Motorola Review
The Moto G Stylus 2025 offers a unique stylus and epic battery life for under $300, but it makes a big compromise by skipping 5G. Here's who should buy it.
The 30-Second Version
Buy this phone for the stylus and the two-day battery, period. If you don't need the pen, your money is better spent elsewhere.
Overview
The Moto G Stylus 2025 is a phone that makes a single, compelling promise: you can have a stylus without paying flagship prices. And you know what? It mostly delivers. It's a solid mid-ranger that punches above its weight in a few key areas, but the one thing you need to know is that you're buying this for the stylus. Everything else is a bonus. If you don't see yourself using that pen regularly, there are better options for your money.
Performance
We were genuinely surprised by how well the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 handles itself. Performance lands in the 86th percentile, which means it's snappy for everyday tasks and can even handle some light gaming. It's not going to win any benchmark wars against a Pixel or Galaxy S series, but for a $300 phone, it feels fast and responsive. The real shocker is the battery life, which sits in the 95th percentile. That 5000mAh cell paired with a 4G modem is a longevity cheat code.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The built-in stylus is a unique and genuinely useful feature at this price. 94th
- Battery life is absolutely phenomenal, easily lasting two days. 90th
- The 6.7-inch pOLED display is gorgeous for media, hitting the 93rd percentile. 86th
- The 50MP main camera with OIS takes surprisingly good photos in good light. 85th
Cons
- It's stuck on 4G LTE in a 5G world. That's a deal-breaker for some. 6th
- The 'rugged' build claim feels off when it scores in the 41st percentile for build quality. 33th
- The 128GB storage feels tight if you're a heavy user, and there's no expandable storage mentioned.
- Social proof is almost non-existent (6th percentile), meaning it's a bit of an unknown.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 6.7 |
| Resolution | 2712 x 1220 |
Performance
| Processor | Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 |
| Processor Model | Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 8 MB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
Camera
| Main Camera | 50 |
| Front Camera | 32 |
Battery & Charging
| Battery | 5000 Wh |
Design & Build
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.4 lbs |
| OS | Android 15 |
Value & Pricing
At around $295, it's a decent value, but only if the stylus is your main draw. You're getting a great screen, killer battery, and good performance for the money. If you don't care about the pen, you can find similar or better performance for less.
vs Competition
This phone lives in a weird spot. The Samsung Galaxy A-series or a previous-gen Google Pixel often offer better cameras and software for a similar price, but they lack the stylus. The OnePlus Nord series will crush it in raw performance and charging speed. And then there's the elephant in the room: last year's flagship phones, which frequently drop to this price and offer a more premium overall experience, just without a built-in pen. The Moto G Stylus wins on battery life and its unique input method, but loses on connectivity and brand cachet.
Common Questions
Q: Is the stylus pressure-sensitive like a Galaxy S Pen?
No, it's not. It's a basic capacitive stylus, more for navigation, note-taking, and simple sketches. Think of it as a really precise finger, not a professional drawing tool.
Q: How bad is the lack of 5G?
If you live in an area with great 5G coverage, you'll notice slower download speeds. For most everyday tasks like streaming, browsing, and messaging, 4G is still perfectly fine. It's more about future-proofing.
Q: Can the storage be expanded with a microSD card?
The product specs provided don't mention a microSD slot. With only 128GB on board, you'll need to rely on cloud storage or be mindful of what you install. Plan accordingly.
Who Should Skip This
If you're a mobile gamer, a photography enthusiast, or just want the fastest network speeds, this isn't it. Go get a used flagship Pixel or a OnePlus Nord instead. You'll get a better overall experience for the same cash.
Verdict
We recommend the Moto G Stylus 2025 for a very specific person: someone who wants a stylus for notes or sketches on a budget, values battery life above all else, and isn't bothered by the lack of 5G. It's a great secondary device or a practical daily driver if your needs are simple. For everyone else, the competition is just too strong.