The Best Motorola Phones, From Razr to Moto G (2026)

CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyMotorola phones often play third (or fourth) fiddle to Samsung and Google, but the winds are changing. Motorola is among the fastest-growing mobile companies in the world, and the company’s Razr handsets are the most popular folding smartphones in the US. Motorola has also been experimenting with colorful Android phones and fun textures, making its devices stand out from the sea of boring glass handsets.

If you’re an interested buyer, picking the best Motorola phone can be tough because the company launches several models each year. I’ve tested almost all of them, and in this guide, I break down the pros and cons and steer you toward my favorite Moto models—from the Razr Ultra to the Moto G Power 2026.Check out our other mobile buying guides for more, including the Best Android Phones, Best Samsung Phones, Best Cheap Phones, Best Pixel Phones, and Best Phones With a Headphone Jack.

Table of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronBest Motorola Phone: Motorola Razr Ultra (2026)Best Cheap Folding Phone: Motorola Razr (2026)Best Moto G Phone: Moto G Stylus (2026)A Bigger Moto Fold: Motorola Razr Fold (2026)Best Motorola Under $300: Moto G Power (2026)Other Good Motorola PhonesWhat Motorola Phones to AvoidThe CompetitionTop Motorola FeaturesUpdated July 2026: We’ve added the Moto G Stylus 2026, the entire new Razr lineup, and the Motorola Edge 2026.What’s WIRED About Motorola Phones?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuMotorola phones have a simple Android interface.

This means the company hasn’t done much to gunk up the software. It’s simple and easy to use. There’s increasingly a lot of bloatware, but you can easily uninstall almost all of it.

They come with lots of storage. The company stuffs 256 GB as standard into many of its smartphones, even some of the cheaper models. Most Android flagship devices still come with just 128 GB of storage.

Motorola is also one of the only phone brands to still include a microSD card slot to expand storage on many of its devices, and the Moto G phones retain the headphone jack.There’s broad carrier support. While some Android phone brands have inconsistent carrier support in the US, like Nothing, Motorola phones often work on most networks, if not all (the company lists carrier support details in the Specs section of all its phones).

They all work on the big three—T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Make sure you buy them unlocked.The prices dip quite often.

Never buy a Motorola phone at its MSRP. They almost always go on sale a few months (or weeks) after launch, sometimes at steep discounts.What’s TIRED About Motorola Phones?

AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronMotorola’s software updates are lackluster. The company is slowly improving here—it promises to deliver three Android OS updates and five years of bimonthly security updates for its high-end smartphones—the ultra-expensive Razr Fold gets seven years—but overall, it still lags behind its peers. Most Moto G phones receive only two Android updates along with three years of security updates.

Fewer updates mean you miss out on new Android features quickly. Even if a phone is promised updates, they take a long time to arrive.The cameras are lackluster.

Among the things putting Motorola behind the likes of Samsung, Apple, and Google are the cameras. Moto phones can take fine photos, but the competition eclipses them. Motorola made some improvements with its high-end phones, but it’s still behind.

There’s no always-on display. Most Android phones have a setting you can toggle on if you want an always-on display that will show a clock on your screen even when the screen is “off.” Motorola has Peek Display, which requires you to move the phone or tap the screen to see anything.

It’s not a big deal, but it’s a feature you might miss if you’re coming from another phone. Newer Razr devices finally broke the mold with always-on displays, but it’s still not present in the company’s other products.When's the Right Time to Buy?

AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronIf you’re looking for a budget Moto G smartphone, the company releases them at the beginning of the year in January (often announcing them in December the previous year). However, that’s not necessarily the best time to buy those phones, as Moto G devices are often deeply discounted during major sale events. Wait for the next big sale event and check for slashed prices.

As for its Razr folding phones, those arrived in the spring.The Best Motorola PhonePhotograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistSave to wishlistMotorolaRazr Ultra (2026)$1,500 Amazon$1,500 MotorolaThe Razr Ultra is the best reason to get a Motorola phone over the likes of Samsung, Apple, and Google. It’s a statement piece, not just because it’s a compact folding flip phone, but because it’s stylish, whether you opt for the Alcantara finish or the elegant wood.

The spacious 4-inch OLED screen is quite