I have a mixed opinion about the new Moto G Stylus 5G. On one hand, it offers a lot of great features for its $399 price tag. With ample storage, 6GB of RAM, a powerful Snapdragon processor, and even a charger and a headphone jack, it provides excellent value for money. However, there is one major drawback that I can’t overlook: bloatware.
Throughout the software and onboarding experience, the Moto G Stylus bombards you with prompts to download more apps. It even disguises some of these apps as folders, such as “entertainment” and “shopping.” While it may seem convenient to have all your streaming apps in one place, these so-called folders actually turn out to be separate apps themselves. This deceptive tactic is just one example of how the phone is cluttered with bloatware.
The bloatware issue is exacerbated by a service called Swish, which Motorola includes in its budget phones. Swish apps masquerade as folders and aggressively prompt you to download even more apps. Even after completing the setup process, you’ll still receive notifications urging you to download additional apps. IronSource, another company, sends these notifications and asks for your age and gender. Despite declining to provide this information, I was still prompted to download unwanted apps like Yahoo Mail, Woodoku, and multiple solitaire apps.
Then there’s the MotoHub app, which positions itself as your new home screen. It claims to provide a “daily dose of entertainment” and the “latest news updates.” In reality, it’s just another app cluttering up your homescreen. When I ventured into this app, I was immediately greeted with a privacy statement that contradicted its claim that my privacy matters. The app collects and shares user data with trusted partners to provide and improve services and targeted ads.
Swish, developed by InMobi, claims to provide a rewarding experience for users and monetizes engagement to attract and retain more customers for telcos. However, many users find these apps frustrating and give them one-star reviews on the Google Play store. While some positive reviews exist, they often consist of nonsensical messages from users, which are then met with automated replies from the Swish Apps account.
The bloatware issue is infuriating for two reasons. Firstly, it is only present on Motorola’s budget phones. It seems the company knows it couldn’t get away with including it on high-end devices. As a result, users who can’t afford more expensive phones are left with a phone overloaded with bloatware. Secondly, all this unwanted software detracts from an otherwise well-designed software experience. Motorola’s custom gestures and helpful peek notifications are among the highlights, but they are overshadowed by the bloatware problem.
Fortunately, the bloatware can be removed, and without it, the Moto G Stylus 5G is a decent budget phone. It offers good performance, a high amount of RAM, and a capable camera. The stylus is a nice addition, and the battery life is impressive. I enjoyed using the phone for everyday tasks like taking photos, making notes, and making payments. However, I believe most people would be better off purchasing a discounted Google Pixel 6A instead of dealing with the hassle of removing bloatware from the Moto G Stylus 5G.
It’s possible that Motorola includes bloatware to offset the cost of the phone and include higher-end components like the Snapdragon chipset. However, it’s questionable how the company manages to sell the phone at a $100 discount from the MSRP if this is the case. Overall, I’m disappointed with Motorola for including bloatware on their phones, especially considering their reputation for producing reliable devices like the ThinkPhone.
In conclusion, the Moto G Stylus 5G has its merits, but the bloatware issue hampers its overall experience. If you’re willing to remove the unwanted apps, it’s a decent budget phone. However, for a hassle-free experience, I would recommend considering other options like the Google Pixel 6A.
