Technologies

Moto G Play (2023) Review: Low Price, Lots of Compromises

The essentials-only Motorola phone cuts to the bone in order to hit its $170 price.

The Moto G Play for 2023 costs $170 (or even less at Amazon), making it one of the cheapest new phones you can get right now, and without the bloatware or wireless carrier restrictions we sometimes see on lower-priced devices. With a decent set of specs for the price — including a triple camera system with a 16-megapixel main camera, a 6.5-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 5,000-mAh battery that provides nearly three days of battery life — this should have been an attractive option for anyone looking for a decent, no-frills phone.

However, this phone has a number of performance issues that make it frustrating to use. And on top of that, Motorola chose to drop one of its best Moto gestures: twisting the phone to quickly open its camera. While some might consider these gestures a gimmick, they have been a signature element of Motorola’s phones for nearly a decade. Other gestures like «chop to turn on flashlight» are still here, making the absence of the camera gesture even more glaring.

Despite these important drawbacks, the 2023 Moto G Play does have some positive attributes. The battery life is great, the software is a fairly clean version of Android 12 and you’ll find rare ports like a headphone jack and microSD card slot for storage expansion. But the phone will only get one major software update to Android 13, which is less than I’d like to see but typical for this price range, as well as three years of security updates.

Yet every perk I list comes with another problem, which is important to consider if you’re tempted by the Moto G Play because of its low price.

5.0

Moto G Play (2023)

$112 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Moto G Play (2023)

Like

Long battery life
Clean version of Android 12
Three years of security updates

Don’t Like

Frequent lag, issues loading software
Questionable refresh rate
No «twist to open camera» gesture

Moto G Play design and performance

The Moto G Play looks nice for a phone that costs just $170. The Navy Blue color of its plastic body provides a hint of personality, while the phone’s low-resolution 720p display includes a screen cutout for the 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The fingerprint sensor is located in my favorite spot on an Android phone — the back.

But the problems begin once you start using the phone. The phone’s MediaTek Helio G37 processor and 3GB of RAM weren’t powerful enough to juggle multiple apps easily. In some cases, it wouldn’t even load certain apps. This was particularly bizarre considering it loaded a 3D game like Crazy Taxi (admittedly an oldie but still a goodie), but couldn’t run other modern 2D games like Exploding Kittens. With the phone’s tiny 32GB of storage, I’m lucky to even fit a couple games onto the Moto G Play, although there is a microSD card slot for storage expansion.

Geekbench V.5.0 single-core

Moto G Play

155

Galaxy A03S

159

TCL Stylus 5G

550

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Geekbench V.5.0 multicore

Moto G Play

572

Galaxy A03S

889

TCL Stylus 5G

1,739

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Email, news and video-streaming apps fared better in terms of performance, but not by much. Even though the Moto G Play touts a 90Hz refresh rate, which should smooth out animations, there is a lot of noticeable lag. I couldn’t even tell when the refresh rate reached 90Hz. The Settings menu lets you choose between «Auto» and «60 Hz,» with the former dynamically changing the refresh rate based on what you are doing. Having an auto setting does make sense, but a lot of the cheaper Android phones I’ve used also include the option to set the phone to a consistent 90Hz, alongside a 60Hz option for preserving battery life.

This brings me back to the phone’s 5,000-mAh battery — a bright spot considering it easily lasted two days on a full charge during my testing. I think it’s possible for the battery to make it to a third day, mostly because of how underpowered this device is. I typically got around three hours of screen time per day on the device during my testing, which included streaming, shooting photos and trying to play games for this review.

During a more active session on the phone, in which I streamed 22 minutes of a TV show at 100% brightness and then took a 24-minute video call, the battery dropped from 59% to 46%. On less active days, in which the phone was used primarily for listening to music while commuting, reading news articles and light texting, I could end the day with just over 50% remaining.

Charging times for the phone are generally less impressive than battery life. With the included 10-watt charger, it typically took just over an hour to charge from zero to 50%. Getting to 100% would take just over 2 hours, 30 minutes. When I tested charging speeds with my 18-watt charger, the results were slightly faster. The phone would get from zero to 66% after an hour and finish charging just past the two-hour mark.

Moto G Play cameras

The Moto G Play has a triple-camera system anchored by a main 16-megapixel camera, which is accompanied by a 2-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. But photos are consistently fuzzy, whether I took them indoors, outdoors, in bright environments or in the dark.

Foggy day, outdoor photo taken on Moto G Play — A foggy day in New York, taken on the Moto G Play.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

While it was nice to see Portrait mode on a phone at this price, I can barely see much of a bokeh effect in my photos. This is especially true when using the 5-megapixel front-facing camera, in which my photos looked consistently muddy.

Portrait mode photo of Mike Sorrentino holding beer in a Taco Bell — My friend took a photo of me at the Taco Bell in Times Square using Portrait Mode, but it’s challenging to see if it made a difference.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Selfie photo with beer taken on the Moto G Play — The Moto G Play’s front-facing camera had a tough time keeping me in focus, even in a restaurant with decent lighting.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

I took the Moto G Play with me to Taco Bell — because yes, I’m going to go eat cheap food while reviewing a cheap phone. I had my friend take photos of me using the phone’s Portrait setting. You can sort of see a light blurring effect in the background, but it’s hard to perceive.

In another selfie taken at a restaurant with better lighting than the Taco Bell, I found the selfie camera to have a tough time keeping me in focus.

And when taking photos of my friend’s dog Daisy, the rear cameras struggled to capture much detail of her fur, even when she sat still. In the best of conditions, the phone’s cameras struggle to take sharp photos.

Daisy the dog in a winter sweater, photo taken on Moto G Play — Daisy the dog sat relatively still for this photo, but the Moto G Play’s camera captures minimal detail.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

I compared the photos taken on the Moto G Play against the same images taken on the $160 Samsung Galaxy A03S, and found the picture quality to be roughly comparable for simple static shots. When shooting a bookshelf at CNET’s office, the Moto G Play got slightly more detail of the book covers than the Galaxy A03S, with the latter phone’s image appearing a bit darker.

However, when it comes to a photo with lots of detail and color, such as with this plant wall, the Moto G Play struggles to discern between the different shades of green. Meanwhile the Galaxy A03S performs much better with discerning the darker green shades from the lighter ones, making for a dramatically different photo.

Neither phone’s camera performs especially well, which is a common theme among phones that cost under $200. For me, this places the Moto G Play’s camera photos squarely into the category of being acceptable for group chats, but not much else. It’s going to take a lot of really good lighting and steady hands in order to make the most of these cameras, and that’s more effort than most people are going to want to make.

There are better options, even when you want to save money

Even when you’re looking for the cheapest possible phone, your device still needs to run most apps without issue and take decent-looking photos. I wouldn’t expect a phone that costs less than $200 to run Fortnite at the highest graphics settings, but I am expecting to use apps with minimal lag. While phones at this price are also typically lighter on features, the perks that are available should bring noticeable value to the experience. The Moto G Play’s Portrait mode and high refresh rate don’t succeed in this regard.

Instead of buying the Moto G Play at $170, you’re probably better off saving $10 and getting the $160 Samsung Galaxy A03S. While that phone also has unimpressive cameras, it was at least able to multitask more easily.

Although I haven’t reviewed it yet, you might also consider the $199 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, since it has 64GB of storage and 5G connectivity. Later this year, a number of TCL 40 phones will arrive in the US, which will include 5G and 128GB of storage for under $200. Those devices might be worth waiting for if you aren’t in dire need of a cheap phone right now.

Moto G Play (2023) vs. Samsung Galaxy A03S, TCL Stylus 5G, OnePlus Nord N300 5G

	Moto G Play (2023)	Samsung Galaxy A03S	TCL Stylus 5G	OnePlus Nord N300 5G
Display size, type resolution, refresh rate	6.5-inch IPS TFT LCD; 1,600×720 pixels; 90Hz refresh rate	6.5-inch LCD; 1,600×720 pixels	6.81-inch; 2,400×1,080 pixels	6.56-inch IPS LCD display; 720p resolution; 90Hz refresh rate
Pixel density	269ppi	269ppi	395ppi	269ppi
Dimensions (inches)	6.58 x 2.95 x 0.36 in	6.5 x 2.9 x 0.3 in	6.67 x 3.01 x 0.35 in	6.4 x 2.9 x 0.3 in
Dimensions (millimeters)	167 x 77 x 9.4 mm	165.8 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm	169.6 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm	163.8 x 75.1 x 7.99 mm
Weight (ounces, grams)	203 g (7.16 oz)	202g (7.13 oz)	213g (7.51 oz)	190g (6.7 oz)
Mobile software	Android 12	Android 11	Android 12	Android 12
Camera	16-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)	13-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (depth), 2-megapixel (macro)	50-megapixel (main), 5-megapixel (wide), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)	48-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (depth lens)
Front-facing camera	5-megapixel	5-megapixel	13-megapixel	16-megapixel
Video capture	720p at 30 fps	1080p at 30fps	1080p at 30fps	1080p at 30fps
Processor	MediaTek Helio G37	Octa-core processor	MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G	MediaTek Dimensity 810
RAM, storage	3GB + 32GB	3GB/32GB	4GB/128GB	4GB/64GB
Expandable storage	Up to 512GB	Up to 1TB	Up to 2TB	Up to 1TB
Battery, charger	5,000 mAh; 10W charging	5,000mAh; charger not included, does not support wireless charging	4,000mAh; 18W charging	5,000mAh; 33W charging
Fingerprint sensor	Rear	Side	Side	Side
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Special features	3-day battery life, Moto Gestures, Auto Smile Capture, Portait Mode		Stylus with built-in storage, producitivity software, NxtVision HDR mode	Dual speakers, NFC, Face Unlock, HDR, Portrait, Face retouching
Price off-contract (USD)	$170	$160	$258	$228

Technologies

Everything at Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10, Pixel Watch 4, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and More

Here’s what you missed at Google’s big event that included new phones, watches, earbuds, Gemini AI features and numerous celebrity cameos.

At yesterday’s Made by Google 2025 showcase in New York, Google unveiled something unexpected: playfulness. Hosted by The Tonight Show’s Jimmy Fallon in a format more like the talk show he’s famous for, the tech event included presenters and celebrity guests who didn’t look like they were delivering a script they’d been rehearsing for weeks. Everyone seemed to actually enjoy themselves as they revealed Google’s latest products.

And there were plenty of new products and other announcements to share. Following months of leaks and teases, the Pixel 10 phone lineup has now come into focus, with both specs and release dates. The Pixel Watch 4 is making leaps into more health and fitness tracking. And the new Pixel Buds 2A look (and sound) like an affordable alternative to the existing Buds Pro 2 with many of the same features and quality. And yes, AI played a big part, too, but it wasn’t the unrelenting focus of the show.

If you missed the event itself, you can catch the whole thing at YouTube or get right to the important stuff and read on for more details.

Don’t miss any of CNET’s unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome.

Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL are real

Surprise — Google announced new phones! OK, this was the least surprising part of the event, but it still feels good to finally know what exists and when it’s coming. The phones keep the same looks as the Pixel 9 series, but they’re powered by new Tensor G5 processors that Google says is more powerful and simultaneously power-efficient.

On the base Pixel 10, however, there’s a surprise just barely visible in the camera bar: a new dedicated telephoto camera that joins the existing wide and ultrawide cameras. It shares the same 5x optical zoom as the pro models, but with a lower-resolution sensor and a lens with a narrower aperture.

Preorders for the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL began yesterday and the phones will be in stores and shipping starting Aug. 28. Read our hands-on coverage of the phones here:

I’m Stoked That Google Made the Pixel 10 a $799 Value-Packed Feature Monster
I Tested Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris, and I’m Impressed
Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL First Look: Familiar Design, New AI Tricks
Google Launches the Full Pixel 10 Line, Including the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL

Pixel 10 Pro Fold opens the next chapter of foldables

Folding phones so far have had an Achilles’ hinge: small particulates like sand can get inside the case and mess things up. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is one of the first to have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning you can take your $1,800 phone to the beach. Or maybe make that the pumpkin patch, because the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is arriving later than the other Pixel 10 phones, on Oct. 9. You can preorder it now.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold Is Tougher, Smarter and Totally Dust Resistant
Forget the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Foldables Should Look Like the Microsoft Surface Duo
Google’ Pixel 10 Pro Fold Is Here

Pixel Watch 4 talks to Gemini and is your new health coach

The Pixel Watch 4 has new fitness options including real-time guidance while exercising. And if you forgot to start a workout, the watch (with AI help) can detect the activity in the background and remind you of it later, giving you credit for the effort you made. It’s also the only smartwatch that can detect a loss of pulse and call emergency services automatically.

The smartwatch, which comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, also has Gemini on board. «You don’t have to repeat yourself, you don’t have to switch to a robo-voice,» said CNET’s Vanessa Hand Orellana. It also includes emergency satellite texting if you find yourself out of cellular range with a dead phone battery.

Like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the Pixel Watch 4 models can be preordered now but won’t arrive until Oct. 9.

Well Played, Google: The Pixel Watch 4 May Give Apple Watch Loyalists a Wandering Eye
Pixel Watch 4 First Look: Google Just Raised the Bar
The Pixel Watch 4 Is Here. Can It Finally Beat Apple?

Pixel Buds 2A are more affordable earbuds

Joining the Pixel Buds 2 Pro in the market are the Pixel Buds 2A, an affordable ($130) pair of wireless earbuds that feature active noise cancellation, a smaller and lighter overall build and a twist-to-adjust stabilizer feature for setting a comfortable fit.

They’re available for preorder now in hazel and iris colors, and ship Oct. 9.

Google’s New Pixel Buds 2A Look a Lot Like the Pro 2, but Cost Way Less
Meet the Pixel Buds 2A: Google’s Budget Answer for ANC Buds

Pixel Buds Pro 2 owners will see new features

Coming in a software update next month, owners of Pixel Buds Pro 2 will be able to answer calls or send them to voicemail with a nod or shake of the head. You’ll be able to talk to Gemini live in noisy locations, and benefit from adaptive audio that applies noise cancellation while letting important sounds come through. At the other end, a new feature will protect your hearing from loud sounds.

Magic Cue is a Gemini assistant that pulls data from your correspondence

In the rollout of all the various AI technologies in the industry, the current stretch goal is «agentic» interactions with software: Having an AI that knows all sorts of details about you and can act to get the important stuff in front of you when needed. (And do it in a privacy-first way, one hopes.)

Magic Cue is Google’s implementation. It’s a new Gemini-based feature that can look through your earlier messages, emails and photos to pull details about things like restaurant reservations and flight times. Magic Cue runs on the Pixel device itself, so sensitive data stays private and not shared to the cloud.

A lot of Gemini AI intelligence is still coming soon

At the start of the event, Fallon sat down in typical talk-show format with Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of platforms and devices, to chat about Gemini and the marvels of AI. Aside from Magic Cue, which will be shipping on the Pixel 10 phones, a lot of the features and products we’ve been hearing about are still on the horizon.

«For instance, Gemini could do something like plan a team celebration dinner for 12 people tonight,» he said. «It might go find a restaurant that’ll accommodate that group. … Look for a karaoke place nearby and maybe even order custom T-shirts for the celebration.»

And when will that be possible? Fallon asked. «A lot sooner than people think,» Osterloh replied. «This kind of thing is coming this year.»

The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL can zoom to 100x with AI help

Pro Res Zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro phones pushes zooming far beyond what would seem to be possible with typical small cameras. Usually when you zoom beyond the optical limits of the cameras, details get fuzzy as the software upscales the image. With Pro Res Zoom, when you go beyond 30x zoom, it uses generative AI to build a sharper version. CNET’s Andrew Lanxon got both impressive and head-scratching results while taking photos in Paris using the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

I Took Hundreds of Photos With the Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris. These Are My Favs

Camera Coach uses AI to encourage better photos

Smartphone cameras have employed AI for several years, such as identifying subjects in order to blur the background for Portrait modes or quickly snapping several shots at multiple exposures and blending them together to create well-balanced lighting throughout. Now Google is using AI to help you take better photos.

Camera Coach is a new feature in the Pixel Camera app that looks at the scene in front of the lens and generates multiple suggestions for how to improve the photo before it’s captured. To show this off, podcaster Alex Cooper brought Fallon out to be her model and sat him down on a couch. When she activated the feature, Camera Coach suggested that she move the camera closer to the subject, position his head in the upper portion of the frame, lower the camera to eye level and turn on Portrait mode.

«To all the girls that are watching, I personally know how hard it is to train your boyfriend or your husband to get that perfect shot,» said Cooper. «And now Camera Coach can just train all the boys for us.»

Don’t call it MagSafe: Pixelsnap brings Qi2 magnetic charging to the Pixel 10

The Qi2 spec includes not just faster charging but also an array of magnets on the back for connecting to accessories. Sound familiar? The presenters mentioned Apple’s MagSafe system, then paused with the realization that they probably shouldn’t have name-checked it during the Google event. On the Pixel 10 phones, it’s called Pixelsnap and should work with accessories made for Apple’s ecosystem too.

Gemini live translation, and the Pixel 10 will be available in Mexico

In an impressive segment demonstrating Gemini live translation during a phone call, musician Karen Polinesia announced, in Spanish and translated by the technology, that for the first time, the Pixel 10 will be available for sale in Mexico.

This article is being updated; stay tuned for more.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Aug. 21

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 21.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

There are a lot of Qs in today’s Mini Crossword. 1-Across threw me for a while, but eventually it dawned on me. Need answers? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Common queries, informally
Answer: FAQS

5A clue: Only four-letter country with a «Q» in its name
Answer: IRAQ

6A clue: TV’s «The White ___»
Answer: LOTUS

8A clue: Something you might «Mark as read»
Answer: EMAIL

9A clue: Late
Answer: TARDY

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: ___ mignon
Answer: FILET

2D clue: Burnt toast has a strong one
Answer: AROMA

3D clue: Only five-letter country with a «Q» in its name
Answer: QATAR

4D clue: Likely inspiration for the mythical kraken
Answer: SQUID

7D clue: Sneaky
Answer: SLY

Technologies

Everything from Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10, Pixel Watch 4, Pixel 10 Pro Fold Announced

Here’s what you missed at Google’s big event that included new phones, watches, earbuds, Gemini AI features and numerous celebrity cameos.

Even though the Pixel 10 leaks and rumors felt as if they arrived in a steady firehose before today’s Made by Google event — compelling the company to release a teaser video pre-announcing the new phone’s existence a month ago — Google still delivered details it somehow managed to keep private until it was ready to share.

And that delivery was refreshingly fun for a tech event. The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon led the proceedings in a very late-night talk show format, bringing on several special guests from media, sports and yes, Google’s own experts to show off the products and features they’ve been working on for today’s announcements.

Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL are real

Surprise, Google announced new phones! OK, this was the least surprising part of the event, but it still feels good to finally know what exists and when it’s coming. Preorders for the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL begin today and will be in stores and shipping starting August 28.

I’m Stoked That Google Made the Pixel 10 a $799 Value-Packed Feature Monster
I Tested Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris, and I’m Impressed
Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL First Look: Familiar Design, New AI Tricks
Google Launches the Full Pixel 10 Line, Including the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL

Pixel 10 Pro Fold opens the next chapter of foldables

Folding phones so far have shared an Achilles Hinge: small particulates like sand can get inside the case and really mess things up. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is one of the first to have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning you can take it to the beach.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold Is Tougher, Smarter and Totally Dust Resistant
Forget the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Foldables Should Look Like the Microsoft Surface Duo
Google’ Pixel 10 Pro Fold Is Here

Pixel Watch 4 talks to Gemini and is your new health coach

The Pixel Watch 4 includes new fitness options like real-time guidance while exercising. And if you forgot to start a workout, the watch (with AI help) can detect the activity in the background and remind you of it later, giving you credit for the effort you made. It’s also the only smartwatch that can detect a loss of pulse and call emergency services automatically.

Well Played, Google: The Pixel Watch 4 May Give Apple Watch Loyalists a Wandering Eye
Pixel Watch 4 First Look: Google Just Raised the Bar
The Pixel Watch 4 Is Here. Can It Finally Beat Apple?

Pixel Buds 2a are more affordable earbuds

Joining the Pixel Buds 2 Pro in the market are Pixel Buds 2a, an affordable ($130) pair of wireless earbuds that feature active noise cancellation, a smaller and lighter for all, and a twist-to-adjust stabilizer feature for setting a comfortable fit.

Google’s New Pixel Buds 2A Look a Lot Like the Pro 2, but Cost Way Less
Meet the Pixel Buds 2A: Google’s Budget Answer for ANC Buds

Pixel Buds Pro 2 owners will see new features

Coming in a software update next month, Pixel Buds Pro 2 owners will be able to answer calls or send them to voicemail with a nod or shake of the head. You’ll be able to talk to Gemini live in noisy locations, and benefit from adaptive audio that applies noise cancellation while letting important sounds come through. At the other end, a new feature will protect your hearing from very loud sounds.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review: A Worthy Upgrade With One Caveat

Magic Cue is a Gemini assistant that pulls data from your correspondence

A lot of Gemini AI intelligence is still coming soon

«For instance, Gemini could do something like plan a team celebration dinner for 12 people tonight,» he said. «It might go find a restaurant that’ll accommodate that group…. Look for a karoake place nearby and maybe even order custom T-shirts for the celebration.»

And when will that be possible? Fallon asked. «A lot sooner than people think,» Osterloh replied. «This kind of thing is coming this year.»

The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL can zoom to 100x with AI help

I Took Hundreds of Photos With the Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris. These Are My Favs

Camera Coach uses AI to encourage better photos

Pixel 10 supports Qi2 magnetic charging

Pixel 10 will be available in Mexico

In an impressive segment demonstrating Gemini live translation during a phone call, musician Karen Polinesia, who speaks Spanish, announced that for the first time, the Pixel 10 will be available for sale in Mexico.

This article is being updated; stay tuned for more.