This is the $300 Android phone to beat in 2023 – and it even has a stylus

Once you first decide up the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023), the all-plastic construct, loose-fitted stylus, and unmistakably low-cost vibration motor make it clear what value tier of a telephone you are coping with. With this, Motorola is not gunning for the iPhone Professional’s or the Samsung Galaxy S collection’ lunches. 

Additionally: The very best low-cost 5G telephones beginning at $199

As an alternative, it desires to dominate within the ever-so-competitive downmarket, the place producers should play the stability sport, strategically including and eradicating options to achieve a price bundle ok to win the hearts of budget-minded buyers.

Regardless of the aforementioned cuts to the {hardware} — which is a narrative we have seen earlier than; Apple sells the $449 iPhone SE with a nine-year-old design — Motorola truly will get lots proper with the brand new Moto G Stylus 5G. There is a new and higher processor within the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, a brand new digicam system with bigger pixels, and most significantly, a brand new price ticket that is decrease than final yr’s: $399. 

Altogether, I really feel ok to say that that is the $400 telephone to beat in 2023. And at its present discounted value of $300, it is a no-brainer for most individuals, price range buying or not.

ZDNET RECOMMENDS

Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)

One of many few telephones available on the market with a built-in stylus, and the $399 value level will get you 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, too.

The $399 Moto G Stylus 5G is among the few telephones available on the market that also has a built-in pen for precision inputs. It is a key differentiator from the opposite slabs on the mid-range market and one that ought to entice visible learners, journalists, and customers preferring to jot down issues down as an alternative of typing them. 

Assessment: Motorola Razr Plus (2023): The very best flipping foldable proper now

The stylus is siloed on the underside proper nook of the telephone, which I might argue is a greater location than the left-side favoritism that Samsung has with its Extremely telephones, and I like that I can simply eject it whereas the Moto is locked and a notepad naturally seems.

Be mindful, the stylus expertise on the Moto G Stylus shouldn’t be excellent; there is no palm rejection once you’re writing in opposition to the brand new, smaller 6.6-inch show, and the stress sensitivity is subsequent to zero. However, for stylus-supported classics like Bejeweled and Fruit Ninja, there is no beating this on the value level. 

And just like the Galaxy S23 Extremely, you may make a case for purchasing the Moto telephone even in case you do not plan on utilizing the onboard accent. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor powering the unit, day-to-day apps and providers run very fluidly. Positive, the YouTube feed takes a second longer to load in comparison with a dearer telephone, however I used to be typically impressed by the snappiness of Moto G Stylus and the way nicely it maintained its 120Hz refresh price.

Then there’s the distinctive worth you are getting with reminiscence and storage; the $399 mannequin comes with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, beating its closest opponents, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G (128GB), Google Pixel 7a (128GB), and iPhone SE (64GB). You even have the choice to develop the reminiscence by way of microSD card.

Motorola took a bet with this yr’s digicam setup, choosing a 50MP primary sensor and a brand new 8MP ultrawide that doubles as a macro lens instead of final yr’s two low-resolution macro and depth sensors, and it is paid off — type of. 

Undersaturation continues to be an issue with Moto’s digicam system, and the shortage of optical picture stabilization in the primary lens makes it more durable to seize static, low-light photographs (as a result of the telephone will ask you to carry the telephone nonetheless for an excellent 2-3 seconds each time). However in the most typical instances, which is what most individuals will care about, I discovered the 50MP primary sensor dependable sufficient for household photographs, scenic views, and fast flicks of social-worthy experiences.

Additionally: The very best stylus telephones proper now

With the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023), the corporate is committing to the same old one OS model improve (from Android 13 to Android 14) and three years of safety assist. That is a tier under what Samsung and Google provide for his or her mid-rangers, but when entry to the newest software program options and a yr or two much less of safety patches means little to you, then I digress.

In the end, you are getting lots for the way little you are paying for the latest Moto G Stylus. We’re seeing an inflow of well-rounded, more-than-enough smartphones on this sub-$500 value vary that I can simply advocate you three to 4 picks that had been launched throughout the previous two months alone. And inside that record, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) — I promise this would be the final time I kind the total title out — sits on the prime in case you’re looking for a telephone for lower than $400.

For extra back-to-school suggestions, try ZDNET’s final tech offers record.