Moto G Stylus 5G: A budget phone with a pen

Moto G Stylus 5G is a mid-range phone that offers a large 6.8-inch FHD+ display
An undated image illustrating Moto G Stylus 5G. — Moto
An undated image illustrating Moto G Stylus 5G. — Moto 

Motorola launched a new version of its Moto G Stylus smartphone, adding 5G connectivity and some improvements to the stylus experience. The Moto G Stylus 5G is a mid-range phone that offers a large 6.8-inch FHD+ display, a quad-camera setup, a 5,000 mAh battery, and a built-in stylus for taking notes, drawing, and more. The phone costs $399, making it one of the most affordable 5G phones on the market.

The Moto G Stylus 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 480 processor, which is a decent chipset for everyday tasks and casual gaming. The phone also comes with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot. The phone runs on Android 11 with Motorola’s minimal customisations, such as Moto Actions and Moto Display.

Moto G Stylus 5G is value for money

The stylus is the main selling point of the Moto G Stylus 5G, as it allows users to interact with the phone in different ways. The stylus has a spring-loaded mechanism that pops out when pressed, and it automatically launches a dedicated app that lets users choose from various stylus features, such as taking notes, editing screenshots, creating GIFs, and more. The stylus also supports gestures, such as double-tapping to switch between tools or apps. The stylus is responsive and accurate, but it lacks the advanced features and pressure sensitivity of Samsung’s S Pen.

The Moto G Stylus 5G has a quad-camera system on the back, consisting of a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The main camera takes decent photos in good lighting but struggles in low-light situations. The ultra-wide camera offers a wider field of view but sacrifices some details and colours. The macro camera can capture close-up shots, but the quality is not very impressive. The depth sensor helps with portrait mode, which blurs the background of the subject. The front-facing camera is a 16MP shooter that takes selfies and supports face unlock.

The Moto G Stylus 5G supports most 5G networks

The Moto G Stylus 5G supports 5G connectivity on both sub-6GHz and mmWave bands, which means it can work with most 5G networks in the US. The phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, a fingerprint sensor, and a dedicated Google Assistant button. However, the phone lacks some features that are common in other mid-range phones, such as NFC, wireless charging, and water resistance.

The Moto G Stylus 5G has a huge 5,000 mAh battery that can last for more than a day of moderate use. The phone also supports 20W fast charging, which can replenish the battery in about an hour and a half. However, the phone does not come with a charger in the box, so users will have to buy one separately or use their own.

The Moto G Stylus 5G is a good option for people who want a 5G phone with a stylus without breaking the bank. The phone offers a large screen, a long-lasting battery, and a decent performance for its price. However, the phone also has some drawbacks, such as a mediocre camera, a lack of NFC, and a limited software update policy. Motorola has only promised one major Android update and two years of security updates for the phone, which is disappointing for a 2023 phone. Therefore, the Moto G Stylus 5G may not be the best choice for people who want a future-proof phone with more features and support.


Disclaimer: The price is taken as of November 10, 2023, and is subject to change.