"Moto G Play (2024) Unveiled: Affordable 6.5-inch Smartphone with Impressive Features and IP52 Certification"

Motorola has officially introduced the Moto G Play (2024), set to hit the US market on February 8 for an attractive price tag of $149.99. Available at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Motorola's online store, this budget-friendly smartphone is also slated to be offered by carriers such as Consumer Cellular, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, and others. For our neighbors in Canada, the release is a bit earlier on January 26, but the exact pricing in Canada is carrier-dependent.

The Moto G Play (2024) packs a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a 720x1,600 resolution, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Under the hood, it's fueled by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 680 chipset, albeit without 5G support. Complementing this is 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. Noteworthy is the single 50 MP rear camera, a rarity in today's market, accompanied by an 8 MP front camera for selfies.

Powering the device is a sizable 5,000 mAh battery with 15W wired charging support. However, the TurboPower 20W charger needed for optimal charging isn't included in the box. On the software side, the Moto G Play (2024) runs on Android 13, though the company has remained mum on the topic of future updates.

Despite the lack of clarity on updates, there's a positive note with its IP52 certification, offering dust protection and the ability to withstand vertically dripping water in various positions. This certification equals resistance to 3 mm (0.12") of rainfall per minute, providing users with a durable and reasonably priced smartphone option.