Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 evaluation: This cellphone actually shocked me

I’ve reviewed fairly a number of Motorola telephones over time—principally funds and midrange fashions—and every year, they convey an increasing number of worth at reasonably priced costs. On the prime of Motorola’s midrange Moto G household in North America is the Moto G Stylus 5G, which frequently will get among the higher specs of the lineup with out entering into flagship territory. This yr, nonetheless, Motorola stepped issues up fairly a bit with the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024.

Whereas nonetheless very a lot a midrange cellphone, priced reasonably at simply $399, the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 feels prefer it’s making an attempt to be a flagship. In relation to design, efficiency, and even some specs, this cellphone does its greatest to emulate the flagship expertise whereas retaining its low price ticket, and it is shocking simply how properly it pulls it off. Heck, among the specs match or rival these from Samsung’s base Galaxy S24, however at simply half the value.

In fact, a number of sacrifices need to be made, however they’re hardly price complaining about. Sadly, the marquee characteristic of this cellphone remains to be in all probability the least fascinating factor about it, and there are some software program misses regardless of the adjustments to Motorola’s UI with Android 14, however these should not deter you from an in any other case nice cellphone.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Value & availability

The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 was introduced on Could 9, 2024, and goes on sale on Could 30 in the US. You should purchase the cellphone unlocked from Amazon, Finest Purchase, and Motorola. Within the coming weeks, the cellphone shall be out there via varied carriers, akin to T-Cell, AT&T, Cricket, Increase Infinite, Increase Cell, Shopper Mobile,  U.S. Mobile, Spectrum, Xfinity Cell, Google Fi Wi-fi, Optimum Cell, Straight Speak, Whole by Verizon, and Seen.

The cellphone is out there in two colours, Caramel Latte or Scarlet Wave, and retails for $399 earlier than any offers or promotions, though pricing (and sure specs) could differ by service.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Design & show

Annually, Motorola’s smartphones tackle fully new appears, with a design that normally spans the corporate’s complete portfolio, from funds to flagship. This creates a stage of uniformity, even when it could actually make it laborious to inform the telephones aside simply by taking a look at them from behind. This yr’s aesthetic focuses on various supplies, with a again panel product of vegan leather-based (a flowery identify for plastic) that seamlessly envelops your complete rear of the cellphone, protruding barely just for the twin digicam system within the prime nook.

So far as hand style goes, the cellphone feels extremely gentle and, dare I say, premium. The brushed body could also be plastic (you would not even realize it), however it someway provides to the premium feel and appear of the cellphone, with a slight shiny end on each ends towards the rear panel and the show. In common use, the vegan leather-based retains the cellphone from getting too scorching when pushing the processor whereas additionally conserving the cellphone from getting too cool and slippery like a typical glass cellphone. 

On the entrance is a big 6.7-inch OLED show, which is kind of a step up from the LCD panels discovered on nearly each different Moto G cellphone. The colours on the show are extremely vibrant, even after I switched the cellphone to Pure colour mode. You can even select Radiant and Vivid colour modes for the show, however I discover the Pure mode is lots. The 120Hz refresh fee additionally brings residence simply how good this show is for a $400 cellphone. My solely criticism is that I really feel that the panel could also be too contrasty and that darker elements of photographs and video seem a smidge darker than they need to.

If you happen to endure from PWM sensitivity, you will be completely happy to know that regardless of this being an OLED panel, Motorola has included a flicker-prevention setting, which ought to assist make it simpler to make use of the cellphone.

Motorola labored some magic across the show to considerably cut back the bezels to flagship ranges. I am unable to say for certain, however simply by trying, I really feel as if the bezels on the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 are smaller than these of the $699 Google Pixel 8. Frankly, you possibly can simply mistake this cellphone for a flagship, irrespective of which method you take a look at it.

At 190g, the cellphone feels lighter than you may anticipate, and it would throw you off, however I do not thoughts it. For comparability, the a lot smaller Pixel 8 measures 187g, whereas the Galaxy S24 Plus weighs a bit extra at 197g regardless of being shorter and thinner. That stated, this is a reasonably large cellphone, so in case you’re not used to that, the dimensions might also take some getting used to.

For defense, the show is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, and the cellphone options an IP52 ranking for water and mud resistance, so attempt to keep away from dunking it. One good thing about the vegan leather-based again is that there is one much less factor to fret about when dropping it, however you will undoubtedly need to seize a display protector.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Specs & efficiency

As famous earlier than, Motorola actually went all out with this cellphone in terms of specs. In fact, for a $399 cellphone, there’s solely a lot you are able to do, however Motorola appeared to push the specs as a lot because it might. The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, which is a curious choice because it’s the identical chip powering the Moto G Stylus 5G 2023.

That stated, I do not hate that Motorola is reusing the chip from final yr’s mannequin as a result of it carried out surprisingly properly then, and it performs even higher now. I think about that is possible as a result of additional RAM (8GB now as a substitute of 6GB) serving to maintain apps in verify. RAM Increase is on by default, however I at all times flip that off and advocate you do, too. You do not want it.

In my expertise, the cellphone has no hassle opening and juggling apps, whereas taking part in video games like Honkai Star: Rail looks like a cakewalk for the chip, even on the best high quality settings. Actually, I have been totally happy with how properly the Moto G Stylug 5G 2024 performs, to the purpose that I didn’t actually miss utilizing an precise flagship cellphone. That is saying so much for a $400 cellphone.

And simply once you assume I used to be accomplished with the show, Motorola surprises but once more by including one other flagship characteristic into the combo: an in-display fingerprint sensor. Moto G telephones normally go for side-mounted sensors, so that is fairly a shift. The sensor works fairly properly and unlocks the cellphone fairly shortly, even when waking up the show. It isn’t as quick as some higher-end telephones I’ve used, however it’s about as quick because the Google Pixel 8 Professional in my use. My solely downside with the sensor is that it is extremely low on the show, and I want it had been a bit larger for extra comfy use.

Face Unlock additionally works about as properly, though I think about Google’s implementation on the Pixel is a little more safe.

As for battery life, the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 is not as long-lasting as another Moto G gadgets that supply as much as two days per cost. That stated, the 5,000mAh battery can get you thru the day simply, relying in your use, which is sweet sufficient for me. There are additionally some battery settings that may assist lengthen battery life, which you may need to activate.

Charging can also be fairly improved, with Motorola doubling the pace from final yr’s Stylus mannequin. At 30W wired, the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 fees a bit quicker than Samsung’s smallest flagship Galaxy S24, with 15W wi-fi charging to match even Samsung’s premium flagship telephones.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Software program

The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 runs Android 14 out of the field, and with it come a number of aesthetic adjustments that make the software program really feel a bit lighter and fewer like a Pixel. That features the Fast Settings panel, which now has a pleasant clear background à la One UI, a redesigned settings menu, an expanded sidebar that permits you to add much more apps for fast entry, fingerprint sensor animations, and extra. It ought to all nonetheless appear fairly acquainted, simply with a brand new coat of paint in some areas to offer Motorola’s software program a bit extra individuality.

Sadly, you will not discover a lot in the best way of AI right here, regardless of that being the recent new factor. That could be as a result of restricted functionality of the chipset, however you do have entry to the brand new Gemini app (regardless of its absence on the Motorola Razr Plus), and Motorola has a brand new AI wallpaper characteristic that creates a wallpaper from a photograph in your gallery. Other than that, you get all the identical Motorola thrives you must anticipate, akin to the favored gestures to open the digicam or activate the flashlight.

The cellphone additionally helps Prepared For, which is being up to date to Sensible Join. This enables the cellphone to connect with a PC or exterior show to do some fairly fascinating tips like mirroring the cellphone show, creating a brand new occasion of your cellphone on a second show, shifting recordsdata between gadgets, and even sharing peripherals like a mouse and keyboard between your PC, pill, and cellphone. It is a fairly useful characteristic for energy customers who’re at all times on the go and wish a simple strategy to transfer issues from the cellphone to the pc and vice versa.

Fortuitously, you will not discover a lot in the best way of bloatware, however the dreaded Look lock display makes its presence identified on this cellphone. You’ll be able to decide out of it when organising the cellphone, however it is going to pop up each from time to time with a notification reminding you that it exists and making an attempt to persuade you to show it on. Good attempt, Moto.

In fact, the draw back of the Moto G moniker is that, as soon as once more, Motorola is not going out of its strategy to deliver main updates to this cellphone. The corporate guarantees one OS improve (to Android 15, little doubt, which is launching later this yr) and three years of safety updates.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Cameras

The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 has simply two rear cameras: a 50MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide. Motorola is not identified for its digicam high quality, and also you should not anticipate a lot from a $400 cellphone, however the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 does a reasonably good job regardless. Photographs are sharp, detailed, and vibrant, and there is even an honest quantity of dynamic vary. The photographs will not blow you away, however they’re completely useable.

The cellphone additionally does properly in low-light photographs, which I anticipate could need to do with the 2µm pixel dimension because of pixel binning. The cellphone will get loads of gentle and is not overwhelmed with noise, which is strictly what I would anticipate from a cellphone on this value vary.

The ultrawide digicam additionally is not too shabby and doubles as a macro digicam, which may come in useful. Motorola offers you the choice to auto-enhance your photographs after they’re taken utilizing Google Pictures, however I opted to maintain my pictures naturally processed, which turned out simply fantastic.

You might also be completely happy to know that the cellphone helps 4K video seize, though you are capped at simply 30fps. You’ll be able to shoot 60fps, however you will need to go all the way down to Full HD decision.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Stylus

So, this cellphone has a stylus. Yeah, it is within the identify, and Motorola really modified the design to make it thicker, nearly giving it an S Pen-like aesthetic. That stated, regardless of the adjustments, just like the bigger contact space and up to date software program to make it extra responsive on the show, the stylus might be the least fascinating side of this cellphone. It is good to have the ability to pop the pen out and shortly take a be aware or signal a doc, and the textual content recognition software program will be useful, however these are options I simply do not make sufficient use of to actually care.

If the stylus had extra helpful options like Bluetooth help for distant seize, stress, and angle sensitivity, or different options discovered on the S Pen, then I could be extra inclined to make use of it and really care that it is there.

It isn’t a foul factor that there is a built-in stylus pen. However I simply do not discover it to be an enormous promoting level, both.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Competitors

At this value vary, there aren’t many telephones that I can confidently advocate. You may go for the Google Pixel 8a in case you’re prepared to spend $100 extra on a cellphone with a fantastic digicam and entry to a lot of Google’s greatest AI options. The cellphone additionally has a flagship-level Tensor chip, so efficiency should not be a lot of an issue. Sadly, storage is fastened until you shell out extra money for 256GB, and charging speeds aren’t almost nearly as good because the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024. You may additionally need to be a bit extra cautious with the glass again.

The Nothing Cellphone 2a is an effective cellphone that contains a distinctive design with a light-weight present on the again, nice cameras, and an OLED show. It additionally comes with as much as 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, which is unusual at this value level. Sadly, it isn’t as simple to purchase the Nothing Cellphone 2a, because the cellphone can solely be bought from Nothing once you join a developer account. Plus, the cellphone would not totally help U.S. networks, that means you won’t get the most effective service.

Samsung’s Galaxy A35 is a comparatively new cellphone that could possibly be one other good possibility at this value level. The cellphone has a 6.6-inch OLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee, a 50MP digicam system, and higher safety because of the IP67 ranking and Gorilla Glass Victus. The downsides? Beginning RAM is simply 6GB, there isn’t any wi-fi charging, and Exynos chips are hit and miss.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024: Must you purchase it?

You should purchase this if…

• You desire a cellphone with a built-in stylus
• You need nice efficiency with out spending an arm and a leg
• You care about digicam high quality
• You do not need a cellphone with a glass again

You should not purchase this cellphone if…

• You need the most recent AI options
• You care about software program updates and OS upgrades
• You care about sturdiness from drops and water

To say that my time with the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 was shocking is a little bit of an understatement. My each day driver is normally a flagship Motorola or Samsung cellphone, however whereas I used the Stylus 5G, I discovered myself forgetting that this is not a flagship cellphone. Efficiency is great, the cameras are a lot better than I anticipated, and the software program is a pleasant step up from earlier variations.

Other than the annoying Look lock display that you would be able to happily flip off, the most important draw back is probably the software program promise, which nonetheless pales compared to Samsung. I might like to see Motorola change this up and provide even two OS upgrades for its Moto G lineup.

It is also a disgrace that the marquee characteristic on the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 is dropping its enchantment. The redesign is sweet, however I do not discover the stylus notably helpful in its present iteration.

Nonetheless, that is by far one of many greatest telephones underneath $400, clearly punching properly above its weight. I imply, the specs alone are sufficient to offer the Samsung Galaxy S24 a run for its cash… actually. Positive, a flagship chipset and Galaxy AI are good, however in case you’re not making an attempt to spend $800 on a brand new cellphone, you may simply spend half that and nonetheless get nice efficiency with the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024.