The Samsung Galaxy A17 isn’t the only budget phone with an outstanding carrier deal attached. If you sign up for a new line, you can score a Moto G Play (2026) from Metro by T-Mobile for no additional cost on your monthly bill. It’s not quite free, as you need to sign up for a qualifying plan. Still, it’s a fantastic way to save on a capable phone ideal for scrolling through social media or sending WhatsApp messages.
If you’re thinking about switching carriers and don’t demand much from your smartphone, the Moto G Play is a way to get a reasonably priced phone that does the job and also looks sharp. Here’s why I’d recommend picking one up.
Why I like the Moto G Play (2026)
Decent performance and solid build quality
I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding; the Moto G Play isn’t a powerhouse. Its Dimensity 6300 chipset is capable, but it’s a budget SoC. 4GB of RAM is also limiting, especially if you enjoy multitasking. Still, these are limitations I expect from a device that’s typically priced around $150.
With the right expectations, the Moto G Play does the job. I can easily surf the web and scroll through Instagram with no issues. Light gaming, like Pokémon Go, runs smoothly after booting. All your favorite Moto gestures are running on Android 16, and Moto’s Hello UI Android skin is relatively clean. It’s not quite a stock experience, and there is some bloatware to contend with on initial setup, but I can’t complain too much at this price.
In excellent lighting, the 32MP primary sensor on the Moto G Play will take a solid photo. It’ll capture memories you want, but don’t ask for anything more, like low-light photography. Even in ideal lighting, images can lack detail, but for sub-$150 and even less on the Metro by T-Mobile deal, I’m not asking for much.
The battery life on the Moto G Play is excellent. I can get two days of mixed use without breaking a sweat from its 5,200mAh cell. I also love that the Moto G Play features a 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot for expandable storage — features that are still useful in 2026. All told, if you need an inexpensive phone for keeping in touch and scrolling Facebook, the Moto G Play gets the job done for less.
- RAM
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4GB
- Storage
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64GB
- Battery
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Up to 48 hours
- Operating System
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Android 16
- Connectivity
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GPS, A-GPS, LTEPP, SUPL, GLONASS, Galileo
- Dimensions
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167.15×76.40×8.44 mm
The Moto G Play (2026) features a Dimensity 6300 chipset and 4GB of RAM. It includes 64GB of storage with a microSD card slot for expansion. It sports a 6.7-inch 720p LCD panel and has an eco-leather back. The phone runs Android 16 out-of-the-box and has a 32MP primary camera sensor
