Motorola Moto G15

Motorola's Moto G series has long been known for offering flexible options across the budget range, but the Moto G15 finds itself in a competitive and tricky spot. Positioned as the successor to the Moto G14 and launching alongside the cheaper Moto G05, the G15's value proposition is harder to justify unless it’s discounted significantly. The Moto G15 sticks to the standard design expected from budget phones, featuring a 6.7-inch LCD display. While the display offers a Full HD resolution (2400x1080 pixels), it lacks the 90Hz refresh rate found in the Moto G05, which may be a dealbreaker for those used to smoother scrolling. The phone also sports a plastic build with a "vegan leather" finish, which might not appeal to everyone, though it does come with a case in the box. On the right side of the phone, one can find the standard volume buttons above a power button that doubles as a fingerprint reader. While the reader is functional, it is not the fastest. The phone supports dual Nano SIM cards and a microSD card, making it a solid option for users who need expanded storage. The Moto G15 upgrades its camera setup from the previous G14, now featuring a 50MP wide sensor and a 5MP ultra-wide lens, along with an 8MP front camera. This gives it an edge over the G05, which lacks an ultra-wide sensor. However, as expected in this price range, the camera struggles in low light and fast-moving conditions, with digital zoom maxing out at 6x, producing disappointing results.

The Moto G15 is equipped with a 5,200mAh battery, which is on par with the G05 and slightly above the Android average. Battery life is generally solid for basic tasks, though performance can dip with extended usage. Powered by the MediaTek Helio G81 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the Moto G15 does not deliver a significant performance boost over the Moto G05. While it is sufficient for light tasks, the phone can feel sluggish with prolonged use, particularly when handling more demanding apps. There is also no RAM or CPU upgrade compared to the G14, which limits its appeal for users expecting better performance year-on-year. The Moto G15 runs Android 15 out of the box, but Motorola has stated that this will be the only major Android version it receives, with just two years of security updates. While this is typical for budget phones, it places the G15 behind mid-range devices, especially those from brands like Samsung and Google that offer longer software support. The Motorola Moto G15 is a functional budget phone, but it faces stiff competition from the Moto G05 and other devices in the same price range. Its solid battery life, decent camera setup, and the inclusion of dual SIM support and a microSD slot make it appealing for users on a budget, but its performance limitations and lack of software updates may make it less appealing over time.

Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam