Review · Tech & gadgets
moto g 2026 review
Motorola's low-cost 5G phone with a 6.7-inch 120Hz display, a 5200mAh battery, dual stereo speakers and a vegan leather finish.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 8, 2026
- Performance (40%)
- 6.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.4
- Value (35%)
- 8.8
The moto g 2026 is a straightforward everyday phone with a few touches you would not expect at $249.99. The 6.7-inch screen runs at up to 120Hz, so scrolling looks smooth, and High Brightness Mode lifts it to 1000 nits in sunlight. Motorola rates the 5200mAh battery for 2 days and pairs it with TurboPower 30 charging, and dual stereo speakers with a smart amplifier make videos and calls easier to hear without earbuds. The vegan leather finish and Gorilla Glass 3 give it a solid feel, and the 128GB of storage can grow with a microSD card up to 1TB. Motorola listed free Moto Buds 2 with the phone on the day we checked. The limits are memory and protection. With 4GB of RAM, switching between many apps will be slower than on the 8GB phones here. It is only water-repellent, which Motorola says does not cover submersion, and the page does not state an update period. The $249.99 price was a sale from $299.99.
Who it is for
Buyers with about $250 who want a smooth screen, long battery life and loud speakers.
Price
$249.99 on sale at Motorola's US store when checked (regular price $299.99), with free Moto Buds 2 included.
$249.99 or $14/mo for 18 mos at 0% APR with Affirm
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.
Key features
- 6.7-inch display at up to 120Hz, boosting up to 1000 nits outdoors
- 5200mAh battery rated for 2 days, with TurboPower 30 charging
- Dual stereo speakers with a smart amplifier
- 6nm chipset with 5G, 4GB of memory and RAM Boost
- 128GB of storage plus microSD up to 1TB
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strength: 120Hz screen and a 2-day battery rating at $249.99
- Strength: Motorola listed free Moto Buds 2 with the phone when checked
- Strength: microSD slot up to 1TB
- Weakness: Only 4GB of memory
- Weakness: Water-repellent only, with no IP rating listed
- Weakness: Gorilla Glass 3 and no update period stated on Motorola's page
Key facts
- Price: $249.99 on sale, $299.99 regular
- Display: 6.7-inch, 120Hz
- Memory and storage: 4 GB RAM, 128 GB plus microSD
- Battery: 5200mAh, rated for 2 days
- Updates: Not stated on Motorola's page
- Water and dust: Water-repellent design
Where it ranks
moto g 2026 is No. 8 in our Best Budget Smartphones verdict.
Alternatives we scored
Visit motorola.com · Questions or corrections: editorial@hearsmart.org