• Moto G Stylus 2024

    Moto G Stylus 2024 Review: A Solid Mid-range Option With Stylus Support

    Joan Martínez Posted on

    The Moto G Stylus 2024 is here, promising to redefine the mid-range smartphone experience with its unique stylus support. This North American exclusive is not just another phone—it’s a versatile tool designed for productivity, creativity, and entertainment.

    With a sleek design, impressive display, and solid performance, it stands out in a crowded market. Dive into our comprehensive review to see why the Moto G Stylus 2024 might be your next favorite gadget. Join us as we explore its features, capabilities, and everything it brings to the table.

     

    Design and Build

    The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 bears a striking resemblance to other recent Moto phones, particularly from their Edge 50 Series. In fact, its feature set is nearly identical to that of the Latin American Edge 50 Fusion. However, the standout feature of the Moto G Stylus is, of course, its stylus support. The stylus is included with the phone and tucks away neatly inside it. It’s about the same size as Samsung’s S Pen, but it’s a passive stylus, meaning there’s no Bluetooth connectivity and no functional buttons. You have to touch the screen directly to use it.

    In terms of design, the Moto G Stylus adopts a look similar to Moto’s Edge series. The back is covered in eco-leather, and there’s no large camera bump to draw attention. The main difference is that the back and plastic frame are flat, unlike the curved designs seen in the Edge 50 Fusion. Additionally, the Moto G Stylus does not come with an IP rating for water resistance. Instead, it features a water-repellent design, which offers basic dust and splash protection.

    The design choices, including the flat back and frame, contribute to the phone’s overall aesthetic and usability. The eco-leather back gives the phone a premium feel, while the lack of a large camera bump makes it easier to handle and place on flat surfaces. The flat design also means the phone feels more secure in hand compared to curved phones, which can sometimes feel slippery.

    Screen Specs and Features

    The display on the Moto G Stylus 2024 is a 6.7-inch OLED with a 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. There’s no information on the type of glass protecting the screen, but being an OLED panel, it offers excellent contrast and sharpness.

    The display supports 10-bit color depth, although it does not support HDR video playback. The maximum brightness is impressive, measuring up to around 550 nits with the manual slider and boosting to nearly 1,400 nits in auto mode when needed. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth interactions with the screen, and it dials down to 60Hz when idle to save energy.

    The screen quality is one of the highlights of the Moto G Stylus. The OLED technology ensures vibrant colors and deep blacks, making media consumption a pleasure. The high refresh rate enhances the user experience, providing smooth scrolling and animations. The adaptive refresh rate also helps in conserving battery life by reducing the refresh rate when high performance is not needed.

    Recent Posts

    Audio and Biometrics

    For audio, the Moto G Stylus features a headphone jack and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. The speakers deliver very good loudness and clear vocals, though they lack a strong bass presence. For biometrics, there’s an under-display fingerprint reader that’s fast and reliable.

    The inclusion of a headphone jack is a notable feature in an era where many manufacturers are moving away from this port. It provides flexibility for users who prefer wired audio solutions. The stereo speakers, while not the best in terms of bass response, offer a satisfactory audio experience for most uses, including media consumption and gaming.

    The under-display fingerprint reader is another modern feature that adds to the phone’s appeal. It’s positioned conveniently, making it easy to unlock the phone quickly and securely. The fingerprint reader’s performance is consistent, offering a good balance between speed and accuracy.

    Storage and UI

    You can get the Moto G Stylus with either 128GB or 256GB of storage, both of which are expandable via microSD. The phone runs on Android 14 with Moto’s new Hello UI interface, which is similar to stock Android but includes some custom Moto features. These features are organized within the Moto App, which has received a makeover compared to previous versions. One significant update is the Smart Connect Hub, which consolidates functionalities that involve connecting the phone to a PC, tablet, or display. Previously, this was known as Ready For.

    The storage options cater to different user needs. The 128GB version is sufficient for most users, while the 256GB variant provides ample space for those who require more storage for apps, media, and files. The expandable storage via microSD card adds another layer of flexibility, ensuring that users do not run out of space.

    Moto’s Hello UI offers a clean and intuitive user experience. It retains the simplicity of stock Android while adding useful features that enhance productivity and connectivity. The Smart Connect Hub is particularly useful for users who work across multiple devices, as it simplifies the process of connecting and sharing between the phone and other gadgets.

    Stylus Features

    The Moto G Stylus brings several unique stylus-centric features. Taking notes with the stylus is straightforward, and the screen is highly responsive. You can even take notes while the screen is turned off. When you remove the stylus from the phone, a floating menu appears with several options to choose from, and you can customize this menu to your liking.

    One of the standout features is the handwriting calculator, which is advanced and handy. The ability to write directly on the screen is another frequently used feature. Motorola promises three years of OS updates and four years of security patches for the Moto G Stylus 2024.

    The stylus features are designed to enhance productivity and creativity. Whether you’re taking quick notes, sketching ideas, or performing calculations, the stylus provides a seamless and intuitive experience. The floating menu is customizable, allowing users to access their favorite stylus functions quickly. The handwriting calculator is particularly impressive, as it can interpret complex equations and provide accurate results.

    Performance

    Under the hood, the Moto G Stylus 2024 is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, the same one found in the Latin American version of the Edge 50 Fusion. While the benchmark scores are modest, they are adequate for the class. The Moto G Stylus is not a powerhouse, but it provides a lag-free user experience and can handle some gaming. The thermal performance is excellent, with hardly any throttling during prolonged stress tests.

    The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset offers a good balance between performance and efficiency. While it may not compete with flagship processors, it is more than capable of handling everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The phone performs well in multitasking scenarios, switching between apps smoothly without noticeable lag.

    Thermal management is another area where the Moto G Stylus excels. The phone remains cool even during extended use, which is important for maintaining performance and longevity. The absence of significant thermal throttling ensures that users can enjoy a consistent experience during prolonged sessions.

    Battery and Charging

    The Moto G Stylus is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which delivers solid battery life. In our tests, the phone achieved an active use score of 12 hours and 43 minutes. It supports 30W charging, though the phone ships without a charger. With a compatible charger, we were able to charge from 0 to 53% in 30 minutes, and a full charge took about an hour and a half. The phone also supports wireless charging.

    Battery life is one of the strong suits of the Moto G Stylus. The 5,000mAh battery ensures that the phone can last through a full day of heavy use without needing a recharge. This is particularly beneficial for users who rely on their phones for work or entertainment throughout the day.

    The charging options add another layer of convenience. While the absence of a charger in the box is a downside, the support for 30W charging ensures that the phone can be recharged quickly with a compatible charger. The inclusion of wireless charging is a welcome feature, providing users with more flexibility in how they choose to charge their devices.

    Camera Specs

    The camera setup on the Moto G Stylus 2024 is similar to that of the Edge 50 Fusion, featuring a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus.

    Main Camera: Photo and Video Quality

    Daylight photos from the main camera are impressive, with lively colors, high contrast, and a wide dynamic range. There’s plenty of detail, and human subjects are well-exposed and detailed. The two-times digital zoom produces decent results, though slightly softer than the regular one-times photos. At night, photos from the main camera have plenty of detail, though they can be a bit overprocessed. Noise reduction is proficient, exposure is balanced, and colors are nice.

    4K videos from the main camera are average in quality, with good dynamic range, contrast, and accurate colors, but mediocre detail and some noise. Electronic stabilization is optional but highly recommended as it does an excellent job of smoothing things out. Low-light videos from the main camera are noisy with mediocre detail.

    The main camera’s performance is solid for a mid-range device. It captures vibrant and detailed photos in good lighting conditions, making it suitable for a variety of photography needs. The two-times digital zoom is useful for capturing distant subjects, although the quality is slightly reduced compared to the standard shots.

    Night photography is where the main camera shows some limitations. While it can capture decent photos, the images tend to be overprocessed with noticeable noise reduction. However, the balanced exposure and accurate colors make the night photos acceptable for most users.

    Ultrawide Camera: Photo and Video Quality

    The ultra-wide camera captures accurate colors, high contrast, and a wide dynamic range in daylight. The detail is slightly above average for this type of camera, and thanks to autofocus, it can take detailed, sharp, and colorful macro close-ups. Nighttime photos from the ultra-wide camera are usable, with average detail and visible noise, but solid colors, contrast, and dynamic range. 4K videos from the ultra-wide camera are very good for this type of camera, with plenty of detail, acceptable noise levels, wide dynamic range, and good colors.

    The ultra-wide camera adds versatility to the Moto G Stylus’s photography capabilities. It performs well in daylight, capturing wide-angle shots with good detail and vibrant colors. The autofocus feature allows for macro photography, making it possible to take close-up shots with impressive detail and sharpness.

    In low-light conditions, the ultra-wide camera’s performance is average. The photos show visible noise and reduced detail, but the colors and contrast remain satisfactory. The ultra-wide camera’s video capabilities are commendable, providing good detail and color accuracy in 4K resolution.

    Selfie Camera

    The front-facing 32MP camera uses pixel binning to produce 8MP selfies. These are great, with detailed subjects, natural skin tones, excellent dynamic range, and accurate colors.

    The selfie camera is a strong point for the Moto G Stylus. The pixel binning technology ensures that selfies are detailed and vibrant, even in challenging lighting conditions. The camera captures natural skin tones and provides a wide dynamic range, making it suitable for both casual and professional use.

    Conclusion

    For around $400, the Moto G Stylus 2024 offers a lot of value. It’s a solid mid-range phone with a unique feature set, especially with the inclusion of the stylus. While there are competitors that offer features like IP rating, HDR video support, fast charging, or better video recording, they don’t include a stylus. A mid-range phone with a stylus is quite unique, and the Moto G Stylus 2024 delivers on this front. However, it’s a shame that it’s only officially available in North America.

    In conclusion, the Moto G Stylus 2024 is a compelling choice for users who value stylus functionality and a balanced set of features. It offers a premium design, a high-quality display, solid performance, and versatile cameras, all at a reasonable price. The phone’s battery life and charging options add to its appeal, making it a reliable companion for daily use. While it may not have the most powerful processor or the highest-end camera system, it provides a well-rounded experience that is sure to satisfy a wide range of users.

    LEAVE A RESPONSE

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Joan Martínez
    I'm a Tech. passionate. I do follow all the brand's new products... discussing them, and analyzing them, Sometimes, I thank, and sometimes I criticize some feature or all the feature. I'm here to give a fully unbiased review, not to sell something to anyone, or for anyone.
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like

    Latest News