Motorola has officially launched the Moto G Stylus (2026) in the United States and Canada, updating its stylus-focused midrange phone with a sharper display, a more responsive pen experience, and Android 16 out of the box. The new model arrives as the successor to last year’s Moto G Stylus (2025) and continues Motorola’s strategy of offering a practical phone for note-taking, sketching, and everyday productivity.
The headline changes are easy to spot. Motorola says the built-in active stylus is now better at handling pressure and tilt input in supported apps, while the phone also brings a 6.7-inch pOLED display, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 5,000-nit peak brightness rating for improved outdoor visibility.
What Motorola is emphasizing this year
The stylus remains the core identity of the Moto G Stylus line, and Motorola is leaning heavily into that advantage. In its launch materials, the company says the pen support now feels more advanced because it can detect pressure and angle more precisely, which should help users create smoother lines and more accurate handwriting.
That matters because the phone is not just targeting casual note-takers. It also aims to serve students, designers, and users who prefer writing on screen instead of typing, especially in apps that support stylus input natively.
Display upgrades that matter in daily use
The Moto G Stylus (2026) uses a 6.7-inch pOLED panel with a 1.5K resolution of 2,712 x 1,220 pixels. The combination of higher pixel density and OLED-style contrast should make text, photos, and UI elements look sharper than on many standard midrange devices.
The 120Hz refresh rate should also make scrolling and animations feel smoother. Motorola says the panel can reach up to 5,000 nits at peak brightness, a spec that places it among the brighter phones in its segment and should help with readability in direct sunlight.
Durability and protection
Motorola has also reinforced the phone for tougher everyday use. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, and the device carries IP68 and IP69 certification for dust and water resistance.
Those ratings indicate a stronger defense against environmental exposure than many phones in this class, which is useful for users who want a device that can handle spills, rain, and dusty conditions without extra caution all the time.
Core performance and software
Under the hood, the Moto G Stylus (2026) runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a configuration that should be sufficient for everyday multitasking, media use, and productivity tasks.
Motorola also includes RAM Boost, which can expand virtual memory up to 24GB. For users who keep many apps open at once, that can help the phone stay responsive under heavier use.
The phone ships with Android 16 and Motorola’s Hello UX interface. That gives it a fresh software base from launch, which is important in the midrange market where some competitors still ship older versions of Android.
Camera setup focuses on stability and versatility
Motorola has equipped the phone with a dual rear camera system. The main camera uses a 50MP Sony LYT-700C sensor and includes optical image stabilization, which should improve sharpness in low light and reduce blur from hand movement.
The second rear camera is a 13MP ultrawide unit that also supports macro shooting. On the front, Motorola places a 32MP selfie camera for video calls and self-portraits, keeping the phone competitive for social media and everyday content creation.
Battery and charging options
Battery life is another major selling point. The Moto G Stylus (2026) packs a 5,200mAh battery, which should support a full day of moderate to heavy use for most people.
Charging is flexible as well. The phone supports 68W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging, giving users more than one way to top up during a busy day.
Key specs at a glance
- 6.7-inch pOLED display
- 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor
- 8GB RAM and 128GB storage
- Up to 24GB virtual RAM via RAM Boost
- 50MP main camera with Sony LYT-700C sensor and OIS
- 5,200mAh battery
- 68W wired charging and 15W wireless charging
- Android 16 with Hello UX
- IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance
Price and availability
In the US, Motorola has priced the Moto G Stylus (2026) at $499 for the single 8GB/128GB version. Sales begin on April 16 through Amazon, Best Buy, Motorola’s official website, and several carriers including AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Spectrum Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, Google Fi Wireless, and Optimum Mobile.
In Canada, the device also goes on sale on the same date through Motorola’s official site. With its mix of stylus upgrades, bright AMOLED-class display, large battery, and modern software, the Moto G Stylus (2026) is positioned as one of Motorola’s most practical midrange launches of the year.
