A very good transition telephone
The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 has attractive options that can attraction to these on the lookout for a high quality mid-range telephone. Along with the built-in stylus, it has expandable storage as much as 2TB together with a headphone jack, a rarity with smartphones these days. But with restricted software program and safety assist, it’s extra a transition telephone between gadgets that you simply’ll solely hold for a pair years.
ForHas a headphone jackExpandable storage as much as 2TBHas a built-in stylusUltra-affordableDecent camerasAgainstNot as durableLimited shade choicesSoftware and safety assist not as intensive
Get extra for much less
The Google Pixel 8a is a feature-packed gadget that’s surprisingly the “budget” possibility within the new line, regardless of its premium look, really feel, and capabilities. With most of the similar AI options you’ll discover within the greater sister Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro together with spectacular specs and nice cameras, plus seven years of software program and safety updates lead to higher bang on your buck.
ForExtra durableGreat battery life7 years of OS and safety updatesHas AI featuresBetter camerasAgainstDoesn’t have a headphone jackStorage is not expandable
Looking for an honest, inexpensive telephone that also boasts premium options? It feels like a unicorn-type situation, however fortunately, many producers are popping out with stable gadgets for inexpensive costs that look, really feel, and function like dearer variants, with just a few concessions, in fact. Among these are the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 and Google Pixel 8a. Both are comparatively new entries within the firm’s respective strains that received’t break the financial institution however will present a reasonably fabulous expertise.So how do they evaluate to one another, and which one is best for you? We’re right here to assist.Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Design and fundamentals(Image credit score: Motorola)First, let’s see how these two telephones evaluate when it comes to design, supplies, and fundamental specs.The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 is available in Caramel Latte or Scarlet Wave and boasts an enormous 6.7-inch 2,400 x 1,080 FHD+ pOLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee. However, it faucets out at 1,200 nits peak brightness. In his evaluation, Derrek Lee says the telephone is “incredibly vibrant,” even when utilized in Natural shade mode (there are additionally Radiant and Vivid shade modes). He does, nonetheless, discover that the panel presents a bit an excessive amount of distinction, generally leading to darker components of photos and movies being a bit too darkish. Covered in 2.5D glass with vegan leather-based (learn: plastic) physique, it has an IP52 water-repellent design, which implies it isn’t fairly as sturdy because the Google Pixel 8a. But with a protecting case and a few warning, try to be wonderful with gentle sprays within the rain: simply no unintentional dunks! Lee says the telephone does a fantastic job total, not solely when it comes to its design but additionally efficiency, to “emulate the flagship experience while retaining its low price tag.” With normal 256GB built-in storage (or 128GB on sure fashions), this telephone presents a rarity with gadgets of late: a microSD card slot so you possibly can increase storage as much as 2TB. If you intend to take numerous pictures and movies and obtain apps, this might sway your choice. It runs Android 14 with a promise of just one main software program replace and three years of safety updates. This may very well be the deciding issue between these two telephones, particularly when you think about how lengthy Google helps its Pixels as compared. There’s lots to love in regards to the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024, as famous in our evaluation.Battery life is an important function, and this telephone has a sizeable 5,000mAh battery that affords as much as 40 hours per cost. Plus, it helps 30W TurboPower charging (double that of final 12 months’s mannequin) and 15W wi-fi charging with a individually bought charger (it really works with any Qi-enabled wi-fi charger). There are additionally just a few settings choices for conserving battery life which can be value exploring for those who discover you want extra in a pinch. In phrases of different fundamentals specs, you get twin stereo audio system with assist for Dolby Atmos, a pleasant inclusion on condition that it is a mid-level priced telephone; two mics, FM radio, and sure, it even has a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you possibly can join your outdated pair of wired earbuds or headphones. There’s additionally an in-display fingerprint sensor, a pleasant departure from the same old side-mounted sensor in different Motorola telephones, together with face unlock. Of course, let’s not overlook the telephone’s standout function, which is famous in its title: the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 comes with a built-in stylus so you possibly can carry out sure duties with extra precision and provides your finger a break. It’s thicker than previous-gen fashions however capabilities a lot the identical. Lee says he doesn’t use the stylus sufficient to contemplate it a make-or-break function. It’s a nice-to-have however not a need-to-have function.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)By comparability, the Google Pixel 8a is the brand new finances possibility within the Pixel line, with comparable options to the dearer Pixel 8 however with a cheaper price tag. It has a smaller 6.1-inch Actua OLED show with the identical 2,400 x 1,080 decision and 120Hz together with 1,400 nits brightness in HDR and as much as 2,000 nits peak brightness, so you possibly can confidently use it outdoor with out worrying you received’t be capable to see the display screen. The display screen is made from Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with a fingerprint-resistant coating, so that you’ll discover it extra sturdy than the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024. This can be because of the upper IP67 water and dust-resistance ranking. Made of matte composite with a matte aluminum body, it is available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay (a primary for an A-series telephone), and the limited-edition Aloe end. Nicholas Sutrich says in his preliminary Pixel 8a evaluation that the telephone is comfy to carry and fairly merely “looks nice” with its rounded corners. In reality, he says it’s his new favourite design of all the most recent Pixel telephones. The Google Pixel 8a additionally comes with both 128GB or 256GB storage, however the differentiator right here is you could’t add extra by way of microSD card since there’s no growth slot. You do get a trial for Google One cloud storage, although that is solely non permanent until you’re prepared to pay to proceed to subscription as soon as the free trial interval is over. Running Android 14 as effectively, Google future-proofs your buy by providing a whopping seven years of OS and safety updates together with a constant stream of Feature Drops. So, from the angle of longevity, there’s extra confidence that this telephone received’t be outdated in just a few years than the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024. Plus, the Pixel 8a will maintain its worth do you have to determine to improve and wish to commerce it in or resell it down the road. The battery is barely smaller at 4,492mAh, and it’s rated to final for greater than a day as effectively. An Extreme Battery Saver mode can prolong life as much as 72 hours when in a pinch. It, too, helps each quick and wi-fi charging. Along with face and fingerprint unlock, you get stereo audio system with two mics and noise suppression however no Spatial Audio. There’s no headphone jack, so hold that in thoughts: for private listening, you will want a pair of wi-fi headphones or a Type-C USB adapter.Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: SpecificationsBefore diving into the operation and cameras, let’s take an at-a-glance have a look at the specs.Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0 Moto G Stylus 5G 2024Google Pixel 8aOSAndroid 14 (1 Year OS Update, 3 Years Security)Android 14 (7 Years OS & Security Updates)ColoursCaramel Latte, Scarlet WaveObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, AloeScreen Size6.7 inches6.1 inchesScreen Resolution1,080 x 2,4001,080 x 2,400Screen TypepOLEDOLEDRefresh Charge120Hz120HzProcessorSnapdragon 6 Gen 1Google Tensor G3RAM8GB (16GB Ram Boost)8GBStorage128GB, 256GB (expandable as much as 2TB)128GB, 256GB (not expandable)Cameras50MP, 13MP ultra-wide, 32MP entrance64MP, 13MP ultra-wide, 13MP ultra-wide entranceSpeakersStereo Speakers (Dolby Atmos)Stereo SpeakersBattery5,000mAh4,492mAhWireless ChargingYesYesBluetooth5.15.3Water ResistantIP52IP67Cellular5G5GSize6.4 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches6 x 2.9 x 0.4 inchesWeight190 grams188 gramsThere are some notable variations between these two telephones, however let’s dive deeper.Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 vs. Google Pixel 8a: Power and processing(Image credit score: Motorola)When it comes all the way down to it, it’s what’s on the within that counts, proper? And each these telephones have nice specs to thrill informal customers. As famous, the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 runs on Android 14 out of the field. It additionally has a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, which isn’t probably the most highly effective (it’s the identical chip that was within the Moto G Stylus 5G 2023), however it is going to sustain with fundamental duties like net browsing, streaming movies, and music, and even gaming. This pairs with the 8GB RAM, up from 6GB in final 12 months’s mannequin. This is expandable as much as 16GB utilizing the RAM Boost function, which makes use of the telephone’s inner storage as digital reminiscence when wanted. The trade-off is you will have much less storage whenever you’re utilizing it. Lee doesn’t see a degree in utilizing it and hasn’t run into points with gaming leveraging the 8GB RAM and Snapdragon processor alone. It’s fairly spectacular on this respect. With Google being so closely concerned in AI know-how, it’s no shock that even its entry-level gadget will get loads of AI options. You is not going to see something of the type with the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 past with the ability to entry the Gemini app from the gadget and do cool issues like create AI wallpapers. But it has some distinctive options of its personal, sometimes relating to make use of of the built-in stylus. There’s Moto Note app, for instance, for jotting down notes with out having to unlock the telephone. There’s additionally a cool function that allows you to make a drawing with the stylus and add an impact, then flip it into an animated illustration. But that’s just about all you discover in the case of frills on this telephone. However, you do get safe safety by ThinkShield for cell. Additionally, Ready For integration is upgraded to Smart Connect, so you possibly can simply join the telephone to a PC or exterior show to reflect contents, use it as a second display screen, transfer recordsdata, share peripherals, and extra.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Also loaded with Android 14 (however, as famous, loads of software program and safety assist far past that), the Google Pixel 8a is powered by the Google Tensor G3 chip, the identical as its greater siblings. It presents 8GB RAM, sufficient to fulfill most customers’ wants for a mid-range telephone. Like its greater sisters, the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, the Google Pixel 8a has numerous AI options, together with Circle to Search (seek for photos by circling them proper from the app you’re in), the Gemini built-in AI assistant, Pixel Call Assist, Call Screen, Direct My Call, Hold for Me, Clear Calling, and different options. A enjoyable new function referred to as Audio Emoji helps you to create your personal soundtrack audio results throughout a name, like applause or laughing. As with different Pixel gadgets, the Google Pixel 8a is protected with loads of safety, together with VPN by Google One, the Tensor safety core, Titan M2 safety chip, and anti-malware and phishing safety. With Family Link, you possibly can handle privateness settings for teenagers and do issues like set up display screen cut-off dates and share location. While it’s thought of the “budget” possibility within the line, the Pixel 8a’s options and value counsel extra mid-range. Sutrich says this telephone displays Google’s “best mid-range hardware yet, further blurring the line between the company’s flagship ‘premium’ offerings and this mid-range winner.” He singles out the thermal administration as effectively, noting that the Pixel 8a performs higher than even the Pixel 8 Pro in benchmarks, making it an excellent telephone for intense actions like gaming, too.Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 vs. Google Pixel 8a: The cameras(Image credit score: Motorola)How do the cameras in these two telephones two stack up in opposition to each other? The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 has a 50MP ultra-pixel essential digital camera with optical picture stabilization (OIS) mixed with a 13MP ultra-wide rear digital camera with macro imaginative and prescient. The entrance digital camera is a good 32MP for taking fabulous selfies and group pictures, recording movies, and extra. It has all of the anticipated capturing modes, together with portrait, professional (utilizing an extended publicity), panorama, night time imaginative and prescient, stay picture filters, and extra. The cameras even have some AI options, together with Google Auto Enhance, Auto Smile Capture, Google Lens, Shot Optimization, and Auto Night Vision. You may do basic items like take burst pictures, use a timer, assistive grid, add a watermark, shoot in RAW mode, scan barcodes, and extra. Lee says the cameras do a “pretty good job,” producing photos which can be sharp, detailed, and vibrant with first rate dynamic vary. “The images won’t blow you away,” he says, “but they’re perfectly usable.” The telephone additionally does a decent job with low-light pictures, leading to photos with not a variety of noise.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Comparatively, the Google Pixel 8a has a bigger 64MP quad PD large digital camera with Super Res Zoom as much as 8x. It has a 13MP ultra-wide digital camera as effectively, however the entrance digital camera matches that at solely 13MP, a big drop in comparison with the higher-res entrance digital camera within the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024. It isn’t all about decision, in fact. The Google Pixel 8a’s entrance digital camera, for instance, has an ultra-wide field-of-view, so that you would possibly be capable to get extra individuals or extra of a background in your pictures. Google’s bevy of AI options translate to the cameras within the Google Pixel 8a as effectively. Enjoy options like Magic Editor for repositioning and resizing objects in addition to utilizing preset backgrounds, Best Take for selecting one of the best facial expressions for every particular person in a photograph to get one of the best one, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Night Sight, Portrait Mode, and extra. With Audio Magic Eraser for movies, you possibly can even take away distracting background noises. Sutrich says the Pixel 8a’s cameras produce outcomes virtually similar to that of the Pixel 7a, each taking fabulous pictures given their value. With good excessive distinction, color-accurate photos, and stable efficiency when capturing topics in movement (like pets or children), you received’t run into any main points with the cameras on this telephone.Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 vs. Google Pixel 8a: Which do you have to purchase?(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)There are compelling causes to purchase each telephones when wanting on the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 and Google Pixel 8a. The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 has the choice for increasing storage, rising RAM, Dolby Atmos assist, and a headphone jack. Of course, there’s additionally the built-in stylus and all of the enjoyable and helpful issues you are able to do with it. You may additionally theoretically use a stylus with the Google Pixel 8a, however you’d have to purchase one individually, and the expertise wouldn’t be as seamless with out the apps designed particularly for one. But total, the Google Pixel 8a stands out for superior specs in lots of respects. From the Gemini AI integration to the extra sturdy design, further shade choices, and better peak brightness, it received’t disappoint. Also, think about that it’s a smaller telephone. If you favor that, the Pixel 8a shall be extra appropriate. If you’re on the lookout for a telephone with a bigger display screen, you would possibly end up contemplating the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 as a substitute. The largest issue that would affect your choice between these two telephones is the seven years of software program and safety assist that Google presents. If you’re the sort who buys a telephone and hangs onto it for years, you’ll respect that the Pixel 8a received’t be outdated in two to a few years. This may also be appreciated by those that are saving to improve. You can resell the Google Pixel 8a for a reasonably penny to place in the direction of a brand new one, even three, 4, 5, or extra years down the road. By distinction, with Motorola solely providing one main software program replace and three years of safety updates, this telephone will get actually outdated actually rapidly. Thus, the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 is extra of an in-between telephone when you save up for a 12 months or two to purchase one thing greater and higher or a telephone you get on a contract that features a trade-in improve in two to a few years. Both these telephones are nice choices for a killer value. If your finances is about $400 and also you wish to see what else is on the market on this value vary, try our picks for one of the best Android telephones underneath $400, together with different fashions from each manufacturers. If you’re prepared to spend a bit extra, one of the best Android telephones underneath $500 embrace the Google Pixel 8a, together with different choices from manufacturers like Samsung, Nothing, and OnePlus. Once you will have saved up or your wants change and also you’re able to improve to one thing extra premium, one of the best Android telephones don’t all the time should be costly ones, as our picks counsel.
A good possibility for an excellent value
The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 is obtainable at an incredible value given its beautiful design, premium options, and built-in stylus. There’s lots you are able to do with this telephone. Though it’s not a blow-you-away telephone, it checks all of the packing containers as an honest telephone that allows you to do every little thing from stream video to hearken to music, play cell video games, snap pictures, and extra. You’ll respect the headphone jack, expandable storage, Dolby Atmos, and bigger display screen. But there’s nothing particularly compelling about this telephone.
One of one of the best mid-range telephones
The Google Pixel 8a is among the many greatest mid-range telephones you should buy. Despite being probably the most inexpensive possibility within the new line, it has most of the similar options because the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, together with even the identical chip. With fabulous cameras, a sturdy design, and a promise for years of software program and safety updates, plus new Feature Drops coming on a regular basis, it’s an excellent future-proofing telephone you possibly can dangle onto for years to come back.