Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) review
Discover the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) with a sleek design, smooth performance, and solid camera features in this review.
Here’s a Phone You’ll Wish Was Available Everywhere: Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025). Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) is a hidden gem—available in just a few markets, which is unfortunate because it offers a rare combination in its price range: a built-in stylus and powerful performance without breaking the bank. If you’ve been eyeing Samsung’s Galaxy S-series with the S Pen but need something more affordable, this might be your perfect match.
Sold in the U.S., this model shares DNA with the Motorola Edge 60 Stylus in India, though it comes with a different chipset. We’re reviewing the U.S. version here, and it brings meaningful upgrades across the board.
Motorola has finally added full dust and water protection (IP68 rating), and the phone now boasts extra durability with MIL-STD-810H compliance for tougher environments. Design-wise, it sticks to its sleek and stylish look with Gorilla Glass at the front and a soft eco-leather finish at the back.
The 6.7-inch AMOLED display is sharper and more colorful than ever, now with a 1220 x 2712 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color support, and HDR capabilities. It’s a treat for your eyes whether you’re sketching with the stylus or watching your favorite shows.
Performance sees a bump too, thanks to the new Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Plus, you still get a dedicated microSD card slot—something that’s getting rare in modern smartphones.
Camera-wise, you’re looking at a reliable triple setup: 50MP main with OIS, 13MP ultra-wide, and a sharp 32MP selfie camera—all capable of 4K video. The 5,000mAh battery supports faster 68W TurboCharging and even includes 15W wireless charging—another premium touch in this mid-range device.
Running Android 15 with Google’s latest AI features and Motorola’s custom stylus tools, this phone feels smooth and modern right out of the box.
For just $400, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) offers a fantastic mix of features, design, and software support. It’s a shame it’s not available in more regions.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) Specification
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | Announced: April 8, 2025 |
| Body | Dimensions: 162.2 x 74.8 x 8.3 mm (6.39 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Display | Type: AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR |
| Platform | OS: Android 15 (up to 2 major Android upgrades) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| Memory | Internal: 256GB storage, 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS |
| Camera Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video (Main Camera) | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Selfie Camera | 32 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/3.14″, 0.7µm |
| Selfie Camera Features | HDR |
| Video (Selfie Camera) | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos |
| Comms | WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | 5000mAh |
| Colors | Pantone Gibraltar Sea |
| Models | XT2517-1 |
| Price | $399.99 |
| Performance Tests | AnTuTu: 647258 (v10) |
| Display Brightness | 1870 nits (max brightness, measured) |
| Loudspeaker Test | -21.3 LUFS (Excellent) |
| Battery (Active Use) | 9 hours 45 minutes of active use (new) |
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) Design, Build, and Handling
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) has a sleek appearance and a comfortable grip. Gibraltar Sea (dark blue) and Surf the Web (bright blue) are the two Pantone blue hues available. It is comfortable to handle thanks to the smooth eco-leather finish on the back.
Gorilla Glass 3 protects the flat 6.7-inch front screen. It boasts a refresh rate of 120 Hz and is clear and smooth. HDR is also supported by the screen for higher-quality video. The 32MP front camera is located in a tiny hole at the top.
The phone is now water and dust-resistant (IP68), so it’s safer to use in tough conditions. It can also handle shocks, heat, and humidity.
There are two speakers — one at the top and one at the bottom — with Dolby Atmos for better sound. The fingerprint scanner is under the screen and works fast.
On the back, it has a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide camera. There are four rings — one is just for looks. The camera area blends nicely into the back, so the phone doesn’t wobble on a table.
The stylus is easy to use. You press to pop it out, and if your screen is locked, you can start writing right away. It doesn’t need charging and fits nicely in your hand.
The phone has a USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a slot for a nano-SIM and microSD card. It also supports eSIM. The power and volume buttons are on the right side.
It’s not too big or heavy — just right for everyday use. Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) is a solid phone with a cool design, smooth screen, good cameras, and a useful stylus.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) Display, battery life, charging speed and speakers
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) features a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1,220 x 2,712 pixels. It offers sharp visuals with a 120Hz refresh rate and supports HDR. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 for added durability.
The display reaches a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and in testing, we found it can reach up to 1,870 nits in automatic mode. It offers good visibility in both bright and dark settings.
There are three refresh rate options: Auto, 60Hz, and 120Hz. Auto adjusts to 60Hz for idle or video content, while 120Hz provides a smooth experience for apps and games that support it.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) comes with a 5,000mAh battery. Motorola promises up to 40 hours of battery life. In our tests, it scored 9 hours and 45 minutes of active use, which is slightly lower than the previous model.
Charging is fast with 68W TurboCharge, allowing you to charge the battery to 81% in 30 minutes and 100% in just 41 minutes. You can also charge wirelessly at 15W.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) has stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. The sound is loud, but the quality is average. The speakers are strong in the high frequency range but lack bass and rich vocals.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) Software and Perormance
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) runs on Android 15 with Hello UI by Moto, offering 2 major OS updates and three years of security updates, which is an improvement over last year’s model.
Motorola’s software looks like AOSP but adds extra features. The Moto app is cleaner now, with options like gestures neatly organized on one page. There are also easy-to-understand guides for using gestures.
Smart Connect is a new feature that helps connect the phone to other devices like PCs and TVs, both wired and wirelessly. It also lets you control your phone with voice commands, making it easier to manage your devices.
Other features like Moto Unplugged and Family Space help limit screen time, whether you want to relax or control your kids’ phone usage.
The stylus is a key feature, allowing you to quickly take notes, capture screenshots, crop images, and even create GIFs. The handwriting calculator is great for advanced math, and you can turn your sketches into artwork. You can also start notes even when the screen is off.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, offering good performance for a mid-range phone. Its benchmark scores are similar to other phones in the same price range, though it’s slightly behind the more powerful Galaxy A56.
The phone performs well, staying cool even during stress tests. Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) offers good value with useful features like the stylus and Smart Connect.
Pros and Cons of Motorola G Stylus 5G (2025)
| ✅Pros | ❌Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Durable, attractive design with full protection | ❌ Mediocre battery life |
| ✅ High-res screen with 120Hz refresh rate and good brightness | ❌ Poor 2x zoom quality |
| ✅ Fast charging | ❌ No HDR video support |
| ✅ Adequate performance | ❌ No IP rating for dust protection |
| ✅ Great photo and video quality | ❌ |
Conclusion
Motorola G Stylus 5G (2025) stands out as a mid-range phone with a stylus. Motorola is now releasing a similar model in India, alongside the Moto Edge 60 Stylus.
This new version brings updates like a better screen, improved design, stronger durability, faster performance, and quicker charging, plus the latest Android OS and longer software support.
The good news is it’s a solid all-around phone, offering a bright screen, loud speakers, smooth performance, great cameras, and fast charging. However, the battery life could be better.
It’s a great choice if you want a mid-range phone with a stylus or just a well-priced device that does it all.
