I was worried about the Moto G Stylus (2026), but Motorola has figured it out

I recently wrote about Motorola’s challenges in 2026. The component crisis is hitting every manufacturer, and prices are starting to creep up.

I feel this is particularly dangerous for Motorola, as much of the company’s appeal relies on its devices being an excellent value.

I don’t recommend a phone like the Motorola Edge because it’s the best midrange phone I’ve ever seen, but because it provides solid performance in a well-built package for a fair price.

It appears we have our first hint of how Motorola intends to tackle price increases with its Moto G Stylus 2026 announcement.

Yes, the phone is more expensive than last year’s, but you don’t come away empty-handed. It’s the best course of action for Motorola, and it should help the company keep most of the momentum it has built.

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Motorola doesn't need to beat Samsung — it just needs to remember this

Motorola can't lose sight of value

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By  Stephen Radochia

The Moto G Stylus has always been a favorite

Moto has a plan to keep users happy

I’ve been a fan of the Moto G Stylus lineup from the beginning.

The phones were always solid performers, and I loved that I could get 95% of the functionality I use a stylus for at a fraction of the price I’d pay for a Galaxy Note.

Software updates were a struggle, and the original G Stylus only had 4GB of RAM, but I appreciated what Moto was trying to do.

Fast-forward a few years, and the G Stylus series is a midrange force to be reckoned with.

Last year’s model was superb, with outstanding battery life, a gorgeous display, and reasonable performance from its Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset.

A pressure-sensitive, tilting stylus wasn’t on my bingo card for the new Moto G Stylus, but I’m glad we have it.

It’s yet to be seen how upgraded the new G Stylus feels, but we do know the price has increased. The base G Stylus will now run you $500, while the 256GB variant will cost $600.

Under normal circumstances, I’d tell you to run away from a G Stylus that empties your wallet for $600, but Moto doesn’t send you away empty-handed.

For $500, Motorola includes some Moto Tags with your purchase, but the bundle doesn’t really make sense until you upgrade to the 256GB model.

Yes, $600 is expensive for a midrange Motorola, but the company made it a one-stop shop. You get the phone, a Moto Watch, a pair of Moto Buds Loop earbuds, and one Moto Tag.

It makes sense as a package for a budget buyer looking to save money, and it keeps Moto’s main advantage alive and well.

I expect discounts when the bundles go away

The G Stylus will be a fantastic deal by the holidays

The bundles are a savvy idea for a couple of reasons. It makes an otherwise outlandish $600 price tag seem reasonable for early buyers.

However, after the bundles are gone, I still expect the same great sales we are used to seeing on Moto products. I’d be shocked if the G Stylus weren’t back down to $400 (or lower) by the holidays.

It’s the best of both worlds. The phones don’t feel like a complete rip-off on release, but we also get to enjoy what’s made Moto successful over the last few years.

The Moto G phones are the ideal midrange and budget devices. They are phones that you can walk into a Walmart or Target a few months from now and pick up for $200 to $300.

They also make attractive carrier discount devices, underscoring the importance of being in US carrier stores.

There’s a lot to like in Motorola’s midrange lineup, and I’m pleased to see the company isn’t throwing away the value buyers get from its devices despite rising component costs.

I’m looking forward to the new stylus

I wasn’t asking for more, but I’m glad we got it

A pressure-sensitive, tilting stylus wasn’t on my bingo card for the new Moto G Stylus, but I’m glad we have it. It’ll make handwritten notes more natural and improve your ability to draw on your phone.

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It’s hilarious that Moto is putting a battery in its stylus after Samsung removed one from the S Pen, but it shows that a fully functional stylus is still useful in 2026.

I also appreciate that Moto emphasizes palm rejection with the G Stylus 2026. Nothing is more annoying than trying to use my smartphone to take notes, only to find I can’t use it like a traditional notepad.

Moto would do well to keep adding features and functions that Samsung discards, as should be highlighted in the upcoming Motorola Razr Fold.

Rising prices are a concern, but Motorola appears to be addressing them through market awareness, and I’m a fan.

The G Stylus looks like a solid recommendation again

I’ll reserve final judgment until the phone is in for testing, but as long as Moto doesn’t completely fumble the G Stylus’s hardware and software, I’m looking forward to it again this year.

It’s an excellent phone to recommend around the holidays on a Black Friday sale, and I appreciate that the company has brought it a couple of steps closer to the much more expensive Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Moto appears to be navigating a tough situation well — let’s hope it continues.