Motorola's 2026 Moto G Play Offers Familiar Yet Improved Budget Experience

As we approach the end of 2025, Motorola is already gearing up for its 2026 lineup, starting with the Moto G Play. While the new model shares a similar design to last year's Moto G, Motorola has made several meaningful upgrades under the hood.

Internally, the Moto G Play features the same MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset as its predecessor, but with the option to expand the 4GB of RAM up to 12GB using the RAM Boost feature. This combination delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, though more demanding mobile games still pose a challenge.

One area where the Moto G Play shines is its display. The 6.7-inch panel may only run at a modest HD+ resolution, but it makes up for this with vibrant colors, a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, and a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Coupled with the surprisingly rich Dolby Atmos audio, the Moto G Play provides an excellent media consumption experience.

The camera system has also seen some improvements, with the rear 32MP sensor producing better color-balanced images compared to the oversaturated shots of the 2025 model. While low-light performance is still a weakness, the Moto G Play delivers impressive results in well-lit conditions.

Battery life is another strong suit, with the device easily lasting over 24 hours on a single charge. Recharging is a bit slower, but the Moto G Play's affordability and overall capabilities make it a compelling option for budget-conscious consumers.