Motorola Moto G 5G vs. Moto G Play: Full Comparison

The Motorola Moto G 5G vs. Moto G Play are two smartphones with similar designs and displays but vastly different hardware specifications and camera capabilities. Both phones have a 6.5-inch LCD display and a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels in an aspect ratio of 20:9. The Moto G 5G features a higher refresh rate of 90Hz, but the Moto G Play only offers 60Hz.

Furthermore, the Moto G 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 700 MT6833 processor compared to Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SM4250-AA found in the Moto G Play. Additionally, the Moto G 5G has a triple-camera setup with a 50 MP main camera compared to just 13 MP on the Moto G Play. As such, the Moto G 5G provides superior hardware and photographic capabilities than its counterpart, Moto G Play.

Motorola Moto G 5G vs. Moto G Play: Side-By-Side Comparison

Feature	Moto G 5G	Moto G Play
Size	6.5 inches	6.5 inches
Refresh rate	90Hz	60Hz
Screen-to-body	81.50 %	80.61 %
System chip	MediaTek Dimensity 700 MT6833	Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SM4250-AA (11 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Adreno 610
RAM	4GB/ 6GB	3GB
Internal storage	64GB	32GB
OS	Android (12)	Android (11, 10)

Motorola Moto G 5G vs. Moto G Play: What’s the Difference?

Differentiating the Moto G Play vs. Moto G 5G is essential when selecting a smartphone. If you’re thinking of upgrading, understanding their differences will help determine which phone best meets your requirements.

Display

The Moto G 5G and Moto G Play differ in their displays. Both phones feature a 6.5-inch LCD screen with a 1600 x 720 pixels resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, an ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor. However, their features have some subtle distinctions.

The Moto G 5G boasts a higher refresh rate of 90Hz compared to the Play’s 60Hz. This means that with the Moto G 5G’s display refreshing 90 times per second, users are treated to an even smoother experience while scrolling or gaming than with the Moto G Play, which only refreshes 60 times per second for slightly less smooth action.

Additionally, the Moto G 5G boasts a slightly higher screen-to-body ratio of 81.50% compared to 80.61% for the Moto G Play. This implies thinner bezels and more of its front covered by a display area, providing viewers with a more immersive viewing experience.

Hardware

The second difference between the Moto G 5G and Moto G Play lies in their hardware. The Moto G Play has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SM4250-AA (11 nm) system chip with an octa-core 1800 MHz Kryo 240 processor and Adreno 610 GPU, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage that can be expanded using microSDXC cards up to 512GB.

The Moto G 5G has a MediaTek Dimensity 700 MT6833 system chip with 2x 2.2GHz Cortex-A76 + 6x 2.0GHz Cortex-A55 processors and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. It comes with 4GB or 6GB of RAM plus 64GB internal storage that can be expanded using a microSDXC card.

The MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip in the Moto G 5G is more advanced and powerful than its counterpart, the Snapdragon 460, so it should provide better performance than its rival. However, with more RAM and internal storage capacity, you get smoother multitasking as well as extra room for apps and media files.

Camera

The Moto G 5G and Moto G Play differ in their camera systems. The Moto G Play features a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 13MP main camera with PDAF and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it has 5MP for selfies.

Comparatively, the Moto G 5G offers a triple camera setup on the back with 50MP main camera with PDAF, 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. Up front, there’s 13MP for selfies.

The Moto G 5G’s camera system is superior to that of the Play, featuring a higher resolution main camera and additional macro lens for better close-up shots. Additionally, due to its higher resolution front camera, selfies taken on this model tend to be sharper and more detailed than its rival, the Moto G Play.

Operating System

The Moto G Play uses Android 11 or 10, but the Moto G 5G relies on Android 12. Android 12 has several improvements over its rival, such as enhanced privacy capabilities, better notification management, and quicker app loading times.

One of the key features of Android 12 is the Privacy Dashboard, which enables users to view and manage app permissions quickly. This gives them control over what personal information is shared with apps, giving them more security over their data. Furthermore, Android 12 introduces Material You — a new feature that lets them customize their phone’s user interface using color palettes and other design elements.

Though the Moto G Play may receive an update to Android 12 in the future, it currently uses an older version of this operating system. Therefore, those using Moto G 5G will gain access to all of Android 12’s latest features and improvements.

Connectivity

The Moto G 5G supports Bluetooth 5.1, yet the Moto G Play relies on Bluetooth 5.0. Bluetooth 5.1 offers several improvements over its counterpart, including faster data transfer rates, longer range, and improved location accuracy.

In addition to Bluetooth, both phones support Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, and ac and dual-band Wi-Fi Direct and hotspot capabilities. The Moto G 5G has the advantage here since it supports Wi-Fi Direct, which enables direct file transfers between devices without an internet connection required — especially useful for large files like photos or videos.

Though most users will notice little difference between Bluetooth 5.0 and 5.1, those who frequently transfer large files or use Bluetooth-enabled devices at longer ranges may appreciate the Moto G 5G’s improved connectivity options.

Design

The Moto G 5G and Moto G Play differ in their design. Although both phones share a similar overall aesthetic, there are some subtle distinctions when it comes to physical characteristics.

The Moto G 5G is slightly thinner and lighter than its sibling, measuring 6.51 x 2.98 x 0.37 inches and weighing 204 grams. In comparison, the Moto G Play measures 6.56 x 2.99 x 0.37 inches and weighs 204 grams. While these differences may not be noticeable when using the phone daily, those seeking a lighter, more compact device may prefer the Moto G 5G.

Additionally, the Moto G 5G offers more color choices than its rival, the Moto G Play. While that model only comes in one hue, the Moto G 5G boasts three distinct colors: Meteorite Gray, Ocean Blue, and Aurora Green – giving users more freedom to customize their phone’s appearance.

Overall, the Moto G 5G and Moto G Play share a similar design. However, the Moto G 5G is slightly thinner and lighter and offers users more color options to choose from.

Battery Life

The Moto G Play and Moto G 5G differ in their battery capacity at 5,000mAh. Both phones feature a non-replaceable 5000mAh capacity battery, but the Moto G 5G offers faster charging speeds compared to its counterpart.

The Moto G 5G features fast charging technology that supports up to 10W wired charging speed. This means users can quickly charge their phone from 0 to 100% in a shorter amount of time than with the Moto G Play’s support for 10W wired charging — slower than what the Moto G 5G offers.

Both phones have the same battery capacity. However, the Moto G 5G’s faster charging speeds may be a major advantage for those who frequently take their phone on the go and recharge it quickly.

Motorola Moto G 5G vs. Moto G Play: 9 Must-Know Facts

• The Moto G 5G boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, but the Moto G Play offers a 60Hz frame rate.
• The Moto G 5G features a MediaTek Dimensity 700 MT6833 processor and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, while the Moto G Play boasts Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SM4250-AA (11.1 nm) processor along with Adreno 610 GPU.
• The Moto G 5G and Moto G Play both come with 4GB or 6GB of RAM with 64GB internal storage, respectively. The Moto G 5G (2022) has 256GB of internal memory. The Moto G Play offers 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. Both devices support microSDXC storage expansion for even greater capacity.
• The Moto G 5G is powered by Android 12, yet the Moto G Play runs either on Android 11 or 10.
• The Moto G 5G features a triple camera system, including a 50MP main camera with PDAF, while the Moto G Play only has a 13MP primary imaging sensor with PDAF.
• Both devices boast a 2MP second camera, with the Moto G 5G featuring a macro lens and the Moto G Play featuring a depth information lens.
• The Moto G 5G features a 13MP front camera, while the Moto G Play offers just a 5MP resolution.
• The Moto G 5G is slightly smaller and thinner than its smaller sibling, the Moto G Play, but both devices weigh exactly the same.
• The Moto G 5G features additional sensors, including a gyroscope and compass; the Moto G Play only has an accelerometer.

Motorola Moto G 5G vs. Moto G Play: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

The Moto G 5G is the superior option among these two smartphones due to its superior hardware and updated software features. The 5G boasts a faster processor with more RAM, GPU, and triple cameras than the Moto G Play’s. Furthermore, with its higher main camera resolution and larger aperture size, the Moto G 5G provides better image quality overall.

The Moto G 5G has a higher refresh rate of 90Hz than its older counterpart, making the phone feel more responsive and smoother overall. In addition, running on Android 12, which is the latest version available, the Moto G Play still uses older versions such as Android 11 or 10.

The Moto G Play does have a slightly larger screen-to-body ratio, meaning there are fewer bezels around it. Additionally, it features a microSDXC card slot with storage expansion options up to 512GB. However, the 2022 Moto G 5G offers an additional 1TB with a micro SD card.

Both devices have a 5,000mAh battery capacity, fast charging capabilities, and wireless screen sharing. Furthermore, they share similar designs and features, such as a fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm jack audio jack, and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity.

In conclusion, while the Moto G Play offers some advantages such as a larger screen-to-body ratio and good storage expansion options, the Motorola Moto G 5G is by far the better smartphone overall due to its superior hardware, superior camera system, faster processor, and up-to-date software updates.