Motorola Moto G 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date December 7, 2020 November 1, 2022
Release Year 2020 2022

Physical

Volume 125.14 cm³ 110.19 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.16 "/g 3.2 "/g
Weight 212 g 208.4 g
Height 166.1 mm 162.9 mm
Width 76.1 mm 76 mm
Thickness 9.9 mm 8.9 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Frosted Silver
  • Volcanic Gray
  • Arctic White
  • Obsidian Black
  • Iceberg Blue
  • Trend edition

Display

Screen Size 6.7 " 6.67 "
Resolution 1080 x 2400 1080 x 2400
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 85.7 % 86.8 %
Pixel Density 393 PPI 395 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 120 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A 500 nits
HBM Brightness N/A 900 nits
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 111.38 mAh/in² 112.39 mAh/in²
Battery Density 39.96 mAh/cm³ 45.38 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Adreno 619 Mali-G68 MC4

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 10 12
Maximum OS Version 14

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureMotorola Moto G 5GXiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+Practical Impact
Design
Dimensions166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm162.9 × 76 × 8.9 mmXiaomi is slightly smaller and thinner, may be more comfortable for one-handed use. Motorola is a little larger and thicker.
Weight212g208.4gVirtually identical weight, negligible difference.
Display
Size6.7"6.67"Very similar screen size, a negligible difference in practice
Resolution1080x24001080x2400Both offer a sharp and clear display
PPI393395Virtually the same pixel density. Both appear equally sharp
TechnologyIPS LCDOLEDXiaomi offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast. Significantly better viewing experience.
Refresh Rate60Hz120HzXiaomi provides much smoother scrolling, animations and better gaming experience
Brightness0 nits (assumed)900 nitsXiaomi is vastly superior for outdoor visibility, very important in bright daylight
Performance
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)Xiaomi's chip is newer, more power-efficient, and generally faster, leading to snappier performance.
AnTuTu Score390,000573,100Xiaomi scores significantly higher in benchmarks. It should feel noticeably faster in day-to-day usage.
GPUAdreno 619Mali-G68 MC4Xiaomi provides a better gaming performance.
Battery
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhBoth should provide similar battery life for typical usage.
Charging20W Fast Charging120W Fast ChargingXiaomi charges much faster, going from 0 to 100% in a fraction of the time compared to Motorola
Camera
Rear Main Camera48MP, f/1.7, 0.8µm200MP, f/1.65, 1/1.4", 0.56µmXiaomi captures much more detail and offers better low-light performance.
Front Camera16MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm16MP, f/2.45Motorola has slightly wider aperture for better low-light selfies.
Wide Angle8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.14µmComparable wide-angle performance.
Macro2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µmComparable macro performance.
Video4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@30/60 (EIS)4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120, 720p@960fpsXiaomi provides more versatile video capabilities and includes OIS
DXOMarkN/AMain: 113, Photo: 117, Video: 117Xiaomi has scored well in DXOMark tests, which suggests that the quality of its camera is very good
FeaturesLAFOISMotorola offers Laser Autofocus, Xiaomi provides Optical Image Stabilization.
Software
OSAndroid 10Android 12, upgradeable to 14Xiaomi offers a more up-to-date experience and longer software support.
Connectivity
WiFi802.11acWiFi 6 (802.11ax)Xiaomi supports newer and faster WiFi standards
Bluetooth5.15.2Xiaomi has a newer version of Bluetooth and better codecs
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, GalileoGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, GalileoXiaomi offers slightly better GPS performance due to better satellite support.
Storage
Internal64/128GB128/256GBXiaomi provides more storage space
RAM4/6GB8/12GBXiaomi is much better in multitasking, apps launching and heavy gaming.
ExpandableNoNoNeither offers expandable storage.
Audio
Quality2 microphonesDolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo SpeakersXiaomi provides a significantly enhanced audio experience for media consumption and immersive gaming.
Security
FeaturesRear-mounted fingerprint sensorSide-mounted fingerprint sensorBoth phones have fingerprint sensors, however side-mounted is generally considered more modern and convenient
Build Quality
Screen ProtectionUnknownCorning Gorilla Glass 5Xiaomi has a much more robust screen protection

2. Key Differences Analysis

Motorola Moto G 5G Advantages:

  • Slightly Wider Front Camera Aperture: May result in slightly better low-light selfie performance, but the difference is minimal.
  • Laser Autofocus (LAF): This can provide faster autofocus in certain scenarios, particularly in challenging lighting or for close-up shots.
  • Lower Price (Generally): Older phone, so it's likely available for a significantly lower price.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Advantages:

  • Superior Display: OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate provides much better colors, blacks, smoothness and overall viewing experience compared to the IPS LCD on the Moto.
  • Significantly Higher Brightness: Much better outdoor visibility, ensuring easy screen readability in bright sunlight.
  • Much Faster Performance: The newer Mediatek chipset offers substantially better speed and app responsiveness.
  • Much Faster Charging: 120W charging is a game-changer, significantly reducing the time spent waiting for a full battery.
  • Far Superior Main Camera: The 200MP main camera offers vastly superior image quality, especially in terms of detail, dynamic range and low light performance
  • Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Greatly improves video stability and low-light photo clarity, a crucial feature for mobile photography and videography.
  • Much More RAM: The 8/12 GB of RAM in Xiaomi is significantly higher than the 4/6 GB offered in the Motorola, making multitasking and gaming smoother
  • Better Audio: The Dolby Atmos and Stereo speakers gives you a much more immersive audio experience compared to the basic audio setup of Motorola.
  • Modern Software: Comes with a newer version of Android and longer support, ensuring a more up-to-date experience.
  • Newer Connectivity Standards: Offers WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, providing faster speeds and improved efficiency.
  • Better Build Quality: The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, providing enhanced durability.

Trade-offs:

  • The Motorola has a slightly better front-facing aperture and LAF but falls far behind in almost all aspects.
  • The Motorola is most likely much cheaper than the Xiaomi, which will impact the purchase decision.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Motorola Moto G 5G:

  • Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize basic smartphone functions and battery life, do not need to have the latest software, don't play heavy games, or require very good photo/video quality.
  • Use Cases: Basic web browsing, social media, calls, and messaging. It can be suitable for those who are more familiar with and prefer Motorola's UI over Xiaomi's MIUI.
  • Price-to-Value: Good value for basic users on a very tight budget, but compromises have to be made.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+:

  • Ideal User: Tech-savvy users who value performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and fast charging, and are willing to pay a premium for these features.
  • Use Cases: Heavy app usage, mobile gaming, high-quality photography and videography, multimedia consumption, and overall snappy smartphone experience.
  • Price-to-Value: It provides very good value for the price, given the premium features it offers, but not suited for users on a very tight budget.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. What is your budget? The Motorola is likely cheaper, while the Xiaomi commands a higher price due to its better specs and features.
  2. How important are camera quality and display performance to you? The Xiaomi excels in both aspects while the Motorola is basic.
  3. What are the most demanding tasks you will perform? If gaming, multitasking, or fast charging are important, the Xiaomi is a better choice. If basic tasks are the only priority, the Motorola might suffice.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Tight budget, basic smartphone needs: The Motorola Moto G 5G is the better fit given its expected much lower price.
  • Scenario 2: Need performance and high-end features: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the obvious choice because it excels in almost all areas over the Motorola and will provide a much better and smoother overall experience.
  • Scenario 3: Prioritize Photography and Video quality: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is superior due to OIS, its much better main sensor and better video features.

My Choice

I would choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+.

Here's why: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ offers a superior overall experience in almost every way, and it’s not just about raw numbers. The OLED display, faster chipset, much faster charging, much better camera system, the newer Android version, along with stereo speakers and better build quality are features that will significantly improve my daily experience with the phone, and these are features that I heavily value. While the Motorola is likely cheaper, the compromises are significant and will result in a subpar user experience.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

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