ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Motorola’s 2026 Moto G is obtainable for $200.
- It has a greater digital camera, 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 telephone nonetheless struggles with heavier workloads.
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“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 carefully mirrors final yr’s mannequin. On one hand, that is a superb factor. I appreciated the 2025 Moto G so much — it is an important system 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 components, 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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Smooth and daring
One of the vital 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 further heft would not make a lot of a distinction, because it’s nonetheless modern and light-weight. It is also comfy to carry, because of its rounded corners and comfortable vegan leather-based backing, which provides it a particular look.
Motorola made some daring design selections, too. The telephone boasts a putting Cattleya Orchid pink end, a way more eye-catching colour 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 screen is not 1080p, it nonetheless impresses with its vivid and correct colours, robust peak brightness of 1,000 nits, and a clean 120Hz refresh price. 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. Considered one of my favourite moments testing the smartphone was once I kicked again and watched House 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 telephone, you can see a two-camera system consisting of a 50MP principal and a 2MP ultrawide lens. Considered one of my greatest points with earlier fashions was their tendency to oversaturate colours. That drawback has largely been fastened.
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Much like the 2026 Moto G Play (the opposite at present out there 2026 mannequin), colours seem extra balanced, leading to higher pictures — for me, anyway. Some individuals like the additional saturation. Moreover, in contrast to the Play mannequin, the Moto G holds up higher in low-light conditions. 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 pictures 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 photographs taken by the digital camera. They will look much less detailed than they really are.
Light-weight efficiency
The efficiency of Motorola’s 2026 Moto G is a well-known 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 shopping the web all felt seamless, helped alongside by the 120Hz refresh price and RAM Increase characteristic.
For many who could not know, RAM Increase 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 would be able to increase the quantity as much as 1TB through 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 Influence” nonetheless set off stuttering and temporary freezes on the system.
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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 superb.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Motorola’s 2026 Moto G is at present out there on the Motorola website for $200, making it a straightforward advice for consumers looking for a dependable low-to-midrange telephone — particularly should 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 gives extra storage, a greater digital camera system, and barely stronger efficiency, making it the higher purchase between the 2 in my view. Selecting between it and the 2025 mannequin is trickier, since they’re largely the identical telephone other than a number of refreshes. Go for the newer telephone if digital camera upgrades are necessary to you, or contemplate final yr’s Moto G for $150 should you’re on a finances.
