I switched to a $200 Motorola phone for a week, and it overdelivered in surprising ways

• The Moto G Play (2026) is Motorola's latest budget phone, priced at just $180.
• It offers bright, colorful visuals, an impressive battery life, and powerful speakers that make the phone great for movie watching.
• However, its low-resolution screen and weak camera performance in low-light environments hold it back.

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Even though we're still in 2025, Motorola isn't slowing down. The company has kicked off its 2026 lineup, starting with the Moto G Play. I previously covered the announcement of these budget handsets and noted how much they resembled last year's lineup. After spending a week testing the Play, it's clear to me that similarities run deeper than appearances.

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Internally, the Moto G Play has much of the same hardware as ...