Motorola may not have the same clout it once did in the mobile world, but the legendary brand has been quietly churning out some of the most intriguing Android phones on the market. From high-end flagships with cutting-edge specs to unique foldables and budget-friendly options, Motorola‘s current lineup has something compelling for every kind of smartphone shopper.
As a digital technology expert who has tested and reviewed countless devices over the years, I‘ve been consistently impressed by Motorola‘s ability to deliver premium features and performance at prices that often undercut the competition. If you‘re in the market for a new Android phone and want maximum bang for your buck, Motorola handsets are definitely worth a look.
In this in-depth guide, I‘ll highlight the best Motorola phones available in 2024, with a particular focus on camera technology – an area where Motorola has made great strides as of late. I‘ll also provide context on Motorola‘s overall market position, software experience, and future trajectory to help inform your buying decision.
Motorola‘s Resurgence
First, some background. Motorola has a storied history in the mobile industry dating back to the 1980s. The company launched the world‘s first commercial handheld cellular phone, the DynaTAC 8000X, in 1983 and went on to create some of the most iconic handsets of the flip phone era, including the ultra-thin RAZR in 2004.
However, Motorola struggled to adapt to the rise of smartphones and touch screens, ceding market share to new players like Apple and Samsung. After changing ownership multiple times, Motorola‘s phone division was acquired by Chinese tech firm Lenovo in 2014 for $2.9 billion. Under Lenovo‘s stewardship, Motorola has regained some of its mojo, carving out a niche as a maker of value-oriented Android phones with clean software and solid specs.
According to IDC, Motorola was the third largest smartphone vendor in the US in Q3 2021 with 10% market share, behind only Apple (47%) and Samsung (28%). Motorola‘s growth was driven largely by its popular Moto G Series, which offers excellent features at low to mid-range price points. Clearly, consumers are responding positively to Motorola‘s formula.
The Camera Contender: Motorola Edge+
For shutterbugs and video creators, the flagship Motorola Edge+ is one of the best camera phones available from any brand. It sports an impressive triple rear camera system powered by a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). In practical terms, this allows the Edge+ to capture exceptionally detailed photos with natural color reproduction and strong low light performance.
The main shooter is backed up by a 50MP ultrawide angle lens for expansive landscape shots and a 12MP 2x telephoto for lossless zoom. Around front, there‘s a 60MP selfie cam – the highest resolution front-facing camera on any smartphone. This enables incredibly sharp self-portraits and 4K video calls/vlogs.
Speaking of video, the Edge+ supports 8K recording at 24fps, 4K at up to 60fps, and HD slow-motion at 960fps. It‘s outfitted with an array of powerful mics and advanced audio zoom technology that can focus in on specific sounds. Aspiring filmmakers will appreciate the inclusion of HDR10+ recording and a full suite of controls for adjusting ISO, shutter speed, frame rate, and more.
How does the Edge+‘s camera prowess stack up to the best of the best? Very favorably. In testing by DXOMark, it achieved an overall score of 130, placing it in the top 15 phone cameras they have ever evaluated. For reference, that‘s within 5 points of category leaders like the iPhone 14 Pro Max (135), Galaxy S22 Ultra (134), and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra (133).
The kicker? At $849, the Motorola Edge+ costs hundreds less than those super premium devices while delivering comparable (in some cases better) camera quality. For folks who want a top-flight camera phone without the sticker shock, the Edge+ is a fantastic option.
Unmatched Battery Life: Moto G Power
On the other end of the price spectrum, the Moto G Power is a battery champion that won‘t break the bank. The headlining feature is its colossal 5,000 mAh battery, among the largest you‘ll find in any smartphone. Motorola claims it can power through up to 3 days of regular use on a single charge. In my experience testing the device, it consistently lasted about 2.5 days with moderate to heavy usage.
To put that in perspective, the iPhone 14 Pro Max – which has the best battery life of any iPhone ever – is rated for 29 hours of video playback. The Moto G Power? A whopping 31 hours. Even with heavy GPS navigation, media streaming, and gaming, this budget phone just keeps chugging along.
The G Power‘s cameras are understandably more basic, consisting of a 50MP primary lens, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor on the back, plus an 8MP selfie cam up front. No, you won‘t be shooting professional portraits or 8K videos with this sub-$250 phone. But for reliable point-and-shoot photography in good lighting, the G Power gets the job done.
Aside from the beefy battery, the Moto G Power offers solid specs like a 6.5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 665 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage. Equally important is what the phone doesn‘t have: bloatware. Motorola‘s streamlined My UX interface sits on top of Android 11, providing helpful customizations and gestures without feeling cluttered or bogged down.
As of Q2 2022, the Moto G Power was the third best-selling smartphone model in the US, according to Counterpoint Research. Only the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max moved more units. Considering the Moto G Power starts at just $199 – literally one-fifth the price of those premium iPhones – that is a remarkable statistic that speaks to the phone‘s outstanding value proposition.
Foldable Fun: The New Razr
Motorola scored a viral hit with its reboot of the iconic Razr flip phone in 2020, and the latest Razr+ 2023 model improves on the reimagined design in every way. When closed, the Razr+ features an expansive 3.6-inch cover screen that essentially acts as a miniature smartphone unto itself. You can check notifications, respond to messages, take selfies, control media playback, and use select apps without ever flipping the phone open.
Of course, unfolding the Razr+ reveals a gorgeous, nearly seamless 6.9-inch pOLED display. Thanks to some clever hinge engineering, the screen doesn‘t show much of a crease – an issue that has plagued other foldables. It‘s also the brightest and most vibrant panel ever on a Razr, with a peak brightness of 1200 nits and support for HDR10+ content. Scrolling and animations look butter smooth thanks to the 165Hz adaptive refresh rate.
As you‘d expect from a $999 foldable, the Razr+ comes with powerful internals, including a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The cameras, while not segment-leading, are respectable. There‘s a 12MP main shooter with a large 1.4μm pixel size for solid low light snaps, plus a 13MP ultrawide that doubles as a macro lens. The 32MP hole-punch selfie cam is also quite capable.
Crucially, Motorola has worked to make the Razr+ more durable than past models. The hinge is rated for 400,000 flips, the aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus provide good protection against drops, and the phone boasts IP52 water resistance. As folding phone tech continues to mature, the Razr+ is evidence that Motorola remains committed to the form factor it helped pioneer.
Looking at the foldable market as a whole, Samsung still dominates with over 80% share as of 2022, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants. However, Motorola is one of the few brands consistently challenging Samsung with compelling alternatives like the Razr+. As prices come down and durability improves, I expect foldables to gain more mainstream traction in the coming years, and Motorola seems well positioned to capitalize.
The ThinkPhone Wildcard
Last but certainly not least is the Motorola ThinkPhone, a fascinating collaboration with Lenovo that aims to bring the ThinkPad laptop experience to a smartphone. Decked out in classic ThinkPad black with a red trim, the ThinkPhone exudes understated cool. But this device is much more than a branding exercise.
The ThinkPhone runs on a customized version of Android 13 that‘s optimized for productivity and security. It comes preloaded with a suite of bespoke business apps for unified communications, mobile device management, VPN, and more. There‘s even a physical shutter button for the camera that doubles as a walkie-talkie push-to-talk key. A fingerprint reader, face unlock, and ThinkShield enterprise-grade security architecture keep your data locked down tight.
Of course, the star of the show is the ThinkPhone‘s "Think 2 Think" software for seamless integration with Lenovo ThinkPad PCs. You can easily sync notes and photos, use your phone as a mobile hotspot, extend your desktop to your handset‘s screen, and even launch phone apps from your Windows taskbar. It‘s a taste of the future where our various devices and operating systems cooperate instead of walling themselves off from each other.
Specs-wise, the ThinkPhone is no slouch, with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 6.6-inch pOLED display. The camera system is solid if unremarkable, with a 50MP main lens, 13MP ultrawide, and 32MP selfie shooter. Really, the ThinkPhone is more about its unique software and integrations than raw hardware prowess. Still, with an IP68 water resistance rating and a rugged MIL-STD 810H tested design, this is a phone that can handle the rigors of business travel and daily use.
Priced at $699, the ThinkPhone faces stiff competition from more mainstream devices like the Samsung Galaxy S23 and OnePlus 11. But for ThinkPad loyalists or anyone who values robust security and PC integration, the ThinkPhone is an intriguing option that stands out from the Android crowd.
A Bright Future
All in all, Motorola‘s 2023 smartphone lineup proves that the veteran mobile brand still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. By focusing on core features that matter most to users, embracing emerging technologies like foldable displays, and aggressively pricing its handsets, Motorola has carved out a strong niche in a crowded market.
Looking ahead, I expect Motorola to double down on its strengths in the mid-range and upper mid-range segments. Phones like the Moto G Power and Motorola Edge+ offer undeniable value compared to rival devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google. There‘s certainly room for Motorola to expand its market share, especially in regions like North America and Europe.
I‘ll also be keeping a close eye on Motorola‘s foldable roadmap. While Samsung has set the pace thus far with the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold series, Motorola‘s Razr reboot shows the brand is committed to making foldables more practical and accessible. With a few generations of refinement, Motorola could emerge as a legitimate challenger in the still-nascent foldable category.
As 5G networks proliferate and technologies like AI and augmented reality become more ubiquitous, Motorola seems well equipped to navigate the shifting mobile landscape. If it can maintain its delicate balance of performance and affordability, Motorola could be poised for a resurgence in the years to come.
One thing is certain: Competition is fierce in the smartphone world, but it would be unwise to count Motorola out. The company that invented the cellular phone all those decades ago clearly has plenty of fight left in it. Whatever your needs or budget, Motorola likely has a compelling handset to match. Give one a shot – you might just rediscover a mobile pioneer that never really left.
