1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Motorola Moto G Power (2021) and Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G:
Design
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 75.9 × 9.5 mm | 168.6 × 76.3 × 8.2 mm | The Xiaomi is slightly taller and significantly thinner, potentially feeling more modern and easier to handle. The Motorola is bulkier, which could impact comfort for users with smaller hands. |
| Weight | 206.5g | 199g | The Xiaomi is slightly lighter, which might make it more comfortable during extended use. The difference is minimal but can be noticeable. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.6" | 6.79" | The Xiaomi offers a marginally larger screen, which could be slightly more immersive for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2460 | The Xiaomi's higher resolution results in a much sharper and clearer display, better for reading text and viewing images and videos. |
| PPI | 266 | 396 | The Xiaomi's higher pixel density means that the display will appear much sharper to the human eye and text will be crisp. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | Both displays utilize similar LCD technology which means similar color reproduction and viewing angles, which are good but not on par with OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | The Xiaomi's higher refresh rate translates to smoother scrolling, animations, and overall user interface experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones' brightness is unknown. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Xiaomi's newer and more efficient chipset offers significantly faster performance, better power management and efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 178,220 | 456,552 | The Xiaomi has much better benchmark scores, meaning better gaming experience and snappier app loading and usage. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 613 | The Xiaomi's newer GPU will handle graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming and video editing with smoother framerates. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Rear Camera (Main) | 48MP, f/1.7 | 50MP, f/1.8 | The Xiaomi captures slightly more detailed images in good lighting, and The Motorola's wider aperture might perform slightly better in low light, but the difference is likely small. |
| Front Camera | 8MP, f/2.0 | 5MP, f/2.2 | The Motorola's higher resolution and wider aperture will result in better quality selfies, especially in low light. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both phones offer the same resolution and aperture, so comparable bokeh effect. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | No | The Motorola offers a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots, a feature not available on the Xiaomi. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps/60fps with EIS | 1080p@30fps with EIS | Both record up to 1080p at 30fps for sharing purposes. Motorola is also capable of 60fps. The Xiaomi offers video stabilization compared to the Motorola's lack of it. |
| DXOMark | N/A | Mobile: 63, Photo: 57, Video: 76 | The Xiaomi has been tested by DXOMark giving an objective measure of its mobile camera capability, with video being the highest performing area. |
| Camera Features | Triple camera, Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting | Dual camera, Optical Stabilization (OIS) | Motorola offers additional lens and a laser autofocus. Xiaomi offers OIS for stable recording. |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones offer similar battery capacity, which means similar battery life. |
| Charging | 15W | 18W | The Xiaomi will charge slightly faster. |
| Features | 10W charger in-box | Non-removable | The Motorola ships with a 10W charger in the box. Both phones use non-removable batteries |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 10 | Android 13 | The Xiaomi offers a much more recent OS, with many benefits such as better security, better optimizations, and newer features. It is also expected to receive another major update in the future. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ac, Dual band | Both have similar Wi-Fi capabilities. Xiaomi has a dual band feature for better speeds on supported routers. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.0 LE, HID | Both have similar Bluetooth versions. Xiaomi has HID which allows for additional use such as with a Bluetooth keyboard. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | Both are capable of standard GPS use. Each uses different additional satellites for better coverage. |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM | The Xiaomi supports dual SIM cards, ideal for users with multiple phone numbers. |
Storage & Other
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 32 GB or 64 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | The Xiaomi offers significantly more storage, meaning more apps, photos, videos, and files. |
| RAM | 3 GB or 4 GB | 4 GB or 6 GB or 8 GB | The Xiaomi has more RAM, allowing for smoother multitasking and better performance when having more apps running simultaneously. |
| Expandable | No | No | Both phones do not have expandable storage. |
| Audio | Basic audio | Basic audio | Both phones offer similar audio capabilities. |
| Security | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both phones offer similar side-mounted fingerprint sensors for security. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | The Xiaomi has better protection with the screen, being less susceptible to scratches. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | The Motorola has gyro for more accurate motion detection, while Xiaomi has a virtual proximity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Advantages:
- Macro Camera: The inclusion of a dedicated macro lens offers more versatility for photography.
- Better Selfie Camera: Higher resolution front camera provides more detailed selfies.
- 10W Charger Included: The charger is included in the box.
- Gyroscope sensor: For more accurate motion-based interactions.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset is much more powerful, resulting in snappier performance.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution and refresh rate offer a much better visual experience, with sharper images and smoother scrolling.
- Modern OS: Android 13 provides the latest features and security enhancements.
- Dual SIM: Useful for users with multiple numbers.
- More Internal Storage and RAM: More storage options provide greater space for apps and media.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Allows for better and more stable video recordings.
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3: Provides better screen protection from scratches.
- Lighter and Thinner design: More comfortable for handling and general use.
Trade-offs:
- The Motorola offers a dedicated macro lens, but it does not compensate for its age. Its camera scores are not available.
- The Xiaomi has a better main rear camera, but the front camera has a much lower resolution.
- The Motorola offers a 10W charger, but the Xiaomi has faster charging at 18W.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: People looking for a basic smartphone at the lowest possible price point.
- Macro photography enthusiasts: Users who value close-up shots and a dedicated macro lens.
- Users who value battery life: While both phones have similar batteries, the Motorola's less powerful chip could result in slightly longer battery life.
- Users who do not need the latest features or performance.
Use Cases:
- Basic daily smartphone tasks.
- Casual photography with an emphasis on close-up shots.
- Users who need a secondary device with a good battery.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G Ideal User:
- Users seeking good performance and a modern experience: Those who want a smoother and faster phone.
- Media consumers: Users who watch videos, play games and read a lot on their phone and value a higher resolution and smoother display.
- Users who want the latest software and features: Those who want the latest android operating system and security updates.
- Users who want better video recording capabilities due to OIS.
- Users who need more storage due to limited expandable storage.
- Users who need dual SIM capabilities
Use Cases:
- Everyday use with demanding apps.
- Media consumption (videos, games, browsing).
- Users who need to record videos more often.
- Users who value modern software, updates, and security.
- Users with multiple phone numbers.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The Motorola is a much older device. It is therefore significantly cheaper than the Xiaomi.
- How important is performance, software, and display quality to me? The Xiaomi offers a much better experience due to its better performance, modern OS and high refresh rate display.
- Do I need macro photography or is the main camera sufficient for my needs? The Motorola offers a dedicated macro lens. The Xiaomi however has a much better overall rear camera system.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: "I need the absolute cheapest phone for basic use." The Motorola Moto G Power (2021) is a viable option if price is the primary concern and features like a macro lens are important. However, be aware that the phone is noticeably older and will be significantly slower.
- Scenario 2: "I want a smooth and modern phone that is good for media, and is future-proof." The Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G is the much better option with significantly better display, performance and software.
- Scenario 3: "I need a phone with a really long battery life, and use it for basic tasks". The Motorola Moto G Power (2021) is a better option due to its slightly more efficient CPU. However, battery performance between the two should be similar.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G. While the Motorola offers a dedicated macro camera and a lower price point, the Redmi 12 5G provides a much superior user experience overall. The significantly better performance, high-resolution display, smoother refresh rate, modern OS, larger storage, and Dual-SIM are all crucial for a modern smartphone. The lack of a macro lens on the Xiaomi is a worthwhile trade-off for the substantial improvements in all other key areas. The Xiaomi is more future-proof, and provides a better experience overall.
