Alright, let's break down the Huawei nova Y70 Plus and the Motorola Moto G85, going beyond the spec sheet and into the real-world user experience.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a detailed look at how these two phones stack up, focusing on the practical implications of their technical differences:
| Feature | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Motorola Moto G85 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 168.3 × 77.7 × 9 mm | 161.9 × 73.1 × 7.6 mm | Moto G85 is more compact and comfortable for one-handed use and pocketability, and thinner as well. |
| Weight | 199g | 171g | Moto G85 is significantly lighter, better for long periods of use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.75" | 6.67" | Negligible difference in screen size. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Moto G85 has a much sharper display, better for detailed images and text clarity. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 260 | 395 | Moto G85 has significantly better visual clarity and sharpness. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | P-OLED | Moto G85 has superior contrast, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Moto G85 offers much smoother scrolling and animations, making it feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Moto G85 is significantly brighter for better outdoor visibility, especially in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Kirin 710A (14 nm) | Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 (6 nm) | Moto G85 is significantly more powerful, providing faster app loading and better multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,500 | 475,000 | Moto G85 offers much higher performance for gaming and resource-intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Adreno 619 | Moto G85 will perform much better in graphically demanding tasks such as gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP f/1.8 | 50MP f/1.79 | Slight increase in detail with the Moto G85's sensor with larger pixels, better in low-light. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP f/2.0 | 32MP f/2.4 | Moto G85 offers significantly more detail and clarity in selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP f/2.2 | 8MP f/2.2 | Moto G85 provides a wide angle with better resolution, capturing more in landscape shots. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP f/2.4 | None | Huawei has a dedicated depth lens for portrait shots, however the main camera should suffice for depth effects. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps; slow motion: 120fps | 1080p@30/60fps; slow motion: 30fps | Both phones offer 1080p video, Moto G85 supports 60fps, which is smoother, and Huawei offers a smoother slow-mo video. |
| Stabilization | No | Yes, OIS | Motorola has Optical Image Stabilization, which results in a more stable video, and is beneficial in low light situations. |
| DxoMark Score | Not Tested | 88 (Mobile) 83 (Photo) 109 (Video) | Moto G85 has been tested in DxoMark, giving a better indication of the camera's quality. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 6000mAh | 5000mAh | Huawei offers more battery capacity for longer use. |
| Charging | 22.5W | 30W | Moto G85 charges faster, which is convenient if you need to top up quickly. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both phones have a non-removable battery. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Unknown | Android 14 | Moto G85 runs Android 14 which is up to date compared to Huawei's OS. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Moto G85 supports newer Wi-Fi standards, leading to faster and more reliable wireless connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.1 | Both phones use Bluetooth 5.1. However Huawei offers more codecs. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM, eSIM | Both phones offer Dual Sim, and the Moto G85 has support for eSIM. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64 or 128 GB | 128 or 256 GB | Moto G85 offers significantly more storage for your apps, videos, and photos |
| RAM | 4GB | 8 or 12GB | Moto G85 comes with significantly more RAM, allowing for more applications to be open at the same time. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both phones do not support expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Moto G85 provides a vastly superior audio experience with better depth and immersive sound |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Huawei has a more advanced side-mounted fingerprint scanner. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Moto G85 provides superior screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Proximity, Fingerprint, Compass, Gyroscope | Moto G85 offers more sensors suitable for games. |
2. Key Insights
Huawei nova Y70 Plus:
- Strengths: Its primary advantage is the larger 6000mAh battery, which potentially translates to longer battery life between charges. It also has a dedicated portrait lens. Additionally, the side-mounted fingerprint sensor is more advanced.
- Competitive Advantages: The Huawei's only competitive advantage is its significantly larger battery.
- Trade-offs: The phone's main trade-off is its lower resolution and the display's outdated IPS LCD technology, which affects image quality and viewing angles, along with an underpowered chipset.
Motorola Moto G85:
- Strengths: The Moto G85 shines with its superior display (P-OLED, 120Hz, high brightness), a more powerful Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset, a higher resolution main camera with Optical Image Stabilization, a more detailled selfie camera, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and better quality screen protection, as well as better RAM and internal storage configurations. The inclusion of an eSIM is another bonus for international travellers.
- Competitive Advantages: It offers a much smoother and more vivid display, superior performance and gaming capabilities, and a better camera with OIS and a higher resolution wide angle lens, as well as better audio and screen protection.
- Trade-offs: The Moto G85's main compromise is its slightly smaller battery capacity compared to the Huawei nova Y70 Plus, which may not last as long for heavy users.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
- Huawei nova Y70 Plus:
- Ideal for: Users who prioritize battery life above all else and don't need peak performance.
- Use Cases: Those who need a long-lasting phone for travel, outdoor activities, or those who have limited access to charging and want to have a dedicated portrait lens.
- Motorola Moto G85:
- Ideal for: Users who value display quality, performance, and camera capabilities, and want a better all around experience.
- Use Cases: Great for media consumption, gaming, social media, and photography enthusiasts who want a good screen, solid camera and audio quality and can charge the phone daily.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help you decide:
- How crucial is battery life to you?
- If battery life is your top concern, the Huawei nova Y70 Plus may be appealing.
- Do you value a vibrant display and performance, or is battery life your priority?
- If you value visual quality and smooth performance over battery, the Motorola Moto G85 is the better choice.
- What features are most essential for your day-to-day activities?
- If you want a great all rounder, the Moto G85 is the right choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the Casual User: The Motorola Moto G85 offers a more polished experience, with a better display, more processing power, and camera.
- For the Power User: The Motorola Moto G85 is better suited, offering superior performance, storage, and features.
- For the Budget-Conscious User: While the exact pricing isn't listed, the value proposition is better on the Motorola Moto G85 considering its upgraded screen, processor, storage and features.
My Choice
If it were up to me, I'd choose the Motorola Moto G85, without a doubt. Here's why: While the Huawei nova Y70 Plus offers a larger battery, the Moto G85 is superior across almost every other aspect that matters for a daily driver in 2024.
The significantly sharper and smoother 120Hz OLED display, more powerful Snapdragon processor, and improved camera setup with Optical Image Stabilization make the Moto G85 a much more enjoyable experience day to day. The faster charging is also a major plus, even if the battery is slightly smaller than the Huawei's. I'm willing to take a small hit in battery capacity to get a huge increase in overall quality. The Moto G85 provides a much better all-around user experience, and it is a more future-proof choice compared to the Huawei.
