Tracfone Moto G Stylus 2022 Review, Specs and Features
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| Tracfone Moto G Stylus 2022 (XT2211DL) |
With a 6.8" 90Hz touchscreen, 128 GB internal storage and 50 MP rear camera, the 2022 Stylus by Motorola packs in lots of great features. It also comes with Android 11, Octa-core processor and 4 GB RAM.
The Moto G Stylus line has been very popular for several years, not just for the detachable stylus, but for the large screen and great value. The Tracfone version doesn't disappoint with a sub-$200 price from many sources. It is the 'step up' from the Moto G Power line (like the Moto G Power 2022), which usually strikes a balance between performance and affordability.
The unlocked 2022 Stylus was first released in February 2022, and eventually released by Tracfone for their network in mid-2022.
Let's get straight to our pro's and con's for the Stylus.
Moto G Stylus 2022 (XT2211DL) Quick Facts
What we Like:
-Large, full HD screen
-90Hz screen refresh rate
-Lots of internal storage
-Responsive fingerprint reader
What we Don't Like:
-Mediocre processor
-Slow charging speed
-No 5G
-Not a big upgrade over previous models
-Tracfone version offers only 4GB RAM
Motorola made an interesting decision to go with the cheaper, and somewhat less powerful, MediaTek Helio G88 processor for the Stylus. This was likely to keep the price down, but may also be motivated by the fact that Motorola recently released the Stylus 5G 2022, which comes with a more powerful snapdragon processor (and a higher price tag).
5G networks are still fairly limited, and likely won't be fully implemented for a number of years, but it still is a feature we would have expected to see, along with a more powerful processor. (Learn more about What 5G is, or find out more about Tracfone's 5G network coverage and maps)
It is important to note that the Tracfone version of the Moto G Stylus 2022 comes with only 4GB RAM instead of 6, which the unlocked version has. Most of the Motorola phones offered by Tracfone have a similar reduction in RAM which hurts the devices multitasking ability and gaming performance.
Time for the full break down of features and specs on the Stylus.
Tracfone Moto G Stylus 2022 (XT2211DL) Features and Specs
Below are the features followed by the technical specs
- Android 11 (Upgrade to Android 12 sometime in the future likely)
- 4G LTE compatible (Verizon)
- Access to the Google Play Store with over 1 Million Apps
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
- Bluetooth 5
- Alarm Clock
- MP3 Player
- Standard 3.5mm headphone jack
- Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
- SMS/MMS
- USB Type-C 2.0 connection
- USB Charger (10W Fast Charging)
- Sensors: Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
- Water-repellent coating
- Hearing Aid Compatible
Moto G Stylus 2022 (XT2211DL) Specs
Size: 6.70 x 2.99 x 0.37 in (7.62 oz)
Camera: Triple Rear Camera - 50 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide), 2 MP (depth), 16 MP front camera
Screen: 6.8" full HD touchscreen with 1080x2460 resolution (396 ppi)
Processor: 2.0 Ghz Octa-core (MediaTek Helio G88) Processor
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 128GB and dedicated MicroSDXC card slot
Battery: 5,000 mAh with about 37 hrs usage time (non-removable)
Motorola was originally founded as an American telecommunications company back in 1928. But in 2011, after several years of significant losses and challenges, the company was split and the mobile phone segment of the company was sold to Google. Two years later, the Motorola mobile phone segment was sold again, this time to Lenovo.
During the ownership by Google, the popular Moto G line was first released, as an unlocked, budget smartphone that still packed features to keep up with all the daily needs of users. Since transitioning to Lenovo, that has continued with now a large lineup of Moto G phones released every year.
Many Tracfone BYOP users are very familiar with the Motorola brand as it has released a number of low cost unlocked phones capable of being used with Tracfone going back to the original Moto G. The Moto G Stylus 2022 is also available unlocked and can be used with any service provider.
Time to take a closer look at all the features on this year's Stylus.
Tracfone Moto G Stylus 2022 Review
Touchscreen
The 6.8" IPS LCD screen on the Stylus has a 90Hz refresh rate and full HD resolution of 1080x2460. This gives the device a pixel density of about 396 ppi, which leads to a nice, sharp screen. The phone also has a pretty good screen-to-body ratio of about 84%, which just means the bezels are relatively small, especially compared to the 2022 Moto G Power, which had a 79% ratio.
The screen looks very good overall, and operates well with the included stylus. In direct sunlight, it does struggle a little to be bright enough, which is pretty typical for devices in this price range. The saturation and colors on the Stylus look very good, and make any images or videos also seem colorful and vibrant.
Performance - Processor, RAM and Storage
The 2022 Stylus comes with 128GB internal storage and 4GB RAM as well as a MediaTek Helio G88 octa-core processor. While the storage and RAM are both good features, the processor is a little underperforming.
If the internal storage isn't enough, there is also a dedicated MicroSD card slot in the SIM tray for even more storage.
The Tracfone version of this phone comes with less RAM than the unlocked version, with 4GB instead of 6GB. The 6GB RAM included on the unlocked Stylus does a lot to help with multitasking and resource intensive apps. While low to moderate users won't notice the difference in most cases, it will hurt the phones performance, especially combined with the already underpowered processor.
Motorola opted to cut some corners by including the MediaTek G88 processor in the 2022 Stylus. While the processor does handle most apps, web browsing and games well, it is just not as performance oriented as some of the processors in past Motorola devices. The 2021 Stylus, by comparison, has the Snapdragon 678, which outperforms the Helio G88 in most areas. The 2022 Stylus does handle almost all tasks very well, but for those upgrading from an older Stylus model, keep this in mind.
For those that want the higher performance, the Moto G Stylus 2022 5G (coming soon to Tracfone) has the Snapdragon 695 5G, which outperforms the Helio G88 by quite a lot, and features 5G capabilities. Or consider the newly released Pixel 6a from Tracfone.
Camera
The triple rear camera setup consists of a 50 MP main lens, 8 MP ultrawide lens and 2 MP depth sensor. On the front is a 16 MP selfie camera. Images and video from the rear camera are both adequate, and have nice colors. The ultrawide lens is a great feature, although the image quality isn't quite as good as the main camera.
For video, the Stylus only has 1080p at 30 FPS. It would have been nice to see some additional features, such as 60 FPS, but we don't get that here.
Image quality on the Stylus is fine for most things, but does not keep up with more expensive phones and struggles in low light.
Battery
Long battery life is a favorite feature on Motorola devices and the 2022 Stylus does not disappoint with a 5,000 mAh battery that easily lasts all day with moderate usage. With gaming or video usage, you might find it goes through the battery a bit faster because of the large screen.
It will take quite a bit of time to recharge the Stylus because it only has 10W fast charging so plan to leave it on the charger for several hours. This is a minor inconvenience, but when many of Motorola's older phones can charge much more quickly, we're surprised to see this downgrade.
Android OS
The 2022 Stylus does feature Android 11 which includes a number of performance and security improvements over past versions. Motorola is expected to provide an update to Android 12 at some point in the future.
Some of the more interesting features include a built in screen recorder, more useful power button menu, and the ability to access notification history.
Check out our List of the Best Apps to use on Android.
Design
The all-plastic back and sides on the Stylus keep it just short of feeling like a premium phone, but it is very sleek and well designed (other than the bump-out for the rear cameras).
On the bottom of the phone are the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C charging port, and solo speaker. There is also the small port for the stylus, which 'clicks' in or out of it's storage location. It generally stays pretty secure when stored away and the feel and weight of it is great for drawing or adding notes.
The volume rocker and power button are on the right side.
The integrated power button/fingerprint reader on the side of the phone works well and is snappy most of the time when reading the fingerprint. It seems to be a more convenient location vs the back of the phone on tome of Motorola's older devices.
We would suggest at least a simple plastic or
rubber case to help protect the device. The phone does have a water repellent coating, but there's no mention of gorilla glass protection for the screen.
Conclusion - Should You Buy? (Plus Other Options)
The 2022 Stylus is a solid device overall and one of the cheapest options with a large, full HD screen and stylus. Plus, the Tracfone version is already over $100 cheaper than the unlocked device. There is plenty of internal storage and RAM, and the processor performs just fine for the majority of everyday tasks.
For some, however, the Stylus may be one to skip, especially for those looking for 5G network capability, or a powerful processor for heavy gaming or other resource intensive apps. Those who already have the 2020 or 2021 Stylus may also consider skipping the 2022 Stylus, or opting for the 2022 Stylus 5G (coming to Tracfone soon).
The
Samsung Galaxy A13 5G offers somewhat similar features and price (although less RAM, storage and screen resolution) but comes with 5G network capability and may be a worthwhile option to consider, particularly for users who want 5G, and are looking to keep the price low.
The
Galaxy A53 5G offers even more than the Stylus, with a beautiful Super AMOLED HD screen, powerful processor with 5G network capability, IP67 protection and more. It is available from Tracfone for just about $100 more than the Stylus.
For those that don't need the extra internal storage or stylus, the
2022 Moto G Power is a modest but solid device that can be found from Tracfone for around $100.
Finally, for some users the unlocked version of the
Moto G Stylus 2022 may be a consideration. You get the freedom to quickly switch to different SIM cards and other carriers. However, the price for the
unlocked 2022 Stylus is listed at $299 (But currently on sale for $160) and at that price, there are several options with similar prices that offer a little more performance and features.
Where to Buy the Moto G Stylus 2022
The Tracfone Stylus 2022 is available from several online retailers, with a variety of prices. Here are the best sources and prices we've found.
Moto G Stylus 2022 User Manual and Device Tutorials
Get more information about the Stylus and some of the basic tutorials here:
That's it for our review of the Stylus, we hope you found this information useful. Please leave a comment with any thoughts or questions, or reach us on our Facebook page for faster response.
