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We could solely be a few weeks into the brand new 12 months, however Motorola has already launched its third Moto G telephone for 2026, and I have been utilizing it for the previous few weeks. After testing final 12 months’s Moto G Energy 2025, I had pretty tepid expectations for the Moto G Energy 2026, and rightfully so; the most recent mannequin is merely a minor spec bump over its predecessor, and in some methods, a downgrade.
There are some advantages to getting the newer mannequin, from having the most recent OS to the slight improve in battery capability. Nonetheless, after a number of weeks with the Moto G Energy 2026, it hasn’t fairly satisfied me that it ought to exist, and Motorola could have been higher off skipping a 12 months, because it did with the Moto G Play in 2025.
Opening the field, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this for the Moto G Energy 2025. The telephones are nearly equivalent in design; even the size are the identical, all the way down to the millimeter. That stated, there are refined variations within the digital camera housing: The Moto G Energy 2025 was extra of a closed rectangular form, whereas the 2026 mannequin has a extra open form that followers out towards the machine’s body.
It took me some time to note as a result of these two telephones are so comparable. Nonetheless, what I observed virtually instantly is how the telephone feels. Motorola’s marketing campaign in opposition to glass pack panels continues into 2026, and the Moto G Energy 2026 has probably the most fabric-like texture I’ve seen or felt on a Motorola telephone, save for the Alcantara Razr Extremely 2025.
The way in which the feel is carried out on the again makes it appear and feel like material till you get a better look, and even then, it may possibly nonetheless be arduous to inform. However regardless of its artificial nature, it makes the Moto G Energy 2026 really feel fairly grippy and a tad extra premium than even its predecessor.
It additionally means you will by no means have to fret about fingerprints smudging the machine. It additionally helps with sturdiness; there is not any glass on the again to fret about breaking, and the spectacular MIL-STD-810H spec and IP68/IP69 water- and dust-resistance ranking imply I haven’t got to fret concerning the inclement Seattle climate ruining the telephone. The more durable Gorilla Glass 7i must also show extra sturdy than its predecessor, however I luckily have not needed to put that to the take a look at.
Sadly, a lot of the design type of goes in opposition to that premium really feel. The body matches the colour properly, however the telephone is moderately thick and barely boxy as a consequence of its flat sides. It is the identical 8.7mm thickness because the 2025 mannequin, however at a time when telephones are slimming down, it does really feel a bit unwieldy, even for a midrange machine.
Then, shifting to the entrance, the moderately massive and uneven bezels additionally remind you that this can be a low cost Android telephone. Thankfully, the show itself is not too dangerous. It is solely a 120Hz LCD panel, however in my use, I discovered the colours surprisingly vibrant, and the brightness feels pretty sufficient, even at simply 1,000 nits. My solely situation is that the auto brightness typically feels too aggressive or not aggressive sufficient, prompting me to manually modify it.
Except for the design, the Moto G Energy 2026 additionally borrows its predecessor’s processor. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 is a succesful chip, nevertheless it’s not probably the most performant nor environment friendly. Curiously, it is also the identical chip used within the lower-end Moto G Play 2026 and Moto G 2026, though Motorola makes up for it right here with extra RAM. The result’s a telephone that may deal with each day duties, corresponding to shortly opening and juggling apps, however not a lot past that.
Class | Moto G Energy 2026 |
|---|---|
Software program | Android 16 |
Software program replace promise | Two OS upgrades, three years of safety updates |
Show | 6.8-inch FHD+ (2388 x 1080), LCD, 120Hz refresh price |
Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
Storage | 128GB, expandable |
Reminiscence | 8GB |
Rear Digital camera 1 | 50MP wide-angle, f/1.8, 1.22μm (by way of pixel binning) |
Rear Digital camera 2 | 8MP ultrawide+macro imaginative and prescient, f/2.2, 1.12µm |
Rear Digital camera 3 | Ambient mild sensor |
Selfie Digital camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 1.28μm |
Water Resistance | IP68/IP69 |
Safety | Gorilla Glass 7i, MIL-STD-810H Certification |
Battery & Charging | 5,200mAh, 30W wired charging |
Connectivity | 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 5, FM Radio |
NFC | ✔ |
Dimensions | 166.62 x 77.10 x 8.72mm |
Weight | 208g |
Colours | PANTONE Night Blue, PANTONE Pure Cashmere |
Gaming is doable, however you will be unable to adequately take pleasure in graphics-intensive video games on the highest settings. I will play Honkai: Star Rail at excessive settings and 30fps, however something past that can noticeably push the telephone, with the body price dropping to 10-20fps even in 60fps mode. To get smoother gameplay, you will wish to play in medium graphics settings, which can present nearer to 30fps on the expense of some graphics high quality.
The identical goes for The place Winds Meet, which can expertise numerous pop-in whereas enjoying, which will be distracting. That stated, it’s a very huge sport, and you would be higher off enjoying it on a console.
Sadly, the 128GB of inner storage could hold you from downloading too many high-quality video games anyway, though assist for expandable storage could assist when you have a microSD card mendacity round. I’ve needed to delete loads of objects so as to totally set up Honkai: Star Rail and The place Winds Meet.
As for the software program, the Moto G Energy 2026 runs the most recent model of Moto UX based mostly on Android 16. The general expertise is not a lot completely different from Motorola’s Android 15 software program, with seemingly no occasion of Google’s Materials 3 Expressive. That stated, you get the brand new Modes possibility borrowed from the Pixel that roughly takes over the Do Not Disturb button, letting you simply change between pre-programmed or custom-made modes.
I used to be completely shocked to see that bloatware was stored to a minimal. You could possibly choose in to put in some apps, however the one factor I needed to disable after setup was the Video games folder, which tries to shoehorn sport suggestions from the Play Retailer. The Look lock display, tucked away in settings as “Sensible lock display,” can be disabled by default, which I used to be joyful to see.
Sadly, there isn’t any At all times On Show, however you continue to get Motorola’s Sleep show, which helps you to work together with notifications and music controls with out totally waking up the machine. Motorola’s gestures are additionally right here, corresponding to chopping the telephone twice to activate the flashlight, twisting it to activate the digital camera, and a customizable quick-tap gesture that permits you to double-tap the again of the telephone. I used to be additionally joyful to see the Sidebar possibility right here for fast entry to my favourite apps.
Whereas AI is seemingly in every single place nowadays, do not count on a lot of it right here. The MediaTek chipset would not appear too succesful in that regard, so that you’re restricted to Circle to Search and Gemini. Thankfully, these are arguably two of an important options Google has launched lately, so I am joyful that no less than these two are current.
Sadly, there have not been any notable enhancements within the digital camera division. A lot of the sensors are the identical as these on the 2025 mannequin, save for a brand new 32MP front-facing digital camera. That is to not say picture high quality is dangerous, however you will not be significantly impressed by the images. You will get some first rate photos in the course of the day with good lighting, however the images lack element and may get noisy in any other case.
That goes for the ultrawide digital camera too, which doubles as a macro sensor. You’d assume there is a third digital camera sensor on the again, given the structure of the digital camera housing, however what appears like a 3rd digital camera is definitely an ambient mild sensor that does not seem to supply a lot profit.
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The Moto G Energy 2026 actually shines within the battery division, due to the 5,200mAh battery. It is 200mAh bigger than its predecessor, and whereas I’d’ve hoped for a considerably bigger capability to essentially drive house the “Energy” in its identify, it gives loads of energy. Motorola estimates as much as two days, though I have been capable of common simply over sooner or later with considerably heavy use.
The 30W charging helps, although it will take about 40 minutes to go from 1 to 50% and just below 2 hours to achieve a full cost. Given the big battery, that is not too sudden, though sooner charging can be good. Sadly, there is not any wi-fi charging, which is an odd omission given its presence on last-year’s mannequin.
In the end, the Moto G Energy 2026 is a strong telephone that feels an excessive amount of like its predecessor. The $300 value is engaging sufficient that there is little cause to not purchase one in case you’re searching for an inexpensive Android telephone, however you too can get away with final 12 months’s mannequin with roughly the identical expertise.
After all, with Android 16 on board, you get OS upgrades as much as Android 18 and updates till 2029, in order that’s an additional 12 months of assist in case you actually look after it. Nonetheless, for a similar value, you too can think about competing telephones with longer software program assist, corresponding to final 12 months’s Galaxy A26.
The Moto G Energy 2026 begins at $300 and is out there now at Verizon, with different carriers to comply with within the coming months. Nonetheless, you could be higher off ready for the subsequent Moto G Stylus if you need an excellent, inexpensive telephone.
Motorola
Moto G Energy 2026
Stable and low cost
The Moto G Energy 2026 could also be practically equivalent to its predecessor, nevertheless it stays a strong telephone with nice battery life and a processor that may deal with each day duties.
