The past 2 weeks were not good for our cellphones. First my Pixel 3a XL developed the purple “ink of death” on the screen. Probably had a very small crack in the display. It was spreading across the screen faster than Covid on Spring Break! When I called a few repair shops it was going to be $190 to repair! Forget it…..it was already out of warranty and hadn’t been very reliable anyway….although it DID take amazing pics.
Smart phone prices have become INSANE. The average phone currently costs around $700. If you don’t buy it outright you’re looking at $30/month for literally years. I know there are you iPhone fanatics out there that just HAVE to have the latest and greatest but what are you really spending those hard earned bucks on? Seems like it’s not even a PHONE anymore. So you have to have a phone, texting, Instagram, a decent camera front and rear, and around 64GB of memory for the million useless selfies. I get it. MOST of us don’t need the very latest software, the greatest video camera, 128 GB memory and the latest brushed aluminum back….which you’ll end up covering with a case anyway.
So I went on a hunt. I read literally a dozen reviews of “the best phone for under $500” and then refined it down to the “best phone under $300”. I must have looked at the specs on dozens more phones. Guess what I found?……..an UNBELIEVABLE phone for $249 on Amazon…..NEW….not “refurbished” that only cost another $4/month to insure! It’s not an old model. I was released in April 2020 and it has as much support and cases as the newest iPhone. So here it was quietly hidden away…..The Motorola Moto G Power. Yup an android phone by Motorola with the LONGEST battery life by far of any smart phone out there. Great cameras, sharp looking case and a large screen. Here are the specs:
Motorola Moto G Power Specs
| Operating System | Android 10 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 |
| Dimensions | 6.29 by 2.99 by 0.38 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.4 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,300 by 1,080 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 16MP, 8MP, 2MP; 2MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 18 hours, 11 minutes |
Here’s a review from PC Magazine: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/motorola-moto-g-power
I ordered it from Amazon. It’s unlocked and will work on both Verizon and T-Mobile networks (SMA and GMA) . I set it up in about 5 minutes and so far I can’t tell how it’s any different than the $600 Pixel I had. The battery life is ridiculous….I charge it about every 2 days. Not quite the end of the story though.
2 days after I got my phone, Denise sent HER LG V30 ($750) for a swim in the intracoastal. I dove in and actually got it back…but it was dead. Similar story….Verizon insurance wanted $200 to replace it with a “refurbished” phone. So for $29 more we BOTH now have the Moto G Power!
Save your money for something more interesting than a smart phone. Here’s the link to order a Moto G Power on Amazon. If you hate it….send it back! I promise if you can get over the iPhone withdrawl you’ll love it and never look back! Click below.
A really good case for this phone is the Otterbox. The best case you can buy! Click below.
Happy texting!