Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power review - Mega battery life for less than $300 - Android

Motorola’s Moto G series for 2020 demonstrates what happens when companies respond to the market. Motorola listened to its customers, took a look at its competition, and decided that battery life and the productivity enhancements enabled by a stylus were needed in its lineup. Thus, we have the Moto G Power and the Moto G Stylus. These are the latest generation of the Moto G and deliver big on core functions at unbeatable prices.

Here is Android Authority‘s Motorola Moto G review.

Motorola Moto G review: Who are these phones for?

The Motorola Moto G Power and Moto G Stylus are more alike than they are different. Put really simply, the Moto G Stylus trades battery capacity for a stylus. There are some minor differences in the software, of course, and with the camera sensors. Nearly everything else about these phones is identical. Both phones retail for under $300, which puts them at the more affordable end of the spectrum where they compete with the Nokia 6.2/7.2, and Samsung Galaxy A51/A71.

Where the Moto G Power prioritizes battery life and should interest those seeking the absolute best battery performance, the Moto G Stylus offers some fun and productive software for those who prefer stylus input over their finger.

Moreover, the phones ship with near-stock Android, making the Moto G Power and Moto G Stylus no-brainers for those who dislike heavy-handed UI skins.

What is it like to use the Power and Stylus?

From a hardware perspective, the Moto G series are essentially the same phone. They share dimensions and basic features, such as fingerprint readers, headphone jacks, stereo speakers, and USB-C.

Motorola kept the design straightforward. There is a hint of the old Moto G family DNA in the basic curve of the phone’s corners. It’s a simple shape. While straightforward and simple, Motorola didn’t allow the design to wander into boring. The phones’ faces are plain black, but the Power comes with a patterned black rear panel and the Stylus comes in a slick blue that changes colors as you tilt it. These small design elements are enough to at least keep the devices current, if not on the cutting edge. One bummer: the glossy rear panels are easily besmirched with fingerprints.

The Moto G Power and Moto G Stylus are sizable phones thanks to their large screens. These devices will stretch the comfort of those with smaller hands, though I suspect most people will find they are manageable. For phones with plastic chassis, I was expecting them to be lighter. The Power, with its larger battery, is about 5g heavier than the Stylus and you can tell when you hold it.

Motorola did a fine job in piecing the two phones together. The seams are even, and individual components are expertly fitted together. As has been the case with Motorola phones for years, the Moto G Power and G Stylus’ innards are protected by a nano-coating to prevent splashes from short circuiting them. They are not waterproof, nor are most phones in this price segment.