1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 154.1 × 71.2 × 8.1 mm | The Edge 50 Neo is significantly smaller and thinner, making it more pocketable and comfortable to hold. |
| Weight | 212g | 171g | The Edge 50 Neo is noticeably lighter, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.4" | The Moto G 5G offers a larger display, potentially better for media consumption, while the Edge 50 Neo is more compact. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1256x2760 | The Edge 50 Neo has a sharper display with higher pixel density, resulting in clearer text and images. |
| PPI | 393 | 474 | The Edge 50 Neo's higher PPI leads to a noticeably more detailed display. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | P-OLED | The Edge 50 Neo's P-OLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the Moto G 5G's IPS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Edge 50 Neo's 120Hz refresh rate offers smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 3000 nits | The Edge 50 Neo has significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. The Moto G 5G's brightness is not specified, raising concerns. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) | The Edge 50 Neo's newer 4nm chipset offers faster performance, improved efficiency, and better overall responsiveness. |
| Antutu Score | 390,000 | 675,000 | The Edge 50 Neo scores significantly higher, translating to smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G615 MC2 | The Edge 50 Neo's GPU is more powerful, providing better graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.80µm pixel size | 50MP, f/1.8, 1.00µm pixel size, Sony LYT-700C | The Edge 50 Neo has a slightly higher resolution and a larger sensor, potentially capturing more detailed photos, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.00µm pixel size | 32MP, f/2.2 | The Edge 50 Neo has higher resolution selfie camera that produces much more detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | N/A | 10MP, f/2.0 | The Edge 50 Neo has a telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities which the Moto G 5G lacks. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixel size | N/A | The Moto G 5G has a dedicated wide-angle lens that is useful for capturing expansive scenes. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm pixel size | N/A | The Moto G 5G has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | N/A | 13MP, f/2.2 | The Edge 50 Neo has a combined wide-angle and macro lens. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps with EIS | Up to 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps with EIS | The Edge 50 Neo offers additional 120/240fps for more slow motion recording options |
| DxOMark | Not Tested | Overall: 115, Photo: 118, Video: 107 | The Edge 50 Neo's camera has been tested and has scored decently. |
| Features | Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, LAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, LAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | The Edge 50 Neo offers 4K recording and optical zoom while the Moto G 5G has RAW and night mode. |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4310mAh | The Moto G 5G has a larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 20W fast charging | 68W fast charging, 15W Wireless Charging | The Edge 50 Neo charges much faster and has the added convenience of wireless charging. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 15W wireless charging | The Edge 50 Neo includes 15W wireless charging, a feature not found in the Moto G 5G |
Software, Connectivity, Storage & Audio
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | The Edge 50 Neo has a much newer Android version with the latest features, security updates and a longer support lifecycle. |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, WiFi 6E | The Edge 50 Neo supports newer WiFi standards for faster and more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.0 LE | The Moto G 5G has a slightly newer version of Bluetooth. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | The Edge 50 Neo supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano + Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano + Nano/eSIM) | The Edge 50 Neo offers eSIM support for more flexible carrier options. |
| Internal Storage | 64 GB or 128 GB | 256 GB or 512 GB | The Edge 50 Neo provides much more storage, ideal for users with extensive media files. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | The Edge 50 Neo offers substantially more RAM for better multitasking and overall performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | 2 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | The Edge 50 Neo provides a superior audio experience with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support. |
Security, Build Quality & Sensors
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Security | Rear-mounted Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones feature a basic fingerprint sensor. |
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | The Edge 50 Neo offers superior screen protection against scratches. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both phones include the same standard suite of sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Advantages of Motorola Moto G 5G:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery offers potentially longer battery life, beneficial for heavy users.
- Wide Angle & Macro Lens: It has dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses which may appeal to specific users.
- Slightly Newer Bluetooth: It supports Bluetooth 5.1 which is slightly newer than the Edge 50 Neo
Practical Implications:
- The Moto G 5G is a decent option for those prioritizing longer battery life and like wide-angle and macro photography.
Advantages of Motorola Edge 50 Neo:
- Superior Display: P-OLED panel with higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and brightness, providing a significantly better viewing experience.
- Faster Performance: Newer chipset, higher benchmark scores, and more RAM result in a faster, smoother experience for apps and gaming.
- Better Camera System: Improved main sensor, telephoto lens, higher-resolution selfie camera, and overall higher DxOMark score.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: The 68W wired and 15W wireless charging offer great convenience.
- Significantly More Storage & RAM: Higher storage and RAM for better multitasking and handling of large media files.
- Newer Software: The phone is running on a newer Android version and likely provides a longer software support lifecycle.
- eSIM Support: The phone supports eSIM which makes it easier to manage multiple phone numbers.
- Superior Audio Quality: It has stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos for more immersive audio.
- Better Build Quality: Superior screen protection with Gorilla Glass 3
Practical Implications:
- The Edge 50 Neo provides a better all-around user experience, with a focus on display quality, performance, camera capabilities, and charging convenience.
Trade-offs:
- The Edge 50 Neo has a smaller battery capacity than the Moto G 5G. Users should also note that the Moto G 5G has a dedicated wide and macro camera while the Edge 50 Neo only has one wide-macro lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G 5G:
- Ideal Users: Budget-conscious users who prioritize long battery life and value wide and macro lens photography.
- Use Cases:
- Users who often use their phones for prolonged periods of time and are far away from a charging outlet.
- Users who frequently use the wide and macro lens for photography.
Motorola Edge 50 Neo:
- Ideal Users: Users who want a balance of premium features such as a superior display, faster performance, better camera, and convenient charging features.
- Use Cases:
- Media consumers who value a high-quality display for watching videos and movies.
- Mobile gamers who need a smooth and responsive device for optimal gameplay.
- Social media enthusiasts who want to capture better photos and videos.
- Users who prefer faster charging speeds and the convenience of wireless charging.
- Users that prefer a more portable and comfortable phone.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Given the significant performance and feature improvements, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo offers a much better price-to-value ratio for most users, despite likely being priced higher than the Moto G 5G.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case? (e.g., gaming, media consumption, photography, basic daily use)
- How important are display quality and performance?
- How important is battery life vs fast/wireless charging?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User Primarily Concerned with Battery Life: The Motorola Moto G 5G is a suitable choice for its larger battery and low price. However, expect significantly lower performance, screen and camera quality.
- Scenario 2: User Prioritizing Screen Quality, Performance & Camera: The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is the superior option, offering a much better viewing experience, faster performance, better cameras, and fast/wireless charging.
- Scenario 3: User who needs a compact phone: The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is smaller and lighter, thus it's easier to carry around.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 50 Neo.
Reasons:
While the Motorola Moto G 5G has a larger battery, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo offers a far superior overall experience. The advantages of the Edge 50 Neo in key areas like display quality (P-OLED, higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness), performance (newer and more powerful chipset, more RAM), camera (better main sensor, telephoto lens, improved selfie camera and DxOMark score), charging (faster wired and wireless), and overall software experience with Android 14 outweigh the slight battery difference. Additionally, the Edge 50 Neo offers a better build quality with screen protection and more convenient portability. The superior audio experience is also a huge plus.
For most modern smartphone users, the enhanced display, performance, and camera capabilities of the Edge 50 Neo will provide a more enjoyable and future-proof user experience. The trade-off in battery capacity is acceptable, given the faster charging capabilities. Thus, the Edge 50 Neo represents a better long-term value.
