Should you upgrade from the Moto G7 to the Moto G Stylus?

Latest and greatest

Moto G Stylus

$300 at Motorola

Pros

• Better processor and graphics
• Double the internal storage
• Larger battery
• Stereo speakers
• Comes with a stylus

Cons

• Still no NFC
• Charging speeds are slow

Being the latest entry in the Moto G lineup, it doesn't take long to realize that the Moto G Stylus offers quite a few improvements over the G7. It has a newer processor with much better graphics performance, a larger battery, and more internal storage. We also appreciate the addition of stereo speakers and the utility added by the stylus.

Still chugging along

Moto G7

$300 at Amazon

Pros

• Design holds up well
• Glass back is more premium
• Overall decent performance
• Reliable fingerprint sensor

Cons

• Likely won't get updated beyond Android 10
• Poor graphics chip

The Moto G7 isn't the newest Android phone on the block, but it's still holding its own here in 2020. The glass design with a waterdrop notch on the display holds up incredibly well, as do most other aspects of the phone. You can likely hold onto the G7 for a little while longer and still be just fine, but if you're itching for an upgrade, the G Stylus has plenty to offer.

The Moto G7 was one of the best budget Android phones to come out in 2019, and now in 2020, it continues to be a solid handset for anyone that still owns it. It looks good, the performance is still there, and you can likely keep on using it without too much trouble. That said, if you have the money to upgrade to something new, the Moto G Stylus offers ample improvements in just about every area and is worth checking out. From a better chipset, improved cameras, and a bigger battery, it brings a lot to the table.

The Moto G7 is holding its own in 2020

When the Moto G7 was released last year, we hailed it as one of the best budget phones of the time. And you know what? It's done a pretty admirable job of holding its own since then.

From a design point of view, the Moto G7 has aged incredibly well. The bezels surrounding the screen are still relatively slim for a phone this cheap, and if you ask us, the centered waterdrop notch is much more pleasing than the left-mounted hole-punch cutout on the Moto G Stylus (which is vulnerable to some unpleasant shadowing thanks to the IPS display).

The glass back of the G7 is also more premium than the plastic construction of the Moto G Stylus, though you could argue that the G7 isn't as sturdy since it has a polycarbonate frame as opposed to the Stylus's aluminum frame.

As for using the phone on a daily basis, there's nothing about the G7 that's offputting or bad. It's plenty fast for most apps and casual games, the dual rear cameras are fine for Twitter and Instagram photos, and the 3,000mAh battery should get you through a full day of normal use. If you just need your phone to get you through the basics and nothing more, you're more than likely fine to keep using your Moto G7 and don't need to upgrade this very second.

Category	Moto G Stylus	Moto G7
Operating System	Android 10	Android 9 Pie
Display	6.4-inch IPS Full HD+	6.2-inch IPS Full HD+
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 665	Qualcomm Snapdragon 632
Graphics	Adreno 610	Adreno 506
Memory	4GB RAM	4GB RAM
Storage	128GB	64GB
Expandable Storage	Up to 512GB	Up to 512GB
Rear Camera 1	48MP primary camera f/1.7 1.6um	12MP primary camera f/1.8 1.12um
Rear Camera 2	2MP Macro Vision f/2.2	5MP depth camera f/2.2
Rear Camera 3	16MP Action Cam f/2.2 2.0um 117-degree field-of-view	❌
Front Camera	16MP	8MP
Security	Rear fingerprint sensor	Rear fingerprint sensor
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2
NFC	❌	❌
Ports	USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack	USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio	Dual stereo speakers with Dolby tuning	Single speaker
Battery	4,000 mAh	3,000 mAh
Water Resistance	Water-repellent	Water-repellent
Dimensions	158.55 x 75.8 x 9.2mm	157 x 75.3 x 8mm
Weight	192g	172g
Colors	Mystic Indigo	Ceramic Black Clear White

But the Moto G Stylus offers a lot of improvements

Let's say you are looking to upgrade, though. You've been using and loving your Moto G7, but you have some extra cash and want something new. In that case, the Moto G Stylus is a compelling purchase.

Spec-for-spec, the G Stylus offers numerous improvements compared to the G7. The Snapdragon 665 processor has slightly better CPU performance than the Moto G7's Snapdragon 632, but the real difference has to do with graphical performance. While the Moto G7 is stuck with the Adreno 506 GPU, the G Stylus is boosted to the Adreno 610. If you're someone who likes to play graphically intense games (such as Call of Duty: Mobile), the G Stylus has a lot more horsepower to work with.

The Moto G Stylus also offers double the internal storage, a larger battery, and a much more versatile camera system. Not only is the primary camera upgraded from a 16MP sensor to a 48MP one, but you get a lot more shooting possibilities thanks to the 2MP Macro Vision camera and 16MP Action Cam that allows you to record horizontal video while holding the phone vertically.

And, of course, there's the fact that the Moto G Stylus comes with, well, a stylus. This isn't the best stylus we've ever used, but there's also no denying the extra utility it adds to the phone. You can use the stylus for taking handwritten notes, drawing, or just easier navigation of the UI. If you're someone that doesn't find any use in the stylus, you can just keep it stored inside the phone and never have to mess with it.

Finally, there's the matter of software updates. We're expecting the Moto G7 to get Android 10 at some point in the near future, but once that happens, that's likely the last major OS upgrade it'll ever see. Comparatively, the Moto G Stylus ships with Android 10 out of the box and should be slated for an Android 11 update at some point down the road.

Stick to your budget

Deciding if you should upgrade your Moto G7 to the G Stylus ultimately comes down to two things — whether you actually want to upgrade and if you have the budget to afford it.

As mentioned a few times already, the G7 continues to be a rock-solid phone. If you're still happy with it and/or don't have the monetary means to go out and buy a new device right now, you can keep on using the G7 and be perfectly fine.

For those of you that can afford an upgrade and are growing bored with the Moto G7, the Moto G Stylus offers numerous improvements and a few fun features that are well worth your money (especially if you can take advantage of some of the promotions certain retailers are offering).

Latest and greatest

Moto G Stylus

The newest Moto on the block

$300 at Motorola $300 at Best Buy

If you're itching to dump your Moto G7 for something new, the Moto G Stylus is absolutely worth a look. Just about every spec has been improved, whether it be the processor, storage, or battery. You also get a much more versatile camera setup, dual stereo speakers, and the included stylus.

Still chugging along

Moto G7

Lots of love left to give

$300 at Amazon $300 at Best Buy

It isn't the flashiest budget phone on the market these days, but if you still own a Moto G7, you can keep on using it and be just fine. The design holds up incredibly well, performance is plenty fast, and it's not costing you anything to hold onto it for a little while longer.