1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 75.9 × 9.5 mm | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | Honor 70 is more compact, making it easier to handle and pocket; Motorola is bulkier. |
| Weight | 206.5g | 178g | Honor 70 is significantly lighter, which is more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.6" | 6.67" | Negligible difference in screen size. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2400 | Honor 70 has a much sharper and clearer display, ideal for reading and media consumption. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 266 | 395 | Honor 70 has significantly better display clarity, with smoother images. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | Honor 70 offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast. Better for media and visibility. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 70 provides smoother scrolling and animations, making the phone feel more responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness at 0 nits - we are missing this data to make a judgement here. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | Honor 70 has a much faster processor, providing better performance for all tasks and games. |
| AnTuTu Score | 178,220 | 600,525 | Honor 70 delivers a significantly smoother experience, especially in demanding applications. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 642L | Honor 70 provides a superior graphics performance, enabling smoother gaming and video editing. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.80µm | 54MP, f/1.9, 1/1.49" Sony IMX800, 1.00µm | Honor 70 has a higher resolution sensor with larger pixel size. Both phones should provide detailed photos. However, Honor 70 will likely perform better in low-light situations. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2" Omnivision OV32C, 0.70µm | Honor 70 has a substantially higher resolution selfie camera, ideal for higher quality video calls and selfies. |
| Wide Angle Camera | N/A | 50MP, f/2.2 | Honor 70 has an additional ultrawide camera for more versatile shots. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | N/A | Motorola has dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode, however, Honor 70's main sensor could provide sufficient bokeh. |
| Macro Camera | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both phones offer a similar macro camera experience |
| Video Recording | 1080p@60fps | 4K@30fps | Honor 70 records sharper, more detailed videos with 4K resolution. |
| DXOMark | N/A | 115 (photo), 129 (video) | Honor 70 has been tested, providing objective data that the camera is capable. Motorola Moto G Power (2021) has not been tested by DXOMark. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4800 mAh | Motorola Moto G Power has a slightly larger capacity, potentially providing a small edge in battery life. |
| Charging | 15W | 66W | Honor 70 charges much faster, saving significant time when charging your device. |
| Features | 10W charger in-box | Reverse Charging | Honor 70 can be used to charge other devices wirelessly, adding more functionality. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 12 | Honor 70 comes with a more modern operating system with newer features and security updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Honor 70 offers faster and more efficient Wi-Fi speeds, which is useful for streaming and downloading files. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Honor 70 has more efficient Bluetooth with better audio codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Honor 70 offers more accurate GPS due to inclusion of Beidou satellite. |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM | Honor 70 allows the use of two SIM cards simultaneously. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32GB / 64GB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | Honor 70 offers much more storage for apps, photos, and videos |
| RAM | 3GB / 4GB | 6GB / 8GB / 12GB | Honor 70 has more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and more responsiveness. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both phones do not offer expandable storage, therefore you'll need to choose the storage option that's adequate. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Honor 70 provides better audio quality and immersion with stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted sensor may provide easier access for some. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | We are missing this data for a proper comparison. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both phones offer all necessary sensors for modern smartphone usage. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery may provide marginally longer battery life.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Side-mounted may be preferred for accessibility for some users.
- Lower price: As an older device, this phone will likely be cheaper than the Honor 70.
Practical Implications: The larger battery provides potentially a small increase in usage time between charges. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor might offer better ergonomics for specific user grip styles. The price is likely to be more accessible.
Honor 70 Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED panel with higher resolution and 120Hz refresh rate provides a far better visual experience, making content more vibrant and smoother.
- Much Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ chipset delivers significantly better performance in all areas.
- Better Camera System: Higher resolution main, ultrawide and selfie cameras with 4K video recording capability, giving better results for photographs and videos.
- Faster Charging: 66W fast charging drastically reduces charging times, giving the user more convenience.
- Modern Features: Dual-SIM support, more modern Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6 and other features, ensuring the phone will continue to be capable into the future.
- More Storage & RAM: Significantly more memory, resulting in smoother multitasking.
Practical Implications: The display is superior for media consumption and gaming. The faster chipset handles heavy apps and games with ease. The enhanced camera system results in better photos, videos and video calling. The fast charging provides significant time savings. The extra memory will result in better multitasking capabilities.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Motorola: The lower performance, outdated display, and basic camera might be unacceptable for power users or those who value these features.
- Honor: Slightly smaller battery, less known brand with slightly less widespread community support (subjective) and potentially a higher price, making it more of an investment.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious buyers: Users who prioritize price over advanced features, such as a student or a retired person.
- Basic users: Users who primarily use their phone for calling, texting, browsing, social media and basic photography.
- Users prioritising battery life: Users who require long battery life and don't need top-tier performance, but still require a smartphone.
Use Cases:
- Long battery life for travel: Its large battery would be beneficial for long trips without easy access to charging.
- Basic communication for elderly: The phone would suit elderly users who need a simple device for calls and texts.
- Secondary phone: Useful as a second phone for work or travel.
Honor 70 Ideal Users:
- Performance-oriented users: Gamers, social media influencers and photographers who require speed, smooth visuals and high quality images and videos.
- Media consumers: Users who watch lots of videos, movies and consume media on their phones.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who enjoy the latest features, faster charging, and want a modern phone for day to day usage.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming: Its powerful chipset and high refresh rate display provide an ideal gaming experience.
- High-quality content creation: The 4K video recording and excellent camera make it suitable for social media influencers.
- Fast multitasking: Great for users who need to switch between apps seamlessly.
- Everyday use: A capable phone to use in daily life for entertainment, calls, and work.
Price-to-Value:
- The Motorola Moto G Power (2021) offers a basic smartphone experience at a lower price point and will be more accessible to those with a limited budget.
- The Honor 70 offers significantly higher value for users who want better performance, camera quality, and display at a higher, but still very competitive, price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Motorola is the cheaper device, while the Honor 70 comes at a premium for it's better performance and features.
- What do you value most in a smartphone? (Battery life, performance, display quality, camera). If you value performance and display, the Honor 70 is the clear winner. If you only need long battery and basic features, the Motorola might be suitable.
- What are your primary use cases? (Basic communication, gaming, content creation, social media). If your use case is primarily just communication, the Motorola is suitable. For everything else, the Honor 70 is better.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Use: If your budget is very limited and you primarily need the phone for basic tasks, the Motorola Moto G Power (2021) is a reasonable option.
- Scenario 2: Mid-Range Budget, Balanced Use: If you have a mid-range budget and want the best overall experience, the Honor 70 offers a superior display, better performance, camera, and fast charging, making it the better choice in this case.
- Scenario 3: Power User, Content Creation: If you're a power user, gamer, or content creator, the Honor 70 will better cater to your needs with its superior performance, camera, and display.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Honor 70.
Reasoning:
While the Motorola Moto G Power (2021) has a slightly larger battery, the advantages of the Honor 70 are far more significant and impactful on the user experience. The vastly superior display, much faster performance, higher quality camera system (especially with 4K video), and faster charging outweigh the slightly better battery life of the Motorola. The Honor 70 offers a far more modern and enjoyable smartphone experience. As someone who uses their phone for a variety of tasks, including gaming, watching videos, and taking photos, the Honor 70 is the superior choice. The Motorola feels like it would be too limited for my needs. The price-to-value of the Honor 70 is also exceptional compared to other phones in the same price range, making it the better choice.
