Motorola's budget smartphones will now cost you more.
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What was previously considered a reliable and economical option has become more challenging to endorse. The price increases for Motorola's Moto G 2026 series leave budget-conscious buyers with limited appealing choices.
If you intended to purchase one of Motorola's budget smartphones in 2026, prepare for some disappointment. The company has discreetly raised the prices of its Moto G (2026) models in the United States.
These adjusted prices are now visible on the company's official online stores, catching potential customers off guard.
What is the magnitude of the price increase for the Moto G (2026)?
The Moto G Play (2026), an affordable and efficient Android device featuring a 6.7-inch LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Dimensity 6300 chipset, a 32MP rear camera, and a 5,200 mAh battery, now retails for $249.99, up from its previous price of $179.99.
This price applies to the model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which is one of the most basic configurations available on an Android smartphone in 2026. The company seems to understand this, as it is bundling four Moto Tags with the purchase.
Next is the Moto G 5G (2026), which now retails for $299.99, marking a $100 increase from the original price of $199.99. This represents a 50% hike for one of the brand's most favored smartphones in the area. It also has a 6.7-inch IPS 120Hz display and operates on the Dimensity 6300 chipset, but boasts a more advanced 50MP rear camera.
The Moto G and Moto G Power have experienced the most significant price increases.
In contrast to the Moto G Play (2026), the Moto G 5G (2026) comes with 128GB of storage, which is arguably the minimum standard in 2026.
The Moto G Power (2026) is now priced at $399.99, reflecting a $100 or 33% increase. This model features a slightly larger 6.8-inch LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, the same Dimensity 6300 chipset, and 8GB of RAM along with 128GB of storage.
To soften the impact of the price hike, both the Moto G 5G and the Moto G Power come with four Moto Tags and a pair of Moto Buds+.
It's evident that models with increased storage or RAM have undergone significant price adjustments. Even the $70 increase for the base model of the Moto G Play appears excessive. The reason is clear: rising memory expenses due to growing demand from AI data centers. What was once merely speculation has now become a pressing issue.
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Motorola's budget smartphones will now cost you more.
The Moto G 2026 series was designed with affordability in mind; however, overnight price hikes of as much as 50% have significantly undermined that reputation for consumers in the US.