execs and cons
- Improved digital camera
- Lengthy-lasting battery
- Loud audio system
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“If it ain’t broke, do not repair it” — that easy phrase appears to have been Motorola’s mantra with the 2026 Moto G, a midrange smartphone that carefully mirrors final yr’s mannequin. On one hand, that is an excellent factor. I preferred the 2025 Moto G so much — it is an excellent 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 carefully to the unique formulation, nevertheless, is that it retains most of the identical points. Let’s check out the 2026 refresh of this eye-catching $200 Android smartphone.
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Modern and daring
Probably the most noticeable modifications 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 would not make a lot of a distinction, because it’s nonetheless glossy and light-weight. It is also snug to carry, due to its rounded corners and comfortable vegan leather-based backing, which provides it a particular look.
Motorola made some daring design selections, too. The cellphone boasts a placing Cattleya Orchid pink end, a way more eye-catching shade scheme in comparison with the Forest Grey of the 2025 mannequin. I additionally recognize 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 is not 1080p, it nonetheless impresses with its vivid and correct colours, sturdy peak brightness of 1,000 nits, and a clean 120Hz refresh charge. This can be a stable 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. Considered one of my favourite moments throughout testing the smartphone was kicking again and watching 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 digital camera
Across the again of the cellphone, you can see a dual-camera system with a 50MP major and a 2MP ultrawide lens. Considered one of my greatest points with earlier fashions was their tendency to oversaturate colours. That downside has largely been mounted.
Much like the 2026 Moto G Play (the opposite at present out there 2026 mannequin), colours seem extra balanced, leading to higher photographs — for me, anyway. Some individuals like the additional saturation. Moreover, not like the Play mannequin, the Moto G holds up higher in low-light conditions.
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Under 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.
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 would not do justice to the pictures it captures. They’ll 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 films on Netflix, and looking the web all felt seamless, helped alongside by the 120Hz refresh charge and RAM Enhance characteristic.
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, due to the larger 128GB storage drive. I also needs to point out which you could increase the quantity as much as 1TB by way of a microSD card. Nonetheless, most of the identical limitations stay. It nonetheless struggles beneath heavier workloads. Graphically demanding video games like “Honkai: Star Rail” and “Genshin Impression” nonetheless set off stuttering and temporary freezes on the gadget.
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Battery life is one other sturdy 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 brightness till the battery gave out. And I managed to get an excellent 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 present out there on the Motorola web site for $200, making it a straightforward suggestion for consumers searching for a dependable low-to-midrange cellphone — particularly when you choose 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 provides extra storage, a greater digital camera 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 a number of refreshes. Go for the newer cellphone if digital camera upgrades are essential to you, or think about final yr’s Moto G for $150 when you’re on a funds.
