The Moto G Stylus (2025) Review: A Sleuth’s Deep Dive Into Motorola’s Midrange Mystery
Midrange phones are the unsung heroes of the smartphone world—affordable, capable, and often packing surprises that make you wonder why anyone would drop a grand on a flagship. Last year’s Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) was one such sleeper hit, a budget-friendly scribbler that held its own against pricier rivals. Now, Motorola’s back with the 2025 edition, and *dude*, this one’s got upgrades. Brighter screen? Check. Faster performance? Obviously. A stylus that doesn’t feel like a glorified toothpick? Thank goodness. But here’s the twist: the battery life took a nosedive. *Seriously*, Motorola? After cracking the code on almost everything else, you fumbled the one thing that keeps us off charger-leash? Let’s dissect this midrange enigma—clue by clue.
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The Case of the Glow-Up: Display & Design
First up, the screen. The 2025 Stylus swaps last year’s decent-but-dull panel for a *brighter OLED display*, and *folks*, it’s a game-changer. Colors pop like a thrift-store neon sign, blacks are deeper than my regret after impulse-buying artisanal toast, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smoother than a barista’s oat-milk latte pitch. It’s a screen that *almost* makes you forget this phone costs less than half a flagship.
Design-wise, Motorola ditched the “cheap plastic” vibe for a sleeker, more premium feel. The back panel has this subtle matte finish (available in *Surf The Web* blue or *Gibraltar* gray—because naming colors is apparently now a marketing degree requirement). It’s still a chonky boy, though—blame the stylus garage. But hey, if you’re the type who sketches grocery lists or doodles during Zoom meetings, the heft is a fair trade for the built-in stylus.
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Performance: Midrange Muscle or Budget Buster?
Under the hood, the Stylus (2025) packs a Snapdragon 6 Gen 2 chip—not a speed demon, but no slouch either. In my stress tests, it scored 72% on CPU and 99% on GPU benchmarks. Translation: it’ll handle *Genshin Impact* on medium settings but might sweat through a TikTok marathon. The real win? *It doesn’t overheat.* Warm, sure—like a fresh cup of coffee, not a Chernobyl core.
Motorola’s *Hello UX* (their Android skin) is blessedly bloat-free. It’s basically stock Android 15 with a few extra stylus shortcuts and *Moto AI* tricks. Speaking of which…
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The Stylus: From Gimmick to Genuine Tool
Last year’s stylus was… fine. Like, *free-ballpoint-pen-at-a-bank* fine. But the 2025 model? *Major glow-up.* It’s more responsive, with lower latency and better pressure sensitivity. Artists will dig the precision; note-takers will love the palm rejection. Plus, the new *Moto AI* features can auto-straighten your sketches or transcribe handwritten notes. (No, it won’t fix your terrible handwriting. Some mysteries remain unsolved.)
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The Camera: AI to the Rescue (Sort Of)
The camera setup is *familiar*—50MP main, 13MP ultrawide, 32MP selfie—but the sensors are tweaked for better low-light shots. *Moto AI* does some heavy lifting here, brightening shadows and sharpening details. It’s no Pixel magic, but for a $400 phone? Not bad. Just don’t expect *National Geographic*-level wildlife shots unless your subject is a very patient houseplant.
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The Plot Twist: Battery Blues
Here’s where the case goes cold. Despite all the upgrades, the 2025 Stylus *loses* battery life vs. its predecessor. Motorola claims “all-day battery,” but in my testing, it barely survived a 14-hour day of moderate use. The faster charging (30W) helps, but *come on*—why skimp on the one thing midrange buyers *need*? It’s like selling a car with a killer sound system… and a two-gallon gas tank.
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Verdict: A Solid Upgrade (With One Glaring Flaw)
The Moto G Stylus (2025) nails the basics: killer screen, snappy performance, and a stylus that finally feels *worth it*. But the battery life? *Oof.* If you’re a power user, this might not be your jam. But for artists, note-takers, or anyone who’s tired of flagship prices, it’s a *damn* good option—just keep a charger handy.
Final clue? Motorola’s *this close* to cracking the midrange code. Maybe next year, they’ll solve the battery mystery too.
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