5 Android Phones You Should Buy Instead of Moto G Power (2026)

Motorola has released a number of desirable mid-range phones over the past few years. I love the shiny and funky Razrs, but the company’s sub-$500 devices have helped Moto’s revival. The Moto G lineup is an important piece of that puzzle, and I can’t wait to test it when the new one comes out. The Moto G Power (2026) it’s the latest entry, and while it still provides many of the benefits that won customers in the first place, it’s not perfect.

It still has a durable build and a microSD card slot for expandable storage, but its Dimensity 6300 chipset and 8GB of RAM seem inadequate for $400. Sure, Motorola is aggressive with sales, but $400 is a big wad of cash, especially when there are so many alternatives for the same bang for your buck.

Here are five phones I’d consider legitimate candidates to buy instead of the Moto G Power (2026).

The Google Pixel 10a It’ll set you back $500, though we’ve seen sales drop the price to around $400. I expect this trend to continue and there will be plenty of opportunities to get Google’s mid-range phone at a discount. Again, for a few bucks more, you get a lot of bonuses.

The Pixel 10a’s Tensor G4 chipset easily beats the performance you’d get from the Dimensity 6300. It has the same 8GB of RAM, which will limit how many new Gemini Intelligence features you get, but Google promises seven years of support for the Pixel 10a, while Moto only offers one year of Android upgrades — $40 isn’t enough.

Motorola’s software isn’t bad, but Google’s Material 3 Expressive definitely has the upper hand with its design and faster updates. My Pixel 10a is already running Android 17 and to be honest, I couldn’t tell you when Motorola will upgrade the G Power with Android 16 out of the box. Low-light photography is also better on the Pixel 10a, and you’ll enjoy a 6.3-inch Actua OLED panel on Google’s midranger. It’s a pound-for-pound champ for a reason, and if you’re spending under $500, it’s worth a look.

Samsung Galaxy A27 should be available in the US markets shortly and its specifications should be a solid alternative to the G Power (2026). Pricing isn’t available for the US yet, but if the Galaxy A37 retails for $449, I’d be shocked if the Galaxy A27 didn’t come in around $350. That’s an attractive price, especially when you consider that it has several advantages over the G Power.

Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display should look noticeably better than the G Power’s LCD panel. Samsung ships some great displays, and I’m happy to see that trickle down to cheaper offerings. The phone’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset is a step up from the Galaxy A26, and its performance should benefit from 8GB of RAM.

And again, Samsung wins support. The Galaxy A27 will receive six years of One UI improvements and updates. Support is worth considering if you plan to keep your phone for any significant amount of time, especially if the A27 sells for less than the G Power in the US.

You don’t even have to leave the Motorola family to find a suitable alternative to the G Power. yes, Moto G Stylus (2026) it costs more, but I’m expecting lots of bundles, discounts and sales to bring the price down over the next few months. Its 6.7-inch AMOLED display is gorgeous, and you’ll notice an improvement over the G Power panel. Performance is solid, driven by a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset and 8GB of RAM, and there’s no need to compromise even on the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot.

The G Stylus is a great choice for another reason: the stylus. I love that Motorola has added active features this year. It’s great to see Motorola upping the ante with Samsung constantly undermining and undermining the S Pen. It’s easy to use and more functional than you might think. I use it several times a day and you will enjoy the same benefits.

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro is another more expensive device, but you get what you pay for. Yes, it’s $500, but it has a better screen, more software support, and faster performance. It also helps that the phone is now available at Best Buy, giving us an easier way to pick one up in the US. Nothing promises three years of OS upgrades and six years of security patches. It’s not class-leading, but it can still easily beat Motorola’s offering in the Moto G Power.

It’s also another phone with an OLED display under $500. If the G Power was still around $300, I wouldn’t be harping on the screen so much. Yes, the Galaxy A17 has OLED for under $200, but I felt Motorola at least offered other advantages. At $400, any benefit of the doubt is out the window, and you should choose the best display and performance you can for the money.

It’s impossible to discuss mid-range phone alternatives without mentioning older flagships. A year or two ago, phones were hard to recommend because the hardware didn’t age gracefully and the software didn’t. Not so anymoreand pre-owned for a phone like the Pixel 8 Pro about $350almost five years of support and upgrades left.

My Pixel 8 Pro performs well and you get performance comparable to mid-range chipsets with better cameras. Of course, the Pixel 8 Pro isn’t the only old flagship worth a look. Last year’s Motorola Razrs are fantastic deals with all the fun that comes with foldables. Samsung has plenty of older flagships worth a look, and the Galaxy S25 Plus is one of them about $550.

The Moto G Power isn’t a bad smartphone at all, but if you look at the landscape, there are plenty of decent alternatives for the same (or slightly higher) price.