The Moto G Stylus 2026 does look much like the 2025 model, as a prelaunch leak suggested. But the leak’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 prediction was wrong: Motorola’s announced phone uses a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. The bigger difference is the pen—the 2026 model has an active stylus, while the 2025 model’s pen was passive.
What the original leak claimed
In a report published December 9, 2025, Phandroid described leaked images that appeared to show a 2026 Moto G Stylus with a familiar vegan-leather-style back, rounded corners, a similar camera arrangement, and a built-in stylus silo. The report credited images to Android Headlines, but the available reporting does not establish their original provenance or independently authenticate the renders. Treat the images and specifications as prelaunch leak claims, not confirmed product details. Phandroid’s report
The same report floated a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display, up to 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a battery larger than 5,000mAh. Motorola later confirmed a different processor and specified 8GB of physical RAM, with virtual RAM expansion, and storage options up to 256GB. The leak’s processor prediction was incorrect; the other leak details should not be treated as confirmed merely because some resemble the eventual specification sheet.
What Motorola confirmed for the 2026 model
Motorola announced the US Moto G Stylus 2026 for April 16, 2026, at a $499.99 MSRP. Its US product materials list Android 16 and a 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent performance or battery-test results. Motorola’s US product page Motorola’s announcement
#1 Best Overall
- Unlocked: Compatible with all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and other major carriers.
- Premium built-in stylus. Effortlessly jot notes, edit photos, sketch artwork, and navigate on the only phone in its class with a built-in stylus***.
- Striking design with advanced protection. Make a statement with an ultrathin design, modern colors, and a vegan leather finish plus outstanding water and drop protection*.
- 6.7" pOLED Super HD display + Dolby Atmos. Experience cinema-quality entertainment with over a billion shades of color and multidimensional sound.
- Networks + Bands - 5G: sub-6, 4G: LTE, 3G: WCDMA, 2G: GSM 2G: GSM band 2/3/5/8 3G: WCDMA band 1/2/4/5/8 4G: LTE band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/42/48/66/71 5G: NR n1/2/3/5/7/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/66/70/71/77/78
- Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate; Motorola advertises peak brightness up to 5,000 nits.
- Memory and storage: 8GB physical LPDDR5X RAM, with virtual RAM expansion, and UFS 3.1 storage options up to 256GB. A dedicated microSD slot supports cards up to 1TB.
- Battery and charging: 5,200mAh battery, 68W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging.
- Durability: IP68 and IP69 ratings. These are protection ratings, not a guarantee that the phone is waterproof in every situation.
Motorola says its active stylus responds to pressure and tilt in supported apps. The company advertises up to 100 hours of standby, nearly four hours of writing, and a 15-minute recharge for the stylus; those are manufacturer claims, not independently measured results. Motorola’s announcement
How it compares with the 2025 Moto G Stylus
The comparison below uses Motorola’s US 2026 materials and Motorola Support Canada’s 2025 specifications. Motorola notes that 2025 specifications may vary by market, so the 2025 figures should not be assumed to apply identically in every country. Motorola Support Canada’s 2025 specifications
Rank #2
- NEW built-in stylus. Jot notes, edit photos, sketch artwork, and navigate effortlessly with an improved stylus and updated software.
- 6.7" pOLED display and Dolby Atmos. Experience cinema-quality entertainment with over a billion shades of color and multidimensional sound*.
- 50MP Ultra Pixel camera + OIS. Capture sharper low-light photos and smoother videos with an unshakable camera system featuring Optical Image Stabilization.
- 30W TurboPower charging + over a day battery. Get hours of power in just minutes of charging, then work and play with unbelievable battery life**.
- Standout design. Make a statement with its stunning look, modern color, and soft, vegan leather finish.
| Feature | Moto G Stylus 2025 | Moto G Stylus 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Previous design; 2026 comparison reports a similar overall silhouette | Similar overall design, with a different rear texture and subtle camera-surround changes, according to Android Central |
| Stylus | Passive pen, according to Android Central | Active pen with pressure and tilt response in supported apps, per Motorola |
| Display | 6.7-inch pOLED, 2712 × 1220, up to 120Hz; Motorola lists up to 3,000 nits | 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz; Motorola advertises up to 5,000 nits peak brightness |
| Processor | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
| Memory and storage | 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB storage, with microSD expansion | 8GB physical LPDDR5X RAM with virtual RAM expansion; UFS 3.1 storage up to 256GB and microSD support up to 1TB |
| Battery and charging | 5,000mAh; 68W wired and 15W wireless charging | 5,200mAh; 68W wired and 15W wireless charging |
| Ingress protection | IP68 | IP68 and IP69 |
| Launch price | Not stated in the cited Motorola support specifications | US MSRP $499.99 at announcement; this is not a current retailer price |
Android Central describes the two phones as very similar in appearance, while noting the texture and camera-area differences. That makes “nearly identical” a reasonable shorthand for the exterior, but not for the whole device: the active pen, memory and storage technology, battery capacity, brightness claim, and ingress-protection ratings distinguish the 2026 model. Android Central’s comparison
What the changes mean if you are choosing between them
If you use the pen regularly
The active stylus is the clearest functional upgrade. Pressure and tilt response in supported apps can enable more varied strokes than a passive pen, though the feature depends on app support. If you mainly need a basic pointer or occasional handwritten note, the exterior similarity alone does not tell you whether that upgrade is worth the difference in price.
Rank #3
- NEW built-in stylus. Jot notes, edit photos, sketch artwork, and navigate effortlessly with an improved stylus and updated software.
- 6.7" pOLED display and Dolby Atmos. Experience cinema-quality entertainment with over a billion shades of color and multidimensional sound*.
- 50MP Ultra Pixel camera + OIS. Capture sharper low-light photos and smoother videos with an unshakable camera system featuring Optical Image Stabilization.
- 30W TurboPower charging + over a day battery. Get hours of power in just minutes of charging, then work and play with unbelievable battery life**.
- Standout design. Make a statement with its stunning look, modern color, and soft, vegan leather finish.
If you care about display, storage, or durability
Both models have a 6.7-inch, 120Hz display, but Motorola’s advertised peak-brightness figure is higher for 2026. The newer phone also moves to LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, and Motorola specifies IP68/IP69 rather than IP68 alone. These are specification differences; they do not, by themselves, establish a particular real-world speed, outdoor visibility, or water-resistance outcome.
If you are checking whether an old case will fit
The 2026 phone’s similar silhouette is not enough to establish case compatibility. Android Central notes subtle camera surround and rear-texture changes, and the available sources do not verify that 2025 cases fit the 2026 model. Buy an accessory explicitly listed for the Moto G Stylus 2026 rather than relying on appearance.
Rank #4
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information. Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a charger and charging cable that may be generic.
- GSM unlokcked device - only works with GSM carriers. NOT FOR USE WITH CDMA CARRIERS.
- 6.6" FHD+ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1080x2400px, Aspect Ratio 20:9, 5000mAh Battery, Android 13 128GB ROM, 4GB RAM, Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm), Octa-core, Adreno 600
Bottom line on the leak
The leak was broadly right about the 2026 phone’s familiar look, but it was not a reliable final specification sheet: Motorola confirmed a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, not the rumored Gen 4. The 2026 model keeps the recognizable design while making meaningful internal and stylus changes, so it is visually close to its predecessor without being simply the same phone in a new year.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.7" Super HD, 1220x2712px, 446ppi, AMOLED, 10-bit, 120Hz Refresh rate, 3000nits Peak brightness, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB ROM, 8GB RAM, Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm), Octa-core, Adreno 710 GPU, Android 15, up to 2 major Android upgrades
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 13MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.2 (wide), Bluetooth 5.4
- 3G UMTS: 850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/25/26/29/30/38/40/41/48/66/70/71/77/78, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/25/26/29/30/38/40/41/48/66/70/71/77/78 - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- Carrier unlocked US Model – Global Connectivity – Plug & Play with an ACTIVE SIM on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and most U.S. carriers. New activations are only supported on T-Mobile, AT&T, & Verizon in the U.S., as many carriers may not recognize Carrier Unlocked IMEI's as Compatible. NOT compatible with Xfinity. Carrier unlocked device may retain original carrier logo on start up, while being fully unlocked
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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