Motorola currently offers five smartphone ranges - Moto Razr, Moto Edge, Moto G, Moto E, Moto Defy - and in amongst those line-ups are many handsets, so working out which Moto is right for you is no easy task.

Luckily, we've done all the hard work for you, comparing the core handsets in the Moto E (entry-level), Moto G (mid-level) and Moto Edge (flaghsip) ranges - the Razr is the flip phone that we won't detail here; the Defy is the rugged model - to help you work out the differences and which handset will best suit you and your budget.

It's worth noting that due to regional differences - different handset names, exclusives, and so forth - this is a list of UK/European handsets. The USA's and China's ranges will differ by name (and sometimes specification) and aren't included in this guide.

Moto Edge range

Ignoring the aforementioned Razr, the Edge series sits at the top-end of Motorola's stack, with flagship specifications across many of these handsets' features. The Edge name doesn't represent a curved screen, however, as was originally believed, as flat-panel handsets also appear in this line-up.

Moto Edge 20

Moto Edge series photo 1
Pocket-lint

While the original Edge (below) was a real departure for Motorola, the 2021 model - the Edge 20 series, as there's also a Lite and a Pro variant - went altogether more simple.

The display is flat, with no curve to be seen here, but the spec is much higher: a 144Hz super-fast refresh rate, ultra high-resolution 108MP main camera, and typically large battery capacity rule its selling points.

Which, oddly enough, makes the Edge 20 seem an awful lot like the Moto G200 (below). The key difference is thus: the Edge 20 has a zoom cameras, whereas teh G200 does not; the Edge is slightly less powerful and with lesser battery capacity, however, but you won't feel that in everyday use in our view, making it the preferable of the pair.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.7-inch OLED, 1080 x 2400 resolution, 144Hz refresh, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear cameras: 108-megapixel rear, 8MP 3x zoom, 16MP ultra-wide
  • Front camera: 32-megapixel main
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778, 8GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 4000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (33W)
  • Colours: Stellar Blue
  • Fingerprint scanner: Side mounted
motorola edge 20

Moto Edge

Moto Edge series photo 2
Pocket-lint

The original Edge, released 2020, was a real departure for Motorola. Featuring a curved edge display, it was and is unlike anything else Motorola sold - but you'll probably struggle to locate one right now.

There was also the Edge+ model, which amped up the specs even more, and commanded a very high asking price upon launch - which, ultimately, was its downfall. We've not included that handset specifically within this list.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.7-inch OLED, curved edge, 1080 x 2340 resolution, 90Hz refresh, 19.5:9 ratio 
  • Rear cameras: 64-megapixel rear, 8MP 2x zoom, 16MP ultra-wide, ToF
  • Front camera: 25-megapixel main
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, 6GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 4500mAh capacity, USB-C charging (18W)
  • Colours: Solar Black, Midnight Magenta
  • Fingerprint scanner: Side mounted

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Moto G range

The Moto G range is the best-known of Motorola's handsets, having been around the longest of those compared in this feature. The Android series has undergone a variety of changes over the years, though, with 2021 introducing high-end handsets within the series to cater for a wider audience. As a rule of thumb it's "higher number equals higher spec" within the range.

Moto G200

Moto G series photo 2
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The replacement for the G100, the 2021 sub-flagship has a lot to offer, including super-fast refresh rate screen - which is also an OLED and not as long-and-tall as the G100's panel.

Despite simplifying the cameras arrangement, however, the triple rear is still a bit of an oversell - it needs a better wide-angle and some kind of zoom option really - but not having a pill-shaped punch-hole in this large screen makes it look far better, we think.

This is clearly the king of the G series line-up. However, the Moto Edge 20 is also worth considering, given their similarities.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.8-inch OLED, 1080 x 2460 resolution, 144Hz refresh, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear cameras: 108-megapixel rear, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth
  • Front camera: 16-megapixel main
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+, 8GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (33W)
  • Colours: Stellar Blue
  • Fingerprint scanner: Side mounted

Motorola moto g200 5G (Stellar Blue) 128GB + 8GB RAM Android SIM Free Unlocked Smartphone

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Moto G100

Moto G series photo 1
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This was the first G series handset to flip things on its head, as it featured Qualcomm's (then) top-tier processor, the Snapdragon 870, delivering far more power than was typical of the series. That makes this phone much more like a sub-flagship than the lesser handsets in the range.

However, the pill-shaped punch-hole cameras to the front don't look great, while the rear camera setup is rather oversold. But if these don't bother you, and you're able to find one on a budget, it'll serve you almost as well the the newer G200, which replaced this handset, unless you're keener to have an OLED display with faster refresh rate.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.7-inch LCD, 1080 x 2520 resolution, 90Hz refresh, 21:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear cameras: 64-megapixel rear, 16MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth, ToF
  • Front cameras: 16-megapixel main, 8MP ultra-wide
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, 8GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (20W)
  • Colours: Iridescent Ocean, Iridescent Sky
  • Fingerprint scanner: Side mounted

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Moto G71, G60S, G60

Motorola being as it is, it loves to launch lots and lots and lots of handsets. This is where things get a little bit complex, however, as not all are available in all regions - you won't find the G71 in the UK, for example, only in some European regions.

However, the wider available G60S, is well worth paying attention - it's got the good bits of the G50 (below), but puts in that all-important higher-resolution and faster-refresh screen, plus much faster charging speeds, to make for a much more accomplished all-round handset. It does away with typical Qualcomm for MediaTek Helio G95, though, but don't let that put you off - it's plenty capable.

Motorolo moto (g60s, 6.8 Inch 120 Hz FHD+, MediaTek Helio G95 Octa Core Processor, TurboPower, 64MP Quad Camera, 5000 mAH Battery, Dual SIM, 128GB, Android 11), Ink Blue

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G60S spec summary

  • Display: 6.8-inch OLED, 1080 x 2460 resolution, 120Hz refresh, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear cameras: 64-megapixel main, 8MP wide-angle, 5MP macro, 2MP depth
  • Front camera: 16-megapixel
  • Processor: MediaTek Helio G95, 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (50W)
  • Colours: Iced Mint, Ink Blue
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear

Moto G50

Moto G series photo 3
Pocket-lint

Pitched as the middle champion, if you will, the G50 is all about 5G connectivity at an affordable price point.

The processor used here, despite being a lower number than you'll find in the G30 (below), is more powerful and capable of 5G connectivity - it's that extra speed that's really the big sell for the G50 over the other handsets.

But, for us, we don't see that as a sole reason for purchase and find this a bit of an odd one out - we'd rather have more screen resolution instead, which you can find in the G60/G60S/G71 models instead.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.5-inch LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution, 90Hz refresh, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear cameras: 48-megapixel main, 5MP macro, 2MP depth
  • Front camera: 13-megapixel
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 480, 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (15W)
  • Colours: Steel Gray, Aqua Green
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear
Motorola moto g50

Moto G30

Moto G series photo 4
Pocket-lint

Despite sitting lower than the G50, the G30 - which also has a G31 variant - has some higher-spec oddities: it offers more resolution from its main camera and has faster-charging for the battery, for example.

Still, we'd forego the G50's 5G for this more all-round adept and cheaper handset. It might well be the pick of the budget-to-middle of the G series pack for that reason.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.5-inch LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution, 90Hz refresh, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear cameras: 64-megapixel main, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro
  • Front camera: 13-megapixel
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (20W)
  • Colours: Phantom Black, Pastel Sky
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear

Moto G30 (6.5" 90Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon, 64MP Quad Camera System, 5000 mAH Battery, Dual SIM, Android 11), Dark Pearl

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Moto G10

Moto G series photo 5
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The G10, which sits below the G30/G31, offers a lower screen refresh rate (but the same resolution), halves the storage, and cuts the fast-charging speed.

The G30 would therefore be out default go-to, if you don't care about 5G, as the two are so similar in price - but if you can find an ultimate bargain with the G10 then it's a sensible low-spec purchase.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.5-inch LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution, 60Hz refresh, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear cameras: 48-megapixel main, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro
  • Front camera: 8-megapixel
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 460, 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 64GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (10W)
  • Colours: Aurora Grey, Iridescent Pearl
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear

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Moto E range

The Moto E range is the cheapest of Moto's handsets (there used to be Moto C, too, but that range has since been axed), but that's not to say it isn't a range worth considering. This series is really all about outright purchase, without the need for a contract. So don't expect the pinnacle of performance in some more demanding Android apps, but for phone calls and connectivity for web browsing and video playback they're just fine.

At this budget end of the market we've not specifically reviewed such handsets, but here's a quick comparison of what's available:

Moto E40

If you're not looking for an ultra-powerful handset, but still want a big screen and ample enough RAM and storage to keep things ticking along nicely, the E40 is a well appointed budget handset.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.5-inch LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution
  • Cameras: 48-megapixel rear, 2MP macro, 2MP depth / 8MP selfie camera
  • Processor: Unisoc T700, 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 64GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (10W)
  • Colours: Carbon Grey, Pink Clay
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear

Moto E30

Motorola Moto e30 Dual-SIM 32GB ROM + 2GB RAM (GSM Only | No CDMA) Factory Unlocked 4G/LTE Smartphone (Digital Blue) - International Version

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Identical to the E40, except with half the storage, and different colour finishes.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.5-inch LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution
  • Cameras: 48-megapixel rear, 2MP macro, 2MP depth / 8MP selfie camera
  • Processor: Unisoc T700, 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 32GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 5000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (10W)
  • Colours: Mineral Grey, Digital Blue
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear

Moto E20

Motorola Moto e20 Dual-SIM 32GB ROM + 2GB RAM (GSM only | No CDMA) Factory Unlocked 4G/LTE Smartphone (Gray) - International Version

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The same screen size as the E40 and E30, except with a smaller battery capacity, step-down processor, and a mere 2GB RAM. We can't see any logical existence for this phone's existence when the E30 costs the same and the older E7 is cheaper and better.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.5-inch LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution
  • Cameras: 13-megapixel rear, 2MP macro / 5MP selfie camera
  • Processor: Unisoc T606, 2GB RAM
  • Storage: 32GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 4000mAh capacity, USB-C charging (10W)
  • Colours: Coastal Blue, Graphite Gray
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear

Moto E7

Motorola Moto E7 Dual-SIM 32GB (GSM Only | No CDMA) Factory Unlocked 4G/LTE Smartphone (Mineral Grey) - International Version

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The generation older device compared to the E20, it actually has the better camera setup and arguably processor too - so might be the better buy over the E20 if you're looking at the entry-level end.

Spec summary

  • Display: 6.5-inch LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution
  • Cameras: 48-megapixel rear, 2MP macro / 5MP selfie camera
  • Processor: MediaTek Helio G25, 2GB RAM
  • Storage: 32GB, microSD card support
  • Battery: 4000mAh capacity, USB-C charging
  • Colours: Mineral Gray, Aqua Blue, Satin Coral
  • Fingerprint scanner: On rear