Motorola Moto G30 vs Huawei nova 8i - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date March 17, 2021 July 22, 2021
Release Year 2021 2021

Physical

Volume 113.8 cm³ 104.01 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.25 "/g 3.51 "/g
Weight 200 g 190 g
Height 165.2 mm 161.9 mm
Width 75.7 mm 74.7 mm
Thickness 9.1 mm 8.6 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Phantom Black (Dark Pearl)
  • Pastel Sky
  • Starry Black
  • Moonlight Silver
  • Interstellar Blue

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.67 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 1080 x 2376
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 81.6 % 89.4 %
Pixel Density 269 PPI 391 PPI
Refresh Rate 90 Hz N/A
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 96.65 mAh/in²
Battery Density 43.94 mAh/cm³ 41.34 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 4300 mAh
NFC Support Yes No
Chipset Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
GPU Adreno 610 Adreno 610

Connectivity

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

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 11 10
Maximum OS Version 12

Comparison Summary

Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G30 vs. Huawei nova 8i

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureMotorola Moto G30Huawei nova 8iPractical Impact
Design
Dimensions165.2 × 75.7 × 9.1 mm161.9 × 74.7 × 8.6 mmMoto G30 is slightly taller and thicker, while nova 8i is more compact; minimal practical difference in hand feel
Weight200g190gNova 8i is slightly lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use.
Display
Size6.5"6.67"Nova 8i offers a slightly larger display for a more immersive viewing experience.
Resolution720x16001080x2376Nova 8i has significantly higher resolution, resulting in a sharper and more detailed image.
PPI269391Nova 8i's higher pixel density translates to clearer text and images.
TechnologyIPS LCDIPS LCDBoth use the same display technology, so color reproduction and viewing angles will be similar.
Refresh Rate90Hz60HzMoto G30 offers smoother scrolling and animations due to the higher refresh rate.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsIdentical peak brightness; However, practical usage in direct sunlight may vary based on actual panel quality. Peak brightness needs further investigation.
Performance
ChipsetSnapdragon 662Snapdragon 662Identical chipsets mean similar performance for everyday tasks and gaming.
Antutu Score170,968201,000Nova 8i scores slightly higher in benchmarks, potentially offering marginally better responsiveness and performance.
GPUAdreno 610Adreno 610Identical GPUs; gaming performance will be similar.
Battery
Capacity5000mAh4300mAhMoto G30 offers a larger battery, likely resulting in longer battery life between charges.
Charging15W fast charging66W fast chargingNova 8i charges much faster, minimizing downtime.
Camera
Standard Camera Resolution64.4MP64MPBoth offer similar main camera resolution; Moto G30 has a slightly wider aperture which could improve low-light performance.
Standard Camera Aperturef/1.7f/1.9Moto G30's wider aperture (f/1.7) allows more light to reach the sensor, potentially resulting in better low-light performance.
Standard Camera Pixel Size0.70 µm0.80 µmHuawei nova 8i has a slightly larger pixel size which could translate to better light sensitivity.
Selfie Camera Resolution13MP16MPNova 8i captures slightly more detailed selfies with its higher resolution front camera.
Selfie Camera Aperturef/2.2f/2.0Nova 8i selfie camera has wider aperture, potentially improving low-light performance.
Wide Angle Lens8MP, f/2.28MP, f/2.2Both offer identical wide angle lens.
Portrait Mode Lens2MP, f/2.42MP, f/2.4Both offer identical portrait mode (depth) lens.
Macro Lens2MP, f/2.42MP, f/2.4Both offer identical macro lens.
Video1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fpsMoto G30 offers slightly more frame rate options. Both phones offer similar video recording quality for standard use cases like social media.
Slow-motion VideoYes, 60 fpsYes, 120 fpsHuawei Nova 8i offers faster slow-motion video capture.
FeaturesLAF, RAWDigital image stabilizationMotorola Moto G30 offers Laser Autofocus and RAW capture. Huawei nova 8i offers Digital Image stabilization.
Software
OSAndroid 11 (upgradable to 12)Android 10Moto G30 has a newer OS and more potential for future updates.
Connectivity
Wi-Fi802.11a/b/g/n/ac802.11a/b/g/n/acSimilar Wi-Fi performance on both phones. Motorola Moto G30 additionally supports: Dual band, Wi-Fi Direct; Huawei nova 8i additionally supports: Wi-Fi Display.
Bluetooth5.0 LE5.0 LEBoth feature Bluetooth 5.0 LE, with Huawei Nova 8i additionally supporting better audio codecs (APT-x, LDAC, AAC) for higher quality audio transmission.
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, GalileoGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, GalileoHuawei nova 8i supports additional satellite navigation for better accuracy.
Storage & RAM
Internal Storage64/128 GB128 GBBoth offers 128GB variants, though the Moto G30 also comes in a 64GB option.
RAM4/6 GB6 GBNova 8i has a higher RAM as a standard, which means improved multitasking capabilities.
Expandable StorageNoNoNeither phone offers expandable storage.
Audio
Audio QualityBasic audio featuresNoise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphonesHuawei nova 8i offers significantly better audio with stereo speakers, noise cancellation, and dual mics.
Security
Featuresrear-mounted fingerprint sensorside-mounted fingerprint sensorSide-mounted sensors tend to be more convenient and faster.
Sensors
SensorsFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, GyroscopeFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, GyroscopeHuawei nova 8i has additional compass sensor for better accuracy in directional tasks.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:

  • Larger Battery: 5000mAh battery provides significantly longer battery life, ideal for heavy users.
  • Smoother Display: 90Hz refresh rate offers a more fluid user experience, especially for scrolling and animations.
  • Newer Software: Android 11 (upgradable to 12) offers more up-to-date features and potentially longer software support.
  • Laser Autofocus and RAW: additional camera features providing flexibility for the most avid photographers.

Huawei nova 8i Advantages:

  • Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density deliver a clearer and more detailed visual experience.
  • Faster Charging: 66W fast charging significantly reduces downtime.
  • Better Audio: Stereo speakers and noise cancellation offer improved sound quality and call clarity.
  • More RAM: 6 GB RAM as standard offers smoother performance for multitasking and demanding apps.
  • Better Slow-motion Video: 120 fps for smoother slow-motion video recording
  • Better selfie camera: higher resolution and wider aperture on the front facing camera
  • Additional sensors: compass for better directional tracking.

Trade-offs:

  • Motorola Moto G30: Sacrifices display sharpness and audio quality for better battery life and refresh rate. Slower charging.
  • Huawei Nova 8i: Trades battery life and smoother refresh rate for a sharper display, better audio and significantly faster charging. Older OS.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Ideal Users for Motorola Moto G30:

  • Users prioritizing battery life: Those who need a phone that can last all day without needing a charge.
  • Users who like a fluid UI: The 90Hz refresh rate will be preferred by users who appreciate smoothness while browsing and using the phone.
  • Budget-conscious buyers: The 64GB varient may be attractive to price conscious buyers
  • Users who like more photography control: Those who want more flexibility in their photography with Laser autofocus and RAW capture.

Use Cases for Motorola Moto G30:

  • Long days away from a charger.
  • Moderate gaming that benefits from a smoother refresh rate.
  • Outdoor photography with laser autofocus and RAW capture.
  • Casual users who value smoothness and battery life over maximum display sharpness.

Ideal Users for Huawei nova 8i:

  • Users who prioritize display quality: Those who watch a lot of videos or view a lot of images on their phone.
  • Users who value faster charging: Users who don't want to wait long to charge their phone.
  • Users who value audio quality: Those who consume a lot of media through their phone's speakers.
  • Users who are more interested in video: prefer a higher quality selfie and slow-motion video recording.
  • Multitaskers: Benefit from the 6 GB of RAM.

Use Cases for Huawei nova 8i:

  • Watching streaming content and playing games.
  • Users who value audio for media consumption.
  • Quick top-ups when charging time is limited.
  • Users who value higher image quality and sharper details
  • Navigation with better compass tracking.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. Do you value battery life over display sharpness? If battery life is the top priority, the Moto G30 is the better choice. If you prefer a sharper display, the Nova 8i would be more suitable.
  2. How important is fast charging to you? If you need to quickly charge your phone, the Nova 8i’s 66W charging is a key advantage. If you are willing to wait longer for charging, Moto G30 may be suitable
  3. Are you a heavy media consumer or more of a casual user? If you consume lots of videos, music, and media on your phone, the Nova 8i is the better option due to its enhanced display and audio. If you are a casual user that likes a smooth UI, Moto G30 is recommended.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: On-the-Go User: If you need a phone for long days away from a charger, with a smooth UI experience and flexible camera options, the Motorola Moto G30 is recommended.
  • Scenario 2: Multimedia Enthusiast: If you watch a lot of videos or play a lot of music on your phone, and value a crisp screen and better audio, the Huawei nova 8i is the better choice.
  • Scenario 3: Casual User with a Focus on convenience: If you prefer fast charging, better audio and higher quality selfies, with a more modern design, the Huawei nova 8i is the better choice.

Decision

I would choose the Huawei Nova 8i.

While the Motorola Moto G30 offers a longer battery life and a slightly smoother display due to the 90Hz refresh rate, the Huawei Nova 8i has a better overall user experience for my typical use case which involves multimedia consumption. The significantly faster charging, crisper display and vastly improved audio quality, alongside the advantages of a more modern design and the additional 2GB RAM outweigh the battery and refresh rate advantages of the Moto G30. While the G30 has a slightly wider aperture and laser autofocus, I would prefer the Nova 8i's sharper selfie camera and faster slow-motion video. My daily usage is not primarily photography, so the advantages of the Nova 8i would offer more practical benefits.

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.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.