ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Motorola’s 2026 Moto G is on the market 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 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 intently mirrors final yr’s mannequin. On one hand, that is factor. I appreciated the 2025 Moto G loads — it is a fantastic 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 system, nonetheless, 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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Glossy and daring
Probably the most noticeable modifications within the 2026 Moto G is its barely bigger type 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 glossy 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 decisions, too. The telephone boasts a placing Cattleya Orchid pink end, a way more eye-catching coloration scheme in comparison with the Forest Grey of the 2025 mannequin. I additionally admire 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 vibrant and correct colours, sturdy peak brightness of 1,000 nits, and a easy 120Hz refresh charge. 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 strong speaker system fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos. Audio output is wealthy, detailed, and immersive. One among 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 digicam
Across the again of the telephone, you can see a two-camera system consisting of a 50MP most important and a 2MP ultrawide lens. One among my largest points with earlier fashions was their tendency to oversaturate colours. That drawback has largely been mounted.
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Just like the 2026 Moto G Play (the opposite at present accessible 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. Under is a picture I took with my smartphone, which I consider successfully illustrates its high quality. You may 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 does not do justice to the pictures taken by the digicam. 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 function.
For individuals who might 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 must also point out that you would be able to broaden the quantity as much as 1TB by way of a microSD card. Nevertheless, most of the identical limitations stay. It nonetheless struggles below heavier workloads. Graphically demanding video games like “Honkai: Star Rail” and “Genshin Impression” nonetheless set off stuttering and transient 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 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 accessible on the Motorola website for $200, making it a straightforward suggestion for buyers looking for a dependable low-to-midrange telephone — particularly in case you favor the daring pink end. If the colour is just too garish, it is also accessible in Slipstream blue.
In comparison with the Moto G Play, this mannequin presents 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 telephone except for a couple of refreshes. Go for the newer telephone if digicam upgrades are vital to you, or take into account final yr’s Moto G for $150 in case you’re on a price range.
