Motorola Moto G Stylus 2021
Specifications
Secondary Camera: 16 MPix f/2.0, 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Price comparison
Average of 13 scores (from 18 reviews)
Reviews for the Motorola Moto G Stylus 2021
Source: Android Authority
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G is such a niche play, it’s hard to quantify against other devices. No other 5G-capable, stylus-equipped phone is as affordable as the G Stylus 5G. LG used to compete in this space, but with its market exit, the Moto G Stylus 5G is alone in its niche. You’d have to look at the $1,199 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to find the same combination of features. It is easy to laud the battery life, clean build of Android, and solid everyday performance of the phone, but the Snapdragon 480 5G holds the phone back somewhat. It may sip power, but it doesn’t deliver the fast and fluid experience some potential buyers might want. The camera does well for the most part, though low-light shots and selfies suffer. Motorola’s single-year commitment to updates (and two years of security patches) is also a bit thin compared to Samsung’s A series. The Moto G Stylus 5G is a good phone, but it’s not without faults. As the only comer in the affordable 5G stylus market, those faults might seem minor to some.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/14/2022
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% performance: 60% display: 70% mobility: 90% workmanship: 70%
Source: Android Authority
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G is such a niche play, it’s hard to quantify against other devices. No other 5G-capable, stylus-equipped phone is as affordable as the G Stylus 5G. LG used to compete in this space, but with its market exit, the Moto G Stylus 5G is alone in its niche. You’d have to look at the $1,199 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to find the same combination of features. The Moto G Stylus 5G is a good phone, but it’s not without faults. As the only comer in the affordable 5G stylus market, those faults might seem minor to some. But the phone is so focused on several key features that unless you’re looking for a phone that meets a very specific criteria, you might be better off looking at some of the more well-rounded alternatives.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/06/2022
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% performance: 60% display: 70% mobility: 90% workmanship: 70%
Source: Android Guys
I really like the Moto G Stylus 5G. It’s got great battery life and a unique interaction with the pen, but it’s hard to recommend those dreadful software updates. Moto still lags way too behind other competitors in this regard to the point that it’s now just embarrassing for the brand. Despite the software setbacks, this could still be a great option for those willing to take on outdated updates. At just $2 a month in AT&T installments, or $249 full retail, the Moto G Stylus 5G is a steal for those on a budget.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/16/2022
Rating: Total score: 82% price: 90% mobility: 100% workmanship: 90%
Source: Techradar
The Moto G Stylus 5G is a competent mid-range smartphone with decent internals behind a solid display. But, the price puts it in front of a ton of hardened competition, and its stylus gimmicks don’t set it far enough apart to stay afloat. The Moto G Stylus 5G is not to be confused with the Moto G Stylus (2021), though it's a curious update that certainly lends itself to confusion. The Moto G Stylus 5G is borrowing a lot from the reputation of its predecessor and only changed a few things, notably adding 5G connectivity with a $100 price bump in tow — hitting $400 (about £290, AU$545) total.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/27/2021
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Talk Android
Everything else about the Moto G Stylus 5G is pretty solid. You’ve got a massive 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging that should juice it up in no time at all, and that headphone jack deserves an honorable mention. It also supports 5G connectivity in supported markets, but this is unfortunately pretty tough for me to test. AT&T does have 5G in my area, but it’s regular 5G, not the 5G+ you actually want. The Stylus connects to it, but with middling 15mbps download speeds, it’s nothing to focus on, and probably won’t be for a few more years. The phone does lack any IP resistance, so be careful taking it around a running sink or the beach. But all in all, $399 gets you a small tablet sized screen with decent performance, a nifty stylus, and a well-rounded experience that makes Motorola look like a very solid choice. Just don’t expect too many software updates.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/25/2021
Source: CNet
The Moto G Stylus 5G has a Snapdragon 480 5G processor which worked well for pretty much everything I did from playing games like PUBG Mobile and Alto's Adventure to watching Loki on Disney Plus to just scrolling through social media. In benchmark tests, the Moto G Stylus 5G scored lower in single-core tests than the January Moto G Stylus. But in multicore and gaming tests, the Stylus 5G did better. The similarly priced Motorola One 5G Ace scored even better. Check out the results below.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/21/2021
Rating: Total score: 77%
Source: The Verge
The 4G-only G Stylus is a good deal for $279, and there’s nothing really wrong with the $399 G Stylus 5G, but it’s harder to justify its higher cost. With only a couple of years of security updates guaranteed, this phone will only see the beginning of truly good 5G in the US. It’s a nice step-up option if you’re inclined toward a stylus phone and the Note isn’t in your budget, but for most people, I’d recommend either sticking with the 4G-only model for a couple of years or looking into a 5G phone with a little more longevity.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/20/2021
Rating: Total score: 65%
Source: PC Mag
After a thoroughly disappointing G-series rollout in early 2021, the Moto G Stylus 5G is a breath of fresh air, with 5G connectivity, a beautiful display, good cameras, up-to-date software, and multi-day battery life. If you’re a die-hard stylus fan, it’s an excellent option—in fact, it’s the only option (other than the G Stylus) that will cost you less than $1,000. At $400, however, it faces some pretty stiff competition in the midrange market. If a stylus is not a must, the Google Pixel 4a 5G is a better value, especially for camera hounds, and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G will give you a similar experience for $100 less. Motorola has put in a lot of work to make a phone with a lot to like, but the G Stylus 5G just isn’t quite the midrange game-changer it’s meant to be.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/16/2021
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Android Authority
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G is such a niche play, it’s hard to quantify against other devices. No other 5G-capable, stylus-equipped phone is as affordable as the G Stylus 5G. LG used to compete in this space, but with its market exit, the Moto G Stylus 5G is alone in its niche. You’d have to look at the $999 Samsung Galaxy Note 20 to find the same combination of features. The Moto G Stylus 5G is a good phone, but it’s not without faults. As the only comer in the affordable 5G stylus market, those faults might seem minor to some. But the phone is so focused on several key features that unless you’re looking for a phone that meets a very specific criteria, you might be better off looking at some of the more well-rounded alternatives.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/14/2021
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% performance: 60% display: 70% mobility: 90% workmanship: 70%
Source: Tom's Guide
You can get 5G and a stylus for $399 with the Moto G Stylus 5G. However, its camera fails to impress, especially when compared to some of its competitors. Given its $399 price, there are better values out there, like the $300 OnePlus Nord N10 5G.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/14/2021
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Phone Arena
Motorola tends to react quickly to market trends, releasing devices with a startling speed to capitalize on strategic niches across the midrange spectrum. The G Stylus line is one example of this, and with LG out of commission and the Galaxy Note family stuck in limbo, the brand can now target a larger slice of the pen-wielding pie. All this converges in the Moto G Stylus 5G, the newest member of the G series and Motorola’s first 5G smartphone with a built-in stylus. Priced at $399, the device is poised to appeal to anyone who appreciates an extra layer of precision at their fingertips. Does it succeed? Mostly yes. The Stylus 5G certainly gets more things right than wrong, enough that most people may be perfectly pleased with the experience offered. But a few glaring omissions make it fall short of stellar. If that pen is a deal breaker, this is your de facto choice. For everyone else, there are probably better values out there, whether from competitors or from Motorola itself.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/14/2021
Rating: Total score: 79%
Source: Phone Arena
Mere months after releasing a new pen-wielding handset, Motorola is already back with the Moto G Stylus 5G, an upgraded model that offers 5G connectivity and a number of upgrades across the board for $399. We had the chance to test the device briefly; here are our first impressions.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/09/2021
Source: Engadget
Motorola's new Moto G Stylus 5G comes with a long name but a cheap price. This low-cost phone packs an impressive 256GB of storage and comes with a "quad-camera" setup, though to be fair, one of those cameras is merely a depth sensor.
Hands-On, online available, Medium, Date: 06/09/2021
Source: The Verge
The Moto G Stylus is a well-rounded budget phone that also happens to have a stylus. Of Motorola’s 2021 budget devices that I’ve tested so far, this one offers the best balance of features and cost-saving measures. It has a big display, stylus features, good battery life, and solid everyday performance. The cameras, though flawed, are good enough to get by.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/03/2021
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: PC Mag
Over the past several years, Motorola’s G-series phones have consistently received high scores and often earned our Editors’ Choice award. Sadly, the G Stylus merits neither. With the exception of its problematic screen, there’s almost no significant change. The hardware is nearly identical to what you’ll find on the 2020 G Stylus, save for a minor update to the chipset, minor stylus improvements, and the software is the same. If you’re a fan of Motorola, check out the Moto G Power; it’s a better value overall (though it's also got several flaws). If you just want a good budget phone, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is your best bet.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/11/2021
Source: Techradar
The Moto G Stylus 2021 builds on its predecessor in every way, offering the best stylus experience at a low price. While other budget phones beat it on price and battery, the G Stylus 2021 is a well-rounded handset with enough classy touches and good specs to compete with pricier devices. While the stylus functionality only applies to a few first-party and third-party apps, it’s novel and potentially helpful for folks who want an alternative to touch controls.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/05/2021
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Neowin
Let's bring it back to the OnePlus Nord N10 5G. That device has a faster processor, 5G connectivity, a 90Hz screen, 6GB RAM, a higher-resolution camera, and a larger 4,300mAh battery, all for the same price of $299. The Moto G Stylus' advantage over the Nord N10 5G is pretty much the pen.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/13/2021
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Techradar
The Moto G Stylus (2021) offers a stylus for a lower price than any smartphone from Samsung, and that's likely a big draw for many who want that experience from their phone. Whether it's notably better than the 2019 Moto G Stylus remains to be seen.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/08/2021
Comment
Qualcomm Adreno 612: Integrated (in the Snapdragon 675) graphics card based on the Adreno 600 architecture. Our first benchmarks show a performance comparable to the old Adreno 512 and therefore in the lower mid-range. Supports DirectX11_1, Vulkan 1.0, OpenCL 2.0, OpenGL ES 3.2.
Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
unknown: » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
6.80":
It is a small display format for smartphones. You shouldn't be severely defective in vision, and you won't see much detail on the screen and only have a small resolution available. For that, the device should be small and handy, easy to transport.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.Motorola: Founded in 1928, the US-based company mainly focuses on communication technology such as smartphones. The original company Motorola Inc was split up in 2011. Motorola Mobility got the smartphone division and was taken over by Google in 2012 and Lenovo in 2014.
The company is known for its cell phones and other electronic devices such as smartwatches, tablets and accessories. Motorola was one of the first companies to produce cell phones, and in recent years has also innovated in the areas of 5G technology and modular smartphones (Moto Mods). Motorola is also active in public safety and professional communications, providing solutions for government agencies, businesses and other organizations. The company has operations in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide.
71%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.