Motorola Motorola Moto G15 Moto G15 4G LTE 4+128GB Dual Sim | GSM Unlocked | International Model | Review

The Motorola Moto G15 is a super-budget Android phone that works on GSM networks like T-Mobile. It's very cheap and has a big screen, but its performance is slow, the camera is poor, and it lacks 5G. Only consider it if your budget is absolutely locked under $120.

If you're hunting for a cheap unlocked phone that works on T-Mobile or Metro, the Motorola Moto G15 is probably on your radar. It's a basic 4G LTE Android phone that usually sells for around $110 to $120, and it comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. That's a decent amount of space for a phone at this price. It runs Android 15 out of the box, which is a nice perk for a budget device, and it's got a big 6.7-inch screen. Just remember, this is an international model that's GSM-only, so it won't work on Verizon or any CDMA networks.

Performance is where this phone shows its budget nature. It uses a MediaTek Helio G81 Extreme processor, which lands in the 16th percentile in our database. That means it's one of the slower chips we've tested recently. In practice, it's fine for basic tasks like texting, browsing, and light social media, but you'll notice some lag when switching between apps or if you try to run anything more demanding. The 4GB of RAM is also on the low side, so don't expect to keep many apps open in the background. It's a phone for getting the essentials done, not for speed.

At around $110, the Moto G15 is one of the cheapest new phones you can buy. The value is purely in its price and the fact it's unlocked. You're getting a functional smartphone for not much money. However, you are making significant compromises in speed, camera quality, and future-proofing by skipping 5G. If your budget is absolutely locked at $120, it's an option. But if you can stretch another $30 to $50, you'll find much better phones.

Let's name some names. The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G is a direct step-up competitor; for a bit more money, you get a better screen, much better performance, and 5G connectivity. A refurbished iPhone 12, like the Geek Squad model, is in a completely different league performance-wise, though it costs more and is used. The Google Pixel 6 is another used/refurbished option that demolishes the Moto G15 in camera and speed. Even the oddly named FOXX S13 5G offers 5G at a similar price, though its overall quality is questionable. The Moto G15's only real advantage in this crowd is its rock-bottom new-in-box price.

Skip the Moto G15 if you care about speed, take a lot of photos, want 5G, or plan to use the phone for more than a year. It's also not for Verizon users. If you fall into any of those categories, look at a refurbished flagship like a Pixel 6 or a slightly more expensive new budget phone like the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G. They're better investments.

Should you buy the Motorola Moto G15? Only in one very specific scenario. If you need a brand new, unlocked phone right now for T-Mobile's network and you literally cannot spend more than $120, then yes, this will make calls and run basic apps. For literally anyone else, we'd say skip it. The performance is just too slow, the camera isn't good, and the lack of 5G means it's already behind the times. Spending a little more gets you a dramatically better experience that will last longer.