Motorola
Moto G Stylus 2026
All in regards to the pen
The Moto G Stylus 2026 options modest upgrades throughout the board, and notably makes use of the identical processor because the last-generation mannequin. The spotlight is clearly the lively stylus, which provides options like stress sensitivity and tilt detection. In any other case, the cellphone sports activities a 6.7-inch show, IP69 safety, and a 50MP fundamental digital camera.
Professionals
- Energetic stylus with stress sensitivity and tilt detection
- IP69 sturdiness score; Water Contact show characteristic
- 5,000-nit show brightness
- 5,200mAh battery capability with 68W wired quick charging
Cons
- Solely two years of Android OS upgrades
- Lowly Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor
- $100 costlier than Moto G Stylus 2025
The very best stylus cellphone
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is a full-blown flagship that packs a stylus inside. It encompasses a “Privateness Show” that makes use of a Flex Magic Pixel OLED panel to restrict viewing angles with the press of a button. Powering the expertise is a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and One UI 8.5 primarily based on Android 16.
Professionals
- Privateness Show is unimaginable at blocking undesirable viewing
- 60W wired quick charging
- One UI 8.5 with seven years of Android OS upgrades
- New 200MP fundamental and 50MP telephoto sensors
Cons
- S Pen can solely be inserted a method
- Comparatively small 5,000mAh battery capability
- No inbuilt Qi2 magnets for wi-fi charging
After all, Samsung killed the Galaxy Notice a few years in the past, however it additionally axed the S Pen for foldables with the discharge of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 simply final yr. It canned Air Actions, the S Pen’s Bluetooth distant management options, with the Galaxy S25 Extremely. From the skin wanting in, it appears Samsung is not prioritizing the S Pen because it as soon as did — though the most recent Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely contains one.
On the identical time, Motorola is doubling down on styluses. It introduced pens for the upcoming Razr Fold and Moto Pad, and simply unveiled the Moto G Stylus 2026. The most recent mannequin contains an lively stylus for the primary time, including options like stress sensitivity and tilt detection. That places the Moto G Stylus 2026 in the identical league because the Galaxy S26 Extremely, which additionally sports activities an lively stylus within the S Pen.
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However is there anybody prepared to seize the $500 Moto G Stylus 2026 as an alternative of the $1,300 Galaxy S26 Extremely, and settle for the compromises that include the lower cost? Let’s discover out.
Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: The pens
The 2 issues tying the Moto G Stylus 2026 and the Galaxy S26 Extremely collectively are their built-in styluses. Each telephones now help lively styluses, which suggests they use tiny inner batteries to speak with their screens. That is how options like Air View hover previews with the S Pen or pressure-sensitive drawings on the Moto G Stylus 2026 are attainable.
Motorola says its stylus will final 100 hours on a single cost, and powers up in quarter-hour when docked contained in the Moto G Stylus 2026. Samsung does not promote the S Pen’s battery life, however it works the identical means. When saved in its silo, the pen costs, and it is able to go while you pull it out.
Every cellphone presents distinct software program methods that make use of the pen. Motorola constructed total Android OS behaviors across the new lively stylus, like how one can drag and drop photos or enlarge textual content utilizing the pen. There’s additionally a brand new Handwriting Calculator that solves your math issues as you draw them. You get a button on the stylus for highlighting textual content that may be shared to the Notes app.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely’s stylus has a slight design downside — the S Pen can solely be docked in a single course. It is curved to match the curvature of the gadget chassis, so it will not match if inserted the wrong way up. Apart from that limitation, it is as succesful as ever, with software program instruments like AI Choose, AI Drawing, and Air Instructions. Longtime S Pen customers will discover that Air Actions, in any other case referred to as Bluetooth S Pen options, are lacking for the second straight yr.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: Design and show
The general designs of the 2 smartphones are fairly totally different. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Extremely is bigger, whereas Motorola’s Moto G Stylus 2026 is extra compact. The previous has a 6.9-inch display, and the latter has a 6.7-inch display. Samsung’s show is particular as a result of it helps the Privateness Show characteristic that makes use of customized broad and slim pixels that may be turned off individually to restrict viewing angles.
Each shows are OLED and able to 120Hz refresh charges. The Moto G Stylus 2026 is definitely brighter than the Galaxy S26 Extremely, with a peak score of 5,000 nits in comparison with 2,600 nits. The Stylus 2026 has a Tremendous HD show, whereas the Galaxy S26 Extremely has a QHD+ decision, and every has its personal quirks. Motorola’s display has a Water Contact mode that improves accuracy when the floor is moist, whereas Samsung’s Gorilla Armor 2 coating is anti-reflective.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely is wider and taller than the Moto G Stylus 2026, however it’s additionally thinner, measuring 7.9mm thick. The Moto G Stylus is barely thicker at 8.3mm, and options attention-grabbing vegan leather-based Pantone Coal Smoke and Pantone Lavender Mist colorways.
When it comes to sturdiness, the Galaxy S26 Extremely helps IP68 dust- and water-resistance, however the Moto G Stylus 2026 takes that as much as IP69. It is a good harder customary that improves water-resistance in opposition to high-pressure and high-temperature water jets.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: {Hardware} and specs
Uncooked {hardware} and specs will not assist the Moto G Stylus 2026 stand out. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 powering the expertise is the very same chip we noticed on the Moto G Stylus 2025. It is an outdated, underpowered chip that does not assist Motorola justify this yr’s $100 value enhance. The 8GB of reminiscence and 128GB or 256GB of storage aren’t something particular, both — although the Moto G Stylus 2026 does help as much as 1TB of expandable microSD card storage.
That is earlier than we deliver the Galaxy S26 Extremely into the dialog, which can unsurprisingly blow Motorola’s funds providing out of the water. It makes use of a state-of-the-art Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor paired with both 12GB or 16GB of RAM. It is arguably the most effective chip on the Android aspect of the smartphone market, and may deal with your wants of as we speak and tomorrow.
|
Class |
Motorola Moto G Stylus 2026 |
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely |
|---|---|---|
|
Show |
6.7″ Excessive AMOLED, 1.5K Tremendous HD (2712 X 1220) 446ppi, 100% DCI-P3 colour area 10-bit; Over a billion shades of colour, as much as 120Hz refresh price, 5000 nits peak brightness, Show Colour Enhance, Water Contact |
6.9-inch QHD+ (3,120×1,440) AMOLED, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Fee, Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2, Anti-reflective coating, Privateness Show, as much as 2,600 nits |
|
Processor |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
|
RAM |
8GB |
12GB / 16GB |
|
Storage |
128GB, 256GB |
256GB, 512GB/ 1TB |
|
Rear Digicam 1 |
50MP, f/1.8 (broad) |
200MP, f/1.4,(broad) |
|
Rear Digicam 2 |
13MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) |
10MP, f/2.4, 3x (telephoto) |
|
Rear Digicam 3 |
N/A |
50MP, f/2.9, 5x (periscope telephoto) |
|
Rear Digicam 4 |
N/A |
50MP, f/1.9 (ultrawide) |
|
Entrance Digicam |
32MP, f/2.2 |
12MP, f/2.2 |
|
Ingress Safety |
IP68/IP69 |
IP68 |
|
Connectivity |
5G (sub-6GHz), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 |
5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, UWB, Bluetooth 6.0 |
|
Battery |
5,200mAh |
5,000mAh |
|
Charging |
68W wired, 15W wi-fi |
60W, Qi 2.2 Magnetic Compatibility w/ 25W wi-fi speeds |
|
Dimensions |
162.2 x 74.8 x 8.3 mm |
163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm |
|
Weight |
192 grams |
214 grams |
|
OS |
Android 16 (two generations of OS upgrades) |
One UI 8.5 w/ Android 16 (seven generations of OS upgrades) |
The Moto G Stylus 2026 would possibly battle to satisfy tomorrow’s wants, given its brief software program help assure that spans solely two main Android OS upgrades. You do get Android 16 out of the field, however something past that could be a threat as a result of Motorola has a subpar observe report on this space. In the meantime, the Galaxy S26 Extremely begins with the Android 16-based One UI 8.5 and comes with seven years of Android OS updates.
Motorola does win the battery battle with a bigger capability and quicker wired charging speeds. The Moto G Stylus 2026 has a 5,200mAh capability and costs at 68W over a cable, however wirelessly it drops to 15W. The Galaxy S26 Extremely has a 5,000mAh battery and helps 60W wired charging, however presents quicker 25W speeds wirelessly.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely presents the vastly superior digital camera system, with a quadruple-sensor format on the rear together with a 200MP major shooter, a 50MP ultrawide, a 50MP 5x zoom telephoto, and one other 10MP 3x zoom telephoto. Motorola’s cellphone encompasses a 50MP fundamental sensor and a 13MP ultrawide on the again, however that is it. Though a lightweight sensor and flash are disguised to appear to be additional digital camera lenses, they are not ones.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: A worthy competitor?
When you’re in search of an Android cellphone with a stylus, the Moto G Stylus 2026 makes you surprise how a lot smartphone you really want. Might a $500 cellphone deal with your each day messages, calls, images, and social media scrolling? It is attainable, and I am all the time able to admit that few individuals actually require a flagship cellphone costing in extra of $1,000. Nevertheless, Motorola did not do a lot to persuade customers that the Moto G Stylus 2026 is able to problem telephones just like the Galaxy S26 Extremely.
The Moto G Stylus 2026 is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, which is carried over from the 2025 mannequin and first launched in 2024. It isn’t only a low-end cell chip; it is also an growing old one. Plus, the Moto G Stylus 2026 solely comes with two years of Android OS upgrades, and we’re accustomed to Motorola’s poor observe report with software program updates. The digital camera system is similar to the one on the Moto G Stylus 2025, too.
So, if Motorola’s objective by including an lively stylus and elevating the worth by $100 was to make the Moto G Stylus 2026 a more in-depth competitor to the Galaxy S26 Extremely, I do not suppose it met the mark. The stylus is nice, and so is the show, IP69 certification, and battery. The opposite issues that make a superb Android cellphone, like a quick processor, nice cameras, and lengthy software program help, simply aren’t flagship-caliber — and are not even actually that shut.
It is the identical story as common for the Moto G Stylus 2026. That is an excellent cellphone for the worth, and, extremely, you get an lively stylus for $500. You will simply have to surrender rather a lot in comparison with the most effective of the most effective, just like the Galaxy S26 Extremely. Contemplating Motorola’s stylus cellphone is $800 cheaper than Samsung’s, that should not come as an enormous shock.
Motorola
Moto G Stylus 2026
The funds purchase
If an lively stylus is what you are after, the Moto G Stylus 2026 offers you that for $800 lower than the Galaxy S26 Extremely. Motorola appears to be doubling down on the stylus, whereas Samsung is eradicating options from it. That is inspiring, however the whole lot else is a bit regarding. The processor limitations and mere two years of Android OS upgrades would possibly offer you pause.
The all-around finest
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is clearly the most effective Android stylus cellphone, however is it $800 higher than the Moto G Stylus 2026? That is so that you can resolve. The processor, software program, and digital camera system are miles forward of what Motorola presents, and the seven-year software program help offers you long-term confidence. Nonetheless, that is some huge cash to spend on a cellphone.
