Moto G 2026 vs Moto G Play 2026: How Motorola’s new budget phones really differ
Massive options, small worth
The Moto G 2026 is the corporate’s newest entry into the finances smartphone market. It includes a 6.7-inch HD+ show with a 120Hz refresh fee and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset. It has twin rear cameras, 5200mAh battery with 30W quick charging help and is available in two eye-catching colours.
Professionals
- Highest storage capability of 128 GB
- Predominant digital camera 50 MP
- 32 MP selfie digital camera
- Assist for 30W quicker charging
ANTI
- The worth is a bit more costly
- HD+ show solely
Unbeatable worth in your pocket
The Moto G Play 2026 begins at an much more spectacular worth, however retains key options from the Moto G 2026, together with the big display and IP52 mud and water resistance. It additionally has the identical 5200mAh battery, however gives barely slower charging and a much less succesful digital camera setup.
Professionals
- A extra inexpensive worth level
- The identical massive 5200 mAh battery
- IP52 ranking
- 120 Hz IPS LCD show
ANTI
- Solely decrease 64 GB reminiscence
- Single 32 MP rear digital camera
- Slower 18W charging
Should you’ve been questioning about the important thing variations between these two Moto G smartphones and which one fits you finest, let’s have a look at how they evaluate.
Moto G 2026 vs. Moto G Play 2026: Value, Colour and Availability
Motorola unveiled the brand new Moto G smartphones on November 4, 2025. Just like the earlier Moto G sequence telephones, these fashions are aimed on the finances phase for customers searching for the perfect worth for his or her cash.
The Moto G 2026 is the dearer of the 2, beginning at $200 within the US. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of inner storage. There is no such thing as a larger storage choice, however it’s accessible in two lovely Pantone colours: Slipstream and Cattleya Orchid. The cellphone shouldn’t be accessible for buy instantly, with gross sales in North America beginning on December 11, 2025.
The Moto G Play 2026, alternatively, is the extra inexpensive of the 2 at simply $170. It will likely be accessible sooner, beginning November 13, 2025, by Motorola’s on-line retailer, different on-line retailers and provider shops. The Moto G Play 2026 gives 64GB of onboard storage and, not like its dearer sibling, is available in only one colour: Pantone Tapestry.
Moto G 2026 vs Moto G Play 2026: Design and show
Motorola has settled on a constant design language for its finances telephones, and the brand new Moto G fashions aren’t any exception. Each the Moto G 2026 and Moto G Play 2026 have the same design, characterised by a easy again, a barely raised digital camera module that blends seamlessly into the rear panel, and Motorola’s “M” notch within the middle.
By way of design, the 2 smartphones look nearly similar and share the identical supplies, together with an eco-leather again and a plastic body. They even share the identical dimensions of 167.15 x 76.40 x 8.44 mm and weight of 202 g. Each telephones even have the identical button placement with quantity up and an influence button on the appropriate facet of the telephones, and a USB-C port and a headphone jack on the underside.
Whereas the digital camera module could seem to characteristic a triple digital camera setup with a flash, the precise digital camera {hardware} differs between the 2 units, however extra on that later.
Normally, there are few modifications within the design, aside from the colour choices. The Moto G 2026 is available in a vibrant purple hue and a light-weight bluish tone, whereas the Moto G Play 2026 is simply accessible in a muted blue variant.
Though the design could look a bit of plain and uninspiring, Motorola has prioritized practicality by equipping each telephones with an IP52 mud and water resistance ranking. Whereas it would not match the IP68 ranking discovered on fashionable flagships, it is nonetheless reassuring to know your cellphone can deal with mild rain and splashes.
Shifting to the entrance, each the telephones are related right here as effectively. Each Moto G fashions have a 6.7-inch LCD display with HD+ decision and a refresh fee of as much as 120 Hz. The screens attain as much as 1000 nits of most brightness, which, whereas not excessive, ought to present good visibility open air.
For cover, Motorola has used Gorilla Glass 3, which, whereas not as sturdy because the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 utilized in many fashionable high-end telephones, is cheap for the worth.
Moto G 2026 vs Moto G Play 2026: {Hardware} and specs
Moto G smartphones have by no means been identified for high-end processors, and the identical applies right here. Each the Moto G 2026 and Moto G Play 2026 ship with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset. For these unaware, the Dimensity 6300 is an octa-core processor that options two Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.4GHz and 6 Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2GHz. The chip is manufactured by TSMC utilizing a 6nm course of and is roughly a yr outdated at this level. Graphics are dealt with by the Mali-G57 MP2 GPU.
It is not a high-end chip that may blow you away, but it surely ought to deal with on a regular basis duties effectively. Nonetheless, what is nice is that it brings 5G help to the Moto G Play sequence for the primary time.
Motorola beforehand used this chip within the Moto G Energy 2025, and if issues stay related on the software program facet, efficiency should not “be as problematic as one may assume,” in response to Derrek Lee.
Talking of software program, each Moto G 2026 and Moto G Play 2026 include Android 16 pre-installed. Motorola contains widespread options like Moto Safe, Household House and Gestures, whereas additionally together with some AI instruments like Google Gemini and Circle to Search.
Motorola is promising two OS upgrades and three years of safety updates for the units, which ought to arrive concurrently because the two telephones share nearly the identical {hardware}.
|
Class |
Moto G 2026 |
Moto G Play 2026 |
|---|---|---|
|
OS |
Android 16 Two OS upgrades + three years of software program updates |
Android 16 Two OS upgrades + three years of software program updates |
|
Show |
6.7-inch LCD, 120 Hz, 1604 × 720 (HD+), Gorilla Glass 3, 1000 nits peak |
6.7-inch LCD, 120 Hz, 1604 × 720 (HD+), Gorilla Glass 3, 1000 nits peak |
|
maker |
MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
|
RAM |
4 GB |
4 GB |
|
Storage |
128 GB, expandable as much as 1 TB |
64 GB, expandable as much as 1 TB |
|
Rear cameras |
50MP essential + 2MP macro |
32 essential MP |
|
Entrance digital camera |
32 MP |
8 MP |
|
Entry safety |
IP52 |
IP52 |
|
Connectivity |
5G (sub6), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Twin SIM |
5G (sub6), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Twin SIM |
|
Headphone output 3.5 mm |
sure |
sure |
|
Security |
Fingerprint Reader, Face Unlock |
Fingerprint Reader, Face Unlock |
|
The battery |
5200 mAh |
5200 mAh |
|
importing |
Quick charging with 30W USB-C cable |
18W USB-C wired charging |
|
Dimensions |
167.15 x 76.40 x 8.44mm; 202 g |
167.15 x 76.40 x 8.44mm; 202 g |
|
Colours |
Pantone Slipstream, Pantone Cattleya Orchid |
Pantone Tapestry |
As for the remainder of the internals, each fashions supply 4GB of RAM, which may be expanded as much as 12GB by way of the RAM Enhance software program characteristic. The primary distinction is storage: $30 further for the Moto G 2026 will get you 128GB of inner storage, whereas the Moto G Play comes with simply 64GB. Each telephones help microSD growth as much as 1TB, which must be sufficient for many of your apps, photographs, video games and movies.
In relation to battery life and charging, each fashions have a 5,200mAh cell, with Motorola claiming as much as two days on a single cost.
The distinction is within the charging pace: the Moto G 2026 helps 30W USB-C quick charging, whereas the Moto G Play has 18W. This may occasionally lead to noticeable variations in real-world utilization, however we’ll want extra testing to substantiate. Neither cellphone helps wi-fi charging.
Moto G 2026 vs Moto G Play 2026: Digital camera
Shifting on to the digital camera setup, this is among the essential variations between the 2 Moto G fashions. The dearer Moto G 2026 includes a dual-camera system with a 50MP major sensor (f/1.8 aperture, PDAF) paired with a 2MP macro sensor (f/2.5 aperture).
On the Moto G Play 2026, you solely get a single 32MP rear sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, although fortunately it contains PDAF. The distinction additionally extends to the entrance cameras, because the Moto G 2026 has a 32MP selfie shooter whereas the Moto G Play solely gives an 8MP sensor.
Motorola guarantees “gorgeous outcomes with minimal effort” from each telephones, because of new AI enhancements, however we’ll have to check each units additional to see how they carry out in real-world situations.
Moto G 2026 vs. Moto G Play 2026: Which one do you have to purchase?
All issues thought-about, the brand new Moto G 2026 and Moto G Play 2026 are extra related than completely different. Nonetheless, Motorola has launched small however important variations which have a noticeable influence on every day use.
The Moto G 2026 is designed for customers searching for a better degree of polish and flexibility within the finances phase, that includes barely quicker charging speeds, elevated inner area, and improved entrance and rear cameras. In the meantime, the Moto G Play 2026 retains issues easy and inexpensive whereas providing the same expertise with the identical battery and processor at a cheaper price.
Finally, for those who’re on a finances, the Moto G Play 2026 will cowl all of your wants, however for those who can stretch a bit of, the additional options on the Moto G 2026 make it well worth the worth distinction.
Finances smartphone executed proper
For $200, the Moto G 2026 gives nice options for the worth. You get a quick and succesful processor, a big OLED display with a 120Hz refresh fee, and Motorola’s promise of all-day battery life with quick charging that rivals what you discover in flagship telephones in the present day.
Reasonably priced with out compromise
For these searching for a easy, no-nonsense inexpensive cellphone, the Moto G Play 2026 gives greater than sufficient. It has the identical processor, battery and display as its dearer sibling, together with a succesful rear digital camera and the identical IP52 mud and water resistance.
