The problem? While it has everything you need all at a low price, this phone will only get one Android OS update (to Android 15) later this year or early in 2025. It’ll still get three years of security updates, so while that means the phone will stay patched and secure, you won’t get new Android features past a year. There’s also more bloatware on this device than ever before, but at least much of it is easy to uninstall or disable. It comes with 128 GB of internal storage, but you can upgrade that thanks to a microSD card slot.
If you can get past those flaws, the Moto G Power 5G 2024 is one of the best phones you can buy for less than $300, and better yet, it has already dipped as low as $282, so wait for a sale.
Motorola promises one Android OS upgrade and three years of bimonthly security updates.
If You Want a Stylus
The Moto G Stylus doesn’t feel drastically different from the Moto G Power. It’s just as nice with the vegan leather back and delivers relatively smooth performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset and 8 gigs of RAM. Sure, there are some hiccups here and there, particularly when you juggle between apps, but it’s an otherwise snappy phone.
For $100 more than its sibling, you do get some extra perks. Namely, the stylus. You can pull it out of the bottom of the phone to jot notes, sign documents, or doodle when bored. Motorola doesn’t have decent palm rejection, so don’t expect comfortable sketching sessions on this handset, but it’s handy to have around for those reasons.
I eked out slightly better battery life, despite the same 5,000-mAh capacity as the Moto G Power 2024. It comfortably lasted a full day with heavy use, and a day and a half for average use. There’s still wireless charging, a headphone jack, NFC for contactless payments, and the same size 6.7-inch screen, though here you’re treated to a superior OLED panel that offers deeper blacks and richer colors. The screen has a 120-Hz refresh rate, just like the Moto G Power.
Other upgrades include a bump to 256 GB of internal storage, dual stereo speakers, and a nicer camera system: a 50-MP main camera with a 13-MP ultrawide, plus a 32-MP selfie camera. The cameras are indeed better than what you get on the Moto G Power, with more vibrant colors and sharper details, especially with the ultrawide. However, it’s still not as good a camera as the Google Pixel 8A.
Motorola promises one Android OS upgrade and three years of bimonthly security updates.
Other Good Motorola Phones
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
I suggest you stick to the phones above, but if your budget is tight, the phones below are OK buys. The Moto G phones receive one Android OS update and three years of bimonthly security updates.