Best Motorola phones under $500: great value for your money

Motorola has a wealth of fantastic phones for nearly every budget. Its flip phones are exciting, some of the best in the market right now, but the brand also has a good collection of well-specced, well-designed phones that do not take a big chunk of money out of your pocket.

Even for a $500 budget or little lower than that, Motorola offers so many options that you may have a difficult time figuring out the best one for your needs. To simplify things, we have created a list of the four best Motorola phones for under $500.

The best Motorola phones under $500

1. Motorola Razr 2024 ($499)

Last year’s Razr (2023) had an impressive showing among the clamshell flip phones for what it achieved at a significantly lower price point without cutting many corners. The newest foldable, Razr 2024, is even better than last year’s model with many essential upgrades, making it one of the best clamshell flip phones in the market.

The cover screen has received the biggest upgrade in the form of screen size, growing from 1.5 inches to 3.6 inches. That’s a massive upgrade, so much so that it’s now bigger than Galaxy Z Flip 6. So, you can now do a lot more stuff without needing to switch to the main display. Inside, you get a 6.9-inch screen, which is the same as last year’s but still bigger than Samsung’s.

For the Razr (2024), Motorola went with MediaTek Dmensity 7300X rather than a Qualcomm chip. While it doesn’t bring a massive performance boost, it’s better optimized for dual screens. The device is sufficiently powerful to handle everyday tasks smoothly. You can do moderate gaming as well. Its 4,200mAh battery easily lasts for more than a day, and to keep things going, there’s support for 30W wired and 15W wireless charging.

The only disappointing part is the software upgrade, as with every other Motorola phone. The company has been sluggish in that area in recent years. The camera is also okay(ish). While the main sensor does well in daylight, the low-light shots aren’t a pleasure to look at.

Launched at $700, the Razr (2024) is currently available for just $499, making it a solid pick if you don’t mind slower updates and camera quality. In my opinion, though, this is the best $500 clamshell flip phone.

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2. Motorola Edge (2024)

The Edge (2024) is a $550 phone (currently available at just $299) that looks premium, featuring aluminum frame and a vegan leather back for comfortable grip. You probably won’t find such a premium fit and finish on cheap models. It’s also IP68-certified, by the way, with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front.

The large 6.6-inch OLED screen supports a 144Hz refresh rate and is bright enough for better readability under almost any lighting conditions. The 360Hz touch sampling rate is suitable for gaming, though the processor might limit your gaming choices. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is more than sufficient for everyday tasks, and you can do moderate gaming as well. However, as you switch to higher settings, you’ll start seeing lags and frame drops. So, it’s better to keep those settings turned down.

The handset packs a 5,000mAh battery, which lasts for a day on a single charge. It also supports 68W fast charging, which can fill up to 80% of the battery in just about 30 minutes. The handset also supports 15W wireless charging. The camera is just fine. It produces decent shots in proper lighting conditions. You can spend $100 more to get Pixel 8a for a much better camera quality.

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3. Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)

The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is a gorgeous-looking phone with premium vegan leather feel and many improvements from its predecessor. It still has a microSD slot that we don’t see very often nowadays.

This Motorola phone features a big OLED screen that refreshes at 120Hz. By its name, you’d have already guessed that it comes with a stylus. This, combined with a great display, makes it a sound choice for note-taking people. You can also use it to sign documents or draw your creativity. The stylus is slim, easy to hold, and charges within the device.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, paired with 8GB RAM, delivers smooth performance. You can do moderate gaming as well without any lag. The smartphone packs a 5,000mAh battery that comfortable lasts for a full day. The charging options have also been upgraded: wired charging peaks at 30W and adds support for 15W wireless charging.

The rear camera setup includes a 50MP primary camera and a 13MP ultrawide camera. And there’s a 32MP selfie shooter. The camera results are nice in its price range. However, the software still remains a weak point. Motorola offers just one Android update and three years of security updates for the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).

Overall, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) has a stunning design and powerful hardware. The only weak link is the software support. Despite that, it’s still a solid deal at $249.

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4. Moto G Power 5G (2024)

The Moto G Power 5G (2024) is an excellent mix of performance, features, and affordability. For just $149, you get a nice vegan leather textured back that resists fingerprints and holds well in the hands.

The device has a large 6.7-inch LCD screen, which isn’t as vivid and bright as other phones on this list but still good for everyday usage. Its nearly two-day battery backup makes it great for people who love watching a lot of videos or don’t want to charge it every day. The smartphone supports 30W wired charging. You also get 15W wireless charging, which is rarely seen on cheap phones.

The MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chip also does a good job at smoothly handling day-to-day tasks. The device takes nice shots with its 50MP rear camera. However, the 8MP ultrawide camera and 16MP selfie shooter are okay(ish).

If you’re looking for a long-lasting phone under $200, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is a solid buy.

Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Which Motorola phone from the above list impressed you the most? Do let us know in the comments below.

Also Read:
1. The best-looking Motorola phones you can buy
2. Motorola phones that will get five Android updates

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