1. Specifications Comparison
Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
---|---|---|---|
Design | |||
Dimensions | 165.3 x 75.9 x 9.5 mm | 163.6 x 74.7 x 9.1 mm | Moto G Power is slightly larger and thicker, potentially less comfortable in hand. |
Weight | 206.5g | 209g | Both feel relatively similar in weight; negligible difference. |
Display | |||
Size | 6.6" | 6.81" | Honor Magic4 Pro has a slightly larger screen, better for media consumption and multitasking. |
Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1312 x 2848 | Honor Magic4 Pro has much sharper display, leading to clearer text and images. |
PPI | 266 | 460 | Honor Magic4 Pro offers significantly crisper visuals due to higher pixel density. |
Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | Honor Magic4 Pro has superior contrast, richer colors, and deeper blacks; better for viewing videos and photos. |
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor Magic4 Pro has smoother animations and scrolling; more responsive user experience. |
Brightness | 0 nits | 1000 nits | Honor Magic4 Pro offers significantly better visibility in bright outdoor conditions. |
Performance | |||
Chipset | Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor Magic4 Pro offers much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
AnTuTu Score | 178,220 | 945,832 | Honor Magic4 Pro is significantly faster and more responsive for demanding tasks. |
GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 730 | Honor Magic4 Pro handles graphics-intensive tasks much more smoothly. |
Battery | |||
Capacity | 5000mAh | 4600mAh | Moto G Power has a slightly larger battery, potentially leading to longer battery life, but likely negligible. |
Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 100W Fast Charging | Honor Magic4 Pro can charge from empty to full much faster, saving valuable time. |
Battery Features | 10W Charger In-box | Reverse, Wireless 100W | Honor Magic4 Pro offers more charging versatility; can wirelessly charge and act as a power bank for other devices, Moto G only has basic charger. |
Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1.00µm | Honor Magic4 Pro takes slightly higher resolution photos and has better light capture, may perform better in low light. |
Telephoto Camera | None | 64MP, f/2.0, 0.70µm | Honor Magic4 Pro allows for zoomed-in shots with better detail. |
Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 12MP, f/2.4, unknown | Honor Magic4 Pro has a slightly higher resolution for selfies but a smaller aperture, better for portrait mode. |
Wide Angle Camera | None | 50MP f/2.2, Unknown | Honor Magic4 Pro offers ultra-wide angle captures, great for landscapes and group photos, can do macro shots as well. |
ToF 3D Sensor | None | 0.3MP Unknown | Honor has a time of flight sensor. Likely used for better portrait and autofocus capabilities |
Portrait/Depth Camera | 2MP f/2.4 1.75µm | None | Moto G Power has a dedicated depth sensor, likely only for bokeh effect. |
Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4 1.75µm | None | Moto G Power has a dedicated macro lens for close up photos. |
Video Recording | 1080p@30/60fps with EIS | 4K@30/60fps with HDR, EIS | Honor Magic4 Pro captures higher-resolution, more detailed videos with better color and dynamic range. |
Camera DXOMark | N/A | Mobile: 126 | Honor Magic4 Pro's camera performance has been tested and received a good rating. |
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 | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Laser AF, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Dual front camera, Main camera for Selfies, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Honor has a lot more features, better camera quality. Motorola is only okay in this regard. |
Other | |||
OS | Android 10 | Android 12 | Honor Magic4 Pro has a newer operating system, which may offer new features and better security. |
Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Honor Magic4 Pro supports faster and more efficient Wi-Fi for better network speeds and connectivity. |
Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.2 LE | Honor Magic4 Pro has a newer version with better energy efficiency and audio quality. |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Honor Magic4 Pro has more satellite systems for more precise location accuracy. |
SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM | Honor Magic4 Pro can use two SIM cards simultaneously, suitable for travelers or those with dual numbers. |
Internal Storage | 32/64GB | 256/512GB | Honor Magic4 Pro has significantly more internal storage for apps, photos, and videos. |
RAM | 3/4GB | 8/12GB | Honor Magic4 Pro has more RAM for smoother multitasking and handling of demanding apps. |
Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
Audio Quality | Basic features | DTS/DTS X, Stereo Speakers | Honor Magic4 Pro offers a more immersive and better audio experience. |
Security | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Motorola's sensor may be faster and more intuitive to use. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: A 5000mAh battery versus 4600mAh may result in slightly longer battery life.
- Dedicated Depth and Macro Camera: This camera set-up can offer more creative shooting options
- More affordable price: The Moto G Power (2021) is in a lower price bracket which can be appealing for those on a budget
Practical Implications:
* The larger battery might mean a few more hours between charges for light use.
* Dedicated depth sensor might provide slightly better bokeh effect, and the dedicated macro lens allows for close up shots.
* The lower price is great for people who just need a basic phone for communication.
Honor Magic4 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED screen with higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness provides a significantly better viewing experience.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset offers a huge leap in performance for demanding apps and gaming.
- Faster Charging: 100W charging greatly reduces the time needed to charge the battery.
- Advanced Camera System: Better main sensor, plus dedicated telephoto and wide-angle lenses, capture higher-quality photos and videos.
- More Features: Dual SIM support, more storage and RAM, newer Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, better audio quality, wireless and reverse charging.
- Newer OS: Android 12 offers the latest security and software features.
Practical Implications:
- The OLED display makes media consumption much more enjoyable, and the higher refresh rate is smooth to the eye.
- The chipset allows for demanding games to run smoothly and makes the phone snappier in all aspects.
- 100W charging allows for quickly charging up the phone in minutes.
- Versatile camera setup allows for taking high quality pictures from any situation.
- Dual SIM allows for dual usage, and the additional storage is great for media.
- The phone is more future proof and secure with the latest OS, Wi-Fi and bluetooth.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Motorola: Sacrifices almost every performance related specification for a lower price.
- Honor: Higher price point and potentially shorter battery life with similar usage compared to the Moto G Power.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G Power (2021):
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who need a basic smartphone for calls, texting, browsing, and occasional photos.
- Use Cases:
- Daily communication and social media.
- Basic media consumption (light web browsing, casual video watching).
- Extended battery life for users who don't have consistent access to charging.
- A secondary phone for basic tasks.
- Price-to-Value: Very good for the low price, but the user sacrifices features and performance.
Honor Magic4 Pro:
- Ideal User: Power users, photography enthusiasts, gamers, and those who want top-tier performance and features.
- Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming and heavy multitasking.
- Professional-quality photography and videography.
- High-quality media consumption (streaming, movies, video editing).
- Users who want the latest features and technology.
- Price-to-Value: Excellent for the top-end performance and features, but a premium price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is my budget? If cost is a primary concern, the Motorola Moto G Power (2021) is the only logical choice.
- What is my primary use case? If your needs are primarily basic phone functions, the Motorola is ok. If it is performance-intensive tasks, the Honor is preferred.
- How important are camera quality and multimedia experience? For photo/video enthusiasts, or users who spend a lot of time with media consumption, the Honor excels.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-conscious, basic user:
- Recommendation: Motorola Moto G Power (2021). It provides adequate performance for the basics at a very low price, though you will be sacrificing a lot in performance and features.
- Scenario 2: Multimedia enthusiast, content creator, gamer, or power user:
- Recommendation: Honor Magic4 Pro. It will provide a significantly better experience in all areas except the battery life which is pretty close to the Moto G.
- Scenario 3: Needs a decent phone, but doesn't need to spend a lot of money.
- Recommendation: If it's not too far out of the budget, get the Honor Magic4 Pro. It offers a far superior experience for a cost that isn't THAT much higher than the Motorola.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would definitely choose the Honor Magic4 Pro. While the Motorola Moto G Power (2021) has a larger battery, that's really the only area where it excels. The Honor Magic4 Pro provides a much more well-rounded and powerful experience in nearly every other aspect. The display is significantly better, the performance is far superior, the camera is significantly more versatile and higher quality, and the extra features are very nice to have. Although it is more expensive, I find that it offers a lot of value and is a very capable device, especially with all the additional features.