the present lineup. You possibly can at all times avoid wasting money and purchase final 12 months’s Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which has good efficiency and strong cameras, however I extremely advocate ready for a sale. This cellphone has dipped as little as $580, which is incredible for a folding cellphone.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Moto G Play 2026 for $180: Motorola’s least expensive cellphone at all times sits in a clumsy 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. Photograph high quality is satisfactory; most of my pictures 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 cellphone will get two Android OS updates, however when the Moto G Energy 2025 is on sale for $190 on Amazon and usually presents quicker efficiency, double the storage, and higher digicam high quality, the Play is hard to justify. Motorola additionally introduced the Moto G 2026 ($200), launching quickly, however it’s nearly the identical because the Play besides with 128 GB of storage and upgraded cameras. I would at the least spring for that mannequin, contemplating the $20 worth distinction. However actually, get the Moto G Energy 2025 on sale (or wait a number of months for the inevitable Moto G Energy 2026).
What Motorola Telephones to Keep away from
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Julian-Chokkattu.jpg)
Motorola Moto G 2025
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola telephones diminish in worth pretty rapidly. It’s best to keep away from shopping for Moto G telephones from 2024 or earlier. They probably gained’t get any extra Android model updates, and the costs aren’t drastically totally different from the most recent fashions. I additionally do not advocate shopping for the Moto G 2025 anymore since its successor is sort of right here. Final 12 months’s Motorola Edge 2024 or the aforementioned Razr+ 2024 are the oldest I would go, so do not contemplate the rest.
The Competitors
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola’s prime competitors comes from Google, Nothing, and Samsung. For those who requested me what cellphone 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 Telephone (3a) and the Telephone (3a) Professional. They’re engaging, elegant, and inexpensive handsets, although service compatibility will not be as simple. Nothing’s sub-brand CMF additionally has an equally glorious $279 cellphone, the CMF Telephone 2 Professional.
