I got one from Amazon last week, for around $160.

Same setup here, love it

I totally get why everyone is pushing for the unlocked versions, but I have to disagree slightly about it being a totally smooth process. You really have to be careful about carrier compatibility white-lists these days, especially with different Moto G variants. Just because a phone has the right radio bands doesnt mean it will actually work for things like VoLTE or 5G on networks like AT&T or Verizon... its super frustrating ngl. I have seen plenty of people snag a great Black Friday deal only to find out their carrier wont provision WiFi calling because that specific sub-model number isnt in their database. Its basically a coin toss sometimes if you arent buying directly from a major US retail partner. It really complicates the whole swap SIMs whenever you want idea, you know? Definitely keep an eye out for:

• Missing carrier-specific software features
• Inconsistent 5G band support across different unlocked versions
• Problems with visual voicemail not working out of the box Honestly, do your homework on the exact model number before hitting buy, because unlocked is a bit of a loose term lately!!!

Use whenpricedrop to track price of Moto G, they will notify you when price dropped.

https://www.whenpricedrop.com/product/B0DNRK51QQ/

tbh i’m a bit of a beginner with this but i’ve been researching the specs for the 2025 lineup. if you want to go the DIY route and avoid carrier bloatware, looking for unlocked versions is basically the best move so you can swap sims whenever you want. here is what i am keeping an eye on: - the Motorola+Moto+G+Stylus+5G+%282025%29&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) might have a massive price cut if they try to compete with the mid-range Samsungs early. - check out B&H or even reputable sellers on eBay for "open-box" deals during that week. its basically like getting a new phone but way cheaper since you handle the setup yourself.
- keep an eye on the Motorola+Moto+G+Power+5G+%282025%29&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2025) specifically for the battery specs. i mean, if the 5000mAh stays standard, the 2024 stock will probably be CRAZY cheap to clear out room. do you think the stylus version is actually worth the extra cash for the extra RAM? idk if i’ll really use it but i want the fastest one i can get for under $200.

Totally agree on the unlocked route—ditching carrier bloat is basically a requirement if you want any decent longevity. I've been daily driving my current setup for about three years now, and from a technical standpoint, the hardware usually outlasts the software support cycle. One thing I've noticed is how the NAND flash performance tends to degrade if you keep the storage near capacity, so I always tell people to look for units with UFS storage rather than eMMC if they want to avoid that late-stage system lag. Honestly, the radio band integration on the factory-unlocked models is way more stable for multi-carrier switching too. When I grabbed the one I’m using during a previous sale, I was mostly worried about the SoC thermal throttling under load, but it’s held up surprisingly well through several major Android builds. If you're gonna keep it for 2+ years, definitely prioritize the underlying hardware specs over the initial sticker price because the mid-range silicon has actually gotten pretty efficient lately lol. Just gotta make sure the specific SKU has the LTE/5G bands you need for your local towers!!!

Just keep an eye on Best Buy, Amazon, and the official Motorola store - those are usually where the best deals drop first.