The competition
At the time of writing, you can get a Moto G Power (2026) in its only 8GB/128GB memory variant from Amazon.com for $300. We are hesitant to call that a great deal value-wise, but then again, the US market works a bit differently than most and actual buyers are likely to get a substantially lower subsidized on-contract price.
That said, when looking for alternatives, we have to take the open market price into consideration and try our best to select other devices easily obtainable in the US and Canada.
Over in camp Samsung, the Galaxy A36 is the more direct competitor here, price-wise. Some of its highlights include a Super AMOLED display with a significantly higher maximum brightness than the G Power (2026). Then there is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, which, while not a powerhouse in any way, is still more capable than the Dimensity 6300 inside the Moto. 4K video capture is another good point to consider, as well as more modern local connectivity.
Xiaomi is not officially imported in the US and Canada, but you can find unlocked gray imports of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G on Amazon for about the same price as the Moto G Power (2026). They are very similar hardware-wise, but if we had to choose, we would probably get the Redmi. It offers a great 12-bit, 120Hz, Dolby Vision AMOLED display, a pretty decent MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset, especially compared to the chip inside the Moto. The 200MP main camera on the Redmi is arguably more capable. You also get pretty fast 45W PD charging and a modern connectivity loadout.
There is also a contender from Moto’s own camp. The Motorola Edge (2024) has gone down nicely in price and offers an OLED screen, a better camera, a considerably faster chipset and faster charging. And it can now be had for the same price as the Moto G Power (2025).
Samsung Galaxy A36 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G • Nothing Phone (3a) • Motorola Edge (2024)
Finally, we know it is a bit more of a stretch due to its notably higher MSRP of $380, but if you have the extra cash to spend, the Nothing Phone (3a) is an interesting option to consider. Its design is definitely an acquired taste and won’t appeal to everyone. Hardware-wise, it offers a bright, 10-bit, HDR10+ AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset and pretty fast 50W charging. The highlight here is arguably the camera setup, which actually includes a dedicated telephoto camera. It is just a 2x unit, but still.
Our verdict
The Moto G Power (2026) is a bit of a mixed bag, and not the kind where the good parts easily make up for the bad. There’s a lot to like about Motorola’s approach to design here – the subdued Pantone colors look classy, and the textured eco-leather back gives the phone some personality (even if it’s also a magnet for lint and pocket debris). We also appreciate Motorola going the extra mile with durability – IP68/IP69 and MIL-STD-810H compliance are reassuring at this price, and they make the G Power feel more “ready for life” than most budget contenders.
There are more practical wins, too. You get a dedicated microSD slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, and a clean Android 16 experience with Motorola’s familiar gestures and Smart Connect features. The camera system, while clearly not the focus, is at least competent for daytime shots, and the ultrawide’s autofocus is a welcome extra that you don’t always see in this segment.
Unfortunately, the core experience falls apart where it matters most. The IPS LCD panel is underwhelming in brightness, and outright poor in pixel response – ghosting and smearing are hard to ignore, and the lack of HDR support doesn’t help matters either. Performance is another major issue: the Dimensity 6300 is simply not up to the task in 2026, and the phone can’t consistently keep the UI running smoothly, which is a deal-breaker for day-to-day use regardless of the price tag.
Battery life is solid, if not spectacular, and while the phone does support 30W wired charging, the real-world charging speeds are disappointingly slow – the kind that will have you planning your top-ups well in advance.
All things considered, the Moto G Power (2026) feels like it’s trying to win with toughness and good looks, but it doesn’t deliver the well-rounded experience you can get elsewhere in this price range. If you value durability, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack above everything else, it still has a place. For most buyers, though, there are simply better options for the money.
Pros
Classy design with subdued Pantone colors; unique textured eco-leather back.
Excellent durability: IP68/IP69 and MIL-STD-810H compliance.
Dedicated microSD slot and a rare 3.5mm headphone jack.
Stereo speakers get loud and sound decent; Dolby Atmos support.
Clean Android 16 experience with useful Motorola gestures and Smart Connect features.
Ultrawide autofocus is a nice extra for the price.
Cons
Underwhelming IPS LCD with poor pixel response (ghosting/smearing); no HDR support.
Dimensity 6300 performance is weak, and the UI isn’t consistently smooth.
Camera quality is merely adequate; low-light results aren’t great.
Charging is very slow in practice.
Only 128GB storage.