The verdict
For most people the Galaxy A17 5G is the better buy. It costs $269.99 against $299.99 for the Moto G (2026), has the nicer screen, and Samsung promises six Android upgrades. Pick the Moto G (2026) if a headphone jack matters to you, or if you want the carrier support confirmed before you buy.
Screen
The Galaxy A17 5G has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display at up to 90Hz. The Moto G (2026) has a 6.7-inch HD+ LCD (1604 x 720) at up to 120Hz: smoother scrolling, but a lower resolution, and GSMArena noticed smearing while scrolling.
Performance
Neither is fast. GSMArena found the 4GB Galaxy A17 5G sluggish in everyday use, and called the Moto G (2026) sluggish too. Both have 4GB of RAM. If speed matters, step up to the Galaxy A27 5G.
Battery and charging
The Moto G (2026) has the bigger battery on paper (5,200mAh vs 5,000mAh), and GSMArena rated its battery life a strength. Capacity alone does not tell you battery life; see each phone’s page for the review details.
Software support
Samsung promises six Android OS upgrades for the Galaxy A17 5G. Motorola lists security updates for the Moto G (2026) through December 2028 but does not publish a number of Android upgrades.
Carrier compatibility
Motorola states that the Moto G (2026) supports AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, including VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling. We have not yet found an equivalent statement for the US Galaxy A17 5G, so check its model number with your carrier first.
