Motorola Moto G PB1M0006US Putty 256GB

The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is a midrange phone that brings back fan-favorite features like a headphone jack and expandable storage, while adding a built-in stylus and a stunning 6.7" OLED display. Battery life is phenomenal, easily lasting two days, and overall performance is solid for everyday use. For under $250, it's a top pick for value seekers who don't mind an average camera and limited software updates.

If you've been hunting for an unlocked phone under $300 that still includes a headphone jack, expandable storage, and a built-in stylus, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is basically the only game in town. Motorola squeezed a big 6.7" pOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage into a package that regularly sells between $200 and $250. You also get a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 5000mAh battery, and even wireless charging support. On paper, it reads like a flagship from a few years ago, but at a fraction of the price.

The vegan leather back and caramel latte colorway give it a surprisingly premium feel, and Motorola's mostly clean Android build with a few genuinely handy gesture shortcuts keeps things snappy. It's not the thinnest or lightest phone around at 190g, but the trade-off is a battery that'll easily last two days. For anyone who juggles work and play and wants a phone that can handle note-taking, sketching, and media without breaking the bank, this one deserves a hard look.

And yes, it still has a headphone jack. In 2024, that's worth a little celebration. You also get dual SIM support, eSIM, and a fingerprint reader built into the side button. Those missing these features on higher-end phones will feel right at home here.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and 8GB of RAM keep things running smoothly for everyday stuff like browsing, streaming, and juggling social media apps. In our testing, app launch times and multitasking felt peppy, and Motorola's RAM Boost feature lets you borrow a bit of storage to smooth things out further. For a $250 phone, it's perfectly adequate. But if you're benchmarking it against the competition, the chip lands right in the middle of the pack—about average performance for this price bracket.

Gaming is fine for casual titles, but demanding games like Genshin Impact or Fortnite will show its limits. You'll need to keep settings at medium to get playable frame rates. For productivity and creative work, the processor handles note-taking and photo editing without choking, though exporting large video files takes a noticeably long time. Most owners won't complain, but power users should temper expectations.

At a street price hovering between $200 and $250, the Moto G Stylus 5G undercuts almost everything with a stylus by hundreds of dollars. You're getting a big OLED screen, 5G, long battery life, and a physical keyboard alternative that actually works for jotting notes. The closest competition, like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, costs three times as much and lacks a headphone jack. The Google Pixel 10a offers better cameras and cleaner software but ditches the stylus and expandable storage entirely. For sheer features per dollar, this Moto is hard to beat, as long as you're okay with the camera and update compromise.

Stacked against flagship alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Moto G Stylus 5G obviously lags in raw power, camera quality, and stylus precision. The S23 Ultra's S Pen feels like a real pen on glass, while the Moto's stylus is more of a convenience tool—responsive enough for quick notes but not for serious digital art. Still, the S23 Ultra costs over $1,000, which makes the Moto a no-brainer if you just need casual note-taking and media.

On the midrange side, the Google Pixel 10a delivers a far superior camera experience and guaranteed software updates for years, but it gives up the stylus, the headphone jack, and the expandable storage. The Honor X9d and Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra compete in different ways: the Honor is lighter and snappier with a cleaner build, while the Ulefone focuses on ruggedness with a massive battery but weighs nearly twice as much. The Moto G Stylus 5G sits in a sweet spot for people who prioritize battery, storage, and that pen over raw camera or update longevity.

Skip this phone if a great camera is your top priority—the 50MP main sensor is serviceable but struggles in low light, and the processing doesn't match Google or Samsung's best. Also, if you need timely Android updates and long-term support, look elsewhere, as Motorola only promises one major OS upgrade. Heavy mobile gamers or anyone who wants stylus performance on par with the Note series will be disappointed, too. For a similar price, the Google Pixel 10a gets you a far better camera and longer software support, though you'll lose the stylus and headphone jack.

Should you buy the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)? If you've been missing the headphone jack, crave a microSD slot, and want a phone you can scribble on without paying Galaxy Note money, the answer is a resounding yes. The battery life alone makes it a fantastic daily driver, and the clean software with clever gestures adds to the appeal. Just don't expect it to replace your standalone camera or receive cutting-edge Android updates for years to come.

This is a phone for practical users who want a lot of features without a lot of fuss. It's a great pick for students, note-takers, or anyone who burns through a day away from an outlet. At this price, the few compromises feel more like fair trade-offs than dealbreakers.