1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | The Moto G 5G is slightly taller and thicker, making the ROG Phone 8 more pocketable and sleek. |
| Weight | 212g | 225g | The Moto G 5G is slightly lighter, which may be more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Build | Not Specified | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | The ROG Phone 8 offers superior screen protection against scratches and drops. The Moto G 5G has an unknown level of protection. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.78" | Very similar screen sizes. The small difference is not noticeable for most users. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2400 | Both phones offer the same level of sharpness. |
| PPI | 393 | 388 | Practically identical sharpness. Minimal real-world difference. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED provides significantly better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, especially noticeable for multimedia consumption. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | The ROG Phone 8 provides far smoother scrolling, animations, and a more responsive gaming experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | The ROG Phone 8 is significantly brighter, making it much more readable outdoors in sunlight, particularly for viewing HDR content. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G (8nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) | The ROG Phone 8's chipset is much faster, leading to quicker app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 390,000 | 2,020,000 | The ROG Phone 8 provides vastly superior performance, handling intensive tasks and games with ease compared to the Moto G 5G. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 750 | The ROG Phone 8's GPU provides much better graphics performance, enhancing gaming experiences and GPU-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56", 1.0µm (Sony IMX890) | The ROG Phone 8’s primary camera benefits from a larger sensor and pixel size, potentially leading to better low-light performance, and a more detailed picture. The wider aperture of Moto G 5G may allow for more light, but the sensor size differences favour the ROG Phone 8 overall. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm | 32MP | The ROG Phone 8 should capture higher resolution selfies with more detail. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | The Moto G 5G offers a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing wider scenes, while the ROG Phone 8 has a dedicated wide angle+macro camera |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | 5MP, f/2.4 | The ROG Phone 8’s macro lens will capture images with more detail |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.2 | The ROG Phone 8 has a dedicated wide + macro camera |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS | The ROG Phone 8 can record higher resolution videos with more dynamic range (HDR) and offers more frame rate options, making it superior for video recording. |
| Stabilization | EIS | HDR, EIS, OIS, Gimbal | ROG Phone 8 offers advanced stabilization, leading to more stable and higher quality videos. The Moto G 5G doesn't have OIS or Gimbal stabilization. |
| Slow-motion | Yes, 60 fps | Yes, 480 fps | The ROG Phone 8 can record slow-motion videos at a higher frame rate, allowing for more detailed slow motion capture. |
| Camera Features | PDAF, LAF, RAW | OIS, Gimbal, Continuous AF, Manual Focus, LAF | ROG Phone 8 offers more advanced photography features, such as optical image stabilization, and manual focus for greater flexibility, compared to PDAF and RAW from Moto G 5G |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5500mAh | The ROG Phone 8 has a larger battery, likely resulting in better battery life, especially when combined with the more efficient chipset. |
| Charging | 20W fast charging | 65W fast charging | The ROG Phone 8 will charge much faster, significantly reducing downtime and increasing convenience. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Both batteries are non-removable, with Li-Polymer considered a more modern technology |
Software
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | The ROG Phone 8 provides a newer operating system with access to latest features, security updates and improvements, whereas Moto G 5G has a outdated OS version |
| Max OS Version | Not specified | Android 16 | The ROG Phone 8 provides longer software support. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 7 (802.11be) | The ROG Phone 8 supports the latest WiFi standards for significantly faster and more stable wireless connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.3 LE, APT-x, LDAC | The ROG Phone 8 has a newer Bluetooth version with improved audio codecs for higher quality wireless audio, and lower energy consumption. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | The ROG Phone 8 supports more satellite systems, likely resulting in more precise and reliable location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones allow for dual sim usage. |
Storage
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 256 GB | The ROG Phone 8 provides significantly more storage for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 12 GB or 16 GB | The ROG Phone 8 provides substantially more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and better app performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, which is a limitation for users who need more space. |
Audio
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 2 microphones | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The ROG Phone 8 provides enhanced audio quality with stereo speakers for immersive media consumption, and DTS X support, offering enhanced sound experience and better voice capture |
Security
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones offer standard fingerprint recognition for biometric security. |
Sensors
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | The ROG Phone 8 offers more comprehensive sensors which enhance a wider range of applications including games that use the gravity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G 5G Advantages:
- Potentially more affordable: As an older mid-range phone, it's likely to be significantly cheaper.
- Slightly Lighter: It is 13g lighter than the ROG Phone 8.
- Dedicated wide angle lens: Motorola has a dedicated wide angle lens.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED screen with a 165Hz refresh rate and 2500 nits brightness provides a vastly better viewing experience.
- Much Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides significantly faster processing and graphics.
- Better Camera System: Improved sensor, additional features like optical zoom, OIS and Gimbal support, and 8k video recording.
- Faster Charging: 65W charging is much faster than the 20W of the Motorola.
- Larger Battery: The 5500mAh battery will likely provide longer battery life, particularly with the more efficient chipset.
- More RAM and Storage: Offers significantly more RAM (up to 16GB) and internal storage (256GB)
- Latest Software: Comes with the latest Android 14 and guaranteed future upgrades up to Android 16.
- Advanced Connectivity: Supports WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 and more satellite navigation systems
- Better Audio: Enhanced audio through stereo speakers and DTS support.
- Improved Build: Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provides better screen protection.
- Additional Sensors: Includes gravity sensor for use in more advanced applications.
Trade-offs:
- The ROG Phone 8 is heavier than the Moto G 5G, which may affect comfort over extended use.
- The ROG Phone 8 is likely much more expensive.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Those who need a functional smartphone at the lowest possible price.
- Basic users: People primarily using their phones for calls, texts, browsing, and social media.
- Users not requiring high performance: Those who are not gamers or heavy multitaskers.
Specific Use Cases for Motorola Moto G 5G:
- Everyday communication: Basic smartphone functionality for communication and light web browsing.
- Basic Media consumption: For users who don't mind a basic screen for occasional video watching or web browsing.
- Casual use: Users who do not require high performance or high camera quality.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Ideal User:
- Mobile Gamers: Those who need the best possible performance and display for gaming.
- Power Users: People who multitask heavily, use demanding apps, or require maximum performance.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Users who value high-quality displays and sound for watching videos and listening to music.
- Photography and Video Enthusiasts: Users who want a flexible and high-quality camera system.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest features and performance.
Specific Use Cases for Asus ROG Phone 8:
- Gaming: Playing graphically intensive mobile games with the highest settings.
- Content Creation: High quality 8k video recording, as well as detailed photographs with a versatile triple camera system.
- Multitasking: Running multiple apps simultaneously without performance issues.
- Media Consumption: Watching high-resolution videos and listening to high-quality audio.
- Heavy Daily Use: Performing demanding tasks across productivity and entertainment apps.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Motorola Moto G 5G provides basic functionality at a likely lower price point.
- The Asus ROG Phone 8 offers a premium experience for demanding users, but at a much higher cost.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is your primary use case? (Gaming, social media, photography, productivity, casual use).
- What is your budget? (How much can you afford to spend on your phone?)
- How important are display quality and performance to you? (Are you okay with compromises on these areas to save money?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User
- Recommendation: The Motorola Moto G 5G is a practical option for basic smartphone needs without high financial investment.
- Scenario 2: Casual Everyday User
- Recommendation: The Motorola Moto G 5G is a viable option for everyday use. However, those who can afford the added cost, may find that the benefits of the ROG Phone 8 offer a superior experience.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Gamer or Power User
- Recommendation: The Asus ROG Phone 8 is the obvious choice for its superior performance, gaming features, and high-quality display.
- Scenario 4: Media Enthusiast / Content Creator
- Recommendation: The Asus ROG Phone 8 provides a more impressive and versatile system for high quality media consumption and capture.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the Asus ROG Phone 8. While the price difference is substantial, the vast improvements in display, performance, camera, battery, and software would significantly enhance my daily use and overall experience. I prioritize a smooth, responsive experience, high-quality multimedia consumption, and gaming capabilities - all of which the ROG Phone 8 excels at. The ROG Phone 8 is more future-proof thanks to its latest hardware, which is a significant advantage over the Moto G 5G. The features on the ROG Phone 8 make it a clear winner for any user that values these features. Although there are some clear budget restrictions, the benefits offered by the ROG Phone 8 make it a clear winner for me.
