I switched to a $150 Motorola phone for two weeks, and it went better than expected

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ZDNET's key takeaways

The 2024 Moto G Play is available now for $150 (or $130 at Best Buy), and it's looking to be one of the best budget phones available.The phone is affordable, attractive, and feels good in the hand, with useful Motorola software features and long battery life.Performance and camera quality will be limited at this price point, and I wish it had 5G support.

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I use my smartphone regularly to complete work and stay connected with my loved ones. Thus, my return on investment for purchasing flagship phones is often easily justified and realized. However, millions of people are buying their first phone or looking for a less expensive phone as a backup or emergency device, and I like to keep that in mind whenever I review handsets on the opposite end of the budget spectrum.

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Motorola has many phones available for buyers, and its Play series offers some of the best value at low prices. I had my T-Mobile SIM in the 2024 Moto G Play for a couple of weeks, and, to my surprise, this $150 phone has provided an enjoyable experience for communication, entertainment, social media, and more.

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For starters, don't expect this phone to run intensive games without a frame drop, keep several apps up and running while you bounce between them, or connect via 5G for flawless video streaming. Such features are a rarity in this price range, and shoppers should keep that in mind with the Play.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

That's why I am impressed by how the phone feels amazing in the hand. It has a matte finish and acrylic construction that looks fantastic in the sapphire blue variant I received. The lovely curves that transition from the back panel around the rear camera and flash are a look I would love to see on a flagship phone. Motorola's standard water-repellent design elements and a 3.5mm standard audio jack are present on top.

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The 6.5-inch LCD has a 1600 x 720 pixels resolution with a 90Hz refresh rate, and it is great for watching video content. I've also found the 5,000mAh battery to provide long enough battery life when combined with Qualcomm's power-sipping Snapdragon 680 processor. I charged the phone every two to three days in the past few weeks of testing, which is perfect for anyone who wants a device that can keep them connected to the internet for as long as possible.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

To offer a phone at a low $150 price point, compromises must be made to save money. For example, the 2024 Moto G Play does not have a 5 G modem, and the 4GB of RAM will limit how many apps you can open and run simultaneously without experiencing a stutter here and there. I'm less bothered by the 64GB of internal storage, which can be expanded with the built-in MicroSD card slot.

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The biggest compromise I experienced was the camera quality. The 50MP sensor lets you capture decent photos in good lighting, but images may appear oversharpened and lack saturation.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Motorola offers my favorite software across phones because it offers a fairly stock Android experience with unique customizations. The Moto experience includes useful gestures like doing a chop motion to turn on the flashlight, security features, display enhancements, and even gaming optimizations. I highly recommend going through the Moto as it will help you enjoy the phone and use it to its fullest.

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The 2024 Moto G Play launches with Android 13, but given the $150 price point, you will likely see just a single update to Android 14 and limited security updates. Moto customizations and its current operating system make this a solid phone as long as you have limited expectations and appreciate what it does for the price.

ZDNET's buying advice

One of my primary phones is the OnePlus Open, but I will never take the $1,699 foldable with me when I run, ride my bike, or head to the beach. In situations like those, a backup like the 2024 Moto G Play is perfect for maintaining communications while having a battery that easily gets me through a full day. The Moto G Play isn't going to blow anyone away with its performance, but it feels good in the hand, offers handy Moto customizations, and serves as a solid budget device.