The Moto G Stylus is the first consumer phone to feature a stylus in years, apart of course from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and its predecessors. The comparison is inevitable. But given the vast difference in price and specs, we're inclined not to pit them in a typical "versus" fashion. Instead, we'll answer a better question: is the Moto G stylus a good budget Samsung Galaxy Note 10?But wait, what about the Note 10 Lite? At CES 2020, Samsung announced the Note 10 Lite, a cheaper version of the flagship, but this phone isn't widely available, and even at a reduced price, it's twice as expensive as the Moto G Stylus. If this changes, we will re-evaluate this match. The short answer: yes, it seems to be... for the most part. There are certain benefits that you just don't get at the budget end. But there are also particular differences between Motorola's and Samsung's approaches that make them less similar in phone philosophy. Don't worry, we'll explain this later. Let's start by talking about the obvious comparisons of where they rank, then we'll look at how they differ. Image 1 of 2
But they are both styi, right?
Yes, both phones have styles, but they work a little differently due to hardware options and software interactivity. As a point of reference, the Note 10 S Pen leads the way in terms of functionality. It sits flush against the edge when inside the phone, and retrieving it is a tricky action: push in and it fits snuggly, push in and out. It's a precise stylus, and it uses Bluetooth for its added functionality: the button can function as a remote shutter for shooting the main phone, or you can press it for gesture commands which, admittedly, is often too erratic to be reliable. The Moto G Stylus accessory is an analog tool, simply functioning as a capacitive substitute for a finger. It has no buttons, no remote functionality, and sits securely on the phone after being pressed until the handle-mounted pens lock into place. To remove it, you have to pull on the tip of the hook that sticks out of the phone, but it takes so much force that a pocket or loose rope does not hang and does not pull it. Image 1 of 2
So are they useful too?
It's pretty clear that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10's S stylus performs better than the Moto G stylus - you get what you pay for. The Samsung cost €949 / £869 / AU$1,499, while the Motorola phone cost €299 (around £230, AU$440). So what features do you really miss when going with Motorola? The S Pen's remote shutter is neat but not terribly useful, unless you've managed to prop your Note 10 up on ledges or mount it on a tripod. Similarly, the "gesture" control promises the ability to change songs or any other simple action in the blink of an eye, but its painstaking recognition is less Harry Potter and more trial and error. . The best and most reliable use case for the S Pen is the simple ability to take notes: it's responsive and precise enough to write and draw on your device. This is especially useful when the screen is locked and you just need to type something. The Moto G Stylus isn't quite as precise as it has a larger tip, but it's still pretty accurate and neat to use with special features. While the Moto Note app works well for drawing, the stylus is also useful for things like tagging photos or dexterous tasks like painting on parts of the sketch. an image that you want to move to Cinemagraph. Image 1 of 2
