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We could solely be a few weeks into the brand new yr, 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 yr’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. Nevertheless, after a couple 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 yr, 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 an identical in design; even the scale are the identical, right 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 related. Nevertheless, what I observed nearly instantly is how the telephone feels. Motorola’s marketing campaign towards glass pack panels continues into 2026, and the Moto G Energy 2026 has essentially the most fabric-like texture I’ve seen or felt on a Motorola telephone, save for the Alcantara Razr Extremely 2025.
The best way the feel is applied on the again makes it feel and appear like cloth till you get a more in-depth look, and even then, it may possibly nonetheless be onerous 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 may 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 harder Gorilla Glass 7i also needs to show extra sturdy than its predecessor, however I thankfully have not needed to put that to the check.
Sadly, a lot of the design type of goes towards that premium really feel. The body matches the colour properly, however the telephone is quite thick and barely boxy as a result 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, transferring to the entrance, the quite massive and uneven bezels additionally remind you that this can be a low-cost Android telephone. Happily, the show itself is not too unhealthy. It is solely a 120Hz LCD panel, however in my use, I discovered the colours surprisingly vibrant, and the brightness feels pretty ample, even at simply 1,000 nits. My solely difficulty is that the auto brightness generally feels too aggressive or not aggressive sufficient, prompting me to manually alter it.
Other than 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 essentially 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, similar 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 charge |
|
Chipset |
MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
|
Storage |
128GB, expandable |
|
Reminiscence |
8GB |
|
Rear Digicam 1 |
50MP wide-angle, f/1.8, 1.22μm (by way of pixel binning) |
|
Rear Digicam 2 |
8MP ultrawide+macro imaginative and prescient, f/2.2, 1.12µm |
|
Rear Digicam 3 |
Ambient mild sensor |
|
Selfie Digicam |
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 may be unable to adequately take pleasure in graphics-intensive video games on the highest settings. I can play Honkai: Star Rail at excessive settings and 30fps, however something past that can noticeably push the telephone, with the body charge dropping to 10-20fps even in 60fps mode. To get smoother gameplay, you may 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 loads of pop-in whereas enjoying, which may be distracting. That stated, it’s a very massive recreation, 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 help for expandable storage could assist when you’ve got a microSD card mendacity round. I’ve needed to delete loads of objects with a view 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 primarily based 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 choice borrowed from the Pixel that roughly takes over the Do Not Disturb button, letting you simply change between pre-programmed or personalized modes.
I used to be completely shocked to see that bloatware was saved to a minimal. You may decide 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 recreation suggestions from the Play Retailer. The Look lock display, tucked away in settings as “Good lock display,” can also be disabled by default, which I used to be comfortable to see.
Sadly, there isn’t any All the time 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, similar to chopping the telephone twice to activate the flashlight, twisting it to activate the digital camera, and a customizable quick-tap gesture that allows you to double-tap the again of the telephone. I used to be additionally comfortable to see the Sidebar choice right here for fast entry to my favourite apps.
Whereas AI is seemingly all over the place nowadays, do not count on a lot of it right here. The MediaTek chipset does not appear too succesful in that regard, so that you’re restricted to Circle to Search and Gemini. Happily, these are arguably two of a very powerful options Google has launched in recent times, so I am comfortable that at the very least these two are current.
Sadly, there have not been any notable enhancements within the digital camera division. Many 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 unhealthy, however you will not be significantly impressed by the pictures. You will get some first rate photographs through the day with good lighting, however the pictures 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 seems 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 might’ve hoped for a considerably bigger capability to essentially drive dwelling the “Energy” in its identify, it affords loads of energy. Motorola estimates as much as two days, though I have been capable of common simply over in the future 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 massive battery, that is not too surprising, though sooner charging could be good. Sadly, there is not any wi-fi charging, which is an odd omission given its presence on last-year’s mannequin.
Finally, the Moto G Energy 2026 is a strong telephone that feels an excessive amount of like its predecessor. The $300 worth is enticing sufficient that there is little purpose to not purchase one in the event you’re in search of an inexpensive Android telephone, however you can even get away with final yr’s mannequin with roughly the identical expertise.
In fact, with Android 16 on board, you get OS upgrades as much as Android 18 and updates till 2029, in order that’s an additional yr of help in the event you actually look after it. Nevertheless, for a similar worth, you can even take into account competing telephones with longer software program help, similar to final yr’s Galaxy A26.
The Moto G Energy 2026 begins at $300 and is on the market now at Verizon, with different carriers to observe within the coming months. Nevertheless, you is likely to be higher off ready for the subsequent Moto G Stylus in order for you , inexpensive telephone.
Motorola
Moto G Energy 2026
Stable and low-cost
The Moto G Energy 2026 could also be practically an identical to its predecessor, nevertheless it stays a strong telephone with nice battery life and a processor that may deal with each day duties.
