Motorola Moto G Stylus Preview

Motorola took to covers off the latest editions to the Moto G family and they look very good!

First thing you’ll notice is that Moto dropped the number naming scheme used for all other Moto G phone since the Moto G2. I find this odd, since we say the Moto G8 Plus launch in late 2019. Oh well, I’m not that concerned.

There were two phones announced today the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power.

You can read more about the Moto G Power by clicking the link below




This year we get a new Moto G entrant in the form of Motorola’s first stylus-enabled device, the Moto G Stylus. This device isn’t meant to compete with Samsung’s incredibly successful Note series, but more something that should clobber LG’s Stylo line. Thinking about it, the G Stylus is true to the Moto G mission which is to bring a premium like experience to the mid-range.

So, what does the Stylus bring to the table? Let’s check out the specs below.



Motorola Moto G Stylus Specs

Operating systemAndroid™ 10
System
Architecture/Processor
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 665 Mobile Processor
Memory (RAM)4GB
Storage (ROM)128GB built-in* | up to 512GB microSD card* expandable
Dimensions158.55 x 75.8 x 9.2mm
Weight192g
Display6.4″ FHD+ Max Vision display
Battery4000mAh
Charging10w rapid charging
Water ProtectionWater repellent design
Rear Camera48MP Sensor (f/1.7, 1.6μm) | Quad Pixel technology
Macro Vision (2mp, f/2.2) | minimum xxxcm focus distance
Action Cam (16mp, f/2.2, 2.0μm) | Quad Pixel technology | 117° ultra-wide angle only
Laser autofocus (TOF)
Video CaptureRear main camera: UHD (30fps) | FHD (120/60/30fps) | HD (30fps)
Rear ultra-wide angle camera: FHD (30fps) | HD (30fps)
Rear macro camera: HD (30fps)
Front Camera16MP (f/2.0, 1μm)
Bluetooth® TechnologyBluetooth® 5.0
FM RadioYes
SpeakersDual stereo speakers tuned by Dolby
NFCNo
In-box AccessoriesCharger, USB Type-C cable, guides, SIM tool
ExperiencesMoto Actions: Quick capture, Fast flashlight, Three finger screenshot, Screenshot editor, Flip for DND,
Pick up to silence, Media controls, Swipe to shrink


A lot going on with this spec sheet that really is pushing into the top end of the mid-range phone sector. As with the Power it is brining the Snapdragon 665 and 4GB of RAM. However, it also has a few key differences. Check out some of the specs that really stand out for the Moto G Stylus


The Stylus and Moto Notes

What would be the point of this phone if not for the Stylus!?

As mentioned the G Stylus is not a Note-Killer but it will certainly bring some really fun features to the mid-range. The pen with the G Stylus is a passive stylus, meaning it does not pack any of the fancy button tricks of Samsung’s Note line, but Motorola will be launching a new Moto app called Moto Notes which will give users the ability to take notes by simply pulling out the pen and writing on the screen.

The Stylus is a polarizing accessory for phones. You either love them or hate them. I haven’t owned a Note device since the Note 4, but I always enjoyed the ability to be more precise when poking around on a smaller display. I expect much of the same with the Moto G Stylus and its pen.


6.4″ FHD+ Max Vision display

Like the G Power, the G Stylus has a 6.4″ LCD display, the same size as 2019’s Z4 which has served me really well. I expect this display to be just fine in most cases.



Camera

On paper the G Stylus really takes a leap compared the the G Power. The camera array is a triple-camera setup with a 48 megapixel shooter which should do really well in most scenarios. Next is a 2 megapixel macro sensor like that of the Moto One Macro and also found on the G Power. The third camera is a 16 megapixel action camera. The action camera, taken from the Moto One Action allows you to shoot landscape video while holding the camera vertically for a better grip.

How will the cameras perform, only time will tell as the review units start rolling in, but I am expecting a big step over previous G series devices. Until then, check out a few samples Motorola has provided.



Dual Stereo Speakers

Like with the G Power we are fortunate to have a mid-range phone with stereo speakers. Most mid-range phones have a small top or bottom firing speaker that always underwhelms. Stereo speakers are a welcomed addition here for sure.


NFC

I get a lot of use of out Google Pay here in Canada since it is accepted virtually everywhere. The G series has never had NFC, and the G Stylus stays the course. It’s not going to be a deal breaker for me, but it will be a pain to have go back to the physical card.


Battery

The G Stylus does’t pack the camera chops of the G Power, but the 4,000 mAh battery is still impressive. Getting 1.5 to 2 days of normal use should be a breeze.



With all of that, pros and cons aside, I am very excited to see what the G Stylus will bring to the table once I get my hands on a review unit.


The Moto G Stylus will be available this spring in Canada from Videotron. Pricing in Canada is unknown right now, but the US pricing will be around $300.


What do you think about the Moto G Stylus as Motorola’s first foray into a pen-based phone?

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