<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n
Pros and cons<\/h4>\n\nPros<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n- better camera<\/span><\/li>\n
- long lasting battery<\/span><\/li>\n
- loud speaker<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Follow ZDNET: <\/em>Add us as a favorite source<\/span><\/a><\/span> On Google.<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cIf it ain’t broke, don’t fix it\u201d \u2013 it seems this simple phrase is Motorola’s mantra. 2026 moto g<\/span><\/a><\/span>A midrange smartphone that largely mirrors last year’s model. On one hand, this is a good thing. I really liked the 2025 Moto G \u2013 it’s a great device with a long-lasting battery and features that made it a \u201cpocket-sized theater.\u201d <\/p>\nAlso: How I share audio from my Android phone to multiple earbuds (and why it’s a big deal)<\/strong><\/p>\nHowever, the downside of following the original formula so closely is that many of the issues remain the same. Let’s take a look at the 2026 refresh of this attractive $200 Android smartphone. <\/p>\n
\nBest mobile deals of the week<\/h3>\n
Deals are selected by the CNET Group Commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
sleek and bold<\/h2>\n
One of the most notable changes in the 2026 Moto G is its slightly larger form factor, measuring 167.15 x 76.40 x 8.44 mm (6.58 x 3 x 0.33 inches) and weighing 202 grams. This extra weight doesn’t make much of a difference, as it’s still sleek and light. It’s also comfortable to hold, thanks to its rounded corners and soft vegan leather backing, which gives it a distinctive look.<\/p>\n
Motorola also made some bold design choices. The phone has an attractive Cattleya Orchid Pink finish, which is a much more attractive color scheme than the Forest Gray of the 2025 model. I also appreciate the inclusion of a headphone jack in an era dominated by Bluetooth earbuds.<\/p>\n
Return of Pocket Theater<\/h2>\n
The Moto G has a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1,604 x 720 pixels. Although the screen isn’t 1080p, it still impresses with its bright and accurate colors, a strong peak brightness of 1,000 nits, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a solid combination of features, enabling vibrant video playback and fluid scrolling.<\/p>\n
Also: Google Pixel phones have a useful voicemail feature that’s hidden by default \u2013 how to enable it<\/strong><\/p>\nLike the older model, the 2026 Moto G features a robust speaker system fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos. The audio output is rich, detailed and immersive. One of my favorite moments while testing the smartphone was watching Space Jam on YouTube for the first time in years. The speaker’s ability to churn out well-balanced audio was highlighted, from the soundtrack to the characters’ voices in the movie, with nothing feeling unclear or slow.<\/p>\n
better camera<\/h2>\n
On the back of the phone you will find a dual-camera system with a 50MP main and 2MP ultrawide lens. One of the biggest problems I had with previous models was their tendency to over-saturate colors. That problem has been fixed to a great extent.<\/p>\n
Similar to the 2026 Moto G Play (the second 2026 model currently available), colors appear more balanced, resulting in better photos \u2013 for me, anyway. Some people like extra saturation. Additionally, unlike the Play model, the Moto G performs better in low light conditions. <\/p>\n
Also: I found a way to roll back bad Google services updates on Android – in just a few clicks<\/strong><\/p>\nBelow is an image I took with my smartphone, I believe it effectively captures its quality. You can see the squirrel quite clearly in the shadow. This is something the G Play may have struggled to capture.<\/p>\n\n\n ![\"moto-g-photo-taken.png\"](\"\")
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div> Cesar Cadenas\/ZDNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI recommend uploading your photos to Google Drive or another cloud storage service and viewing them on a computer monitor. The HD display of the Moto G doesn’t do justice to the images captured. They may appear less detailed than they actually are.<\/p>\n
light display<\/h2>\n
The reveal of Motorola’s 2026 Moto G is a familiar story. The smartphone is powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset as last year’s model, which offers the same great experience. Jumping between multiple apps, streaming movies on Netflix, and browsing the internet all felt seamless, helped by the 120Hz refresh rate and RAM Boost feature.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div> Cesar Cadenas\/ZDNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor those who don’t know, RAM Boost turns unused storage into virtual memory. It’s more useful here than the Moto G Play because of the larger 128GB storage drive. I should also point out that you can expand the amount up to 1TB via a microSD card. However, many of the same limitations still remain. It still struggles under heavy workloads. Graphically demanding games like “Honkai: Star Rail” and “Genshin Impact” still stutter and lag for a while on the device.<\/p>\n
Also: Why I recommend this cheap Motorola over budget phones from Samsung and TCL<\/strong><\/p>\nBattery life is another strong point. Motorola advertises up to two days of continuous use. To test this, I played a YouTube livestream at 720p nonstop at low screen brightness until the battery drained. And I managed to get a good 24 hours out of it. Not quite the claimed two days, but still pretty good.<\/p>\n
ZDNET’s shopping advice<\/h2>\n
Motorola’s 2026 Moto G<\/span><\/a><\/span> It’s currently available on the Motorola site for $200, making it an easy recommendation for buyers looking for a reliable low-to-midrange phone \u2013 especially if you like the bold pink finish. If the color is too garish, it’s also available in Slipstream blue.<\/p>\nCompared to the Moto G Play, this model offers more storage, a better camera system, and slightly stronger performance, making it the better buy between the two in my opinion. Choosing between it and the 2025 model is trickier, as they’re largely the same phone apart from a few updates. If a camera upgrade is important to you, choose a new phone or consider last year’s Moto G for $150<\/span><\/a><\/span> If you are on a budget. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
- \n
- better camera<\/span><\/li>\n
- long lasting battery<\/span><\/li>\n
- loud speaker<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Follow ZDNET: <\/em>Add us as a favorite source<\/span><\/a><\/span> On Google.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cIf it ain’t broke, don’t fix it\u201d \u2013 it seems this simple phrase is Motorola’s mantra. 2026 moto g<\/span><\/a><\/span>A midrange smartphone that largely mirrors last year’s model. On one hand, this is a good thing. I really liked the 2025 Moto G \u2013 it’s a great device with a long-lasting battery and features that made it a \u201cpocket-sized theater.\u201d <\/p>\n
Also: How I share audio from my Android phone to multiple earbuds (and why it’s a big deal)<\/strong><\/p>\n
However, the downside of following the original formula so closely is that many of the issues remain the same. Let’s take a look at the 2026 refresh of this attractive $200 Android smartphone. <\/p>\n
\nBest mobile deals of the week<\/h3>\n
Deals are selected by the CNET Group Commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
sleek and bold<\/h2>\n
One of the most notable changes in the 2026 Moto G is its slightly larger form factor, measuring 167.15 x 76.40 x 8.44 mm (6.58 x 3 x 0.33 inches) and weighing 202 grams. This extra weight doesn’t make much of a difference, as it’s still sleek and light. It’s also comfortable to hold, thanks to its rounded corners and soft vegan leather backing, which gives it a distinctive look.<\/p>\n
Motorola also made some bold design choices. The phone has an attractive Cattleya Orchid Pink finish, which is a much more attractive color scheme than the Forest Gray of the 2025 model. I also appreciate the inclusion of a headphone jack in an era dominated by Bluetooth earbuds.<\/p>\n
Return of Pocket Theater<\/h2>\n
The Moto G has a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1,604 x 720 pixels. Although the screen isn’t 1080p, it still impresses with its bright and accurate colors, a strong peak brightness of 1,000 nits, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a solid combination of features, enabling vibrant video playback and fluid scrolling.<\/p>\n
Also: Google Pixel phones have a useful voicemail feature that’s hidden by default \u2013 how to enable it<\/strong><\/p>\n
Like the older model, the 2026 Moto G features a robust speaker system fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos. The audio output is rich, detailed and immersive. One of my favorite moments while testing the smartphone was watching Space Jam on YouTube for the first time in years. The speaker’s ability to churn out well-balanced audio was highlighted, from the soundtrack to the characters’ voices in the movie, with nothing feeling unclear or slow.<\/p>\n
better camera<\/h2>\n
On the back of the phone you will find a dual-camera system with a 50MP main and 2MP ultrawide lens. One of the biggest problems I had with previous models was their tendency to over-saturate colors. That problem has been fixed to a great extent.<\/p>\n
Similar to the 2026 Moto G Play (the second 2026 model currently available), colors appear more balanced, resulting in better photos \u2013 for me, anyway. Some people like extra saturation. Additionally, unlike the Play model, the Moto G performs better in low light conditions. <\/p>\n
Also: I found a way to roll back bad Google services updates on Android – in just a few clicks<\/strong><\/p>\n
Below is an image I took with my smartphone, I believe it effectively captures its quality. You can see the squirrel quite clearly in the shadow. This is something the G Play may have struggled to capture.<\/p>\n
\n \nCesar Cadenas\/ZDNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I recommend uploading your photos to Google Drive or another cloud storage service and viewing them on a computer monitor. The HD display of the Moto G doesn’t do justice to the images captured. They may appear less detailed than they actually are.<\/p>\n
light display<\/h2>\n
The reveal of Motorola’s 2026 Moto G is a familiar story. The smartphone is powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset as last year’s model, which offers the same great experience. Jumping between multiple apps, streaming movies on Netflix, and browsing the internet all felt seamless, helped by the 120Hz refresh rate and RAM Boost feature.<\/p>\n
\n \nCesar Cadenas\/ZDNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n For those who don’t know, RAM Boost turns unused storage into virtual memory. It’s more useful here than the Moto G Play because of the larger 128GB storage drive. I should also point out that you can expand the amount up to 1TB via a microSD card. However, many of the same limitations still remain. It still struggles under heavy workloads. Graphically demanding games like “Honkai: Star Rail” and “Genshin Impact” still stutter and lag for a while on the device.<\/p>\n
Also: Why I recommend this cheap Motorola over budget phones from Samsung and TCL<\/strong><\/p>\n
Battery life is another strong point. Motorola advertises up to two days of continuous use. To test this, I played a YouTube livestream at 720p nonstop at low screen brightness until the battery drained. And I managed to get a good 24 hours out of it. Not quite the claimed two days, but still pretty good.<\/p>\n
ZDNET’s shopping advice<\/h2>\n
Motorola’s 2026 Moto G<\/span><\/a><\/span> It’s currently available on the Motorola site for $200, making it an easy recommendation for buyers looking for a reliable low-to-midrange phone \u2013 especially if you like the bold pink finish. If the color is too garish, it’s also available in Slipstream blue.<\/p>\n
Compared to the Moto G Play, this model offers more storage, a better camera system, and slightly stronger performance, making it the better buy between the two in my opinion. Choosing between it and the 2025 model is trickier, as they’re largely the same phone apart from a few updates. If a camera upgrade is important to you, choose a new phone or consider last year’s Moto G for $150<\/span><\/a><\/span> If you are on a budget. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
- long lasting battery<\/span><\/li>\n