Motorola has officially launched the Moto G Stylus (2026), bringing a refreshed stylus-focused smartphone to the midrange market on April 7. Priced at $499.99 in the United States, the device aims to offer pen input, strong durability, and premium-style features without moving into flagship territory.
The new model keeps the stylus as its main identity, but Motorola has also upgraded the display, cameras, battery, and overall toughness. For users who want note-taking, sketching, or quick annotations on a large-screen phone, the Moto G Stylus (2026) is one of the most complete options in its price class.
Water-Resistant Stylus Gets a Meaningful Upgrade
Motorola says the built-in stylus now supports pressure sensitivity and tilt effects, which should make handwriting and drawing feel more natural. This matters for users who rely on the pen for creative work or daily productivity tasks.
The stylus also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings, which means it is protected against dust, splashes, and harsher water exposure. Motorola states that a full charge takes about 15 minutes, while the stylus can last up to four hours of use or around 100 hours on standby.
Large AMOLED Display With Very High Brightness
The Moto G Stylus (2026) uses a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. That combination should deliver smooth scrolling, responsive navigation, and a sharper viewing experience for video and apps.
Motorola also claims peak brightness reaches 5,000 nits, a figure that should help the screen remain readable under direct sunlight. For mobile users who spend a lot of time outdoors, that is one of the device’s most practical upgrades.
Camera Setup Focuses on 4K Video
On the back, Motorola fitted a 50MP main camera using the Sony LYT-700C sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The company says this setup helps improve sharpness while reducing blur from hand movement during photos and video.
There is also an 8MP ultrawide camera with autofocus and f/2.2 aperture, while the front side includes a 32MP punch-hole selfie camera. The camera system supports 4K video recording, which gives the phone an edge for users who want sharper clips from a midrange device.
Key Hardware and Battery Specs
The Moto G Stylus (2026) runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip built on a 4nm process. Motorola pairs it with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, with options for 128GB or 256GB internal memory.
For users who need more space, the phone also supports microSD expansion up to 2TB. Motorola includes RAM Boost as well, which can expand virtual memory up to 24GB for heavier multitasking.
- Chipset: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 128GB or 256GB
- Expansion: microSD up to 2TB
- Virtual memory: RAM Boost up to 24GB
The battery capacity reaches 5,200mAh, and Motorola says it can last up to 44 hours. Charging options include 68W wired charging through USB Type-C and 15W wireless charging, which is still uncommon in this price segment.
Built for Durability and Daily Use
Motorola has also positioned the device as a rugged middle-range phone. The Moto G Stylus (2026) carries MIL-STD 810H certification alongside IP68 and IP69 ratings, giving it protection against dust, water, and more demanding environmental conditions.
The phone includes stereo speakers, dual microphones, NFC, and an under-display fingerprint sensor. It ships with Android 16, and Motorola offers two Pantone color finishes: Lavender Mist and Coal Smoke.
At $499.99, the Moto G Stylus (2026) targets buyers who want a phone that combines a stylus, a bright AMOLED screen, 4K video recording, fast charging, and stronger-than-usual durability in one package. For the midrange premium segment, that mix makes it a notable alternative for users who still value pen input in everyday smartphone use.