Everything you need to know about the Moto G Stylus, G Power, and G8 series
So many G's, such little time.
If we're asked to recommend a good, cheap Android phone that doesn't break the bank, more often than not we'll recommend a Moto G. This is a segment of the market that Motorola's dominated for years, and for 2020, we're treated to more G devices in a single year than ever before.
For folks in the U.S., we have the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power - two great mid-rangers that continue Motorola's trend of offering good Android experiences on the cheap. In other markets, you'll find a plethora of Moto G8 phones that are both similar and different in more ways than one.
If you need help making sense of this release strategy, or just want to learn more about the Stylus and Power, you've come to the right place.
- Start with our reviews
- If it's specs you're looking for
- You may want to upgrade
- Fierce competition for the iPhone SE
- Understanding the Moto G8 lineup
- There are some great accessories
- Here's where to buy the phones
$250 at Amazon$250 at Motorola
Good specs, great features, excellent price
If we could only recommend one Moto G, it'd have to be the G Power. The Moto G Power has pretty much everything you could want in a phone - including a decent display, reliable performance, and fun cameras. The star of the show is battery life, which lasts up to three days on a single charge.
Moto G Stylus
If you have more money to spend, the Moto G Stylus is an interesting alternative. It gives you more storage, different cameras, and a free stylus.
Moto G8 Plus
Comfortable buying an international phone? The Moto G8 Plus delivers a well-rounded experience for an insanely low price.
We've reviewed the Moto G Stylus and G Power
If you live in the United States, the two Moto G phones you'll want to be familiar with are the G Stylus and G Power. As mentioned above, these are the only two handsets Motorola is officially selling in the country. Thankfully, both are quite good.
Starting first with the Moto G Stylus, this is the "flagship" Moto G for the U.S. in 2020. Compared to the G Power, it has more internal storage, upgraded cameras, and an included stylus that can be used for drawing, taking notes, etc.
There's a lot about the G Stylus that works, but between lackluster image quality, some wonkiness with how the stylus performs, and an enormous amount of competition, it's not our go-to recommendation.
Instead, we'd urge you to check out the Moto G Power. While there's nothing about the G Stylus that's a deal-breaker, the G Power offers a nearly identical experience for $50 less and touts a massive 5,000 mAh battery in the process - allowing for up to three days of use on a single charge.
For how little Motorola is asking for the phone, it's kind of a no-brainer.
Moto G Stylus review: This pen isn't actually mightierMoto G Power review: More battery, less moneyMoto G Power vs. Moto G Stylus: Which should you buy?
Get familiar with all of the specs
The day-to-day experience of using a G Stylus or G Power is pretty great, but having a better understanding of what makes the phones tick may give you a deeper appreciation for them. If not, sometimes it's just fun to know all of the numbers and stats the go into making a device work the way it does.
In any case, here are all of the specs you'll find for the two phones.
| Category | Moto G Stylus | Moto G Power |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| Display | 6.4-inch Full HD+ Max Vision | 6.4-inch Full HD+ Max Vision |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 |
| Memory | 4GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB | 64GB |
| Expandable Storage | Up to 512GB | Up to 512GB |
| Rear Camera 1 | 48MP primary camera f/1.7 1.6um | 16MP primary camera f/1.7 1.12um |
| Rear Camera 2 | 2MP Macro Vision f/2.2 | 2MP Macro Vision f/2.2 |
| Rear Camera 3 | 16MP Action Cam f/2.2 2.0um 117-degree field-of-view | 8MP ultra-wide f/2.2 1.12um 118-degree field-of-view |
| Front Camera | 16MP f/2.0 1um | 16MP f/2.0 1um |
| Security | Rear fingerprint sensor | Rear fingerprint sensor |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 |
| NFC | ||
| Ports | USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack | USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers with Dolby tuning | Dual stereo speakers with Dolby tuning |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Water Resistance | Water-repellent | Water-repellent |
| Dimensions | 158.55 x 75.8 x 9.2mm | 159.85 x 75.84 x 9.63mm |
| Weight | 192g | 199g |
| Colors | Mystic Indigo | Smoke Black |
As you can see, the Moto G Stylus and G Power are very similar. They share the same display, processor, RAM, ports, and connectivity. The key differences are the battery, storage, and rear cameras.
The G Stylus's 4,000 mAh battery is an excellent size, but the G Power impresses even more with its 5,000 mAh one. That said, the G Stylus makes a comeback with its 128GB of storage, which is double the 64GB found inside the Power.
Looking at the rear cameras, it's hard to definitively say that one setup is better than the other. The 48MP primary camera on the G Stylus is sharper than the G Power's 16MP one, but we prefer the G Power's ultra-wide camera that can be used for photos and videos while the Stylus's Action Cam is used exclusively for video.
Should you upgrade from an older Moto?
Given the popularity of Moto G phones, there's a good chance you already own an older model. If that's the case, should you bother upgrading to the new Stylus or Power?
That ultimately depends on which older Moto G you have and what your budget looks like.
If you have last year's Moto G7 and aren't dying to get a new phone, you can probably keep on using it for another year and be just fine. Especially now that the Android 10 update has finally rolled out, it sort of has a new lease on life.
However, if you're still holding onto a Moto G6 or older, upgrading is a good idea. Not only will you get better/newer specs across the board, but you'll get access to the latest build of Android 10 and can look forward to an update to Android 11 at some point down the road.
Moto G Stylus vs. Moto G7: Should you upgrade?Moto G Power vs. Moto G6: Should you upgrade?
And what about the iPhone SE?
When talking about budget and low-cost smartphones, it's impossible not to at least mention the iPhone SE. Apple dominated headlines when the phone was announced, and for good reason. For just $400, the iPhone SE gives you flagship-grade performance thanks to its A13 Bionic processor, years of promised software updates, a reliable camera, wireless charging, you name it.
Technically-speaking, the iPhone SE bests the Moto G Stylus and G Power with better specs across the board. However, when you start to account for price and software, things get a bit murky.
Moto G Stylus vs. iPhone SE (2020): Which should you buy?Moto G Power vs. iPhone SE (2020): Which should you buy?
There are a bunch of other Moto G8 phones
Should you happen to live outside of the U.S. and Canada, chances are you'll have a few different Moto G phones available to you. In other countries throughout the world, Motorola is also selling a bunch of Moto G8-branded devices.
Motorola says it used the "G Stylus" and "G Power" names in North America with the intent of simplifying its branding, but with five other "G8" phones being sold in other markets, it's unclear what the ultimate goal is.
Whatever Motorola is working towards, these are the other phones in its lineup for 2020:
- Moto G8
- Moto G8 Plus
- Moto G8 Play
- Moto G8 Power
- Moto G8 Power Lite
The phones are essentially just varying tweaks to the G Stylus and G Power we've been talking about, with Motorola creating a bunch of different models to be more appealing to certain markets. They're interesting, but not phones you need to be especially concerned with.
Moto G Power vs. Moto G8 Plus: Which should you buy?
You'll want to check out these accessories
If you happen to pick up one of these new Moto G handsets for yourself, it's a good idea to pair it with some accessories - specifically, a case and screen protector.
The plastic back of the G Stylus and G Power isn't as prone to breaking as the glass back of other phones, but even so, a case will ensure it stays looking good for years to come. Similarly, a screen protector is necessary for keeping scratches and shatters at bay - things no one ever wants to deal with.
Moto G StylusBest Moto G Stylus Cases in 2020Best Moto G Stylus Screen Protectors in 2020
Moto G PowerBest Moto G Power Cases in 2020Best Moto G Power Screen Protectors in 2020
Moto G8 seriesBest Moto G8 Plus Cases in 2020Best Moto G8 Play Cases in 2020
Here's where you can buy the Stylus and Power
Speaking of buying the G Stylus and G Power, we should probably tell you where you can go out and do that.
If you like buying your phones unlocked, you can get both the Stylus and Power from Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and Motorola's own website. Carrier availability is a bit different, with certain ones carrying the Stylus and others offering the Power.
Check the link below for a full breakdown of where to shop ?.
Where to buy the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power
Perfect balanceMoto G Power
$250 at Amazon$250 at Motorola
Good specs, great features, excellent price
If we could only recommend one Moto G, it'd have to be the G Power. The Moto G Power has pretty much everything you could want in a phone - including a decent display, reliable performance, and fun cameras. The star of the show is battery life, which lasts up to three days on a single charge.
Moto G Stylus
If you have more money to spend, the Moto G Stylus is an interesting alternative. It gives you more storage, different cameras, and a free stylus.
Moto G8 Plus
Comfortable buying an international phone? The Moto G8 Plus delivers a well-rounded experience for an insanely low price.