Why You Can Trust CNET The $400 Moto G Stylus 5G is affordable and has a big battery
5G support comes to the Moto G line for the first time.
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The new Moto G Stylus 5G looks nearly identical to the Moto G Stylus (2021) that came out in January.
Motorola's Moto G Stylus 5G is coming, and at $400 (converts roughly to £290, AU$520) it will be the company's most affordable 5G phone in the US. If the name sounds familiar, it's because the Moto G Stylus debuted last year with a follow-up version released in January 2021. But this isn't just the 2021 Moto G Stylus with 5G added. It adds improvements to the stylus, comes with a different processor, more RAM and more storage. With a rear fingerprint reader and a square camera bump, the Moto G Stylus 5G also draws some inspiration from the $400 Motorola One 5G Ace.
Read: Our in-depth review of the Moto G Stylus 5G
The phone is one of many 5G-enabled budget phones released in 2021. It competes against the likes of the $500 Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, the $400 Galaxy A42 5G and the $300 OnePlus Nord N10 5G. If you're looking for an affordable 5G phone, this might be the year to get one.
The Moto G Stylus 5G has a built-in stylus with a revamped design. The body of the stylus has a cylindrical shape from top to bottom which should make it easier to put back into the phone. All you need to do is get the correct end inserted. The stylus from the non-5G Moto G Stylus is more fussy to store. When you take the new stylus out of the phone, a software prompt will ask to record the date, time and GPS in case you lose it.
The Moto G Stylus 5G works on AT&T and T-Mobile 5G networks. Motorola claims the phone has a two-day battery just like the non-5G Stylus phone. To accomplish this, the Moto G Stylus 5G has a 5,000-mAh battery.
You can buy the Moto G Stylus unlocked starting Monday June 14 from Motorola's website, Best Buy, Walmart, B&H Photo or Amazon. Motorola promises one major OS upgrade and two years of security updates for the Moto G Stylus 5G.
Check out our full in-depth review of the Moto G Stylus 5G.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G specs vs. Moto G Stylus, Motorola One 5G Ace, Google Pixel 4A 5G
| Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus | Motorola One 5G Ace | Google Pixel 4A 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.8-inch LCD FHD+; 2,400x1,080 pixels | 6.8-inch FHD+ LCD; 2,400x1,080 pixels | 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD, 2,400x1,080 pixels | 6.2-inch FHD+ OLED; 2,340 x 1,080 pixels |
| Pixel density | 386ppi | 386ppi | 394ppi | 413ppi |
| Dimensions (Inches) | 6.67 x 3.05 x 0.39 in | 6.7 x 3 x 0.35 in | 6.54 x 3 x 0.39 in | 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3 in |
| Dimensions (Millimeters) | 169.54 x 77.48 x 9.35 mm | 169.8 x 77.9 x 9 mm | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9mm | 153.9 x 74 x 8.2 mm (Sub-6 only); 153.9 x 74 x 8.5 mm (mmWave + Sub-6) |
| Weight (Ounces, Grams) | 7.67 oz; 217.5 g | 7.51 oz; 213 g | 7.49 oz; 212g | 5.93 oz; 168g (Sub-6 only); 6.03 oz; 171g (mmWave + Sub-6) |
| Mobile software | Android 11 | Android 10 | Android 10 | Android 11 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide-angle), 5-megapixel (macro), 8-megapixel (ultra-wide angle), 2-megapixel (depth sensor) | 48-megapixel wide-angle, 2-megapixel macro, 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle, 2-megapixel depth sensor | 48-megapixel wide-angle, 2-megapixel macro, 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle | 12.2-megapixel (standard), 16-megapixel (ultra-wide) |
| Front-facing camera | 16-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Snapdragon 480 5G | Snapdragon 678 | Snapdragon 750G 5G | Snapdragon 765G |
| Storage | 256GB | 128GB | 128GB | 128GB |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB | 6GB | 6GB |
| Expandable storage | Up to 1TB | Up to 512GB | Up to 1TB | No |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 4,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh | 3,800 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Back | Side | Rear | Rear |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Special features | 5G-enabled, Stylus, 10W charging, Spot color selection for photos and videos, Dual-capture video simultaneously with front and rear cameras | Stylus, 10W charging, Spot color selection for photos and videos | 5G enabled, IP52 water and dust resistance, IP54 for T-Mobile | 5G enabled; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); fast charging |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $400 | $300 | $400 | $499 |
| Price (GBP) | NA but converts to £285 | NA but converts to £215 | NA but converts to £280 | £499 |
| Price (AUD) | NA but converts to AU$515 | NA but converts to AU$385 | NA but converts to AU$500 | AU$799 |