The stylus phone is an endangered species these days. LG’s Stylo line is no more, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra costs more than many people are willing to spend. That leaves Motorola alone to carry the torch for an affordable version of the popular feature. The Moto G Stylus (2022) is the latest in a long line of budget phones from the brand. However, it finds itself in an interesting position. It is the successor to the non-5G version of the Moto G Stylus lineup and accordingly only offers LTE. The more expensive Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) adds 5G connectivity, a more powerful processor and some other extras.
Our Motorola Moto G Stylus (2022) came with Android 11 straight out of the box. That means the device will see Android 12, but no other support. The Moto G Stylus (2022) features the familiar 6.8-inch LCD panel, which offers a 90 Hz refresh rate and Full HD+ resolution. It also gets a few extra pixels and moves the selfie camera with punch hole to the center. The 5,000 mAh battery will keep you going and can be charged with 10 W wired. Motorola also points out that the phone is water resistant, but not waterproof. That’s not a huge surprise in this price range, although it’s odd considering the 2022 Moto G Power had an IP52 rating.
Motorola has made some good steps forward with its latest Moto G Stylus device. For example, it has finally done away with the weak macro lens. Instead, the 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens does double duty to help out with extreme close-ups. The results aren’t life-changing, but it’s more practical than a throwaway 2MP snapper that will never work. Motorola’s slightly improved 50MP prime lens also does a good job. Images are captured at 12.5 MP by default, but it’s easy to convert them to a full-resolution shot.
The Full HD+ display isn’t new to the Moto G Stylus family, but for a $300 device meant to be used with a stylus, it’s worth mentioning. It’s large enough, has a 90 Hz refresh rate for smoother animations, and the interface welcomes the use of Motorola’s built-in stylus. As soon as you take the pen out of the case, the phone opens a small menu. From here you have access to Google Keep, a drawing pad, and the ability to take screenshots or GIFs. The drawing pad also includes a few coloring templates in case you want to entertain your kids.