A recent patent legal ruling on 5G communications could ban Motorola phones from the U.S. market.

There is no doubt that Motorola is not the powerhouse it once was when it comes to smartphones. However, the Lenovo-owned brand still holds its own in the market, especially with its affordable AI-enabled handsets. For example, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro is a relatively inexpensive and decent phone. Unfortunately, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recently ruled in favor of Sony Ericsson in an early stage patent dispute with Motorola.

According to a report by Reuters, the issue involves Sony Ericsson's patents on 5G wireless technology. According to Sony Ericsson, Motorola's Moto G, Edge, and Razr lines of phones infringe this patented technology, and if the ITC's ruling is upheld, Motorola's imports into the country will likely be banned. [The U.S. is not the only country where the two companies are in legal conflict. According to Reuters, Motorola and Sony Ericsson are involved in patent lawsuits in South America, the United Kingdom, and North Carolina. So far, Sony Ericsson has won its first victories in Brazil and Colombia. [For example, the Moto G 5G has been released, offering amazing power for under $200. Motorola also released a great folding phone, the Motorola Plus 2024. Add these to the list of Motorola phones that already exist, and there is no doubt that the US could lose some great phones.

Note that this is only the first part of the proceedings in this case; the ITC's decision must be upheld by the Commission, which is scheduled for April 2025. In the meantime, it may be worth checking the list of best alternative possible phones and the list of best budget phones in a similar price range.