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Pros
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Elegant appearance
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Long battery life
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The ultra-wide camera expands your photo options
cons
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Slow performance
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Lacks wireless charging
I find something new $300 Moto G Power To be one of the most aesthetically pleasing budget phones I’ve tested. I only hope the 2026 model offers some elevated features and improved functionality to accompany its sleek looks.
For example, my review unit came with the Pantone pure vegan cashmere leather back cover. Its metal sides feature a champagne color that complements the back, giving it an elegant look.
But I was very disappointed to see wireless charging removed from the 2026 model after it was included in previous Moto G Power models, which, to me, offered great value for a phone in this price range. Motorola appears to have made up for this by enhancing the battery, along with improving the cameras.
Watch this: Unboxing the $300 Moto G Power 2026 in Pantone Pure Cashmere
I appreciated the improved battery life, which easily extends to a second day of moderate use on a single charge. I can also take some nice photos with the camera when there’s good lighting, but indoor and low-light environments can lead to some noise.
Most of these compromises are typical for this price range. But what worries me most is that the Moto G Power 2026 uses the same processor as last year’s model, which is identical to what Motorola includes in $200 Moto G. At a time when there are an incredible number of affordable phones that people can choose from, it’s disappointing to see how Motorola’s approach undermines many of the features that made previous Moto G Power models stand out from the crowd. When I tested the new Power, I couldn’t help but wonder if this year’s phone offered enough to justify the extra $100, while some aspects seemed identical to Moto’s cheaper models.
The Moto G Power comes with two years of software updates and three years of security updates, a common offering in this price range, but it doesn’t live up to Samsung’s six-year commitment to its budget phones.
Here’s the back cover of the Moto G Power (2026).
Moto G Power (2026) design, features and battery
The standout feature of the Moto G Power is its 5,200 mAh battery, which lasts for about two days between charges. While the battery size is the same as what Motorola offers in the cheaper $200 Moto G, I’m glad to see the Power’s two-day battery life, considering it has a larger, more accurate screen.
30-minute wired fast charging test
| phone | Percent increase | Battery capacity | Wall plug wattage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola Moto G Power (2026) | 56% | 5000 mAh | 30 watts |
| Motorola Moto G Play (2026) | 35% | 5,200 mAh | 18 watts |
| Samsung Galaxy A36 | 31% | 5000 mAh | 45 watts |
| Motorola Moto G Power (2025) | 61% | 5000 mAh | 30 watts |
During a 45-minute endurance test, the Moto G Power’s battery level drained from 100% to 93% — that’s better than last year’s power, which dropped to 88%. Power supports up to 30W wired charging, recharging the battery from 0% to 56% in 30 minutes.
The 6.8-inch 1080p display gets the job done when watching YouTube without compromising video quality too much. I ran the screen with the “Ultra-Smooth” refresh rate option, which supports up to 120Hz, and the “Vivid” color option. I can’t say it looks particularly vivid, but it offers noticeable smoothness and color compared to the more muted screens on the cheaper Moto G phones. In cooking videos, the food looked good but wasn’t particularly detailed.
Audio also plays loudly from the stereo speakers, making the Moto G Power particularly suitable as a low-cost media player for music and videos.
However, gaming is not a strong suit for the Moto G Power. Since the phone uses the same processor as last year’s Moto G Power and Moto G, you may need to run games at lower graphics settings to make sure they work well. Most simple games will be fine, but I wouldn’t consider this a cheaper way to let your child play Fortnite. Titles like the 2D dungeon crawl battles in Dead Cells look good, but I tried to play Red Dead Redemption, and the opening cutscene seemed unable to showcase the characters and scenery.
There are supposed to be figures in this scene, but instead they look more like ghosts.
During our benchmark testing, the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 performed very similar to the $160 Moto G Playwhich also runs on the same processor, although the cheaper phone has less memory and storage space.
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Motorola Moto G Power (2026) 385Motorola Moto G Power (2025)) 384Motorola Moto G Play (2026) 383
Geekbench v.6.0
Motorola Moto G Power (2026) 795 2,107Motorola Moto G Power (2025) 790 2,032Motorola Moto G Play (2026) 793 2,086
And this is where I get a little confused about the ways Motorola justifies the Moto G Power’s $300 price compared to the $160 and $200 phones. When it comes to multitasking, power never seems more powerful.
Even though the phone has 8GB of RAM, which is double the Moto G’s 4GB, I experienced noticeable slowdowns when opening and closing apps, loading games, and taking video calls. I’m disappointed that the phone struggles with basic multitasking, like texting while chatting on a video call. All of these tasks work on the phone, but I needed to use Motorola’s RAM Boost feature, which shifts a portion of the storage to RAM to help cushion the bumps.
The Moto G Power 2026 has two rear cameras: wide and ultra-wide.
Moto G Power Cameras
The Moto G Power’s cameras are identical to those of last year’s model. The 50MP main camera is complemented by an 8MP ultra-wide camera, allowing the phone to be more versatile than the cheaper basic Moto G phones, which have a single rear camera. Images look good for the price but aren’t particularly detailed at most settings.
In ideal settings, like a sunny window, photos taken with the 50MP main camera with 1x and 2x zoom show my friend’s cat, Charlie, enjoying the sunshine. The fur of her orange coat is visible, although the actual details in her hair blurred together when I zoomed in on the image by 2x.
Taken at 1x zoom on a Moto G Power using the main camera.
Captured with the main camera of the Moto G Power at 2x zoom.
The ultra-wide image has a wider field of view and captures some of the scratches on the dining room table. There is no doubt that the stillness of this scene helped the camera capture a sharp and detailed image.
Captured with the Moto G Power ultra-wide camera.
However, scenes with minor motion pose a noticeable challenge for the Moto G Power, especially in low light. In the night street photo below, a slow-moving car appears blurry in the scene. The ultra-wide image appears darker because its sensor captures less light.
Captured with the main camera at 1x.
Taken with an ultra-wide camera.
Although the Moto G Power features a new 32MP front camera, compared to last year’s 16MP camera, I still feel like the selfie camera struggles with detail. In one selfie I took at a well-lit German restaurant Schmidt’s in Columbus, Ohio, the photo looks like me, but details like my facial hair and skin are softer thanks to noise reduction.
Captured with the front camera.
In the darker selfie below, which I took at night on a New York street, the image was blurry and lacked detail, especially in my hair.
Captured with the front camera.
I feel like the Moto G Power cameras are effective for most everyday quick shots, but if I attended a more special event like a wedding, I’d probably consider getting a disposable film camera.
The Moto G Power has a 6.8-inch display.
Moto G Power (2026) Bottom line
I wanted more from the $300 Moto G Power. It’s still a good phone for the price, although I’m not convinced by some of the changes. For example, Qi wireless charging in the 2024 and 2025 versions was excellent, providing more options for using your phone. In 2026, the lack of wireless charging is a notable omission, especially if you’re coming from a 2024 model.
The Moto G Power’s long battery life is where the phone really shines. It easily drives the big screen, which is great if you prioritize streaming video, browsing websites, and using the speakers to play music. I wish the Moto G Power had a slightly more powerful processor, especially compared to its more affordable Moto G siblings.
If you just need a cheap Android phone and don’t care about a larger, higher-resolution screen, you can probably save money and opt for the cheaper Moto G or Moto G Play. Or you could consider buying last year’s Moto G Power at a discount.
Although it’s not a particularly powerful phone, the Moto G Power 2026 at least offers a long-lasting battery and a sleek design for its price.
How we test phones
Each phone was tested by the CNET review team It has been used in the real world. We test phone features, play games, and take photos. We check the screen to see if it is bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construction to determine how it holds up and whether it has an IP water resistance rating. We push processor performance to the max using benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphic-intensive games at high refresh rates.
All cameras are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We’re trying out special features like Night Mode and Portrait Mode, and comparing our findings to similarly priced competing phones. We also check battery life through daily use, as well as running a series of battery drain tests.
We’re also thinking about additional features, such as 5G support, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds, and foldable displays, among others, which could come in handy. We weigh all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether this phone, regardless of its price, actually represents good value. Although these tests may not always be reflected in the initial CNET review, we perform follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.