Key Points
- Our choice for the #1 Best Overall Motorola phone is the Motorola Edge+ 2023.
- Motorola smartphones are best known for their good performance at affordable prices, but some models can easily compete with top-tier brands like Samsung.
- When shopping for the best Motorola phone, you should consider any special functions you need, such as compatibility with a stylus, pocket-friendly dimensions, or battery life.
- Some Motorola phones come in fashionable colors inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year. These models are available directly from Motorola as well as carriers, independent vendors, and marketplaces, including Amazon.
In a market almost completely owned by Apple and Samsung, Motorola quietly manufactures some of the best entry and mid-range smartphones. Its lineup includes options for every budget, from the wallet-friendly Moto G series to the high-end Motorola Edge+ and the popular Razr+.
However, to end up with the best Motorola phone for your needs, you must decide whether you want a conventional or a foldable design, what important features you look for in a smartphone, and how much you’re willing to spend.
To trim down options and find a phone that’s worth your while, check out our ranking for the best Motorola phones in 2023.
- Best Overall: Motorola Edge+ 2023
- Best for Social Media: Motorola Razr+ 2023
- Best for Productivity: Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2022
- Best for Security: Motorola Thinkphone
- Most Affordable: Motorola Moto G Power 5G 2023
#1 Best Overall: Motorola Edge+ 2023
Motorola’s best smartphone in recent years, the Motorola Edge+ 2023, packs above-average cameras, rock-solid performance, and outstanding battery life.
Dubbed the Galaxy S23 killer, this smartphone comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. With these specs, the device is perfectly capable of running demanding games and apps. However, Qualcomm doesn’t optimize its chipset for Motorola smartphones in the way it does for Samsung, so the Edge+ 2023 has a lower benchmark.
To make up for it, Motorola equips the Edge+ 2023 with a massive 5,100 mAh battery that provides up to 40 hours of use per charge. Paired with fast charging — the phone charges for the day in only nine minutes — the battery pack alone makes it a crowd-pleaser. We also like the 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization and the 60MP selfie camera, both of which capture outstanding images.
Other highlights include a gorgeous POLED screen and a premium curved design. The smooth finish and good weight translate to a comfortable hold, even though the glass back is a bit slippery. Another downside is the limited choice of finishes, seeing as the phone only comes in Interstellar Black.
Designed for the modern, fast-paced world, the Motorola Edge+ 2023 connects with TVs and desktop displays wirelessly or via a wire. This feature is ideal for making big-screen video calls, accelerating your productivity, or playing your favorite mobile games on the big screen.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This smartphone offers a battery life of up to 40 hours per charge. | Motorola offers its Edge+ 2023 smartphone in only one color. |
| The 60MP selfie camera captures captivating portraits. | While the glass back provides a premium look, it makes the phone slippery. |
| The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset gives the device sufficient power for running demanding apps. |
Check out the Motorola Edge+ 2023 on Amazon.
Best for Social Media: Motorola Razr+ 2023
- Iconic flip design with 3.6" external display
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Macro Vision captures the tiniest details
- Ultra-smooth pOLED main display
- Black
A champ at handling all basic functions, the Motorola Razr+ 2023 delivers a powerful dual-screen smartphone experience in a light and fun package.
Its greatest highlight is the fully functional cover display that, at 3.6 inches, is wide enough to customize and access favorite apps, play games, watch videos, or make NFC payments without unfolding the device. Flipped open, the smartphone reveals a smooth 6.9-inch POLED display that has no visible crease — a great improvement compared to other flip smartphones, including the Galaxy Z Flip4.
The lightning-fast refresh rate of 165Hz pairs with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset to deliver a fluid experience with no stuttering or ghosting. When folded, the patented teardrop hinge aligns the top and bottom edges perfectly. This feature allows the sides to fold flush one against the other.
Beyond its CPU and attractive looks, the Razr+ 2023 is essentially built for social media and content creation. From a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 12MP main camera with macro-vision capabilities to the possibility of snapping selfies hands-free and previewing your shots on both displays, this smartphone has it all.
We also like the selection of colors that includes Motorola classics like Infinite Black and Glacier Blue, as well as the bold Pantone Color of the Year 2023, Viva Magenta. On the downside, this phone is only offered with 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The 3.6-inch cover display is fully functional. | This smartphone doesn’t have expandable memory, and it only comes with 256GB of internal storage. |
| Motorola’s patented teardrop hinge aligns the edges perfectly, allowing the two sides to fold completely flush against each other. | |
| Motorola offers this phone in Pantone’s Color of the Year 2023, Viva Magenta. |
Check out the Motorola Razr+ 2023 on Amazon.
Best for Productivity: Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2022
- Optical sensor resolution: 50 megapixels
- Maximum display resolution:1080 x 2460 pixels
- Display Type: LTPS
- Built-in creative stylus
- 50MP camera system with OIS
- 6.8" Max Vision 120Hz display
- Super fast 5G performance
With a responsive stylus, massive battery, and respectable performance, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2022 is the best mid-range smartphone designed for productivity.
Its design is similar to the Edge+ 2023, with the main difference being that it is majorly made of plastic. The screen is flat, and the LCD display is not as fancy as the flagship’s POLED, but we can’t say we are surprised. After all, the Moto G Stylus 5G is about two times cheaper than the Edge+.
What does surprise us is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 CPU. While several generations older than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the chipset delivers reliable performance. Combined with the 120Hz refresh rate and an Adreno GPU, the phone can smoothly run productivity apps like Spark, Teams, and Microsoft Outlook.
Another highlight is the built-in stylus, a feature that’s hard to find on mid-range smartphones. The phone detects when the pen is popped out and launches the Notes app automatically. However, this option can be customized to launch any app you want.
The 5,000 mAh battery delivers sufficient stamina for up to two days of typical use, but charging is a bit of a letdown. While the device is fast-charging capable, it only comes with a standard charging adapter and a USB-C cable. The fast charger is sold separately.
The Moto G Stylus 5G comes in two colors, Cosmic Black and Rose Champagne. The 256GB of internal storage is expandable up to 2TB with a microSD card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Moto G Stylus 5G is one of the few mid-range smartphones with a stylus. | Motorola only includes a standard charging adapter in the box. |
| Its massive 5,000 mAh battery provides up to two days of use per charge. | |
| The phone features expandable storage of up to 2TB. |
Check out the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2022 on Amazon.
Best for Cyber Security: Motorola Thinkphone
- MIL-STD-810H certified
- AI-based security
- Aircraft-grade aluminum frame
- 8GB of RAM
Clearly geared towards professionals, the Motorola Thinkphone brings performance and outstanding security in a clean package.
It is designed to pair with Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptop lineup, but you don’t need the laptop to get the most out of this device. This smartphone’s highlight is the ThinkShield mobile platform. The AI-based security system protects sensitive data from mobile threats and provides end-to-end security solutions tailored for protecting and managing your business.
Beyond an outstanding security pack, the ThinkPhone is also indestructible — at least, as indestructible as a phone can be. The bright POLED display features Gorilla Glass Victus protection, its aircraft-grade aluminum frame resists shocks, and the phone resists sand, dirt, dust, and submersion in shallow water, thanks to its IP68 certification.
Throw in the fact that it runs on Android 13 and is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU, and you can expect good performance and battery life.
Somewhat disappointing is the camera setup. The 50MP primary camera has no optical zoom and the photos are not outstanding. However, the video capability is surprising, as the ThinkPhone can shoot up to 30 frames per second at 8K resolution.
Motorola offers the ThinkPhone in one style, Volcanic Gray, with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This smartphone is designed for seamless integration with the Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. | The primary camera has no zoom, and its photo capabilities are limited. |
| An aluminum frame and IP68 certification improve durability and resistance. | The 256GB of internal storage might be insufficient for business users. |
| The ThinkShield platform increases security, protecting the device against mobile threats. |
Check out the Motorola Thinkphone on Amazon.
Most Affordable: Motorola Moto G Power 5G 2023
- Massive 5,000 mAh battery
- 256GB of storage
- Octa-core processor
- Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity
The Motorola Moto G Power 5G 2023 is an unpretentious smartphone that brings good performance at an affordable price.
It comes in two colors, Bright White and Mineral Black, with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The memory is expandable up to 1TB with an external microSD card, which is enough for storing media content and apps.
A slimmer bezel compared to other entry-level phones improves the user experience, but the plastic construction doesn’t feel the most premium. However, this phone is lighter than models with metal frames, which is a bonus. At 6.5 inches in diagonal, the phone also fits seamlessly in most pockets.
The full HD+ definition and 120Hz refresh rate ensure fluid usage with few lags. However, the hardware setup is not the best out there, so running demanding apps can be frustrating. Another drawback is the number of pre-installed apps on the Moto G Power 5G that come with intrusive ads.
On the bright side, the power-efficient MediaTek Dimensity 930 CPU paired with a 5,000 mAh battery produces stellar results. You can get up to two days of battery life with normal use or about nine hours of non-stop screen-on time without enabling the battery-saving mode. So, if you’re looking to spend around $300 for a reliable phone, the Moto G Power 5G 2023 could be the right choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The full HD+ LCD display provides a decent viewing experience. | The processor is not powerful enough to run demanding apps. |
| Excellent runtime, thanks to the 5,000 mAh battery | This phone comes with numerous pre-installed apps and intrusive ads. |
| The plastic frame reduces the phone’s weight, making it feel light in your pocket. |
Check out the Motorola Moto G Power 5G 2023 on Amazon.
©Haelen Haagen/Shutterstock.com
How to Pick the Best Motorola Phone: Step-by-Step
When choosing a Motorola phone, there are three main considerations for most buyers.
- Budget
- Key features
- Performance
Let’s see how each of these factors can impact your decision-making.
Budget
Motorola manufactures entry and mid-level smartphones that range in price from around $200 to over $700. While these devices are a lot cheaper than flagship brands like Samsung and Apple, you should still decide how much you’re willing to spend. If you don’t want to break the bank but need a capable phone, the models in the Moto G series are your best bet. If you can shell out a bit of cash, the Razr+ or Edge+ can deliver an almost top-tier user experience.
Key Features
Once you’ve decided on a budget, you should consider what key features you need in a smartphone. For instance, if you need a capable camera and good battery life, you might want to consider one of Motorola’s flagship options. However, if you don’t mind so-so photos, a Moto G Stylus 5G or the Moto G Power 5G can deliver outstanding battery life and good performance for a fraction of the price.
Performance
You should also consider what you’re using your smartphone for. To save on costs, Motorola equips most of its phones with older chipsets that can power undemanding apps, but that can’t keep up with the latest games or content creation apps (e.g., the Adobe Lightroom Editor or the Adobe Premiere Rush). If you need a phone for gaming or productivity, you should consider one of the flagship models.
What to Know Before Buying a Motorola Phone
Motorola manufactures capable and reliable phones, but the brand discontinues its models shortly after releasing them. Due to this policy, the company offers fewer Android and security patch updates. Typically, a Motorola phone receives two Android upgrades and three years of security patches, which actually means that your phone will become obsolete a lot faster than models from other brands.
While an entry model priced under $500 is typically worth the investment, you might want to think twice before buying a flagship model that can set you back over $800.
Using a Motorola Phone: What It’s Like
Most Motorola phones offer a fluid user experience. The Android-based system is intuitive and easy to navigate, while the large-capacity batteries offer days of runtime.
The brand’s flagship models come with improved photo and video capabilities, and selected models offer outstanding security and resistance. Cheaper models compromise on features, but if you know what you want, you might still find a model that is worth your while in the entry lineup.
Summary Table
| Rank | Phone | Key Features | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Motorola Edge+ 2023 | Massive 5,100 mAh battery, 50MP main camera, 60MP selfie camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU | Limited choice of finishes, glass back is slippery |
| #2 | Motorola Razr+ 2023 | Fully functional cover display, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, 13MP ultra-wide camera, 12MP main camera | Only offered with 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM |
| #3 | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2022 | Built-in stylus, Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 CPU, 5,000 mAh battery, expandable storage up to 2TB | Comes with a standard charging adapter, fast charger sold separately |
| #4 | ThinkPhone by Motorola | ThinkShield mobile platform, Gorilla Glass Victus protection, aircraft-grade aluminum frame, IP68 certification | 50MP primary camera has no optical zoom, only offered with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage |
| #5 | Motorola Moto G Power 5G 2023 | Expandable memory up to 1TB, MediaTek Dimensity 930 CPU, 5,000 mAh battery | Hardware setup is not the best, comes with numerous pre-installed apps and intrusive ads |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Mr.Mikla/Shutterstock.com.
