Motorola has been manufacturing G phones for nearly a decade. The newest addition to the Motorola G phone series is the Moto G Stylus and Moto G 5G.
These two phones have dethroned the past models by building upon their specifications, resulting in some serious upgrades. For instance, they include a higher screen resolution and improved refresh rates to optimize the user experience when watching high-quality videos.
Another notable improvement from the predecessors is the processors and internal memory, which have significantly enhanced the phone’s performance when playing games or multitasking between different applications.
While this is the case, many other features distinguish these two Motorola G series phones. Let’s break them down below!
Moto G Stylus 2022 vs. Moto G 5G: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Moto G Stylus (2022) | Moto G 5G (2022) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Display Resolution and Refresh Rate | 1,080 × 2,460p resolution with a 90Hz refresh rate | 1,600 x 720p resolution with a 90Hz refresh rate |
| RAM | 6GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 216 grams | 204 grams |
| Front Camera | 16MP | 13 MP |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP main camera, OSI 8MP Ultra-wide lens+ Macro vision sensor and 2MP depth sensor | 50 MP main camera, 2MP depth Sensor and 2 MP macro vision sensor |
| Operating System | Android 10 | Android 12 |
| Colors | Metallic Rose, Twilight Blue | Moonlight Gray, Polar Silver, Blue, Dark Grove, Gray, and Ice Blue |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G88 | MediaTek Dimensity 700 |
| Price | $169 | $369 |
- Built-in stylus to sketch, add notes to photos, and edit images
- Up to 2 days of battery life with the 5000 mAh battery
- 6.8-inch full HD+ display
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Octa-core processor and Android 11 OS
- 256 GB of storage plus an additional 1 TB with a microSD card
- 50 MP camera system
- 5,000mAh battery capacity with fast charging capabilities
- Android 12.0
- 6.5-inch display with 90 Hz refresh rate
Moto G Stylus 2022 vs. Moto G 5G: What’s the Difference?
Design
The Moto G Stylus and Moto G 5G bodies are constructed from plastic, which is expected from a mid-range phone as it keeps the cost down. However, the overall appearance of these G series phones looks good.
In terms of dimensions and weight, the Moto G 5G measures 6.5 x 2.95 x 0.35 inches and weighs 204g, while the Moto G Stylus 5G measures 6.69 x 2.99 x 0.35 inches and weighs 216g. This makes both phones thicker, longer, and slightly heavier than the average smartphone. Note that some people may find these phones cumbersome to use with one hand, but most won’t experience any problem with the overall handling of their daily usage.
On the right side of the Moto G Stylus 5G and Moto G 5G phone, you’ll find a power button that still acts as a fingerprint sensor and power button, and slightly above it is a volume rocker. The screen takes up the most space on the front side of both phones and is broken by a minimal bezel. The Moto G Stylus has a slightly larger screen-to-body ratio of 89% while the Moto G 5G has 88%. Another distinct design feature is that Moto G 5G comes in Moonlight Gray while Moto G Stylus is available in Twilight Blue color.
Display
Motorola has always strived to offer mobile phones with sharp displays, which isn’t any different from the Motorola G series phones. The Motorola G 5G is outfitted with a 6.5″ HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate while the Moto G Stylus has a screen size of 6.8” FHD+ Max Vision display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Given the high refresh rate of both phones, you shouldn’t expect to experience lags when playing games, web browsing, or multitasking between different applications.
Additionally, these G series phones achieve good peak and low screen brightness, so you can always work with your phone outdoors and in low-light settings indoors without experiencing eye discomfort.
Camera Quality
If you love taking selfies and photos with your mobile phone, you’ll love the picture quality of these mid-range phones. The Moto G 5G features a triple camera, with the primary camera having 50 MP, a 2MP depth sensor, and 2MP macro camera. It also has a 13MP selfie camera that takes high-quality images.
Like the Moto G 5G, the Moto G Stylus has a 50 MP primary camera, an 8MP Ultra-wide lens with a Macro vision sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. It also comes with a 16 MP front-facing camera that takes sharp images. A key feature of the Moto G Stylus camera is that it features object image stabilization (OIS), which helps you take sharper images even when you take photos with shaky hands.
While both phones will pick accurate colors while taking photos, you’ll sometimes notice that the images you’ll see on the viewfinder aren’t as accurate as that of the final image. Regarding video recording, Motorola has sacrificed these two G series phones’ ability to take 4K videos at 30 FPS, meaning that the maximum you can record with this phone is 1080 pixels at 30 FPS.
Storage
The Moto G Stylus and Moto G 5G both offer ample storage. The Moto G 5G comes with 256GB internal storage, expandable up to 512GB with microSD. You’ll get half the storage if you choose to go with the Moto G Stylus (128GB), expandable up to 512GB with microSD. Given the Moto G 5G’s large storage, you can comfortably multitask and run memory-intensive apps while having enough storage for media files.
©Haelen Haagen/Shutterstock.com
Software and Updates
The Moto G Stylus runs on Android 11 while Moto G 5G is powered by Android 12, and both phones feature Motorola My UX user interface that offers different customization options. For instance, you can switch on the camera by twisting your phone on either side. In addition, you can view notifications on the screen and act on them without unlocking your phone.
Motorola has been a leader in device upgrade policies, but they could have done more on these G series phones based on their price points. They both come with a one-year OS upgrade. This means that the Moto G 5G is upgradeable to Android 13 and Moto G stylus up to Android 11. In addition, you’ll receive a three-year bi-annual security update to help boost your phone’s security.
Performance and Charging
You’ll experience smooth performance with these Motorola G series phones. The MediaTek Helio G88 processor powers the Motorola G Stylus, with the Moto G Stylus running on the MediaTek Dimensity 700. Note that the MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor performs better than the MediaTek Helio G88. While this is the case, you won’t notice any difference in the performance of both phones in your day-to-day use; a significant difference will only arise if you run demanding applications like games.
If you’re looking for a phone that can serve you for up to two days without recharging, these Motorola G series phones are your best bet. They both come with a 10W charger, which can fully charge your phone in about two hours. The only caveat is that wireless charging isn’t included on these phones, which is usually expected at this price point.
Connectivity
Regarding connectivity, Moto G Stylus and Moto G 5G have similarities and differences. For instance, the Moto G Stylus supports Bluetooth 5.0, while the Moto G 5G supports Bluetooth 5.1. Furthermore, the Moto G Stylus supports 3G and 4G technology, with the Moto G 5G being compatible with 3G, 4G, and 5G.
Both phones support Wi-Fi 802.11 and hotspot connectivity. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology isn’t available in these Motorola G series phones. With this technology, you can share content and make purchases with the click of a button.
Moto G Stylus 2022 vs. Moto G 5G: 7 Must-Know Facts
- The Motorola G 5G has a water-repellant design. This means it is resistant to water splashes and shouldn’t be submerged or exposed to high water pressure.
- The Motorola G Stylus 5G has a built-in stylus that lets you markup screenshots, edit photos, and jot down notes.
- When shooting videos with the Motorola G Stylus, you are limited to FHD (1080p) at 30 FPS. You don’t have the option to shoot in 2K or 4K.
- The Motorola G 5G has a screen size of 6.5 inches with a resolution of 1600 x 720p. The Motorola G Stylus has a slightly larger screen at 6.8” and a resolution of 1080 × 2460p.
- The Motorola G Stylus runs on a powerful processor with 6GB RAM, improving your device performance when running memory-intensive applications.
- The Moto G Stylus runs on Android 11, while the Moto G 5G has Android 12. Both phones feature the Motorola My UX user interface that gives you different customization options, like twisting the wrist to open the phone camera.
- You’ll get 128GB internal storage with the Moto G Stylus, while the Moto G 5G has double that internal storage at 256GB.
- Built-in stylus to sketch, add notes to photos, and edit images
- Up to 2 days of battery life with the 5000 mAh battery
- 6.8-inch full HD+ display
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Octa-core processor and Android 11 OS
- 256 GB of storage plus an additional 1 TB with a microSD card
- 50 MP camera system
- 5,000mAh battery capacity with fast charging capabilities
- Android 12.0
- 6.5-inch display with 90 Hz refresh rate
Moto G Stylus 2022 vs. Moto G 5G: Which One is Better for You?
The Moto G Stylus and Moto G 5G are great phones to own as they offer outstanding features compared to their predecessors.
Both phones run on Media Tek processors. However, you’ll enjoy better performance if you go for the Motorola G 5G, thanks to the more advanced MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor. You’ll notice a difference in performance when running memory-intensive games or multitasking between applications.
Regarding the camera quality, both phones feature a 50MP rear camera. The only difference is that the Moto G 5G has a 13MP front camera, with the Moto G Stylus camera being 16MP. While both cameras can take high-quality images, a unique Motorola G Stylus camera feature is object image stabilization (OIS) technology that lets you take clearer images, even with a shaky hand.
If you have a lot of files you need to store on your device, you should go for the Moto G 5G over Moto G Stylus as it has twice the storage size of the Moto G Stylus. Additionally, the Motorola G Stylus retails at about $169 while the Moto G 5G goes for about $369. So, if you’re on a budget, the Moto G 5G is worth considering over Motorola G Stylus.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Haelen Haagen/Shutterstock.com.
