Motorola
Moto G Stylus 2026
All concerning 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 energetic stylus, which provides options like stress sensitivity and tilt detection. In any other case, the telephone sports activities a 6.7-inch show, IP69 safety, and a 50MP most important digicam.
Execs
- Lively stylus with stress sensitivity and tilt detection
- IP69 sturdiness score; Water Contact show function
- 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
One of the best stylus telephone
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is a full-blown flagship that packs a stylus inside. It contains 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 based mostly on Android 16.
Execs
- Privateness Show is unbelievable at blocking undesirable viewing
- 60W wired quick charging
- One UI 8.5 with seven years of Android OS upgrades
- New 200MP most important and 50MP telephoto sensors
Cons
- S Pen can solely be inserted a technique
- Comparatively small 5,000mAh battery capability
- No inbuilt Qi2 magnets for wi-fi charging
In fact, Samsung killed the Galaxy Be aware a few years in the past, but it surely 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 surface 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 consists of 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 newest mannequin consists of an energetic 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 energetic stylus within the S Pen.
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However is there anybody keen to seize the $500 Moto G Stylus 2026 as a substitute 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 assist energetic styluses, which suggests they use tiny inside 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 would not promote the S Pen’s battery life, but it surely works the identical approach. When saved in its silo, the pen fees, and it is able to go whenever you pull it out.
Every telephone presents distinct software program methods that make use of the pen. Motorola constructed whole Android OS behaviors across the new energetic stylus, like how one can drag and drop photographs 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 drawback — the S Pen can solely be docked in a single route. It is curved to match the curvature of the machine chassis, so it will not match if inserted the other 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 often called 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 function 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, but it surely’s additionally thinner, measuring 7.9mm thick. The Moto G Stylus is barely thicker at 8.3mm, and options fascinating vegan leather-based Pantone Coal Smoke and Pantone Lavender Mist colorways.
By way of 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 fair more durable commonplace that improves water-resistance towards 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 improve. The 8GB of reminiscence and 128GB or 256GB of storage aren’t something particular, both — although the Moto G Stylus 2026 does assist as much as 1TB of expandable microSD card storage.
That is earlier than we carry the Galaxy S26 Extremely into the dialog, which is able to unsurprisingly blow Motorola’s finances 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 one of the best chip on the Android facet of the smartphone market, and might deal with your wants of right this moment 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 shade house 10-bit; Over a billion shades of shade, as much as 120Hz refresh charge, 5000 nits peak brightness, Show Shade Increase, Water Contact |
6.9-inch QHD+ (3,120×1,440) AMOLED, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Charge, 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 Digital camera 1 |
50MP, f/1.8 (broad) |
200MP, f/1.4,(broad) |
|
Rear Digital camera 2 |
13MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) |
10MP, f/2.4, 3x (telephoto) |
|
Rear Digital camera 3 |
N/A |
50MP, f/2.9, 5x (periscope telephoto) |
|
Rear Digital camera 4 |
N/A |
50MP, f/1.9 (ultrawide) |
|
Entrance Digital camera |
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 may battle to fulfill tomorrow’s wants, given its brief software program assist assure that spans solely two main Android OS upgrades. You do get Android 16 out of the field, however something past that may 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 fees 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 digicam system, with a quadruple-sensor structure 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 telephone contains a 50MP most important sensor and a 13MP ultrawide on the again, however that is it. Though a light-weight sensor and flash are disguised to appear to be additional digicam lenses, they are not ones.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 2026 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: A worthy competitor?
In case you’re in search of an Android telephone with a stylus, the Moto G Stylus 2026 makes you marvel how a lot smartphone you actually need. Might a $500 telephone deal with your every day messages, calls, pictures, and social media scrolling? It is attainable, and I am all the time able to admit that few individuals really require a flagship telephone 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 getting old one. Plus, the Moto G Stylus 2026 solely comes with two years of Android OS upgrades, and we’re acquainted with Motorola’s poor observe report with software program updates. The digicam system is similar to the one on the Moto G Stylus 2025, too.
So, if Motorola’s purpose by including an energetic stylus and elevating the value 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 wonderful Android telephone, like a quick processor, nice cameras, and lengthy software program assist, simply aren’t flagship-caliber — and are not even actually that shut.
It is the identical story as traditional for the Moto G Stylus 2026. That is an excellent telephone for the value, and, extremely, you get an energetic stylus for $500. You may simply have to surrender quite a bit in comparison with one of the best of one of the best, just like the Galaxy S26 Extremely. Contemplating Motorola’s stylus telephone is $800 cheaper than Samsung’s, that should not come as an enormous shock.
Motorola
Moto G Stylus 2026
The finances purchase
If an energetic 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 all the pieces else is a bit regarding. The processor limitations and mere two years of Android OS upgrades may offer you pause.
The all-around greatest
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is clearly one of the best Android stylus telephone, however is it $800 higher than the Moto G Stylus 2026? That is so that you can determine. The processor, software program, and digicam system are miles forward of what Motorola presents, and the seven-year software program assist offers you long-term confidence. Nonetheless, that is some huge cash to spend on a telephone.
