Motorola Moto G Play 2026 launches as affordable phone with large battery

Motorola has introduced two budget-friendly smartphones, the Moto G (2026) and Moto G Play (2026). Among the two, the former is a slightly better-equipped phone, while the latter is more affordable.

Like the non-Play variant, the Moto G Play (2026) is powered by the Dimensity 6300, a mid-range SoC from 2024. It's paired with 64 GB of UFS 2.2 storage and 4 GB of RAM. Motorola is offering the option to extend the latter with a virtual RAM boost feature, allowing up to 8 GB of additional memory. There's a microSD slot available, allowing users to install up to a 1 TB card (SanDisk 512GB Ultra curr. $37.99 on Amazon).

The internals of the phone are powered by a large 5,200 mAh battery, which is also the same as the latest Moto G. However, it can charge at 18 W, which is a downgrade from the 30 W fast charging support on the non-Play version.

On the front, the new Moto G Play features a 6.7-inch display with an HD+ resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. It's protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and has an 8 MP selfie shooter housed in a centered hole punch cutout.

As for the back, the affordable phone features a single 32 MP sensor, which is another downgrade from the non-Play smartphone. Other highlights include dual SIM support, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, IP52 rating, and Android 16 out of the box.

Motorola's Moto G Play (2026) has a launch price of $169, $30 lower than the non-Play phone. It can be purchased from November 13, 2025, and will be available from carriers and retailers.