Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-12-07 | 2024-05-30 | The 2024 model is significantly newer, suggesting it will have more recent software support and feature updates. |
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm | 162.6 x 74.8 x 8.3 mm | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is more compact and thinner, making it easier to handle and pocket. |
| Weight | 212g | 190g | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is lighter, providing a more comfortable user experience, especially during long periods of use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both have the same screen size, suitable for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical resolutions for both offer the same level of sharpness. |
| PPI | 393 | 395 | Both have almost identical pixel density, so sharpness should be virtually indistinguishable. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | P-OLED | P-OLED offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and potentially richer colors, leading to a more visually appealing display. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz offers noticeably smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is significantly brighter, making it much easier to see in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 in the 2024 model is more efficient and offers better performance due to its smaller manufacturing process. |
| AnTuTu Score | 390,000 | 514,000 | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) has a higher benchmark score suggesting better overall performance in daily tasks and apps. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 710 | The Adreno 710 in the 2024 model is more capable, offering improved gaming performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Same battery capacity suggests similar battery life. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 30W Fast Charging | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) charges faster, reducing waiting times. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 15W Wireless Charging | The 2024 model includes wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, adding flexibility. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.00µm, Sony LYT-700C | The 2024 model has a newer sensor and larger pixels for better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.00µm | 32MP, f/2.45, 0.70µm | The 2024 model has a higher resolution for more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | The Moto G 5G includes a dedicated wide-angle lens. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | None | The Moto G 5G includes a dedicated macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) has a combined ultrawide and macro lens. This offers ultrawide shots and the ability to capture close-up details using same sensor. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps, EIS | Up to 4K@30fps, OIS | The 2024 model offers Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for more stable video recording. It also includes slow-motion at 240 FPS vs. 60 FPS. |
| Camera Features | Triple camera, Laser AF, RAW | Dual camera, OIS, Continuous AF | Each phone has different focusing capabilities and capture options. The 2024 has OIS for clearer pictures, especially in low-light conditions. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14, upgradeable to 15 | The 2024 model is much more up to date, ensuring better app compatibility, security, and features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi ac | Wi-Fi 6E | The 2024 model offers significantly faster and more reliable Wi-Fi speeds. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 LE, A2DP, EDR | Bluetooth 5.1 LE, A2DP, APT-x, LDAC, SBC | The 2024 model supports higher-quality audio codecs over Bluetooth. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC System | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) features more precise location tracking through dual-band GPS |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | The 2024 model supports eSIM, which allows for easy switching between carriers. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 256 GB | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) provides significantly more storage. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 8 GB | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) has more RAM for smoother multitasking and app performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) offers enhanced audio experiences with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones use similar technology and provide basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Neither phone specifies the exact screen protection it provides. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Both phones have comprehensive sensors for advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G 5G Advantages:
- Dedicated Wide-Angle Lens: Offers a dedicated wide-angle lens, useful for capturing expansive landscapes and group photos.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: Provides a dedicated macro lens for extreme close-up photography.
- Laser Autofocus (LAF): Offers laser autofocus, which can be faster than PDAF in some situations.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) Advantages:
- Newer and More Powerful Chipset: Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is significantly more powerful and efficient than the older Snapdragon 750G.
- Superior Display: P-OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1200 nits of brightness makes for a much better visual experience.
- Significantly More Storage and RAM: 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM provide a much smoother user experience.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: 30W charging and wireless charging/reverse wireless charging offers added convenience.
- Better Audio: Features Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers for improved audio quality.
- Updated Software: Ships with Android 14 and is upgradeable to 15, ensuring better security and features.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Provides better video recording and low-light photos due to stabilization.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6E), dual-band GPS, and includes an eSIM.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Moto G 5G has dedicated macro and ultrawide lenses. The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) combines them into one camera, which might be considered less flexible for some users.
- The Moto G 5G is older and therefore will likely have less software update support.
- The Moto G 5G has a higher aperture on the main camera and selfie camera but the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) includes superior imaging sensors
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Those seeking a lower-priced phone with 5G capabilities and basic photography needs.
- Users who prioritize physical SIM slots: Users that need two physical SIM cards at the same time.
- Users who value a dedicated macro and ultrawide camera: Those who like using ultrawide and macro photography features.
Use Cases:
- Basic smartphone tasks, like web browsing, social media, and calls.
- Occasional photography in good lighting conditions.
- Users looking for a secondary/backup phone with a low price point.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize overall performance: Those who want a smoother experience with modern apps and games.
- Users who value display quality: Those who want vibrant, smooth visuals.
- Users seeking advanced software features: Android 14 ensures better security and updates.
- Users who value wireless charging and reverse wireless charging: Those who want convenient charging options.
- Users who need a lot of storage: 256GB of storage will accommodate plenty of apps, photos, and videos.
- Users who want a better all-around experience: Those who want the better all around performing device for daily tasks and enjoyment.
Use Cases:
- Demanding games and heavy multitasking.
- Watching videos, movies, or other visual media.
- Photography and videography in varied lighting conditions.
- Use cases that require significant storage, such as editing documents, photos, and videos.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The Moto G 5G is older and likely less expensive, while the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is more premium, with a higher price point.
- How important is display quality? The P-OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate on the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) provides a much better visual experience, especially in sunlight.
- Do I need a dedicated macro and ultrawide lens, or is a combined lens acceptable? Those that use ultrawide/macro frequently may prefer the older model.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget Shopper: If budget is the primary concern, the Motorola Moto G 5G will save you money and still provide a 5G smartphone experience with a basic macro and ultrawide lens. However, expect it to be a bit slower, less visually appealing, and have fewer features.
- Performance Seeker: For those needing a modern device with solid performance and battery features, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is a clear choice. The faster chipset, P-OLED display, and more storage and RAM make it a significantly better performing daily driver.
- Photography Enthusiast: If the user requires more flexible photography options, then the older Moto G 5G may be suitable. However, they may not enjoy as many new features as they would with the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).
- Multimedia Consumer: If the user enjoys consuming media and wants to get the most enjoyment out of the experience, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is the clear choice. The screen, speakers and processing power make the phone much more capable in this use case.
My Choice and Why
I would choose the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).
Here's why:
- Future-Proofing: The newer chipset, updated software, and superior display make it a much more future-proofed device. The Moto G 5G is already several years old, so it will likely not receive many more software updates.
- Enhanced User Experience: The combination of the P-OLED display with 120Hz, a more powerful processor, and more RAM will make daily use smoother and more enjoyable.
- Versatility: The inclusion of wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, a higher capacity battery, and support for higher quality audio codecs makes the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) a much more versatile device.
- Storage: The 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM is much preferred when running modern apps and is necessary to avoid any performance issues.
- Value: While it is more expensive, the overall increase in quality and versatility makes the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) a better value for the money.
While the Moto G 5G has a dedicated macro and ultrawide lens, the overall improvements in display, performance, and modern features of the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) are much more impactful for my daily needs and user experience. The newer camera sensors and features like OIS on the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) make it the clear choice for overall capability and quality.
