Pros & Cons
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- Affordable
- Good battery life
- Expandable storage
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- Low-resolution screen
- Limited support window from Motorola
- Thin-sounding audio
Motorola Moto G (2026) Specs
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 16 hours, 30 minutes |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP, 2MP; 32MP |
| CPU | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
| Dimensions | 6.58 by 3.01 by 0.33 inches |
| Operating System | Android 16 |
| Screen Resolution | 1,604 by 720 pixels |
| Screen Size | 6.7 |
The 2026 Motorola Moto G ($199.99) is an inexpensive phone that reliably handles everyday tasks. We like its simple and stylish design, long battery life, and decent performance, but it's held back by a low-resolution screen, poor audio quality, and a shorter software support window than competitors. For the same price, you get a lot more value from the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G thanks to its higher-res screen, sharper cameras, clearer audio, and far longer support commitment, making it our Editors’ Choice for affordable phones.
Design: Stylish, Textured, and a Little Chunky
The Moto G measures 6.58 by 3.01 by 0.33 inches (HWD) and weighs 7.13 ounces, making it wider, thicker, and heavier than the 2025 model (6.58 by 3.00 by 0.32 inches, 6.91 ounces). Meanwhile, the Galaxy A16 is shorter, thinner, and lighter (6.47 by 3.07 by 0.31 inches, 7.06 ounces).
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)A large screen made of Gorilla Glass 3 dominates the front, with relatively thick bezels all the way around. A combined microSD/SIM card tray is located on the left edge, while two volume controls and a combined power button/fingerprint sensor are on the right. I found the fingerprint sensor finicky, and the volume buttons hard to reach when using the phone one-handed. A 3.5mm headphone jack for wired headphones, a USB-C port, and a speaker are all on the bottom edge.
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)Textured vegan leather (aka, plastic) envelops the back of the device in a continuous sheet, wrapping around the camera elements for a cohesive look. It’s stylish and different, which makes it stand out in the current, glass-dominated smartphone landscape.
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)Like last year’s model, the G is rated IP52 to withstand solid dust particles and light splashes of water. The Galaxy A16 has a stronger IP54 rating for resistance to sweat and rain. Motorola offers the G in two colors: Pantone Cattleya Orchid (magenta) or Pantone Slipstream (blue/gray). I received a Slipstream model for testing, and the dark color gives it an understated look.
Display: Big Screen, Low Resolution
The Moto G features a 6.7-inch LCD with a resolution of 1,604 by 720 pixels, a refresh rate of 60Hz to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits—identical to the 2025 model. The Galaxy A16 has a 6.7-inch screen with a resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels, a fixed refresh rate of 90Hz, and a peak brightness of 800 nits.
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)The Moto G's screen is easy to see both indoors and out, although it struggles to overcome direct sunlight. Videos and images appear good, but text can look jagged due to the screen's limited resolution—720p is low by today's standards. The Galaxy A16's 1080p screen has twice the number of pixels (1.15 million versus 2.53 million), resulting in a sharper image.
Performance: Handles Everyday Tasks With Ease
The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which are carried over from the 2025 model. To objectively gauge performance, I used a series of benchmarks.
(Credit: Geekbench/PCMark/GFXBench/PCMag)In Geekbench 6, the Moto G reached 802 on the single-core test and 2,075 on the multi-core one. Unsurprisingly, this is similar to the 2025 model, which scored 798 and 2,093 on the same tests, respectively. The A16 is in the same ballpark at 883 and 2,020.
I use the PCMark Work 3.0 test to measure how well a phone handles general mobile tasks (browsing, spreadsheeting, etc.). The Moto G hit 12,993, while the A16 reached 11,589. (We don't have data for the 2025 Moto G.)
For graphics and gaming performance, I run the GFXBench Aztec Ruins test, which is measured in frames per second (fps). The 2026 Moto G rendered 19fps, a big improvement over the 2025 model's 6.4fps, and more than double the A16’s 8.7fps.
These results, combined with my observations after using the phone for a week, demonstrate that it's a capable phone that can handle all but the most intense apps and games.
Battery: Long-Lasting and Reliable
Motorola has increased the battery size year over year, from 5,000mAh to 5,200mAh. Both the old and new batteries charge at up to 30W when plugged in, and neither supports wireless charging.
In a battery rundown test, where I stream a 1080p video to the phone with the screen set to full brightness, the 2026 Moto G lasted 16 hours and 30 minutes, compared with the 2025 model's 15 hours and 39 minutes. The A16 didn't last quite as long, at 13 hours and 46 minutes.
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I connected the phone to a compatible fast charger, and it reached a 15% charge in 15 minutes, 28% in 30 minutes, and 100% in 2 hours and 5 minutes. That's an average pace for a phone at this price.
Connectivity: 5G Speeds With Wi-Fi Limitations
For connectivity, the Moto G supports 5G (sub-6GHz and C-band, but not mmWave), Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and Wi-Fi 5. I'd like to see at least Wi-Fi 6 for better wireless connections. The phone can hold one physical SIM card and an eSIM.
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)On T-Mobile’s 5G UC network in New York City, the Moto G reached a maximum download speed of 442Mbps and a maximum upload speed of 56.9Mbps. By comparison, a Google Pixel 9a ($499) hit 395Mbps down and 35.8Mbps up when tested at the same location.
When connected to a nearby Wi-Fi 6 access point, the Moto G topped out at 266Mbps down and 22.4Mbps up, while the Pixel 9a (Wi-Fi 6E) reached 385Mbps down and 22.2Mbps up. When I brought both phones to the limits of my Wi-Fi network, the Moto managed to reach 72.4Mbps down and 19.2Mbps up, and the Pixel peaked at 320Mbps down and 22.0Mbps up.
Audio: Loud, But Hollow
Call quality on the Moto G is satisfactory, though voices sound muffled in the earpiece. The phone struggles to remove background noise and music, so I found it's best to make calls in quiet quarters.
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)To measure the maximum volume of the earpiece, I placed a decibel meter directly on top of it. The Moto G reached 88.6dB with the volume all the way up. To measure the speakerphone’s volume, I placed the decibel meter six inches away and recorded a maximum volume of 80.3dB. I find volumes at or above 70.0dB easy to hear, and the Moto G easily surpasses that.
While playing Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” the Moto G's stereo speakers reached a maximum output of 98.0dB. That's loud, but the audio is very hollow. The lowest bass notes of our test track, The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” are audible only if you place your ear right next to the speakers. I recommend plugging in a pair of wired headphones or connecting a set of Bluetooth earbuds for improved sound quality.
Cameras: Decent Snaps, No Bells and Whistles
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)The 2026 Moto G has the same rear camera setup as the 2025 model, which includes a 50MP f/1.8 main shooter and a 2MP f/2.5 macro lens. There are no ultra-wide or telephoto cameras in the mix. The main camera by default produces 12.5MP images using pixel binning. Generally, images are a bit on the dark side, but they preserve the fine details at a glance. Zooming in reveals muted colors.
The macro lens produces mediocre photos, with 2MP images that often appear gritty and pixelated.
Motorola has upgraded the selfie camera from a 16MP f/2.4 shooter to a 32MP f/2.2 option. The colors in the photos I took are slightly oversaturated, while the overall images are dim. Small details are often lost, and darker areas can become smudged. Portrait images look good, but I observed issues with overexposure when shooting outdoors, which is evident in the images below.
Video capture tops out at 1080p at 30fps on both the front and rear cameras. Video quality is consistent with still-image capture, but the lack of optical image stabilization results in shaky videos unless you use a tripod or have a steady hand.
Software: Simple Android With Limited Updates
The Moto G runs on Android 16 with a few Motorola customizations. This phone will receive just two OS upgrades and three years of bimonthly security updates. For comparison, Samsung backs the Galaxy A16 with six years of OS upgrades and security fixes.
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)Keep a close eye on the device while setting it up. If you are not paying attention, you could accidentally agree to install a handful of optional apps. You have to opt out of installation if you want to avoid them.
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)This phone supports gestures like a three-finger screenshot and a double-chop motion to turn on the flashlight. I find the gestures helpful, but if you prefer not to use them, you can turn them off. Otherwise, the Moto G's software is similar to Google's version, so it will feel familiar to anyone who has used any Android device in the past few years. There's no AI on board.