Okay, let's dive deep into the Motorola Moto G51 5G and the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024). Buckle up, because we're about to dissect these devices with a tech-forward, user-focused approach.
1. Specifications Breakdown
First, let's get our hands dirty with a detailed comparison table. This will help us see the raw differences and, more importantly, what they mean for you in real life.
| Feature | Motorola Moto G51 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 170.5 x 76.5 x 9.1 mm, 208g | 162.6 x 74.8 x 8.3 mm, 190g | Stylus is smaller, thinner and lighter, making it more pocketable and comfortable for extended use. G51 is a bit bulkier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.7" | Minimal size difference, virtually identical screen real estate for day-to-day use. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2400 | Both offer the same sharpness for videos, images and texts, providing crisp visuals. |
| PPI | 387 | 395 | Barely noticeable, pixel density ensures clear text and images, both screens look identical. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | P-OLED | P-OLED offers deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better viewing angles. Overall, a much more premium visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling, animation, and gaming for a fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | Stylus is significantly brighter, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. G51 is almost unusable outdoors. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Stylus's newer chipset is significantly faster and more energy-efficient, resulting in snappier app loading, faster multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 381,000 | 514,000 | Stylus offers noticeably better performance for gaming and resource-intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 710 | Stylus offers superior graphics rendering for smoother gameplay and better visual performance in demanding applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.0µm | Stylus's larger sensor captures more light and detail, offering superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32MP, f/2.45, 0.7µm | Stylus delivers higher resolution selfies, but slightly smaller pixel size may slightly affect low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP | None | G51 offers an additional wide-angle perspective, which is useful for landscape photography. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | G51 can capture close-up details, however the quality may not be that great. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | Stylus offers a wide-angle and macro capabilities with better resolution than G51 separate lenses, delivering much better photos. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30/60/240fps, No stabilization | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, Yes stabilization | Stylus records at higher resolution with stabilization. Resulting in better overall video quality and smoothness |
| Features | Triple camera, Laser AF, RAW | Dual Camera, OIS, Night Mode, Time-Lapse | Stylus boasts modern photography features and image stabilization while G51 offers more hardware lenses and RAW format.. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both offer similar battery life for day-to-day activities, however with the more efficient chipset, the Stylus should get better life. |
| Charging | 10W fast charging | 30W fast charging, 15W Wireless | Stylus has much faster wired and also wireless charging, reducing the time plugged to the wall significantly. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, Reverse Charging | Stylus offers convenience of charging other devices wirelessly. |
| Software & Connectivity | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 14 (upgradable to 15) | Stylus features a newer OS and is set to receive further upgrades and security patches. |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E, MiMO | Stylus offers faster, more reliable WiFi speeds and better connectivity with newer routers and better performance in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1, LE | 5.1, LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC | Stylus provides superior wireless audio quality with higher-fidelity codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC System | Stylus provides higher precision GPS with more supported bands for more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM, eSIM | Stylus offers more flexibility for international travelers with the option of eSIM. |
| Storage & Audio | |||
| Internal Storage | 64GB/128 GB | 256 GB | Stylus provides significantly more built-in storage for media, apps, and files. |
| RAM | 4 GB/ 8GB | 8 GB | Stylus ensures smoother multitasking with its standard 8GB of RAM. |
| Expandable | No | No | Both have no expandable storage, so consider your storage needs beforehand. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, 2 mics | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 mics | Stylus provides more engaging spatial audio through its stereo speakers. |
| Security & Other | |||
| Security | Side mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | G51 offers more secure and faster fingerprint unlocking, although both offer the basics |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Stylus offers more sensors for more features and experiences. |
2. Key Insights
Let's break down the core strengths and advantages of each phone:
Motorola Moto G51 5G
Strengths:
- Wide-Angle and Macro Cameras: Offers more creative flexibility with dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses, although with lower quality than the Stylus.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Generally preferred by many users.
Competitive Advantages:
- If a wide-angle camera is important for you and if you don't mind less performance, this phone is better.
- Cheaper price
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- Older Processor: Significantly less powerful than the Stylus.
- Basic Display: IPS LCD technology is inferior to P-OLED in terms of color, contrast, and outdoor visibility.
- Slower Charging: 10W charging is considerably slower than the Stylus, and it lacks wireless charging.
- Older OS and Software: Runs on older Android OS with less update support.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
Strengths:
- Superior Display: P-OLED screen offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent visibility outdoors due to higher brightness.
- Powerful Performance: The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset is significantly faster than the Snapdragon 480+.
- Better Camera Sensor: The larger main camera sensor captures more light and detail, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light.
- Modern Camera Features: Offers OIS, Time-Lapse, and Night Mode.
- Fast Charging: 30W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging.
- Stereo Speakers: Better audio experience for immersive sound.
- Larger storage: 256 GB
Competitive Advantages:
- Overall Performance: Much better for demanding games, multitasking, and general use.
- Modern Features: Offers a complete user experience with better camera capabilities, wireless charging and higher storage.
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- No dedicated macro and wide-angle camera lenses.
- Basic fingerprint sensor.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Motorola Moto G51 5G:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize having a wide-angle and macro camera, and for those with more patient time when charging.
- Use Cases: Basic tasks, media consumption, casual social media, basic games.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024):
- Ideal User: Users seeking a modern, all-around device with a premium display, faster performance, enhanced photography, and longer battery life.
- Use Cases: Gamers, social media enthusiasts, content creators, users who need to stay connected, heavy usage, and those that appreciate a higher quality screen and sound.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help you decide:
How important is display quality and visibility to you?
- If outdoor visibility and vibrant colors matter a lot, the Stylus is the clear winner.
What is your performance and gaming needs?
- If you want snappier app loading, smoother multitasking, and better graphics, the Stylus is much better.
Do you need fast charging and wireless charging?
- If you want faster charging speeds, and wireless charging, the Stylus is the only phone that offers this capability.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- The Budget User: You're on a tight budget, and you want a 5G phone. The G51 is a good option for the price, but keep in mind that it is not as good as other phones in almost every way.
- The Multimedia Consumer: You watch a lot of videos, play mobile games, or enjoy music; the Stylus with its superior screen, speakers, and performance is the best choice.
- The Photographer/Videographer: You need the best camera quality and video features on your phone; the Stylus with its upgraded sensor and OIS system, is the best choice.
Final Thoughts
If it was my money and I needed a phone right now, I would definitely go with the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024). While the Moto G51 5G offers a cheaper option, the Stylus provides a vastly better experience in almost every aspect that matters to me - display quality, overall performance, camera quality, charging speed and convenience, and audio.
The P-OLED screen is a game-changer for visibility in all environments, and the newer chipset makes a huge difference in daily use. The superior camera sensor makes it a better shooter, and the faster charging and wireless capabilities make the daily charging a lot less of a hassle. Although it does not have the wide and macro cameras, the overall quality of the photos in the Stylus is better.
While the G51 is cheaper, the Stylus simply offers a much more complete and enjoyable experience. It's a device that won't leave you wanting an upgrade anytime soon.
In the end, the choice is yours! Choose wisely.
