Why I prefer this $200 Motorola phone over Samsung and Google's budget models

[ad_1] ZDNET's key takeaways Motorola's 2026 Moto G is accessible for $200. It has a greater digicam, and retains standout options like loud Dolby Atmos audio system and a long-lasting battery. It additionally retains the identical {hardware} as earlier than, so the cellphone nonetheless struggles with heavier workloads. Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a most popular supply on Google.

"If it ain't broke, do not repair it" -- that straightforward phrase appears to have been Motorola's mantra with the 2026 Moto G , a midrange smartphone that intently mirrors final yr's mannequin. On one hand, that is a superb factor. I favored the 2025 Moto G loads -- it is an amazing gadget with a long-lasting battery and options that made it a "pocket-sized theater".

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The draw back to adhering so intently to the unique formulation, nevertheless, is that it retains lots of the identical points. Let's check out the 2026 refresh of this eye-catching $200 Android smartphone.

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Glossy and daring One of the crucial noticeable adjustments within the 2026 Moto G is its barely bigger kind issue, measuring 167.15 x 76.40 x 8.44 mm (6.58 x 3 x 0.33 inches) and weighing 202 grams. This additional heft does not make a lot of a distinction, because it's nonetheless smooth and light-weight. It is also snug to carry, because of its rounded corners and mushy vegan leather-based backing, which supplies it a particular look.

Motorola made some daring design selections, too. The cellphone boasts a hanging Cattleya Orchid pink end, a way more eye-catching colour scheme in comparison with the Forest Grey of the 2025 mannequin. I additionally respect the inclusion of a headphone jack in an period dominated by Bluetooth earbuds.

Return of the pocket theater The Moto G homes a 6.7-inch HD+ show with a decision of 1,604 x 720 pixels. Whereas the display screen is not 1080p, it nonetheless impresses with its shiny and correct colours, robust peak brightness of 1,000 nits, and a clean 120Hz refresh fee. This can be a strong mixture of options, enabling vibrant video playback and fluid scrolling.

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Just like the older mannequin, the 2026 Moto G has a sturdy speaker system fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos. Audio output is wealthy, detailed, and immersive. One in all my favourite moments testing the smartphone was after I kicked again and watched Area Jam on YouTube for the primary time in years. The film highlighted the speaker's capability to churn well-balanced audio, from the soundtrack to character voices, with nothing feeling overshadowed or undertuned.

Improved digicam Across the again of the cellphone, you can see a two-camera system consisting of a 50MP predominant and a 2MP ultrawide lens. One in all my greatest points with earlier fashions was their tendency to oversaturate colours. That downside has largely been fastened.

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Much like the 2026 Moto G Play (the opposite at the moment out there 2026 mannequin), colours seem extra balanced, leading to higher photographs -- for me, anyway. Some folks like the additional saturation. Moreover, in contrast to the Play mannequin, the Moto G holds up higher in low-light conditions. Beneath is a picture I took with my smartphone, which I consider successfully illustrates its high quality. You'll be able to see the squirrel within the shade pretty clearly. That is one thing that the G Play would've struggled to seize.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET I like to recommend importing your photographs to Google Drive or one other cloud storage service and viewing them on a pc monitor. The Moto G's HD show does not do justice to the pictures taken by the digicam. They will look much less detailed than they really are.

Light-weight efficiency The efficiency of Motorola's 2026 Moto G is a well-recognized story. The smartphone runs on the identical MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset as final yr's mannequin, delivering the identical nice expertise. Leaping between a number of apps, streaming motion pictures on Netflix, and shopping the web all felt seamless, helped alongside by the 120Hz refresh fee and RAM Enhance function.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET For many who could not know, RAM Enhance converts unused storage into digital reminiscence. It is extra helpful right here than on the Moto G Play, because of the larger 128GB storage drive. I also needs to point out that you could broaden the quantity as much as 1TB by way of a microSD card. Nevertheless, lots of the identical limitations stay. It nonetheless struggles underneath heavier workloads. Graphically demanding video games like "Honkai: Star Rail" and "Genshin Affect" nonetheless set off stuttering and temporary freezes on the gadget.

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Battery life is one other robust level. Motorola advertises as much as two days of steady utilization. To check this, I ran a YouTube livestream at 720p nonstop at a low display screen brightness till the battery gave out. And I managed to get a superb 24 hours out of it. Not fairly the claimed two days, however nonetheless excellent.

ZDNET's shopping for recommendation Motorola's 2026 Moto G is at the moment out there on the Motorola website for $200, making it a straightforward advice for customers looking for a dependable low-to-midrange cellphone -- particularly if you happen to want the daring pink end. If the colour is just too garish, it is also out there in Slipstream blue.

In comparison with the Moto G Play, this mannequin gives extra storage, a greater digicam system, and barely stronger efficiency, making it the higher purchase between the 2 for my part. Selecting between it and the 2025 mannequin is trickier, since they're largely the identical cellphone except for just a few refreshes. Go for the newer cellphone if digicam upgrades are necessary to you, or take into account final yr's Moto G for $150 if you happen to're on a funds.