moto g stylus 2026 review

The moto g stylus 2026 is the phone for people who want to write on the screen. Its built-in active stylus slides out of the body and supports smart shortcuts and handwriting in several languages, which no other phone here offers. Motorola also gives it the fastest charging on this list: 68W TurboPower wired, plus 15W wireless charging, and it rates the 5200mAh battery for up to 44 hours. Inside is a 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 with 8GB of LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 storage, which Motorola says makes it 10% faster than last year's model. It carries the same IP68 and IP69 ratings as the g power, NFC for payments and a microSD slot up to 1TB. The catch is price. At $499.99 for 128GB it costs as much as the Pixel 9a, which has a faster chip and a published 7-year update promise, while Motorola does not state an update period on this page. The 256GB version, at $599.99, is over budget.

Who it is for

Note takers, sketchers and anyone who wants a pen and wireless charging under $500.

Price

$499.99 for 128GB at Motorola's US store when checked; 256GB costs $599.99.

$499.99 or $21/mo for 24 mos at 0% APR with Affirm
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Built-in active stylus with smart shortcuts and handwriting features
• 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 storage
• 5200mAh battery rated for up to 44 hours, with 68W TurboPower and 15W wireless charging
• Extreme AMOLED display and IP68 and IP69 protection
• Dedicated microSD slot up to 1TB and NFC for tap-to-pay

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The only phone here with a built-in stylus
• Strength: The fastest wired charging on the list, plus wireless charging
• Strength: Up to 44 hours of rated battery life
• Weakness: At $499.99 it is the most expensive phone on the list, and 256GB costs $599.99
• Weakness: Motorola's page does not state an update period
• Weakness: The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is a step below the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 in the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro

Key facts

• Price: $499.99 for 128GB
• Display: Extreme AMOLED
• Processor: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
• Memory and storage: 8 GB RAM, 128 or 256 GB plus microSD
• Updates: Not stated on Motorola's page
• Water and dust: IP68 and IP69

Where it ranks

moto g stylus 2026 is No. 5 in our Best Budget Smartphones verdict.