
Motorola Moto G Stylus
Engadget Review
The $300 Moto G Stylus is a capable smartphone with a stylus that makes it easy to take notes and make handwritten lists on the fly. The doodling experience is hampered by a lack of palm rejection, but the fact that the option remains to take quick, handwritten notes will compel some to consider it. Aside from the pen, the G Stylus is almost identical to the Moto G Power and it has solid performance plus a great 14-hour battery life. It takes its best photos in good lighting and, while the included macro lens is a strange choice, it ultimately adds a unique flare that makes it stand out among other mid-range smartphones. However, the G Power’s lack of NFC, disappointing Night Mode photography and its plastic design prove that sacrifice is necessary when opting for a more affordable handset.
Pros
- One of the few budget smartphones with a stylus
- Cinemagraph is an easy way to make personal animated gifs
- Runs a mostly clean version of Android 10
- An actual headphone jack
- Macro lens is a surprising but enjoyable choice
- Good battery life
Cons
- Frustrating lack of palm rejection when using the stylus
- Plastic hardware
- No NFC
- Night Mode photography isn’t great
Moto G Stylus
Engadget
76
Critics
10 reviews72
Users
2 reviews80
- Critic Reviews (10)
- User Reviews (2)
- 72AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE10 ReviewsTom's Guide70Moto G Stylus reviewThe Moto G Stylus features a handy stylus for note-taking and lasts a long time on a charge. But the Moto G Power has a bigger battery, costs less and is the better value.ZDNet80Long battery life, basic stylus support, $300 priceOverall though, I was able to have great phone conversations via cellular and WiFi Calling connections, work all day with it as my primary device, enjoy a couple shows, and proved to myself it could be my main phone if I didn't care that much about the advanced technology found in flagship devices.Wired50Review: Moto G StylusBut a $100 price jump from these Moto Gs to those Apple or Google devices is still a big one. If you're on a tight budget these phones will serve you well. Just don't expect them to last you as long as other options.CNET80Motorola swaps battery life with note-takingI've been debating whether or not I'd recommend the Moto G Stylus to someone who doesn't want a stylus. It would be like buying a convertible car that you never intended to drive with the top down.PC Mag80A solid smartphone for stylus lovers on a budgetThe Moto G Stylus is a very good midrange phone with a big, bright screen, long battery life, and a built-in stylus for taking notes.Android Authority80Moto G Stylus reviewIf you can give up some battery life, I think the Stylus is the better performer. It includes the useful stylus and has the better of the two camera systems hands down.Android Central70This pen isn't actually mightierEvery year, Motorola raises the bar with its latest Moto G phones, but the G Stylus feels like a lateral move, opting for the inclusion of a built-in stylus at the expense of other fundamentals like performance, camera, and display. While the $299 price point is still compelling, there are better options out there in 2020.The Verge80Low in trade-offs, low in priceHowever, if you can’t spend more than the Moto G Stylus or G Power cost, or simply don’t want to spend more, you currently won’t be able to find a more well-rounded phone at this price.Android Police70The G series is evolving, and mostly for the betterFor a lot of people, a cheaper phone makes sense right now, and the new G-series phones are well-positioned to take advantage of that. They offer incredible battery life, solid performance, passable photo quality, and even a stylus if you're into that.Digital Trends60Motorola Moto G Stylus reviewThe Moto G Stylus takes a gamble on a niche feature, and can't turn it into a win.
- 80AVERAGE USER SCORE2 ReviewsArthur90July 12, 2020Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!You can't rate phone without going to moto settings and making personalized settings. Fantastic phone for the money!!!!nani70July 5, 2020Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - Engadget
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