{"id":415569,"date":"2026-05-07T03:12:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T03:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/415569\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T03:12:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T03:12:17","slug":"moto-g-stylus-2026-is-worth-it-if-you-really-want-that-pen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/415569\/","title":{"rendered":"Moto G Stylus (2026) is worth it if you really want that pen"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cCheap\u201d Android phones are in an increasingly tough spot right now. The Moto G Stylus, one of Motorola\u2019s most popular offerings, now costs $499 which puts it into the territory of more powerful and better-rounded smartphones like the Pixel 10a, but with the shortcomings of a cheaper device. That said, after using it, I think it\u2019ll be a fine device if you really want that pen.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, I spent some time with the Moto G Power (2026)<\/a>, a fine Android phone for what was, at the time, a pretty good value. But like several other Moto G devices, it got a price hike recently <\/a>that put it into the $399 slot usually held by the Moto G Stylus. <\/p>\n

That pushed the Moto G Stylus (2026)<\/a> to $499, which immediately sets new expectations for this device. <\/p>\n

$499 is no longer \u201ccheap\u201d territory, it\u2019s firmly in the upper mid-range realm that Google\u2019s Pixel 10a and Nothing\u2019s Phone (4a) Pro sit in. It\u2019s also at the point where many customers will ask the question, \u201cshould I just spend an extra $100 for an iPhone?\u201d <\/p>\n

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Purely looking at the Moto G Stylus (2026) from the lens of this customer, I think it has some pros and cons.<\/p>\n

On the one hand, the hardware is very well done. While I love the compact size of the Pixel 10a, the Moto G Stylus (2026) has a much bigger, arguably better display. And the design here is really nice. The black model Motorola sent over isn\u2019t as flashy as the pink one I tried prior to launch, but it feels nice in the hand thanks in part to a grippy textured back. It\u2019s a simple slab phone, but one that feels better in the hand than its budget focus would have you expect. <\/p>\n

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Under the hood, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is a fully capable, if overall lackluster performer. <\/p>\n

Android 16 (with the measly hope of two future OS updates) runs smoothly for the most part, with Motorola\u2019s usual batch of added features and tweaks being a net positive on the experience. I\u2019ll never tire of the twist gesture to open the camera or the \u201cchop\u201d for activating the flashlight, two things that I wish were available on every phone. Motorola\u2019s always-on display and lockscreen also continue to be among the best you\u2019ll find on Android in terms of functionality. It\u2019s really just the bugs and hiccups that drag the experience down. All too often, the phone will feel slow for seemingly no reason, or I\u2019ll run into a time where something just doesn\u2019t work at all how it should \u2013 a good example of that is YouTube, where opening a notification from another app while a video is playing will sometimes leave the screen completely blank, or the picture-in-picture pop-up invisible. Little oddities like that were sprinkled throughout my time with this phone.<\/p>\n

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For that reason, I think of the Pixel 10a or Nothing Phone (4a) Pro as a better use of $500. Both of those deliver better software and more horsepower to run it, not to mention that Google\u2019s phone will get more than double the number of software updates, and both will get them in a more timely fashion too.<\/p>\n

Another point in favor of Google and Nothing is the Stylus\u2019 camera. The cameras here are very underwhelming, capable of a decent shot in good lighting, but also completely falling apart if you even think about zooming in. Back on Motorola\u2019s list of pros, though, the battery life is quite good, and 68W fast charging tops off the 5,200 mAh battery much faster than the Pixel, and you can use 15W wireless charging too if you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n

But ultimately, I think the Moto G Stylus (2026) really boils down to how much you want that embedded pen.<\/p>\n

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Outside of the $1,299 Galaxy S26 Ultra, this phone is the only other option for a Galaxy Note-like experience on a budget, and it is better than ever this year. Motorola swapped out its previous tech, which was really just a more precise version of your finger touching the display, to an active stylus similar to Samsung\u2019s S Pen. Compared to past generations, this leads to even more precise input \u2013 including angle detection \u2013 as well as additional features. <\/p>\n

A new pop-up menu (pictured above) appears when you tap on the pen\u2019s button, with shortcuts for new notes, screen annotation, and whatever else you want \u2013 the list of tools is fully customizable for app shortcuts, while also including an AI-powered \u201cSketch to Image\u201d option. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s very responsive, and the hardware feels as good as I can ask for when the stylus is literally built into the phone. You can even customize controls for that button. <\/p>\n

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Personally, I\u2019m not a pen guy, at least on my smartphone. I get the utility on a tablet or foldable, but even with a Note, I\u2019ve never been a fan on my phone. But that\u2019s just me. Stylus devotees absolutely deserve to have options and, with Motorola\u2019s latest, this is the best bang for your buck you\u2019ll get for a phone with a pen built-in.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s just it. If you really want a stylus in your phone, Moto G Stylus (2026) is a great option, and well worth that $499 price. You\u2019re saving hundreds compared to Samsung\u2019s latest and, even if you buy an older Galaxy S Ultra, you might still pay more for it. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the cutoff point I see here. It\u2019s going to keep getting software updates for just about as long as Motorola\u2019s new release, and a used model can easily be purchased for $499 or less \u2013 Motorola will definitely be discounting this device in a couple of months, though, not to mention carrier deals. <\/p>\n

So really, it just comes down to your priority. If it\u2019s all about that stylus and you found a good deal through your carrier, the Moto G Stylus (2026) is a no-brainer. But if a stylus is a nice perk you can live without, Pixel 10a would be my first recommendation.<\/p>\n

Moto G Stylus (2026) is available now unlocked<\/a>, and landing on carriers soon.<\/p>\n

More on Motorola:<\/p>\n

Follow Ben:\u00a0Twitter\/X<\/a>,\u00a0Threads<\/a>, Bluesky<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

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