Motorola has evolved a lot as a brand, and it's had quite the journey over the years to find a comfortable spot in the market. It continues to have a special place in the heart of consumers for churning out a variety of phones. Motorola also has a strong footing in the U.S. with a diverse portfolio that includes both flagship and budget options. Plenty of Motorola phones have already made it to our collection of the best cheap phones and the best Android phones overall, but I wanted to highlight all the best Motorola phones separately to give you a better idea of what to expect from the brand's diverse portfolio in the U.S.

Our favorite Motorola phones in 2023

motorola edge+ 2023 in black, transparent background, floating in air showing angular front and back sides
Motorola Edge Plus (2023)
Best overall

Easily one of the best affordable flagships you can buy in the U.S.

The 2023 flagship Edge+ brings an impressive spec sheet and an affordable price. From the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor to the 165Hz pOLED display, Motorola is offering North Americans perhaps its most complete high-end phone in years.

Pros
  • Great overall performance
  • Motorola's software continues to shine
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • Not available at carriers
  • Only available in one configuration

The Motorola Edge+ (2023) model is currently the best Motorola phone you can buy in the U.S. It brings some notable upgrades over the previous-gen model to take the top spot in this roundup.

The new Edge+ brings an impressive spec sheet that includes a 6.7-inch pOLED FHD+ panel with support for up to 165Hz refresh rate. It's one of the smoothest smartphone displays you'll ever use, which will make all your apps and content look excellent. Not a lot of apps take full advantage of the 165Hz panel, but scrolling will feel smooth. The device also looks and feels great to hold, thanks to the quad-curved glass panel that Motorola is using for this particular model.

As far as the other specs are concerned, it's powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which is currently the best Qualcomm chip out there for flagship phones. It also offers excellent battery life, and the cameras are on par with many other high-end phones out there in 2023 too. Motorola is only selling the 8GB RAM/512GB storage configuration of the phone in the U.S., but there's a lot to like about the new Edge+ model, making it an easy recommendation to those who don't want to open their wallets to $1,000 flagships.

A render of the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion in Viva Magenta color.
Motorola Edge 30 Fusion
Best design

The best-looking Motorola phone, hands down

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is a solid option to consider if you don't want to spend top dollar on a smartphone. It packs a good set of internals, and it also comes in a bunch of pretty colors, including the Viva Magenta.

Pros
  • Premium build with a beautiful design
  • Super smooth 144Hz display
  • Great midrange price
Cons
  • Only an IP52 rating
  • No telephoto camera

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is also a good phone to consider if you don't want to spend a lot of money on your purchase. This smartphone can be had for as little as $400 right now, making it a solid alternative to the Edge+ model if you're on a tighter budget. Motorola recently debuted the Viva Magenta color variant of this phone, easily making it one of the best-looking phones in the U.S. right now.

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Plus chip with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. You can also add a microSD card to expand the storage further up to 1TB. On the front, there's a 6.5-inch pOLED display that is capable of a 144Hz refresh rate, with support for HDR10+.

You also get a dual-camera setup at the back, which includes a 50MP main and a 13MP ultrawide sensor, along with a 32MP front shooter to handle the selfies. The highlight of the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion, however, is its 4,400mAh battery. The phone also supports 68W charging, with which you can quickly top up the battery. The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is a solid phone overall, and it's hard to go wrong with for $400. The Viva Magenta colors also make it special, and it looks better than a lot of other phones in this price range.

A render of the Moto G 5G 2023 model in Harbor Gray color.
Moto G 5G (2023)
Best Value

A good value-for-money pick, but keep your expectations in check.

The Moto G (2023) is $150 cheaper than its predecessor and comes with a 6.5-inch LCD 120Hz display, Snapdragon 480+ processor, 4GB of RAM, dual rear cameras, and a big 5,000mAh battery.

Pros
  • Fantastic battery life
  • Clean software with useful additions
  • 120Hz refresh rate screen
Cons
  • The cameras could've been better
  • No NFC for mobile payments

It's tough to ignore the Moto G 5G (2023) in the budget space as it remains one of the value picks in 2023. This new model brings a lot of quality-of-life improvements over its predecessor to become the best value pick in this roundup. It only costs $50 more than the last-gen model, and the extra year of software support alone might be worth the premium as you'll be able to use it for longer.

There's nothing extraordinary about the new Moto G 5G model, but it looks great and performs better than other sub-$300 phones in its segment. It sports a 6.5-inch LCD panel with support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The Snapdragon 480+ isn't the best, but it'll allow you to go about your day-to-day tasks without a hitch, and you also get a massive 5,000mAh battery to keep its lights on for at least two days with moderate usage.

However, to keep it at this low price, Motorola had to cut some serious corners, so you'll have to keep your expectations in check. The dual-camera setup at the back of the new Moto G 5G model, which includes a 48MP main and a 2MP macro sensor, could've been better; you can see some disappointing results in our Moto G 5G (2023) review, so be sure to check it out if you're planning to buy this phone. Also, note that there's no NFC on this phone, meaning you can't use it for contactless payments and such.

Back view of a blue Moto G Play 2023.
Moto G Play 2023
Best budget phone

Best for very casual users

The Moto G Play (2023) is a solid budget smartphone for those on a tight budget. It's nice to see a high refresh display at this price point that offers good colors. The cameras are decent, and the battery life is fantastic. However, overall performance is sluggish, and apps will hang up from time to time.

Pros
  • Smooth 90Hz display
  • Excellent battery life
  • Rock bottom price
Cons
  • Lots of performance stutters
  • Only 10W wired charging with no NFC or wireless charging

The Moto G Play (2023) is one of the newest Motorola phones this year. It sells for $170 at full price, making it an affordable option in Motorola's growing lineup of phones. It's also frequently discounted, so you'll likely be paying even less than that. It's very similar to the Moto G Stylus (2022), but it ditches the stylus to keep the price low. It gets all the basics right, and you can rely on it to deliver a good overall experience for day-to-day usage.

The Moto G Play (2023) is made out of plastic, but it comes with a matte finish at the back for a premium feel. It's powered by the Helio G37 SoC and is paired with up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. One of the best things about this phone is that it packs a 6.5-inch on the front with support for up to 90Hz refresh rate.

This particular phone also packs a massive 5,000mAh battery, which will last you for a long time on a single charge. It only supports 10W wired charging, though, so it'll take a while to top up. There's nothing to write home about the triple camera setup at the back, but they should suffice for a casual user. Some other highlights of the Moto G Play include a 3.5mm headphone jack, an IP52 rating, and more.

moto g stylus 5g 2023
Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
Best phone with a stylus

For those who want a phone with a stylus on a budget

This stylus-equipped Moto G has a long battery life, 5G connectivity, and a Snapdragon 600 series CPU.

Pros
  • Reliable day-to-day performance
  • Great battery life
  • Built-in stylus
Cons
  • Camera suffers in low-light conditions
  • The display brightness could've been better

The Moto G Stylus 5G is a great budget phone that aims to stand out from the rest in its category with a built-in stylus that works very well for writing, doodling, or simply interacting with the phone during your day-to-day usage. It's only a passive stylus, meaning it's not on par with Samsung's S Pen that has various smart features (plus it doesn't support palm rejection), but Motorola added some tricks to make the most of it.

The Moto G Stylus 5G offers reliable performance for everyday use thanks to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor that's paired with up to 6GB of RAM. It also gets a generous 5,000mAh battery that can keep the lights on for more than a day on a single charge with moderate usage. There's nothing to write home about the dual-camera setup on the back, but they're good for basic pictures.

Motorola is also selling a non-5G version of this phone called the Moto G Stylus (2023), which you can grab for $170 right now. That being said, I believe it's better to stick with the 5G model since the non-5G variant leaves out more than just 5G connectivity and trades other crucial features for a cheaper price tag. You can check out our Moto G Stylus vs Moto G Stylus 5G comparison to learn more about the differences between the two phones in detail.

Motorola G Power 2023 on transparent background, floating, showing off front and back of the phone
Motorola Moto G Power (2023)
Best for battery life

The new undisputed battery champ!

The Moto G Power features impressive battery life, a great screen, and is priced just right. But it's lacking in areas like performance and cameras.

Pros
  • Excellent battery life
  • Big improvement over last year
  • Decent build quality for the price
Cons
  • Takes poor images
  • No NFC

The Moto G Power (2023) model builds upon the merits of its predecessor to deliver a significantly better package. The highlight of the phone once again is the battery life. This particular phone packs a 5,000mAh battery that can keep up with all your needs and go the distance. It's one of those phones that'll let you leave the charger at home on a weekend trip. You can't say that for a lot of modern phones out there.

The only downside to having such a massive battery is that the Moto G Power takes forever to charge. It tops out at 15W charging and only comes with a 10W adapter in the box, so be ready to leave it plugged in for a long time. It would be nice to have support for faster charging, but you'll have to wait for the next year's model for that.

As for the specifications, the Moto G Power (2023) sports a large 6.5-inch 120Hz 1080p screen. The performance is handled by MediaTek's 930 (6nm) processor coupled with 6GB of RAM. It's a pretty good leap from the previous model, which was powered by a MediaTek Helio G37 processor and had 4GB of RAM. It's not going to win any awards with its performance, but it'll get the job done. The triple camera setup at the back could've been better, and it clearly wasn't the focus for this phone.

ThinkPhone with transparent background
Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola
Best for business users

With features that make it stand out for the enterprise users

The ThinkPhone is the first to have Lenovo's iconic Think brand. Made for business users, it passes MIL-STD-810H tests, it's IP68 certified, it's made to be secure, and it has some great features to give you continuity with your ThinkPad.

Pros
  • It's ability to work seamlessly with ThinkPads
  • Great security and privacy features
  • A beautiful 144Hz display
Cons
  • The cameras could've been better

The Motorola ThinkPhone, which is weirdly named "Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola" is one of the unique phones to have come out in 2023. It's the first smartphone to sport Lenovo's iconic Think branding, and it's great for business users. XDA's Editor-in-chief, Rich Woods, reviewed this phone earlier this year and called it a great phone for ThinkPad stans. You can also buy it unlocked from Motorola or Lenovo for $700, making it a great option for just about anyone who's looking to buy a reliable smartphone in 2023.

One of the best things about the ThinkPhone is its design. It features the same black woven design as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon models, and it's just as durable as other products with the Think branding, passing a bunch of MIL-STD-810H tests. This phone, in case you're wondering, is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, and it comes with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It also sports a dual-camera setup at the back, and it also comes with things like a USB 3.1 Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.4, a 5,000mAh battery with 68W TurboPower charging, 5G connectivity, and more.

The ThinkPhone should appeal to almost all Android phone users, but it offers some key features that make it stand out for enterprise users, especially the ones with a ThinkPad. Motorola's Think 2 Think experiences enable features like Instant Connect, Unified Clipboard, Flip Drop, Advanced Webcam, Instant Hotspot, and more for seamless usage. Additionally, you also get a slew of security features for the enterprise, including Motorola's ThinkShield platform, which leverages built-in hardware protection and also taps into Android OS Core Security.

Motorola Razr+
Motorola Razr+ (2023)
Best folding phone

The best clamshell-stylus foldable in the U.S. right now

The Moto Razr+ is currently the best clamshell foldable you can buy in the U.S. It features a bigger cover screen, better internals, and more to deliver a much better foldable experience than its predecessors did.

Pros
  • Large cover screen lets you do a lot without unfolding
  • Inside display has 165Hz support
  • Sleek and compact form factor
Cons
  • Battery life could've been better

The Moto Razr+ has replaced Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4 as the best clamshell-stylus foldable phone, and it's easily one of the best Motorola phones you can buy right now. It now sports a massive cover display that lets you do more without having to unfold it. The display even wraps around the camera module, giving it a unique look.

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Moto Razr+ sports a 3.6-inch outer and a 6.9-inch inner screen. They're both OLED panels that support high-refresh rates, but the one inside can actually fold. It doesn't leave a visible crease at its folding point, and it's a vibrant panel with beautiful colors and crisp visuals. The Moto Razr+ is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It also packs a 3,800mAh battery that can charge both wired and wirelessly, and it carries an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance.

It remains to be seen how it competes with Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5 model, but the Razr+ is undoubtedly one of the best foldable phones you can buy right now. Motorola also has a slightly cheaper version of this phone with a smaller cover display, but it's yet to hit the shelves in the U.S.

Best Motorola phones in 2023: Final say

I'll update this ever-evolving roundup to include newer options once they're available to purchase in the U.S. But in the meantime, the Moto Edge+ (2023) is my pick for the best Motorola phone overall. It packs a big and bright OLED panel with support for up to 165Hz refresh rate. You also get Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip which is among the best mobile chips out there in 2023. You also get a good set of cameras on this phone with a 50MP main sensor and a 60MP selfie shooter. The 2023 model of Edge+ also supports 5G, and it's compatible with all major carriers in the U.S. The Moto Edge 30 Fusion comes close, but the Edge+ takes the lead with a better chipset, more capable camera sensors, and a bigger battery.

motorola edge+ 2023 in black, transparent background, floating in air showing angular front and back sides
Motorola Edge Plus (2023)
Editor's Choice

The 2023 flagship Edge+ brings an impressive spec sheet and an affordable price. From the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor to the 165Hz pOLED display, Motorola is offering North Americans perhaps its most complete high-end phone in years.

I've also added some other options, including the Razr+ foldable and some good budget phones, so be sure to explore the full list before making a purchase decision. If you're open to exploring options from other manufacturers, then be sure to stop by my round-up of the best phones, which includes the best devices from Apple, Samsung, and more.