Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G | 2024 | Unlocked | Made for US 8/256GB | 50MP Camera | Caramel Latte

I've been a rather loyal Motorola phone user. First of all, my first cellular phone (way back in the day) was Motorola, but I've also owned Moto/Motorola branded smartphones since the Nexus 6 (which was branded Google but was actually made by Motorola). After that phone's internal storage failed on me ( watch -- this will become a pattern), I bought a Moto G5S Plus. Then after 2 years when it's internal storage failed on me (told you -- pattern!), I bought first model Moto G Stylus. Then my first Stylus started showing the now familiar signs of failing internal storage (again after 2 years), I bought the Moto G Stylus 5G 2022. I admit that I probably could've continued using the original Moto G Stylus for a while longer (maybe?), but I also really wanted 5G capability, so when the original Stylus first started slowing down, I just went ahead and bought the then current 5G Stylus model. That was 3 years ago, and just recently (much to my surprise), my Moto G Stylus 5G 2022 started showing signs of a failing battery. Yes, I could've just replaced the battery, but the phone was already 3 years old and I had been watching it carefully for the past year for any sign of the familiar internal storage failure. I just didn't think it was worth the time/trouble to replace the battery only for the internal storage to likely fail sometime soon. So, I decided to move on to the Moto G Stylus 2025.The Positives:And...WOW. Very significant, obvious upgrade! I think everything on the phone is a big improvement over the Stylus 2022 model. The phone is much faster with the newer higher end processor, the cameras are much better quality (as is the improved Moto Camera app, which...sorry...has previously just been useless), the stylus features/apps are much nicer, love the fingerprint sensor being in the screen rather than on the power button, the screen seems much brighter with better refresh (even though I think its technically the same), love the faster wifi with Wifi6, love the newer Bluetooth, and I really like that Moto has kept the headphone jack and expandable storage. The rest of the improvements are mostly due to the OS upgrade, but you can't really disregard those when the older Stylus isn't receiving anymore OS upgrades.The new cameras are just superb in comparison to the Stylus 2022, and I really liked the Stylus 2022 cameras. I've always used GCam ports (specifically BSG MGC) with my Stylus 2022, which is why I always got the great photos that I did. The Moto Camera 3 app was actually just lousy. It used to take a decent enough photo, but then the post processing would pixelize and blotch up the image. The new Moto Camera 5 app actually works a lot like the Google Camera (GCam) and actually enhances the photo in post processing rather than ruining it. I still installed GCam port and sometimes use it, but for most photos I just use the Moto Camera 5 app.So far the battery life has been great, but so was all my Moto cameras, so there's no real surprise there.I was a little disappointed in the lack of color choices of the Moto G Stylus 2025, and I especially miss the seafoam green of my Moto G Stylus 5G 2022 (which I wasn't tired of at all), but I've actually really come to like the purple-ish blue color of "Surf the Net" (whatever that's supposed to mean), and I've put it in a clear case like I did my Stylus 2022 to show off the color.More a matter of market timing than anything else, but it's also nice that this time around I actually found that 1TB microSD cards are now reasonably priced, about as much as the 512GB ones were back when I bought the Stylus 2022. So, now I have a phone with 1,256GB of storage for around $460 total. You're definitely not going to be able to find a Samsung or Apple phone model with that much storage (and all these features) for that low of a price. Moto is definitely the best thing going in bargains.The Negatives:Most of these aren't true negatives, and are actually more like situational issues for me, personally. First of all, I don't like the new Gemini AI. I was able to easily avoid it when Google offered it as a software upgrade in my last phone, but it's built-in to this one's ROM. It took several tries, but I think I've finally turned it off in most areas of my phone and I'm almost entirely back on the good ol' reliable Google Assistant. I'm sure eventually I will only be offered Gemini.Another personal negative is that apparently this phone is now entirely 64-bit so I ended up losing several of my favorite 32-bit apps. One of them is PicSay Pro photo editor, which is hands-down the best Android photo editor available even though it hasn't had an update or even supported for over a decade. It was removed from Chromebook when it was finally removed from the Google Play Store as unsupported, but it wasn't removed from my phone until I tried to upgrade to this phone and migrate all data and apps. Even so, I tried the backup/restore method to move an old app and it didn't work, citing that the app is not compatible with my phone. The problem is that there is no other photo editor that even comes close to this decade old unsupported app, which is truly pathetic. Fortunately, the latest version of Google Photos that came with the new OS on this new phone, at least has most of PicSay Pro's features, but still not all of them. And no, Snapseed doesn't have it all either. Oh, well.There are other little issues, too, like for whatever reason Moto decided to copy Apple and have the usual power button changed into a multi-function button that does everything except power on/off the phone. That's pretty annoying considering the main reason I'm sticking with Moto is because it's not typically going the way of Apple, Samsung, and Google.Summary:Definitely the best phone I've ever owned, and even though I've liked all my Moto phones, I thought that was never going to happen again after the Nexus 6. The positives far outweigh any negatives (if there are any legit negatives that would matter to anyone except me), and Moto has definitely brought the Stylus way into the realm of a flagship more than a mid-class phone. With how Samsung and Google went completely Apple-esque with having no expandable memory, no headphone jack, and a ridiculous high pricetag, the market for me has now ceased to be a question of Android vs. iOS, and it's now Moto vs everything else. For now, I'm very happy sticking with Moto.

It has been more than 4 years since my last new device, and I was really wanting to depart from Samsung, since they are getting too big for their breeches --as the old saying goes. I purchased this delightful model after a recommendation from a trusted friend, and loads of research into the device (from reviews and videos --to using both the manufacturer pages, GSM Arena and Phone Scoop to verify all specs).. This device is approximately 87% comparable to the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G with a few nice additions (Especially the stylus). I am thrilled to finally have a built in stylus and all the abilities that go with it. (Samsung only includes this on their ridiculously overpriced flagship top-end models.) I am also very pleased to finally have eSim capability, and have also just learned about the new android feature called "Seamless Updates". This feature means the OS is kept in a doubled state between Partition A and Partition B. Your phone is thus updated by modifying the inactive Partition B and then the Partitions are swapped at next boot to complete the upgrade. This feature was started to not only make updates faster, but also to reduce the possibility of update errors.. Simply Brilliant!.. This also eliminates the need over all years past to clear the system cache after every update.The display on this phone is 85% brighter and more vibrant than my old A71, and I have twice the room as well, and a significantly a faster processor, more ram, and the ability to designate up to 8GB more of virtual memory with a feature common now to many phones called "Ram Boost" (or something similar). I also purchased a new 280W Type-C charging station due to the rather high 30W Turbo Charge (BTW.. In the case of this phone, that means anything from 15W(Wireless Charging) to 30W will activate fast charging). I also purchased a delightful 240W data/charging cable to go with it and of course, a decent heavy duty case, camera protectors, and proper tempered glass screen protectors. This 30W Turbo Charging is so fast you can virtually watch it increment the numbers.. It took no time at all to reach 100% from the out of the box 53% charge. I also side comment that the box was nicely packed, and I liked how they didn't even use twist ties on the USB cable.. They used paper cuffs instead, and only bound it in an oval to avoid unnecessary kinking... *Really Nice* The so-called *Chuckles* "Vegan Leather" on the back is not my style, or definitely --my color. (You may use Neatsfoot Oil on it to help avoid stains and to preserve the leather. It works both on natural and artificial leathers and is the classic treatment for such.) I prefer Black or Blue --or even perchance a lovely sexy purple, but they only offer this phone atm in a fire engine sort of Christmas type red *shudders* or that weird creamed tea blondish beige. It really doesn't matter that much since I put it in a purple case anyway, but STILL!! I am over all totally pleased with this device, but let's get to the meat of the matter..Motorola has gone a bit NVTS Nuts with this phone concerning bloatware.. I completely understand why they loaded both the necessary and or critical software for the various carriers out there, but they could very easily do the same via a delivery app that automatically asks you WHICH CARRIER YOU HAVE, and then installs the necessary soft for said carrier during initial setup. They instead just loaded everything in as "System Software" instead of "USER APPS" so you can't remove anything you don't need save via ADB. They also need to let us choose with more options which bundled software we want and don't want during setup. (I never root my phones anymore.. just don't have to.. and I don't advise it for many reasons. The ADB method of removal is legit and doesn't break the phone or void the warranty when done properly.) Root your phone???, and you lose your ability to update automatically???, and you also lose your coverage??? NO WAY! So just... Don't!... Then there is all the rest of the junkware/bloatware.. Gone Gone Gone. A few apps won't remove.. Oh Well.. *disables them* Android 14 finally implements a block on older apps.. If you have any you want and or need to keep, you will have to sideload them via ADB and a windows PC. (Word to the wise... There are reasons for blocking them.. so take care of what you keep.. some old apps are vulnerable to security breaches.)The finger print scanner is WoNDeRfUL!! It was a BRILLIANT idea to put a flash behind it to even be able to capture hard to scan prints like mine and a few others I know. It is fast and seamless and can hold up to five prints. I don't use Face ID, so I can't attest to that at this time without another trying it. I normally don't use a games app either, but it looks like there are some nice little games inside, so I am keeping it. My Aunt purchased the device as well and T-Mobile activation was seamless and expedient. Let's see... what else... I at first was dubious about the feature that lights up the display when you pick it up, but find it it quite useful. I also like the double tap to wake option. There are many other useful gestures as well. I also like the "Dolby Atmos" app in there that neatly rearranges the spatial displacement of the the audio when you rotate the phone to keep the stereo working like it ought to. This device also comes with screen-casting services built in. I will be testing this in future. There are separate ringtones for regular Sim and eSim, so be sure to check in "Sound & Vibration" in Settings if your ringtone does not apply correctly. There is also a neat little feature that keeps the phone awake while you are looking at it (you have to manually turn this on).. What a nice Idea!! They really put a lot of thought and effort into this phone.Another point of which I would like to make note is the way Motorola updates the device. They offer only one major android upgrade beyond that which is installed, but they do... apparently push security updates each month. I had to update several times out of the box to account for each monthly security update from July of 2024 till now. I was fortunate to receive 3-4 updates of this kind per year for my old A71.. I REALLY appreciate these regular updates that will apparently continue to be regular..In conclusion I would like to say, Motorola has always made good products, and this phone is no exception. You will definitely need to customize it to suit your tastes and needs of course, but I heartily recommend this device. You may also purchase the extended and most generous 2 extra years of warranty through the "Device Help" app so long as you are within the first year of warranty, for a reasonable price. As the old saying goes.. This phone "Is Firm, and Fully Packed." I love having a stylus at long last, and not having to give my first born to get it. The price point is excellent and the device is solid and well made. It still needs a better battery, but I can definitely work with it, and will thoroughly enjoy this phone. I hope more folks buy it. I will be glad to continue to recommend it to my friends, family, and my clients.Namaste...