The Moto G17 is about as straightforward as cheap phones get, and after spending time using it as a main device, its simplicity proves one of its biggest strengths. At this low a price, it’s not trying to compete with anything higher up this list – it’s here to cover the basics, and for the most part, it does exactly that.For everyday tasks, it’s perfectly usable. Messaging, browsing, streaming and social apps all run without too much friction, and while it’s clearly not fast, it doesn’t feel completely bogged down either. The Helio G81 chip isn’t built for heavy lifting, though, so you do start to notice slowdowns when switching between apps or pushing it beyond light use.The 6.72in display is a pleasant surprise at this price. It’s not especially punchy compared to OLED panels, but it’s large, sharp enough and easy to watch for long periods – whether you’re scrolling or catching up on video.The price gets you a simple handset (Esat Dedezade/The Independent)The 50MP Sony LYTIA main camera sounds ambitious, and in good lighting, it can produce perfectly usable shots. Colours are reasonably punchy, and exposure is handled well enough for quick snaps, so for casual photos in daylight, it does the job.Look a little closer, though, and the limitations become obvious. Detail isn’t especially strong, and even in decent lighting, you’ll start to notice noise creeping into skies and finer textures. Once you move indoors or into low light, those weaknesses become more pronounced, with softer images and less reliable results overall.The 5MP ultra-wide is more of a box-ticking addition. It’s useful when you need to fit more into the frame, but detail drops off significantly and noise increases, so it’s not something you’ll want to rely on regularly.The 32MP selfie camera is actually one of the better elements here. In good lighting, it produces sharper, more detailed images than you might expect at this price, and it holds up well for video calls and social use, even if portrait processing can be a bit inconsistent.Battery life is solid rather than exceptional. The 5200mAh battery will get you through a full day of lighter use, but efficiency isn’t class-leading, so heavier use will bring it back in line with the rest of the pack.Motorola’s clean Android software once again helps keep things simple, and there’s very little clutter getting in your way. The bigger limitation is long-term support – with minimal OS updates expected, it’s not a phone you’ll want to rely on for years.In short, you’re buying this for simplicity and its low price, not performance. And if that’s what you’re after, you’re in safe hands.