5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Moto G (2026)

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The Moto G series has been around for over a decade now, and Motorola launched the Moto G (2026) late last year. My colleague Ryan Haines praised the device for its big battery, solid main camera, 3.5mm port, and microSD card slot. Unfortunately, he thought the short update policy, disappointing performance, and poor durability dragged the entire package down.

So, what should you buy instead of Motorola’s budget phone? Well, there’s no shortage of cheap Android phones on the market. But if you’re overwhelmed by your numerous options, we picked out the five best alternatives to the Moto G (2026).

The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G isn’t exactly the best Moto G (2026) alternative on the list, as it has its own share of issues. These problems include slow charging speeds, disappointing performance, and poor secondary cameras. If that’s all true, why are we recommending it?

The Galaxy A17 5G is worth buying over the Motorola handset if you value long-term updates, a durable design, and superior screen tech. Expect six years of OS updates, Gorilla Glass Victus in lieu of Motorola’s Gorilla Glass 3, and an OLED screen. The update policy , in particular, is a big upgrade over the Moto G’s two years of OS updates. Another important factor is price, as the Moto G (2026) has seen its price rise from $200 to $300. By contrast, Samsung’s phone still costs $200.

It’s not a complete win for the Galaxy A17, though. Both phones have a microSD card slot, but only the Moto handset includes a headphone port. Nevertheless, I’d argue that the Galaxy A17 5G delivers the better overall package for most people.

Nothing launched the $279 CMF Phone 2 Pro over a year ago, and it still remains one of the best cheap Android phones you can buy. I’d certainly recommend buying this over the Moto G (2026), especially if you’re outside the US. The CMF Phone 2 Pro stood out at the time due to its unique, somewhat modular design. You can unscrew the back panel and attach optional accessories, such as a wallet/kickstand combo. Even the little dial at the bottom can be removed if you want to attach a lanyard.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro also differentiates itself from other sub-$300 phones by offering a 2x 50MP telephoto camera. No other company offers a telephoto camera at this price point in the US. The rest of the package is mostly great too, including a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED screen, a decent Dimensity 7300 chip, a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging, and the slick Nothing OS. It even comes with a decent update policy, offering three years of OS upgrades and six years of security patches.