1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 146.6 × 70.6 × 8.3 mm | The Motorola is significantly larger and thicker, making it less pocketable and harder to use one-handed. The iPhone is more compact and comfortable to handle. |
| Weight | 212g | 187g | The iPhone is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Foldable | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones, no difference in form factor. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | The Motorola offers a larger screen, which is better for media consumption. The iPhone is more compact and better for one-handed usage. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1179x2556 | The iPhone has a higher resolution, resulting in a sharper image with finer details. |
| PPI | 393 | 461 | The iPhone's higher pixel density results in noticeably sharper text and images, enhancing visual clarity. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | The iPhone's OLED screen offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and richer colors compared to the Motorola's LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The iPhone's 120Hz refresh rate results in significantly smoother scrolling and animations, making the user experience feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2000 nits | The iPhone has significantly higher brightness, making it much easier to view in direct sunlight compared to the Motorola. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) | The iPhone's A17 Pro chip is significantly more powerful, offering faster performance, better efficiency, and more future-proofing compared to the Motorola's Snapdragon 750G. |
| Antutu Score | 390,000 | 1,641,883 | The iPhone's significantly higher benchmark score indicates much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) | The iPhone's GPU is considerably more powerful, offering superior graphics performance for gaming and other demanding tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.80 µm pixels | 48MP, f/1.78, 1/1.3", Sony IMX803, 1.22 µm pixels | The iPhone has a larger sensor and pixel size resulting in better low-light performance and image quality. The Motorola has a slightly wider aperture, which could be beneficial in low-light. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.00 µm pixels | 12MP, f/1.9, Sony IMX714, pixel size not provided | The iPhone's selfie camera has a wider aperture for better low-light selfies and its camera also has a bigger sensor. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 12MP, f/2.8, Sony IMX713, 1.00 µm pixels | The iPhone has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities, allowing users to get closer to subjects without losing quality. The Motorola lacks telephoto capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixels | None | Motorola has a wide angle lens for fitting more into the shot. iPhone instead has ultrawide camera in the 'Wide Angle + Macro' section. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixels | None | The Motorola has a dedicated macro lens for capturing close-up details, the iPhone has it integrated with the wide angle lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX633, 1.40 µm pixels | The iPhone uses its ultrawide lens for macro shots as well, offering better quality for the ultrawide and macro shots. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps, EIS | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, Stereo Sound | The iPhone offers significantly more versatile video recording capabilities, including HDR, stereo sound, and higher frame rates, offering better quality in terms of video resolution and features. |
| Video Stabilization | No EIS | Yes | The iPhone has stabilization for videos while the Motorola does not. |
| Slow-motion Video | Yes, 60 fps | Yes, 240 fps | The iPhone can record slow-motion videos at higher frame rates, resulting in more dramatic and detailed slow-motion effects. |
| DxOMark | Not available | Mobile: 154, Selfie: 149 | The iPhone has achieved very good camera scores, while the Motorola has not been tested. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Cinematic Mode, Noise reduction, Face unlock, Pro Video Mode, 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | The iPhone offers more advanced camera features for professional users, while the Motorola has a laser autofocus feature. |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 3650mAh | The Motorola has a larger battery, potentially resulting in longer battery life. However, actual endurance depends on processor efficiency and software optimization. |
| Charging | 20W fast charging | 27W fast charging | The iPhone has slightly faster charging, allowing it to charge quicker despite the lower capacity battery. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 15W MagSafe Wireless Charging, 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging | The iPhone has wireless charging capabilities which are very convenient for those that want this feature. |
Software
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 10 | iOS 17 | The iPhone offers access to Apple's ecosystem and consistent software updates, which are not offered by the Motorola. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi MiMO | The iPhone has faster and more reliable WiFi with support for WiFi 6 (802.11ax), while the Motorola offers Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Display capabilities for direct connections to other devices. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.3 LE, A2DP, LE, APT-x | The iPhone has a newer Bluetooth version that could result in better audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5) | The iPhone supports more satellite systems, leading to more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + eSIM) | The iPhone offers eSIM functionality for more convenient switching between carriers. The Motorola allows the use of two physical SIM cards. |
Storage
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1024 GB | The iPhone has much greater storage options, ideal for users who take many photos/videos, and install multiple large apps. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 8 GB | The iPhone has more RAM, resulting in better multitasking and overall performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows storage expansion. |
Audio
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 2 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The iPhone offers superior audio experience with better noise cancellation and stereo speakers. |
Security
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic security features | The Motorola offers a fingerprint sensor, which the iPhone does not offer. |
Build Quality
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones offer similar screen protection technology |
Sensors
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | The iPhone includes an barometer, which can help track elevation. The Motorola has a fingerprint sensor for quick and easy unlocking. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G 5G Advantages:
- Larger Display: 6.7" screen, ideal for media consumption.
- Larger Battery: 5000 mAh battery, potentially longer battery life (though real-world performance varies).
- Fingerprint sensor: It has the biometric fingerprint sensor.
- Lower Cost: Generally, the Motorola Moto G 5G is more budget-friendly.
- Laser Autofocus: A faster autofocus system is present on this phone.
- Dual SIMs: Can hold two physical SIM cards in the phone.
- Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display: Can be directly connected to other devices without internet access.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, higher resolution, higher brightness, and better pixel density. This provides the user with a much smoother, clearer and brighter display.
- Significantly Better Performance: The A17 Pro chip provides the user with faster processing speeds and better overall performance.
- Superior Camera System: Better quality main camera with larger sensor, dedicated telephoto lens with optical zoom, and ultrawide lens with macro capabilities. Offers much more feature packed camera.
- More Advanced Video Recording: Higher quality video recording at 4K@60fps with HDR and Stereo Sound with video stabilization as well.
- Better Connectivity: More advanced WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, along with more accurate GPS and eSIM.
- Wireless Charging: Wireless charging is very convenient for some users.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation, and stereo speakers make for an enhanced audio experience.
- More storage options: Comes in much higher storage sizes for the user.
- Barometer: It has a barometer sensor for tracking elevation.
- Better Software Ecosystem: Apple's iOS platform is smooth, fast, and offers a vast app selection, along with regular updates.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Motorola trades camera quality, screen quality, and raw performance for a larger screen, larger battery, lower price point, and fingerprint sensor.
- The iPhone trades a larger battery and a fingerprint sensor for its premium build quality, superior camera, premium display, and cutting-edge performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Motorola Moto G 5G:
- Budget-conscious consumers: Those looking for a capable smartphone without spending a lot.
- Media consumption enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a large screen for watching videos and browsing.
- Basic users: People who mainly use their phone for communication, social media, and basic tasks.
- Users needing a fingerprint sensor: The phone has this fingerprint sensor for those that prefer it.
- Users who prefer physical SIMS: This is the phone for those that prefer not using eSIMs.
Ideal Users for Apple iPhone 15 Pro:
- Power users: Those who need top-of-the-line performance for demanding apps, gaming, and multitasking.
- Photography and videography enthusiasts: Users who prioritize camera quality, video capabilities, and advanced camera features.
- Apple ecosystem users: Individuals already invested in Apple's ecosystem, looking for a seamless user experience.
- Users that prefer premium materials and build: The iPhone is built with the highest quality materials, and the highest build quality.
- Users that prefer wireless charging: The iPhone comes with wireless charging capabilities.
- Users that prefer top of the line technology: The iPhone comes with the latest and greatest technology.
Specific Use Cases:
- Motorola Moto G 5G:
- Watching movies and shows on the go
- Casual gaming
- Basic social media browsing
- Long battery life for all day usage
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro:
- Professional photography and videography
- Mobile gaming with graphics-intensive games
- Running resource-intensive applications
- Seamless integration with other Apple devices
- Work tasks that require speed and efficiency
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The iPhone is much more expensive than the Motorola.
- What do you value most in a smartphone? Screen quality and performance (iPhone), or a larger screen and battery (Motorola)?
- Which ecosystem do you prefer? Android (Motorola) or iOS (iPhone)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget Shopper): If budget is the primary concern and a larger screen is preferred, the Motorola Moto G 5G is the better choice.
- Scenario 2 (Performance-Focused): If top-tier performance, best camera quality, and a premium experience are priorities, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is the better choice.
- Scenario 3 (Camera Enthusiast): If you take a lot of photos and videos and need the best possible quality, then the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is the better phone, because of its high quality cameras.
- Scenario 4 (Android User): If you want a good performing and cheaper Android phone, then the Motorola Moto G 5G is a good option for you.
Personal Choice
I would choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro.
My reasoning is based on several factors. While the Motorola Moto G 5G has its strengths, particularly its larger battery and lower price, the iPhone 15 Pro offers a far superior user experience in areas that are most important to me. The significantly better performance, display, and camera capabilities make the iPhone 15 Pro a more versatile device capable of handling both demanding tasks and multimedia needs with ease and quality. I also value the seamless integration of Apple's ecosystem. Although the iPhone is more expensive, the value it brings in the long term through its better technology and better software support makes it a better long term device for me. The camera quality is a key factor for my choice, as I enjoy taking photos and videos, and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro offers a far superior camera with many professional-level features. While the fingerprint sensor on the Motorola is a nice-to-have feature, the other benefits of the iPhone outweigh this for me.
