Motorola Moto G (2015 Version)

Expert Reviews | Katharine Byrne

Its exquisite design and useful apps and features are more than enough compensation for Motorola's slightly disappointing choice of chipset. If you're looking for a compact smartphone and don't want to spend, the 3rd Gen Moto G is still the best phone to buy.

Alphr | Jonathan Bray

Motorola has nailed it once again with the third-generation Motorola Moto G. Its camera is superb, the upgraded internals make it a more responsive phone, and the extra software features make it feel more like a flagship and less like a budget device than ever.

IT PRO | Alan Lu

Almost every aspect of this phone has been improved over its predecessor with waterproofing an unexpected, but very welcome extra. You can't go too far wrong with the superb Moto G.

V3 | James Archer

More powerful than budget phones and cheaper than mid-rangers, the third-generation Motorola Moto G has been crammed with its best-ever specs while maintaining a outstandingly low price. Add a microSD for some extra storage and there's very little to criticise at all.

The Gadget Show

Motorola's done it again with this year's Moto G, and there's no point even considering going for any other phone if you're on a budget and need something quick, sharp and on point.

The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs

It feels great in the hand and the ribbed back makes it easy to grip. The battery life is also solid and waterproofing means it'll survive a trip down the toilet. Not many Android phones come with screens as small as 5in, meaning the Moto G is arguably one of the best.

Know Your Mobile | Paul Briden

Overall you get a lot of bang for your buck here and at a low cost to boot. No it's not going to move mountains, but damn it it doesn't half try with performance and capabilities well above par. If this isn't one of the best budget smartphones on the market I don't know what is.

TechRadar | Andrew Williams

It's pricier than previous generations, but an amazing camera and near-flawless performance make this the most complete-feeling Moto G yet.

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

The Moto G is a hard smartphone to beat. It's a winner on almost all fronts, and its price tag gives it a killer edge over competing handsets. In the plus column: it's waterproof; is customizable through Moto Maker; offers good battery life, signal performance, and voice quality: comes with stock Android and quicker system updates; includes excellent, customizable lock screen behaviors; and the camera outperforms most others in this class. In the minus column: the GPS isn't as accurate as it could be. That's hardly anything to cry about.

Tom's Guide | Valentina Palladina

The Moto G is an excellent budget Android phone, sporting a chic design, a bold 5-inch display and all-day battery life... The experience that the Moto G provides doesn't feel budget by any means. In fact, with its solid performance, long battery life and improved cameras, this is the best smartphone deal of the year

Recombu | Chris Barraclough

The Moto G still remains the most affordable water-resistant phone out there. (...) Despite packing a processor that's well over two years old now, the Moto G still performs solidly after a few months of use.

Brighthand | Grant Hatchimonji

The third generation Moto G, which provides users with the second-most-recent version of Android, a 5-inch display, great battery life, Motorola's useful (but unobtrusive if you don't want it!) software suite, and even some decent internals.

Mashable | Raymond Wong

This year, Motorola raised the stakes yet again - gets you a feature-packed Android smartphone with a large 5-inch HD display, water-resistant design, great pair of cameras, front-facing speaker, and Android 5.1.1. with no bloatware and the Moto experiences.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

In the end, the Moto G is still king of Android's busiest seaport. Its newest version has enough new features to entice existing users to upgrade, and is robust enough to stand on its own in a delegation of loud and vain merchants.

Trusted Reviews | Michael Sawh

It offers enough, to justify the slight price rise on previous versions. The camera is a good reason for many to upgrade, and it gives the Moto G a slight edge over rivals at this price.

The Inquirer | Carly Page

We're not fully convinced that it performs better than its big-name rivals, but the 13MP camera on the Moto G offers a huge improvement over last year's offering. (...) After spending some time with the new Moto G, we'd be hard-pushed to think of another phone as good with this price tag.

Mobile Choice | Sunetra Chakravarti

The Motorola Moto G isn't the cheapest proposition anymore like its predecessors were, but it still packs a solid punch for the money you shell out for it. Customisable looks, IPX7 rating so it can be dunked endlessly and a bloat-free Android experience that you will not find easily. It is a great phone and one that delivers on what it promises.

phoneArena | John V

Of course, the Moto G isn't for everyone, but it strikes that perfect balance of value, design, and performance – while still staying true to the foundational principles of the series. There's a reason why the Moto G series is constantly a mainstream, it just keeps on getting better. And obviously, we continue to see that with this latest iteration. Power users might not take fancy in this phone, but it still generates a broader appeal. Don't underestimate the intensity of what it offers!

Engadget | Chris Velazco

Smartphone makers are really trying to nail the "high-quality, low-cost" formula this year, and they're working up ways to sell straight to consumers too. Even with all that new competition, the Motorola Moto G's blend of performance, clean software and a mostly solid camera make it the best bang for your Android buying buck... for now, anyway.

Engadget | Chris Velazco

Oh, how far we've come. Smartphone makers are really trying to nail the "high-quality, low-cost" formula this year, and they're working up ways to sell straight to consumers too. Even with all that new competition, the Motorola Moto G's blend of performance, clean software and a mostly solid camera make it the best bang for your Android buying buck... for now, anyway.

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

One of the best aspects of the Moto G remains the price tag. This smartphone is exceptionally affordable and a very decent value proposition considering the hardware inside.

news.com.au | Harry Tucker

...for the Moto G, it's extremely hard to fault it. I would even go as far as to say that while using the Moto G, aside from when I wanted to take photos, I never found myself desperately wanting to run back to the iPhone 6, LG G4 or any of the other.... phones I have on my desk. If you're after a budget-friendly device, this is your phone.

Gizmodo UK | Mario Aguilar

If you're looking for the very best camera or the very sharpest display, this is not the right phone. But if you're OK with good enough features plus some nice touches like excellent software and a waterproof build - not to mention an incredibly good price - this phone is the one.

NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt

Motorola again delivers a good mid-range smartphone with its new Moto G, which convinces with strikingly good key features. The battery life and primary camera are really good and are difficult to match in this price range. The HD screen is also appealing.

The Verge | Jacob Kastrenakes

The Moto G is stylish, but it could be easier to hold. The added battery capacity to this year's Moto G does everything it needs to. Given how impressive and popular the Moto G is, it's hard to see it as anything but Motorola's actual flagship.

MobileTechTalk | Domenico Lamberti

... whether or not Motorola had done enough to secure its crown as the leader of the mid-range, a device that doesn't cost a bomb and doesn't make you suffer, and I can say yes. It's not as "mid-range" as it once was. For similar prices competitors are offering better screens, better processors etc, but they haven't got the fit and finish of the Moto G.

Android Authority | Nirave Gondhia

Motorola's Moto G range was arguably the first premium entry-level smartphone, but other handsets are vying for its crown. The Moto G 2015 bumps up the specs and keeps an affordable price tag and while it's not perfect, it's definitely impressive.

pocketnow | Michael Fisher

It's an affordable handheld for the masses: a highly customizable smartphone with excellent battery life, great performance, and software that adds usefulness without bogging it down. If you can live with its lackluster camera and display, it's absolutely a solid buy (at least at the higher tier).

VentureBeat | Mark Sullivan

I don't have a lot of complaints about the Moto G. Still, for people looking for a mid-priced phone with all the joys of Android Lollipop, the Moto G is probably a good choice.

Digital Trends | Malarie Gokey

The new Moto G may not have cutting-edge specs, but it's all the phone you need and an incredible deal... The customization options, high-res camera, and long-lasting battery take it to another level that most budget phones don't come close to approaching.

The Journal

This is not a phone that will wow you with clever ideas or great hardware. In fact, the improvements made here compared to previous versions are quite modest so you can't expect a major jump in quality.

S21

The third generation Moto G is a competent mid-range Android phone with a colourful, changeable covers. It's a good all-rounder with a nice camera and good battery life.

What Mobile | Thomas Wellburn

Budget handsets rarely have the consistent experience which the Moto G offers. You'll struggle to find a device at this price-point with a better camera, while the battery life is more than enough for most users.

TechnoBuffalo | Todd Haselton

Everyone should consider a Moto G (2015). Maybe you don't want to spend a lot of money on a smartphone. Maybe you need one for your son or daughter. Maybe you need an unlocked smartphone for abroad. Maybe you need a backup phone. There are plenty of holes this device fills, and I plan to continue carrying mine for the foreseeable future.

SlashGear | Chris Burns

This device is great for anyone who purchased a low-end smartphone in the past few years as well as those that've never owned a smartphone before. Those of you that have top-tier smartphones from three years ago: this device is an upgrade.

AnandTech | Brandon Chester

In the end, I think as far as conventional mid range devices goes there's no competition for the Moto G. The construction and the camera are good, the performance is the best of an ARM device at this price point, and the battery life is amazing.

Coolsmartphone | Matteo Doni

With the 3rd generation, Motorola have improved on the original formula, and brought water resistance and improved on the second gen's bigger screen and body.

Stuff | Andrew Williams

Waterproofing and a much improved camera mean the Moto G (3rd Gen) still offers good value, despite a slight price hike.

Pocket-lint | Britta O'Boyle

Great software, including some useful Motorola-specific apps, make it a clean and clever device to use, while its decent battery life, water-resistance, improved camera, and the addition of Moto Maker personalisation options really make this Moto G stand out.

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

With various upgrades including a waterproof design, great cameras and stock Android, the new Moto G 2015 is a great affordable phone. The device is still a bit chunky and it's a shame to see the stereo speakers gone.

NDTV Gadgets | Kunal Dua

While the camera and battery performance are indeed at an acceptable level, we particularly liked the overall stability and experience that the smartphone offers; something we believe users at every price point deserve.

International Business Times | Alistair Charlton

The screen could do with more pixels, but this would hamper battery life; the battery should charge more quickly, but this is hardly the end of the world, and... that is about it. Add a 32GB micro SD card and the Moto G is a hugely attractive option for those on a lower budget.

Wired UK | Dave Oliver

The latest Moto G boasts only minor changes to the recent Moto G 4G but it's a significant jump on the previous model, with improved screen and camera, waterproofing and the addition of 4G. There are other serious contenders in the budget smartphone zone of course, not least the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6, which offers a faster processor, slightly bigger display and better camera for a few quid less -- although you'll need a Vodafone contract. Whether you opt for the 8GB or 16GB version, it's still a terrific bargain.

PC Mag | Sascha Segan

The new Motorola Moto G doesn't cost much, but it's all the smartphone many people will need. Your Moto G will run the latest version of Android, make loud calls, take clear photos easily, not break, and not run out of battery by the end of the day.

AllThingsD | Jason Cipriani

Motorola delivered stellar performance for a device normally associated with low-end budgets.

AndroidPit | Eric Ferrari-Herrmann

Motorola appears to be trying to move a little upmarket, and while the Moto G is fantastically customizable and has a great camera, the rest of its specs are unimpressive.

Register Hardware | Andrew Orlowski

It's a very good phone. It's going to be all the phone a lot of people ever need. Like its smaller, cheaper predecessors everything about it feels right: the customary qualities of a sharp and bright display, solid construction and booming sound are here too, but in a classier chassis.

Tested Technology | Chris Bidmead

There's a lot to like about the Moto G 3rd Gen, especially the waterproofing, the plain, bold styling and the 155 gram heft of a well-made product in the hand ... but up against a lot of competition, now that the lesser known Chinese manufacturers are beginning to get their teeth into Europe.

CNET UK | Scott Stein

With added water resistance and a better camera, the LTE-enabled Moto G is one of the best affordable unlocked smartphones around right now.

Wired | David Pierce

The Moto G punches above its weight in almost every way, and is without question the best phone you'll find at anything approaching this price. It's waterproof. It has a removable, swappable back and an SD card slot. I could keep going.

Digital Versus | Corentin Bechade

With its classy design and the smooth software experience, you could be forgiven for thinking it cost more. Unfortunately, you do have to contend with a lack of attention to detail on the finished product and, more importantly, with under-par photo quality.