Motorola has a reputation for manufacturing affordable yet capable smartphones. While the brand isn‘t quite on the level of Apple or Samsung, Motorola phones offer good performance and features at a reasonable price point.
In this guide, we‘ll be ranking the 5 best Motorola phones available today based on reviews, specs, value, and overall user experience. For each phone, we‘ll summarize the key details and help you understand who the phone is best suited for.
Whether you have a tight budget or want flagship-level features, there should be a Motorola phone on this list that meets your needs. Let‘s dive in!
#1: Motorola Edge+ 2023
The recently released Motorola Edge+ 2023 currently stands at the top as the best Motorola phone available. It packs premium flagship specs and features into an attractive and comfortable design.
Key Features:
- Large 6.7 inch pOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset – fastest processor available
- Triple rear camera system (50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 2MP depth sensor)
- 60MP selfie camera
- 5,100 mAh battery with very fast charging
Pros:
- Great performance for demanding apps/games
- Premium, comfortable in-hand feel
- All-day battery life with rapid charging
- Improved triple camera system
Cons:
- Most expensive Motorola option
- Occasional UI lag
Bottom Line: With incredible power under the hood and a gorgeous display, the Edge+ 2023 competes with top-tier flagships while costing $200-300 less. It‘s ideal for users who want a premium Android phone at a more affordable price point.
#2: Motorola Razr+ 2023
The latest Motorola Razr foldable provides an iconic, head-turning design along with enhanced durability and faster performance.
Key Features:
- Iconic flip phone design with FHD+ foldable interior display
- Secondary 3.6 inch display on cover for notifications
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and 8GB RAM
- 50MP main camera, 13MP selfie camera
- Water repellent finish
Pros:
- Sleek, durable foldable design with solid hinge and creaseless interior display
- Surprisingly fast – handles productivity, gaming, content streaming well
- Useful cover display for quick interactions
Cons:
- Expensive at $700 and up
- Only 256GB storage, no microSD slot
- Mediocre battery life
Bottom Line: The updated Razr+ 2023 takes Motorola‘s nostalgic flip phone form factor and gives it modern high-end power. While no match for Samsung‘s Z Flip in certain areas, it offers a satisfying fusion of classic style and cutting-edge tech.
#3: Moto G Stylus 5G 2022
The Moto G Stylus 5G brings productivity power at an affordable price point, complete with an integrated stylus and long-lasting battery.
Key Features:
- Built-in responsive stylus with customizable shortcuts
- Large 6.8 inch FHD+ 120Hz display
- 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization
- MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G processor
- 5,000 mAh battery
Pros:
- Useful stylus for notes, drawing, precision input
- Solid performance and smooth display
- Capable cameras with different lenses
- Good battery life with fast charging
Cons:
- Occasional lag with demanding apps/games
- Low-light camera performance just average
- Mostly plastic build
Bottom Line: The Moto G Stylus 5G brings together a handy stylus, vibrant 120Hz display, and ample battery life to create a well-rounded productivity machine at an affordable sub-$400 price. It beats out other Motorola options for getting work done on the go.
#4: Motorola Edge (2022)
While overshadowed by the newer Edge+ 2023, last year‘s standard Motorola Edge remains a quality upper mid-range device with an eye-catching display.
Key Features:
- Striking 6.55 inch OLED display with curves and 144Hz refresh
- Snapdragon 778G+ mid-tier processor
- 50MP main camera, 32MP selfie camera
- 4,020 mAh battery
- Stylish thin profile
Pros:
- Beautiful, immersive display
- Solid everyday performance
- Good battery life with 30W fast charging
- Premium look and feel
Cons:
- Weak low-light camera performance
- Lacks proper flagship power
- Limited future software support
Bottom Line: Last year‘s vanilla Motorola Edge is still a good-looking, capable phone that offers a sleek premium design along with excellent display quality. Just don‘t expect the most up-to-date power and cameras at this point.
#5: Moto G Power 2023
If battery life trumps all, the wallet-friendly Moto G Power 2023 can stay powered on for days at a time.
Key Features:
- MediaTek Helio G37 processor
- 6.5 inch 720p LCD screen
- 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras
- Side fingerprint reader
- 5,000 mAh battery capacity
Pros:
- Extreme battery life – up to 3 day runtime
- Solid entry-level performance
- Headphone jack included
- microSD card slot for storage expansion
Cons:
- Blurry low resolution display
- Cameras lack detail
- Feels cheaply made
- Lacks support for fast charging
Bottom Line: With its epic battery life, the 2023 Moto G Power allows budget-focused shoppers to keep using their phone day after day without worrying about charging. Just be ready for cutbacks in screen quality and camera capabilities at its $200 price point.
How to Choose the Best Motorola Phone
When deciding which Motorola phone fits you best, keep these key factors in mind while comparing different models:
Budget – Motorola phones range from $150 to $850+. Determine how much you can spend to narrow options.
Camera quality – Entry-level Moto phones like the G Power compromise on camera performance. Choose the Edge series or Razr+ for an enhanced photography experience.
Display quality – Look at resolution, size, refresh rate, and whether LCD or OLED. Displays vary significantly even among Motorola devices.
Performance needs – Lower-cost Motorolas lag with intensive apps/games. Opt for an Edge+ or Razr+ if top-notch speed is essential.
Battery expectations – Most Moto phones have excellent battery life. Only a few high-end models fall short of all-day endurance.
What to Know Before Buying a Motorola Phone
Motorola deserves credit for making quality phones accessible to the average consumer. But there are a few things to keep in mind before picking up one of their devices:
Quickly discontinued – Unlike Apple and Samsung, Motorola retires most models less than a year after launch. As a result, long term software support suffers. Expect 2 major Android upgrades at most.
Few security updates – Related to the rapid discontinuation, critical security updates also stop flowing to Motorola phones after about 3 years.
Exclusive features missing – Compared to Samsung Galaxy flagship devices, Motorola phones lack specialty video/photo capabilities along with integrations with other connected devices.
Resale value lower than top brands – An iPhone or Galaxy holds trade-in and resale value far better over time compared to Motorola devices.
So while Motorola can save you money upfront, you sacrifice peace of mind in terms of future software improvements and long-term support. Factor in this compromise against any initial savings or discounts.
Using a Motorola Phone: What‘s the Overall Experience Like?
In general, Motorola smartphones provide a smooth and intuitive Android experience right out of the box. Useful additions like Moto Actions (quick gestures for common tasks) add to device usability.
Top-tier Edge series and foldable Razr phones showcase near flagship quality displays combined with excellent speakers, meaning immersive media consumption and gameplay. In contrast, cheaper models fall short on display quality despite similarly sized screens.
Speaking of entry level options, lower-priced Motorola phones predictably lack processing muscle for intense gaming or multitasking. But they handle everyday communication and apps without issue.
And a universal Motorola strength is battery life endurance, thanks to sizeable power packs across multiple model lines. Only under the most demanding use will a Moto phone run out of steam after just half a day.
So in summary, while the experience ultimately comes down to your chosen model, most Motorola devices emphasize battery longevity while offering competitive core features at an upfront discount versus high-profile brands.
Ranking Summary: Top Motorola Phones Today
| Phone | Key Features | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Motorola Edge+ 2023 | Lightning-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor; 60MP selfie camera; two day battery | Most expensive Motorola option; occasional lag |
| Motorola Razr+ 2023 | Iconic flip phone form factor; useful cover display; surprisingly good performance | Mediocre battery; no microSD slot |
| Moto G Stylus 5G 2022 | Integrated stylus with customization; bright 120Hz screen; capable quad camera system | Budget build quality; unremarkable low light photos |
| Motorola Edge 2022 | Stunningly sleek design; curved 144Hz OLED display; polished user experience | Aging processor; lacks future software support |
| Moto G Power 2023 | Legendary 3+ day battery life; headphone jack included; price just $200 | Blurry 720p display; cheap plastic feel |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Motorola phone has the best camera?
The Edge+ 2023 currently has Motorola‘s most advanced camera setup, with a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide lens, and 60MP front camera. Image quality stands up respectably even compared to premium Samsung and iPhone cameras.
How do Motorola phones compare to Samsung?
Motorola phones offer better value in the low to mid budget range. But Samsung flagship Galaxy devices outclass Motorola in display quality, software support longevity, premium build construction, and specialty camera capabilities using AI.
Is Motorola a reliable smartphone brand?
Yes, Motorola is a generally reliable brand in terms of hardware durability and quality control. Their phones provide a smooth software experience for day to day use. Long term software support is a noticeable weak point however.
Do Motorola phones last a long time?
From a hardware survivability standpoint, Motorola phones can physically last 4-5+ years with proper care given average build quality. However, discontinued software support after 2-3 years hampers the true usable lifetime – an area Samsung and Apple both excel.
What‘s the best Motorola phone for battery life?
The Moto G Power series consistently delivers the longest battery life among Motorola devices. Equipped with 5,000 mAh batteries but lower power processors, these phones can operate for 2-3 days between charges with conservative use. They trade camera and display quality for extreme endurance.
So there you have it – our picks for the top 5 Motorola phones available today along with some guidance to help choose the right Moto for you. Let us know if you have any other questions!
