Motorola Edge 60 Stylus Review: The Budget Pen Phone We Didn’t Expect?
RSS Feed
Earlier blogs
Alright tech fans, let’s talk about something a bit different. In a world chasing the next big spec bump or the curviest screen, Motorola decided to zig where others zagged. This Motorola Edge 60 Stylus Review looks at a phone aiming squarely at the budget-conscious user who misses… well, features. We’re talking about a built-in stylus. It includes a headphone jack and expandable storage. These are things often ditched in the race for thinness or premium feel. But is this nostalgia trip actually a smart buy in 2025, especially around the ?22,000 mark? Indian tech gurus like Gyan Therapy, Tech Burner, and TechWiser have weighed in. They describe it as everything from “playing different” to possibly being the “cheapest phone” with an integrated pen. This isn’t just another budget phone; it’s a statement. Does it stick the landing, or is it just a quirky outlier? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of this intriguing note-taking smartphone.
Before we continue, don’t forget to check out our editor’s channels for more tech insights and stunning visuals: DroneMitra (“You Sky is Digital with a Drone as a Freind”) and Newspatron (“Let Curiosity Be Your Guide”).
Meet the Motorola Edge 60 Stylus: More Than Just a Pen Phone?
Motorola is carving out a unique space for itself with the Edge 60 Stylus. It’s not trying to be the fastest or the flashiest; instead, it’s bringing back a combination of features that many thought were gone for good in this price segment.
Buy on Amazon
A Different Play in the Budget Arena
As Gyan Therapy aptly put it, “Motorola is playing different.” Launching a phone with an integrated stylus around ?22,000 (potentially ?21,999 with launch offers) is certainly a move that catches the eye. Tech Burner even suggested this might be the absolute “cheapest phone” you can currently buy with a stylus tucked neatly inside.
Furthermore, TechWiser observed that the phone feels like it’s “not from 2025,” not as a criticism, but as praise for including enthusiast-friendly features. Think about it: a 3.5mm headphone jack for your wired cans, a dedicated MicroSD slot allowing up to 1TB of extra storage (separate from the SIM slots!), and, of course, the stylus. These inclusions make it stand out significantly from competitors who often prioritize sleek, sealed designs or solely focus on processing power. It’s a deliberate choice targeting users who value practicality and specific functionalities over chasing the latest trends like curved displays.
Recommended Product
Casio Enticer Men's Analog Green Dial Watch MTP-VD01D
🛒 View on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Price and availability may vary.
Unboxing: What Do You Get?
Inside the box, Motorola provides the essentials to get you started. You’ll find the Edge 60 Stylus itself, a hefty 68W TurboPower charging brick (thankfully included!), a USB Type-C cable, the SIM ejector tool, and the usual documentation. However, echoing comments from both Gyan Therapy and Tech Burner, there’s a noticeable omission: no protective case is included in the retail package. Given the vegan leather back, potential buyers might want to factor in purchasing a case separately to keep it looking fresh.
Design and Build: Practicality Over Curves
Motorola opted for a design language that blends familiarity with practical choices, differentiating the Edge 60 Stylus from some of its siblings and competitors.
Flat Screen Smarts and Tough Build
The phone sports a large 6.67-inch pOLED display, but unlike many mid-rangers aiming for a premium feel with curved edges, Motorola went with a flat panel. TechWiser appreciated this choice, pointing out a significant practical benefit: flat screens are generally less expensive to repair or replace if accidentally damaged. Moreover, flat screens can often feel more secure and easier to handle, reducing accidental touches along the edges – a common annoyance with curved displays.
The frame is polycarbonate, keeping the weight reasonable, while the back features a vegan leather finish available in PANTONE-verified colors like Surf the Web (a vibrant blue) or Gibraltar Sea. Gyan Therapy noted its design resemblance to the Edge 50 Fusion but correctly highlighted the key differences: the flat screen and the presence of the headphone jack. Impressively, despite the inclusion of ports like the 3.5mm jack and the stylus silo, the phone boasts IP68 water and dust resistance and MIL-STD-810H certification for durability. TechWiser found this level of protection commendable, especially given the openings required for these features, adding peace of mind against accidental splashes or drops.
Display Details: Bright but Basic HDR
The 1.5K resolution (2712×1220 pixels) on the 6.67-inch pOLED panel makes for sharp visuals. It also features a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for fluid scrolling and animations. Brightness is another strong point, with Motorola claiming up to 3000 nits peak brightness, ensuring good visibility even outdoors. However, there’s a slight catch for media enthusiasts. TechWiser pointed out that despite the capable display, HDR support seems to be missing in popular streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube at the time of review. While the screen is vibrant and bright for general use, dedicated HDR content won’t display to its full potential. Protection is handled by Gorilla Glass 3, which offers decent scratch resistance but isn’t the latest version available.
The Star of the Show: Is the Stylus Worth It?
Undoubtedly, the integrated stylus is the main talking point for the Edge 60 Stylus. It transforms the device from just another budget smartphone into a potential note-taking smartphone or a tool for casual creativity.
How the Stylus Works (and What It Cant Do)
Let’s be clear: this isn’t Samsung’s S Pen. As Tech Burner described it, it’s a “metal stylus” that feels reasonably substantial in hand, but it’s fundamentally a basic capacitive stylus. This means it lacks advanced features like Bluetooth connectivity (for remote control functions), hover detection (where the screen reacts before the tip touches), or pressure sensitivity (varying line thickness based on how hard you press).
Its primary function is to act as a precise finger substitute. It’s well-suited for jotting down quick notes, basic drawing or sketching, navigating the interface with more accuracy than a fingertip, and tasks like selecting text or editing photos. TechWiser and Tech Burner both confirmed that palm rejection works reasonably well, meaning you can rest your hand on the screen while writing without triggering unwanted inputs, which is crucial for a comfortable writing experience. It’s a simple tool, but potentially very useful for specific users looking for a pen phone experience without the premium price tag.
Smart Software Integration: Moto Notes and AI
Motorola has integrated the stylus smartly into the software. Gyan Therapy explained that removing the stylus from its silo automatically launches the Moto Notes app, even when the phone is locked. This allows for immediate note-taking, capturing fleeting thoughts or information instantly. Within Moto Notes, you can leverage features like OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to extract text from images you capture or import.
Furthermore, Motorola includes some AI-powered features accessible via the stylus, such as “Sketch to Image,” which attempts to generate an image based on your rough drawing. Tech Burner also explored practical tools like the Handwriting Calculator (write equations, get answers) and Free Form Crop for precise screenshot editing. These software additions elevate the basic stylus beyond simple navigation, adding genuine utility for productivity and quick creative tasks.
Performance: Good Enough for Daily Driving?
While the stylus is the headline feature, the phone still needs to perform well for everyday use. Motorola has equipped the Edge 60 Stylus with mid-range hardware suitable for its target audience.
Under the Hood: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
The device runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. This combination provides a solid foundation for general use. Both Gyan Therapy and TechWiser positioned this phone clearly for “normal users” rather than demanding gamers or power users. AnTuTu benchmark scores hover around the 630,000 mark, which is respectable but not class-leading.
In practical terms, this means the phone handles daily tasks like browsing, social media, streaming video, and multitasking between apps smoothly. For gaming, it’s adequate but not exceptional. Tech Burner mentioned that popular titles like BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) are playable on medium to Ultra graphics settings, although some minor frame drops might occur during intense moments. It’s not a gaming powerhouse, but it won’t feel sluggish for typical smartphone activities. The inclusion of a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 phone chipset strikes a balance between capability and cost-efficiency.
Software Experience: Clean Android with a Moto Twist
Motorola ships the Edge 60 Stylus with Android 15 out of the box, running its relatively clean Hello UI skin on top. The company promises a decent software support window: 2 major Android OS updates (taking it potentially to Android 17) and 3 years of security patches. This commitment adds to the phone’s long-term value proposition.
Gyan Therapy noted that the software experience is largely free of excessive bloatware, which is always welcome. However, he did point out the presence of a news feed or recommendations panel integrated into the app drawer, though thankfully, this can be disabled by the user. Motorola also includes its suite of “Moto AI” features, such as Summarize (for web pages or text), Take Notes (likely integrating with the stylus), Remember This (contextual reminders), and Magic Canvas (AI image generation). These AI additions, combined with the familiar Moto gestures (like chop for flashlight, twist for camera), offer added convenience without drastically altering the near-stock Android feel.
Capturing Moments: Edge 60 Stylus Camera Review
The camera system on the Edge 60 Stylus aims to be versatile and competent for its price point, leveraging a capable main sensor and useful secondary lens.
Rear Camera Setup: Sony Sensor and Ultra Wide Versatility
The primary camera uses a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). OIS is crucial for reducing blur from hand shake, especially in lower light conditions, leading to sharper photos and smoother videos. This main sensor is paired with a 13MP ultra-wide camera, which pleasingly also functions as a macro lens, allowing you to capture both expansive landscapes and extreme close-up shots.
Gyan Therapy mentioned the presence of a 3-in-1 light sensor designed to improve color accuracy and reduce flickering under artificial lighting. However, in practical testing, TechWiser found its impact to be quite subtle. Overall photo quality is generally decent for the price. Images capture good levels of detail, particularly in good lighting. Gyan Therapy did observe a tendency towards slightly oversaturated colors, which might appeal to some users looking for vibrant shots but might not be perfectly true-to-life. The Edge 60 Stylus camera offers a solid performance for social media and casual photography.
Front Camera and Video Capabilities
For selfies, the phone is equipped with a high-resolution 32MP front-facing camera. It generally performs well, delivering sharp and detailed self-portraits.
A notable feature, highlighted by TechWiser, is the ability for both the rear and front cameras to record video in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (fps). While 4K/30fps on the rear camera is common, having it on the front camera is a definite plus at this price point, offering higher quality video calls and vlogging potential compared to phones limited to 1080p on the front.
Battery Life, Charging, and Those Extra Perks
Beyond the core specs, the Edge 60 Stylus packs a solid battery and some welcome connectivity and audio features, including some rare finds in this segment.
Powering Through the Day (and Night)
A substantial 5000 mAh battery keeps the lights on. Combined with the relatively efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor and pOLED display, this should comfortably provide all-day battery life for most users. When it’s time to recharge, the phone supports 68W TurboPower wired charging via the included charger, allowing for very quick top-ups.
Perhaps more surprisingly for a phone around the ?22,000 mark, Motorola has also included 15W wireless charging support. This feature, confirmed by both Gyan Therapy and Tech Burner, is typically reserved for more expensive flagship devices and adds significant convenience for users who have adopted wireless charging pads. It’s a standout feature that adds considerable value.
Connectivity and Audio: The Jacks Back
Connectivity options are robust. The phone supports multiple 5G bands for future-proof connectivity, along with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC for contactless payments, and standard GPS navigation systems. The SIM tray configuration is also user-friendly: it accommodates Dual SIMs (one Nano SIM + one eSIM) and has a separate, dedicated slot for a MicroSD card (up to 1TB). This means you don’t have to choose between using a second SIM or expanding storage – you can have both.
On the audio front, the Edge 60 Stylus features dual stereo speakers enhanced with Dolby Atmos support. TechWiser praised the speakers for being loud and providing an immersive audio experience for videos and music. And, as mentioned earlier, the beloved 3.5mm headphone jack makes a welcome return, allowing users to connect their favorite wired headphones or external microphones without needing an adapter.
The Verdict: Who Should Buy This Budget Stylus Phone?
So, after looking at all the features, performance, and unique additions, who is the Motorola Edge 60 Stylus actually for? It carves out a specific niche in the crowded budget market.
Value Proposition: Unique Features vs. Raw Power
This phone isn’t trying to win benchmark wars. If your top priority is raw gaming performance or the absolute best camera system for the money, there might be other options focused solely on those aspects. However, the Edge 60 Stylus offers a compelling package for a different kind of user.
As the collective insights from Gyan Therapy, Tech Burner, and TechWiser suggest, its value lies in its unique combination of features. If you specifically want or need a budget phone with stylus functionality for notes, sketches, or precise navigation, this is one of the most affordable ways to get it integrated directly into the phone. Add to that the IP68 rating, MIL-STD-810H durability, the return of the 3.5mm headphone jack, truly expandable storage via MicroSD, a capable 1.5K pOLED display, clean software with update promises, and the unexpected bonus of 15W wireless charging – the package becomes quite appealing.
It represents excellent value for users who prioritize these specific practical features and conveniences over having the absolute fastest processor or the most cutting-edge camera sensors. It’s a well-rounded, thoughtfully designed phone for everyday users who appreciate utility and a touch of creative potential.
Join the Conversation & Stay Connected
What do you think about the Motorola Edge 60 Stylus? Is the return of the stylus, headphone jack, and SD card slot something you’ve been waiting for in a budget phone? Does this Moto stylus phone hit the right notes for you? Drop your thoughts and opinions in the comments below – we’d love to hear if this unique feature set appeals to you!
For more tech reviews, news, and analysis, make sure you’re following Newspatron across all platforms. You can find us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Prefer RSS? We’ve got that too. Connect with us on LinkedIn and join the discussion on Reddit. And don’t forget to check out our sister channel, DroneMitra, for amazing aerial perspectives. Stay curious! #newspatron #MotorolaEdge60Stylus #TechReview
