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Moto G Stylus (2023)
Best for taking notes
The Moto G Stylus (2023) has a stylus that stores in the body of the phone, with some useful software features that ease note-taking. It uses an underpowered MediaTek G85 chipset, which can get sluggish, but that’s to be expected from a budget device.
Positives- The pen that is stored inside the phone
- Multi-day battery life
- Display 90 Hz
cons- Low resolution screen
- No 5G
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Motorola Moto G Power (2023)
Editor’s Pick
Moto G Power (2023) now has 5G cellular connectivity for faster and more stable wireless data. It also has a new, high-quality 120Hz display and a multi-day battery life from a 5,000mAh battery.
Positives- 5G support
- Display 120 Hz
- Multi-day battery life
cons- 5G drains the battery
- Slow performance
Motorola used to be the biggest name in cellular phones but has taken a mostly budget-friendly strategy over the past few years. The Moto G models are known for their large batteries that provide several days of use, which is a worthwhile selling point when the rest of the hardware is mostly pedestrian. This year’s crop has multiple options, including the Moto G Stylus (2023) and Moto G Power (2023). The former comes with a built-in stylus for taking notes, and the latter gains some significant upgrades this generation with 5G and a faster screen. Let’s see how they stack up against each other.
Moto G Stylus (2023) vs Moto G Power (2023): Price, specs and availability
Motorola Moto G Stylus (2023) launched on May 5, 2023. It costs $200 and is available from major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy or directly from Motorola. Moto G Power (2023) was released in April 2023 and is available in the same range of major retailers and Motorola’s own storefronts. It costs $300, and we’ve already seen discounts on the phone at retailers. Motorola says Metro by T-Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile will all carry the Moto G Power later this year, while the Moto G Stylus will be available at Cricket, Straight Talk Wireless, and Walmart Family Mobile.
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Moto G Stylus (2023) Motorola Moto G Power (2023) Brand Motorola Motorola SoC MediaTek Helio G85 MediaTek Dimensity 930 an offer 6.5-inch HD+ HiD, 1600 x 720, 90Hz 6.5-inch, Full HD+ (2400×1080), 405ppi, LCD, 120Hz refresh rate ram 4GB 6 GB storage 64 GB, expandable up to 1 TB via microSD card 256 GB with a microSD slot up to 1 TB battery 5000 mAh 5000 mAh ports USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack OS Android 13 Android 13 front camera 8 MP, f/2.0 16 MP f / 2.4 back cameras Primary: 50 MP, f/1.8, Quad Pixel Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4, Macro Vision 50 MP f/1.8, 2 MP PDAF, 2 MP depth Connection 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 5.0 5G and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 2.4GHz and 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, Dimensions 6.41 x 2.92 x 0.36 in (162.89 x 74.08 x 9.19 mm) 6.42 x 2.94 x 0.33 in (163.06 x 74.8 x 8.45 mm) Colors Midnight blue, glam pink Metallic black, bright white Weight 195 grams 185 grams Shipping 15W wired charging 15W wired charging The electronic identification number level There is no official IP rating, it is indicated as water repellent Waterproof design (no IP rating) Micro SD card support Yes, up to 1 TB Yes, up to 1 TB
Moto G Stylus (2023) vs. Moto G Power (2023): Design and Display
Motorola’s 2023 product catalog revolves around one thing: a unified design language. This means that both the Moto G Stylus (2023) and Moto G Power (2023) are very similar on the outside. The camera bump on the back is recessed, and while the Moto G Power also has a depth sensor, it looks the same with a glossy plastic back. Motorola offers the Moto G Stylus in blue and pink, while the Moto G Power is available in black or white.
Each phone has almost the same dimensions with 6.5 inch screens. However, the offerings could not be different. On the Moto G Stylus, the IPS display has a 90Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1600 x 720. The Moto G Power has a better quality unit with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2400 x 1080. This makes the Moto G Power the best phone for mixed media use.
Both have a USB-C port for data and charging, which are limited to USB 2.0 speeds. The latest iPhone still hasn’t ventured into USB 3.0 speeds either, so maybe next year we’ll see faster USB speeds on mainstream phones. Both phones have a microSD card slot and a 3.5-mm audio jack, ports that seem to only live on budget devices these days.
The Moto G Stylus has one design feature the other device doesn’t have: a built-in stylus. It slots into the bottom of the device for storage and automatically opens the note-taking app when it appears. It does make the phone thicker than the Moto G Power, but not enough that you’ll notice. Our reviewer noted that it worked well for taking notes, signing documents, or drawing on screenshots.
Moto G Stylus (2023) vs. Moto G Power (2023): Performance and Battery
It’s important to remember that both the Moto G Stylus and G Power cost less than $300. This puts them outside the flagship category, which means we should expect lower performance numbers. The Moto G Stylus is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The Moto G Power uses the more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Our reviewers of both devices noted that they felt sluggish while doing normal tasks and opening apps, which was to be expected.
What is more important here is the battery. Motorola’s Moto G range has a reputation for battery life, and both phones pack 5,000mAh batteries. Both reviewers gave their devices good marks, with a two-day battery life under general use. Moto G Power can extend to a third day if used sparingly, even with the higher power drain of a 5G connection.
Both phones come with Android 13, with Motorola’s My UX interface running on top. This is clean, tidy, and close to the stock Android experience. Motorola has only committed to one major Android update, but several years of security updates for both phones. But note that Motorola doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to consistent updates.
Moto G Stylus (2023) vs. Moto G Power (2023): The cameras
The Moto G Stylus has two cameras on the back, a 50MP main one and a 2MP macro one. The Moto G Power has the same two, but adds a 2MP depth sensor to the camera bump. However, only the main 50MP sensor is worth using. No 2MP camera is worth using in 2023, and I wish manufacturers would stop putting efficient e-waste on their devices.
Here’s a selection of shots from the Moto G Stylus, showing how fairly decent photos can be taken when in well-lit conditions. A 50MP sensor was used for most of these images, with the three flower images captured by a 2MP macro lens. Still objects or people are well balanced, but the reviewer notes that any movement turns the image into a blurry mess. Low-light photos fare better, though they do have grain when zoomed in.
The Moto G Power’s 50MP camera tends to overexpose a scene, resulting in highlights in optimal lighting conditions. This suboptimal performance persists in low-light situations, creating images with less vivid objects and colors working together. The third camera on this device is a 2MP depth sensor, which is usually used to create fake bokeh blur and improve portrait mode. It didn’t seem to make any difference to the sample images from our review, so we’re not sure if including them would be useful on a phone.
The front camera on the Moto G Power is 16MP, which is a big step up from the 8MP sensor on the Moto G Stylus. This will be instantly noticeable in photos, so if you like to take a lot of selfies or have to make a lot of video calls, the Moto G Power is the one for you.
Which moto is best for you?
While both phones are among the best cheap Android phones, only one has enough modern features to be worth buying in 2023. That’s the $300 Moto G Power. It has a more powerful processor, a higher resolution screen with a faster refresh rate, and 5G support. It also has four times as much internal storage, though both have microSD card slots for expandable storage.
Motorola Moto G Power (2023)
Editor’s Pick
$280 $300 Save $20
Moto G Power (2023) now has 5G cellular connectivity for faster and more stable wireless data. It also has a new, high-quality 120Hz display and a multi-day battery life from a 5,000mAh battery.
For those who want a stylus in their smartphone without paying flagship prices, the Moto G Stylus is a good value at $200. The price alone makes it attractive, and a version with 5G support is in the works.
Moto G Stylus (2023)
An affordable alternative
The Moto G Stylus (2023) has a stylus that stores in the body of the phone, with some useful software features that ease note-taking. It uses an underpowered MediaTek G85 chipset, which can get sluggish, but that’s to be expected from a budget device.
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