Samsung’s S Pen on a finances
The Moto G Sylus 2026 lastly will get an lively stylus which implies it now helps tilt detection and strain sensitivity in supported apps. This provides it S Pen like powers however in a telephone that prices lower than half of Samsung’s flagship.
Professionals
- Stylus just like Samsung’s S Pen
- Ships with Android 16
- Barely larger battery
- Show has a lot increased peak brightness
- Expandable reminiscence through microSD card slot
- IP69 score for one of the best waterproofing
Cons
- Solely two years of OS updates
- $100 greater than the 2025 mannequin
- Largely comparable specs as its predecessor
Good worth
The Moto G Stylus 2025 has a lot of the specs of the brand new 2026 mannequin and with a lower cost, it is instantly even higher worth than earlier than. It is nonetheless a good selection in case you want a stylus smartphone beneath $400 with stable all-round efficiency.
Professionals
- Vibrant, colourful design
- Vivid and sharp OLED show
- Some enjoyable and helpful AI options
- Good digital camera high quality in preferrred lighting
- Spectacular battery life and quick charging
Cons
- Awkward fingerprint sensor placement
- Improved software program replace promise nonetheless falls behind
- Digital camera may use some tweaks in lowlight and 4K recording
Moreover Samsung, Motorola has been the one smartphone maker within the mid-range phase to constantly ship a stylus telephone, yr after yr. Like clockwork, the corporate simply dropped the 2026 Moto G Stylus, and it seems loads just like the 2025 mannequin, however with one main distinction — the stylus is lastly lively reasonably than passive. This implies it now gives superior options like strain sensitivity and tilt detection, similar to Samsung’s S Pen.
Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Moto G Stylus 2025: Design and show
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Motorola appears dedicated to its latest design change, and the Moto G Stylus 2026 seems similar to the 2025 mannequin, however with very delicate design modifications across the digital camera island. The scale are roughly the identical, and each telephones measure 8.3mm in thickness and weigh across the identical 192 grams (191 grams on the 2025 Moto G Stylus). The rear has the identical faux-leather end however with new colours known as Pantone Coal Smoke and Pantone Lavender Mist, and a special texture.
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Chances are you’ll like
Each telephones are constructed robust and have the MIL-STD-810H certification. What has improved within the 2026 Moto G Stylus is the brand new IP69 score for excessive water resistance. The 2025 mannequin is just not far behind with its IP68 score, however you will not have the ability to submerge it beneath water for greater than half-hour (nor must you wish to).
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The massive game-changer, in fact, is the brand new stylus. In the event you’re contemplating this telephone, you in all probability already intend to make use of it for note-taking or drawing. The lively stylus on the 2026 Moto G Stylus ought to provide an enormous efficiency enchancment over the 2025 mannequin. Sketching, particularly, ought to really feel much more intuitive as now you can simply shade an space of your drawing by tilting the stylus, similar to you’ll a daily pencil.
Routinely create thinner or thicker brush strokes relying on how a lot strain you apply to the tip. Motorola says the pen will last as long as 100 hours per cost, and you’ll absolutely cost it in simply quarter-hour as soon as it is docked within the silo. The pen can be IP68/IP69 rated. The 2025 mannequin makes use of a passive pen, which, regardless of claims of 4X higher sensitivity, nonetheless felt laggy throughout testing.
The 2025 Moto G Stylus had a brilliant and vibrant show, and it is just about the identical deal on the 2026 mannequin, too. Motorola has bumped up the height brightness from 3,000 nits to five,000 nits, in order that’s good. In any other case, you get the identical 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh fee and Gorilla Glass 3 scratch safety.
Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Moto G Stylus 2025: Specs, pricing, & software program
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The Moto G Stylus 2026 options roughly similar core specs because the Moto G Stylus 2025. Each telephones use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC and have 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM with both 128GB or 256GB of storage. Take into account that the excessive storage variant will set you again $100, coming in at $599, whereas the bottom variant is $499. So as to sweeten the deal, Motorola is bundling a four-pack of Moto Tags with the bottom variant and much more goodies with the 256GB variant, like a Moto Watch and Moto Buds Loop. That is truly a reasonably neat deal and type of makes up for the value bump.
One other space for enchancment is the battery measurement. The 2026 Moto G Stylus incorporates a 5,200mAh battery (vs. 5,000mAh), however charging speeds are the identical at 68W wired and 15W wi-fi. The brand new mannequin runs Android 16 and guarantees two OS upgrades. You’ve got Motorola’s Whats up UX working on high of Android, which is identical lean pores and skin we have all identified and beloved.
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Class
Moto G Stylus 2026
Moto G Stylus 2025
OS
Android 16 (2 OS upgrades)
Android 16
Colours
Pantone Coal Smoke, Pantone Lavender Mist
Pantone Gibraltar sea, Pantone Surf the Internet
Display screen Measurement
6.7 inches
6.7 inches
Display screen Decision
1220 x 2712
1220 x 2712
Display screen Sort
AMOLED
AMOLED
Refresh Charge
120Hz
120Hz
Processor
Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
RAM
8GB
8GB
Storage
128GB, 256GB (expandable as much as 1TB)
128GB, 256GB (expandable as much as 1TB)
Cameras
50MP large, 13MP ultrawide and macro imaginative and prescient, 32MP entrance
50MP large, 13MP ultrawide and macro imaginative and prescient, 32MP entrance
Audio system
Stereo Audio system (with Dolby Atmos)
Stereo Speaker (with Dolby Atmos)
Battery
5,200mAh
5,000mAh
Wired & Wi-fi Charging
68W, 15W
68W, 15W
Bluetooth
5.4
5.4
Water Resistance
IP68, IP69
IP68
Mobile
5G
5G
Measurement
162.2 x 74.8 x 8.3 mm
162.2 x 74.8 x 8.3 mm
Weight
192 grams
191 grams
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The 2025 Moto G Stylus was $399 when it launched a yr again, however now you can formally discover the 256GB variant for $350, and that is exterior of any massive sale season. This makes it an excellent worth for cash, particularly in case you do not want the flowery new options of the lively pen within the 2026 mannequin. The specs are additionally roughly similar so that you’re actually not dropping a lot, if something.
What to learn subsequent
Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Moto G Stylus 2025: Cameras
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
There does not appear to be any vital modifications to the digital camera {hardware} on the Moto G Stylus 2026. Identical to the 2025 mannequin, you get a 50MP predominant sensor, 13MP ultrawide with autofocus for macro pictures, and a front-facing 32MP digital camera, which can be able to 4K recording. Outdoors of {hardware}, although, Motorola has added extra Moto AI options and digital camera methods like Motion Shot and Tremendous Zoom. I really feel these options must also make their method to the 2025 mannequin with a future replace.
Primarily based on our expertise with the Moto G Stylus 2025, we felt the cameras did greater than an ample job in good lighting. It’s best to anticipate comparable efficiency with the 2026 mannequin, too, albeit with the addition of Signature Fashion mode, which makes use of AI to offer pictures a brand new aptitude primarily based in your preferences.
Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Moto G Stylus 2025: Which one must you purchase?
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
In the event you’re critical about notetaking or sketching in your telephone and do not wish to spend north of $1,000, the Moto G Stylus 2026 is the right compromise. It gives S Pen-like performance in a telephone that prices lower than half as a lot. In truth, it is extra water resistant than the Galaxy S26 Extremely, which is an enormous win. Motorola can be throwing in a number of freebies throughout the launch section, so it is best to take benefit whilst you can.
A stylus is just not for everybody, although, and in case you assume you will solely use it often to signal paperwork or for primary notetaking, the 2025 Moto G Stylus continues to be top-of-the-line Motorola telephones in the marketplace. Not solely that, it is loads cheaper now, making it a fair higher worth for cash.
Just for critical stylus customers
The Moto G Stylus 2026 does not transfer the needle ahead on energy however it does get a vastly higher stylus, which makes an enormous distinction.
Even higher worth a yr later
The Moto G Stylus 2025 now sells for $350 for 256GB of storage, making it actually good worth if all you want is primary stylus performance.
