1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 75.9 × 9.5 mm | 168.9 × 75.8 × 9.3 mm | The Stylus is slightly taller, thinner, and negligibly narrower; Both will feel similar in hand. |
| Weight | 206.5g | 215g | The G Power is slightly lighter, which might be a benefit for extended holding. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.6" | 6.8" | The Stylus offers a slightly larger viewing area, beneficial for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2460 | The Stylus has significantly sharper and more detailed visuals, noticeable when reading text and viewing high-resolution images. |
| Pixel Density | 266 PPI | 395 PPI | The Stylus display will look noticeably crisper and less pixelated, leading to a much more enjoyable viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Stylus display will feel smoother and more responsive, especially when scrolling and playing games. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | Both use the same display technology, expect similar color and viewing angles. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness (assuming the missing value is the same), and the display visibility will be similar. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | The Stylus has a newer, more efficient processor, leading to better performance and slightly better battery life. |
| AnTuTu Score | 178,220 | 385,000 | The Stylus offers much faster overall performance, noticeably quicker app loading, and smoother multitasking. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619 | The Stylus has a significantly more powerful GPU, enabling smoother gaming and faster graphics processing. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP f/1.7, 0.8µm | 50MP f/1.9, 0.64µm, 1/2.76" sensor | The Stylus has a higher resolution sensor but a smaller pixel size. The Power has a wider aperture. The result will vary in real use. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP f/2.0, 1.12µm | 16MP f/2.2, 1.00µm | The Stylus has much higher selfie resolution with a smaller pixel size and narrower aperture. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 8MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | The Stylus offers a wide-angle lens for capturing more of the scene, while Power doesn't have this capability. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP f/2.4, 1.75µm | None | The Power offers a depth sensor for creating a bokeh effect, but the Stylus relies on software for this feature. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4, 1.75µm | 2MP f/2.4, 1.75µm | Both phones have a comparable macro lens for extreme close-up shots. |
| Video | 1080p@60fps EIS, No Stabilization | 1080p@60fps EIS, Yes Stabilization | Both are similar; The Stylus has OIS for smoother videos. |
| Camera Features | PDAF, LAF, Panorama | OIS, Night Mode 2.0, Manual Focus, Night Mode | The Stylus has night mode and OIS, which improves low-light photography and video quality. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity, expect similar overall battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging, Li-Ion Polymer | Li-Polymer | The G Power supports 15W fast charging, for quicker charging times; The Stylus has no explicit mention of fast charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 12 | The Stylus has a newer version of Android, with improved features and security. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac, Hotspot, Display | 802.11ac, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct, Display | The Stylus supports dual-band and Wi-Fi direct for enhanced connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.1 LE, A2DP, EDR, LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | The Stylus has a newer Bluetooth version with more advanced audio codecs, offering superior sound quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | The Stylus supports more global navigation systems, leading to slightly more accurate GPS in more regions. |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano SIM) | Single SIM (Nano SIM) | Both phones have the same single SIM capability. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32GB or 64GB | 256GB | The Stylus has much larger storage for apps, photos, and videos. |
| RAM | 3GB or 4GB | 8GB | The Stylus has double the RAM, enabling smoother multitasking, running resource-intensive apps, and more efficient switching. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic audio features | 2 microphones | The Stylus offers better voice capture using 2 microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both phones use side-mounted fingerprint readers, providing basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones have unknown screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | The G Power includes a compass for advanced use cases in maps. The Stylus lacks this. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Advantages:
- Potentially Wider Aperture Main Camera: The f/1.7 aperture on the primary camera might allow it to perform slightly better in low-light conditions compared to the f/1.9 on the Stylus.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: Offers a dedicated sensor for portrait mode, which may produce better background blur than the software-based solutions on the Stylus.
- Potentially Slightly Lighter: A difference of 8.5 grams might be noticeable during extended periods of use.
- Included Charger: The G Power includes a 10W charger in-box, while the Stylus may or may not, which is better for user convenience.
- Compass Sensor: Offers an advantage in navigation and AR applications.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 695 5G chipset and Adreno 619 GPU provide noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Higher Resolution Display: The 1080x2460 resolution and 395 PPI result in a much sharper and more detailed display.
- Smoother Display: The 120Hz refresh rate offers a much smoother and more responsive user experience, which is noticeable in daily use.
- Larger Storage & RAM: With 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, the Stylus can handle more apps, photos, and multitasking.
- Better Selfie Camera: 16MP resolution will provide better quality photos for social media and video calls.
- Wide-Angle Lens: Provides added versatility for capturing more of a scene in a photo.
- OIS and Night Mode: Optical image stabilization and night mode will greatly improve low-light photos and videos.
- Newer Software: Android 12 offers newer features, security improvements, and better optimization.
- Enhanced Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 with support for advanced codecs for better audio quality.
- Better GPS: Offers more satellite systems for more reliable location tracking.
- Dual Microphones: Offers slightly better voice capturing when recording audio.
Trade-offs:
- The G Power offers a dedicated depth sensor and potentially wider aperture for the main camera, which may lead to better low-light images and bokeh effects, though image quality is not exclusively determined by aperture.
- The G Power is lighter.
- The Stylus lacks a dedicated compass sensor.
- The Stylus has a slightly heavier body.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Prioritizing affordability above all else with compromises.
- Users primarily concerned with battery life: Both phones have the same battery capacity, but its lower resolution screen and less powerful chipset may lead to slightly longer battery life.
- Users who do not need high performance for gaming or heavy multitasking.
- Users who prefer a lighter phone.
Use Cases:
- Basic daily tasks, calling, browsing, social media.
- Long periods of usage on a single charge for travel.
- Photography is secondary, and only standard shots are taken.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) Ideal User:
- Users seeking a responsive and smooth user experience: The 120Hz display refresh rate and powerful chipset is beneficial for users looking for better performance.
- Users who want a better display: For gaming, social media, video watching, etc.
- Users who prioritize camera capabilities: The addition of the wide angle lens and night mode are significant for those who want to capture more of a scene.
- Users who value ample storage for media and apps.
- Users who want better audio quality via Bluetooth and want better voice capturing.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming and heavy app usage.
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos.
- Multitasking between many apps.
- Watching media on a sharper, smoother screen.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? If your budget is very tight, the G Power (2021) might be cheaper. If budget is not the main consideration, the Stylus offers much more value.
- How much do you prioritize display quality, smoothness, and performance? The Stylus has a much better display with a higher resolution and refresh rate, as well as more processing power. If these are important, it's the clear choice.
- What are your camera needs? The Stylus offers significant features such as OIS, night mode, and a wide angle lens, making it better for versatile photography.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: The Budget User. If you absolutely must spend as little as possible and only need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light use, the Moto G Power (2021) will save you money, with a trade-off on overall performance.
- Scenario 2: The Value Seeker. If you want a better all-around experience with smoother performance, a high-resolution display, better camera features, and ample storage, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is the better choice.
- Scenario 3: The Camera User. If your main focus is on taking high quality photos and videos, especially in low light, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) with its OIS, Night mode and wide angle lens is superior.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022).
Here's why:
While the Moto G Power (2021) may be slightly lighter and could offer a bit more battery life due to its less powerful hardware, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) provides a superior overall experience. The dramatically better performance with the Snapdragon 695, the significantly sharper 120Hz display, the much larger storage, and the advanced camera features (OIS, night mode, wide angle lens) make it the clear winner. These advantages improve all aspects of daily use, including gaming, multitasking, media consumption, and photography. The price difference, assuming it's not too significant, is easily justified by the substantial performance and feature upgrades.
