Motorola is understood for its reasonably priced smartphones greater than its high-end ones, and it is no shock. The firm has saturated the market with worth telephones sufficient to propel it to the #3 spot within the United States. Its 2022 fashions weren’t unhealthy, which gave me hope for 2023. However, the brand new Moto G Play (2023) seemingly dashed these hopes, and I would not precisely name it a robust begin for Motorola.The firm skipped releasing a Moto G Play successor in 2021, so one would assume launching the system in 2023 would carry loads of upgrades to maintain up with lots of the different Android telephones below $200. However, whereas there are some upgrades, there aren’t sufficient enhancements after a yr break — actually, there are even some very noticeable downgrades.Moto G Play (2023): Price & Availability(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)The Moto G Play (2023) was introduced on December 8, 2022, and launched on January 12, 2023.The telephone retails for $169.99 and is obtainable on-line at Motorola.com or via retailers equivalent to Amazon and Best Buy. The telephone may even be out there at carriers equivalent to T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile.Today’s greatest Moto G Play (2023) offers (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Moto G Play (2023): What I like(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Fortunately, it isn’t all unhealthy. The Moto G Play (2023) has a couple of redeeming qualities, the primary being its design. It’s not essentially the most flashy smartphone round, and there is a gargantuan chin beneath the show. But there is a hole-punch selfie digital camera, which all the time appears higher than an unpleasant notch, in my view. And the plastic again is a reasonably engaging Navy Blue colorway that feels mushy to the hand. There are a lot better-looking telephones on the market, however there are actually worse.Swipe to scroll horizontallySpecsCategoryMoto G Play (2023)Display6.5-inch HD+ (1600×720), LCD, 90Hz refresh rateChipsetMediaTek Helio G37Storage32GB, expandableMemory3GBSoftwareAndroid 12Rear Camera 115MP wide-angle, f/1.22, 1.0μmRear Camera 22MP macro, f/2.4, 1.75μmRear Camera 32MP depth, f/2.4, 1.75μmSelfie Camera5MP, f/2.4, 1.12μmWater ResistanceIP52Battery & Charging5,000mAh, 10W chargingConnectivityLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5NFC❌Dimensions167.24 x 76.54 x 9.36mmWeight203gColorsNavy BlueAside from the digital camera housing (extra on these later), the Moto G Play (2023) has a rear fingerprint sensor, which I do not see a lot very nowadays. It’s loads quick, works properly sufficient, and even responds to a flick of the finger to tug down the notification shade, which is all the time useful (pun supposed).(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)The telephone runs Android 12 out of the field and chugs alongside all through the day with a 5,000mAh battery. Motorola claims three days of battery life, which could possibly be potential on mild use, however I obtained roughly one and a half days on common. Other Motorola telephones I’ve examined over the previous yr typically haven’t any drawback hitting two days, so it’s kind of disappointing however nonetheless good to get greater than a day of use when even a few of the greatest Android telephones can barely hit that.Unfortunately, that is the place the positives finish for this telephone.Moto G Play (2023): What I do not like(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)My expertise with the Moto G Play (2023) was fairly irritating. The telephone includes a sluggish MediaTek chip paired with 3GB of RAM that may barely sustain with something that I do, irrespective of how fundamental it’s.Typing might be irritating, and the telephone appears to have hassle maintaining with me, typically lacking total phrases. Apps take without end to open, and fundamental duties are an absolute chore for this telephone. What I discover appalling is that regardless of the upgraded LCD, which is now a 90Hz panel, the telephone is so janky and studders a lot to the purpose that you simply would not know this was something past a 60Hz panel.When apps lastly do open, they crash fairly often. I could possibly be doing one thing like studying an article on a web site or swiping via courting apps, and the Moto G Play would continually carry up the “[This app] isn’t responding] warning.” Then, when I attempt to exit out of apps, the telephone will simply freeze completely, prompting me to carry out a {hardware} reset to get it again on.(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)The software program expertise was fairly barebones too. Motorola sticks with a reasonably “stock” model of Android, which is ok, however often, there are a bunch of helpful options and gestures added to reinforce the expertise. These had been severely restricted on the Moto G Play, ridding a few of my favourite options like Quick Capture, which helps you to twist your wrist to open the digital camera, or Power Touch, which opens a small shortcut menu by double-tapping the ability button.That mentioned, you continue to get some helpful gestures that allow you to chop the telephone twice to activate the flashlight or swipe throughout the display to open split-screen mode.As for the digital camera, Motorola “improved” the most recent G Play with a 16MP main sensor and a brand new macro sensor, however you actually should not anticipate a lot from these pictures. The 5MP front-facing digital camera can be fairly atrocious.Image 1 of 16(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)You may anticipate to replenish your storage fairly quick, given the telephone’s minuscule 32GB of storage. I have never used the telephone for very lengthy and stored downloads to a minimal, however I’m already down to simply 4GB. It does not assist that the System takes up 11GB, so you need to positively anticipate to spend just a little extra on an excellent microSD card if you happen to purchase this telephone.While the battery life is fairly good, Motorola is understood to low cost out on charging specs with its reasonably priced Android telephones, and the Moto G Play (2023) isn’t any totally different, choosing 10W “TurboPower” charging. Expect to attend as much as two hours for a full cost if the telephone is on its final leg.Another staple for Motorola telephones is poor software program help. We’ve seen that begin to change with gadgets just like the Motorola Edge (2022), however the Moto G Play will not get the identical therapy. The telephone is slated to obtain just one OS improve, which suggests Android 13 can be its final. Given that the adjustments between the 2 variations are considerably minimal, this may not provide you with a lot to sit up for. There are three years of software program updates, which is a pleasant gesture, however there are telephones on this worth vary with higher help for OS upgrades and safety updates.Moto G Play (2023): Competition(Image credit score: Samsung)The Galaxy A14 5G was launched across the similar time because the Moto G Play (2023), however the Samsung telephone has fairly a leg up over Motorola’s system. It comes with a higher-resolution show, a higher-resolution digital camera, and higher software program help. It runs Android 13 out of the field and can obtain two OS upgrades and 4 years of safety updates. That mentioned, the telephone has an unpleasant notch and prices a bit greater than the Moto G Play. Plus, you are caught with Samsung’s One UI if that is not your cup of tea.The OnePlus Nord N300 5G is a handsome finances system from OnePlus. It has arguably higher cameras, a sleeker design, and first rate battery life with quick charging help. The software program additionally options loads of customization choices to make the telephone your personal. That mentioned, the Nord N300 runs OxygenOS, which is not for everybody. It may even solely obtain one OS improve, and efficiency can lag at occasions. The telephone additionally prices a bit extra, exceeding the $200 mark.If you do not thoughts splurging a bit, the TCL Stylus 5G is a superb choice for anybody on the lookout for an Android telephone below $300. It has a fantastic UI, respectable cameras, first rate battery life, and a built-in stylus pen for all of your productiveness wants. That mentioned, the telephone is sort of $100 greater than the Moto G Play and was initially tormented by app compatibility issues.Moto G Play (2023): Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)You should purchase this if…You’re on the lookout for a really low cost telephone.You’re extra involved with battery life.You favor rear fingerprint sensors.You should not purchase this if…You want good efficiency.You’re on the lookout for a number of OS upgrades and lengthy software program help.You desire a 5G telephone.It goes with out saying that my expertise with the Moto G Play (2023) has been lower than best. The telephone struggles via fundamental duties, there is not any 5G, and digital camera efficiency is subpar at greatest. It’s not an effective way to begin the brand new yr, and I actually hoped for extra when Motorola launched the Moto G Play after a brief hiatus.The rear fingerprint sensor continues to be a pleasant contact (pun supposed… once more), and the battery life is not unhealthy. Those are each options that some shoppers actually care about and positively assist elevate the expertise. But the efficiency points largely smash my expertise, and I can not see myself recommending this telephone to anybody.It’s a bummer as a result of I’ve been pretty impressed with Motorola’s 2022 fashions, just like the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) and Moto G 5G (2022). Those telephones weren’t good, however they carried out properly sufficient and had first rate cameras. In truth, I might be extra inclined to recommend both of these choices if you happen to do not thoughts spending just a little extra. These telephones are sometimes provided at a reduction, so you could get fortunate and discover one simply above $200.With any luck, the Moto G Play (2023) does not characterize what we are able to anticipate from Motorola in 2023. If so, we’re in for a tough yr of finances telephones.

The Moto G Play (2023) could also be a good choice for anybody on the lookout for an inexpensive Android smartphone. It has nice battery life and a rear fingerprint sensor that you do not see too typically nowadays.