Motorola is making another attempt at the midrange smartphone market with the launch of the Moto G Stylus 5G – 2023 edition. It is priced at $399 and comes with a substantial 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (carriers will sell variants with 4 or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage). The device comes with a new rear camera system, updated specs and an impressive Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset for improved speed compared to last year’s model. In addition, the stylus is an essential feature for a phone that’s named after it.
The 2023 G Stylus 5G has a slightly smaller display than the previous year’s edition. The 6.6-inch screen is still an LCD 1080p panel with a top refresh rate of 120Hz. The drop in screen size is beneficial as 1080p resolution is not enough for a vast screen, and the bezels on this year’s edition are marginally smaller. The smaller size also makes the phone look more refined and compact.
The new G Stylus 5G has an updated camera system with a new 50-megapixel primary camera sensor featuring a larger pixel design than the last generation. However, it loses the optical image stabilization present in the 2022 version. But on the plus side, Motorola has done away with the low-res macro and depth sensors and combined them into one ultrawide camera. The 8-megapixel ultrawide camera functions as a macro camera and serves as a depth sensor to assist with portrait mode shots. This design change has impressed many customers, making the ultrawide camera a better option for those who like to take macro photos.
In other good news, the Moto G Stylus 5G has a headphone jack, making it one of the last midrange phones to offer this feature. It also comes with stereo speakers, which makes it possible to listen to music without headphones. Motorola is also claiming that the stylus actions are now “simpler and more natural”, but the stylus features are mostly similar to last year’s phone. The device also comes with a MicroSD slot, a massive 5,000mAh battery, 20W fast charging (not the fastest, but still decent), and NFC.
Motorola has stated that the G Stylus 5G will receive one version upgrade of the OS and three years of security support. This is similar to last year’s phone and is not on par with Samsung’s midrange Galaxy A54 5G, which has a five-year security update plan.
Overall, the new Moto G Stylus 5G is an enticing option for anyone looking for a high-powered midrange device. Its new camera design sets it apart from previous midrange models, and its stylus also brings unique features for those who love to take notes or draw. The addition of a MicroSD slot, a headphone jack, and fast charging make it an even more attractive option.
The phone is available from June 2, 2023, and can be purchased through Cricket Wireless, with availability at AT&T and T-Mobile later. It will also be sold unlocked from Motorola, Amazon, and Best Buy starting on June 16th.
