1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165.2 × 75.7 × 9.1 mm | 161.2 × 74 × 8.6 mm | The Moto G30 is slightly larger and thicker, potentially feeling bulkier in hand. The Edge 40 Pro is more compact. |
| Weight | 200g | 199g | Both phones have virtually the same weight, making them feel similarly in hand regarding heft. |
| Build | Unknown screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | The Edge 40 Pro has a significantly more durable screen, offering better protection against scratches and drops. The Moto G30's screen protection is not specified. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | The Edge 40 Pro has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The Edge 40 Pro's display is significantly sharper, with clearer text and images. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 269 | 394 | The Edge 40 Pro's higher pixel density results in a much sharper, clearer screen with less visible pixelation. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | The Edge 40 Pro's OLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the Moto G30's IPS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 165Hz | The Edge 40 Pro's display will feel significantly smoother and more responsive, especially when scrolling and gaming. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1100 nits | The Edge 40 Pro has much higher brightness, making it far more readable in bright sunlight. The Moto G30's brightness is not specified. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Edge 40 Pro has a vastly more powerful processor, resulting in significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 170,968 | 1,532,500 | The Edge 40 Pro performs drastically better in benchmarks, indicating superior overall performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 740 | The Edge 40 Pro's GPU is substantially more powerful, leading to superior graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 12 GB | The Edge 40 Pro has far more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and better performance with multiple apps open. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 64.4MP, f/1.7 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" sensor, 1.00µm pixels | While the Moto G30 has a higher megapixel count, the Edge 40 Pro has a larger sensor with larger pixels. This typically leads to better image quality, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixels | 60MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor, 0.61µm pixels | The Edge 40 Pro has a much higher megapixel count for selfies, potentially capturing more detailed images. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 12MP, f/1.6, 1/2.93" sensor, 1.22µm pixels | The Edge 40 Pro offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, which is absent in the Moto G30. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixels | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" sensor, 0.64µm pixels | The Edge 40 Pro has a significantly higher megapixel wide-angle lens for higher quality, wider shots. |
| Portrait (Depth) Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm pixels | None | The Moto G30 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait shots, which the Edge 40 Pro lacks, relying on software. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm pixels | None | The Moto G30 includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, which the Edge 40 Pro lacks. |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps (all with HDR & EIS) | The Edge 40 Pro offers vastly superior video recording capabilities, including much higher resolutions, frame rates and stabilization. |
| DxOMark Score | Not Available | Mobile: 130 (Photo: 133, Video: 135) | The Edge 40 Pro is an excellent camera performer according to DxOMark. The Moto G30 doesn't have a score available. |
| Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, LAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | Time-Lapse, 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, OIS, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, PDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Dual capture, RAW, Night Mode | The Edge 40 Pro has a more comprehensive set of camera features, including advanced modes, stabilization, and optical zoom. The Moto G30 has a laser autofocus feature. |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4600mAh | The Moto G30 has a slightly larger battery which might result in longer battery life, depending on usage. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 125W fast charging | The Edge 40 Pro charges much faster, going from empty to full in a fraction of the time compared to the Moto G30. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 15W wireless charging, 5W reverse wired charging | The Edge 40 Pro offers additional battery features such as wireless charging and reverse charging for other devices. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:
- Potentially Longer Battery Life: Slightly larger battery capacity might translate to longer usage between charges, but this needs real world testing as it is highly dependent on usage and power efficiency of the chipset
- Dedicated Macro and Depth Sensors: Offers dedicated lenses for macro and depth sensing for portrait mode, which are absent on the Edge 40 Pro.
- Lower Price: Expected to be significantly more affordable than the Edge 40 Pro.
- Simultaneous dual sim use: Can run two physical SIMs at the same time unlike the Edge 40 Pro which uses one physical SIM and an eSIM
Motorola Edge 40 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 12GB of RAM deliver drastically better performance for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking.
- Far Superior Display: The OLED screen with a 165Hz refresh rate and higher brightness offers a much more immersive and enjoyable viewing experience.
- Much Faster Charging: The 125W fast charging is significantly faster, reducing downtime.
- Superior Camera System: Higher resolution wide-angle and selfie cameras, along with optical zoom and excellent video capabilities result in a more versatile and high-quality photography experience.
- More Advanced Features: Offers wireless charging, reverse charging, and newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- Future-proofed: The latest chipset, software and connectivity standards mean it will remain relevant for longer.
- Better build quality: Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
Trade-offs:
- Battery Life: The Edge 40 Pro has a slightly smaller battery, which could result in shorter battery life compared to the Moto G30 if not used efficiently. However this is highly dependent on usage and real world testing.
- Price: The Edge 40 Pro is expected to be significantly more expensive than the Moto G30.
- Missing Dedicated Macro and Depth: Relies on software for depth and lacks a dedicated macro lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G30 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a reliable smartphone at a lower price point.
- Users with Basic Needs: People who primarily use their phone for calls, texting, browsing, and light social media.
- Users Who Value Battery Life: Individuals who prefer longer battery life, potentially at the expense of performance.
- Users who value having a depth sensor and macro lens
- Users who want to use two physical sims at the same time
Specific Use Cases:
- Everyday communication and basic web browsing.
- Casual social media use.
- Long battery life for travel and outdoor activities, while being aware that this is dependent on usage.
Motorola Edge 40 Pro Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Gamers and users who need a fast and responsive phone for demanding applications.
- Multimedia Lovers: Those who value a high-quality display for watching videos, browsing photos, and enjoying content.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile and high-quality camera system for both photos and videos.
- Users who value fast charging and wireless charging
- Users who want a future proof device with latest connectivity standards
Specific Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming and heavy multitasking.
- High-resolution video streaming and content creation.
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Taking advantage of fast charging.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The Moto G30 is designed as a budget device, while the Edge 40 Pro is a high-end flagship. The price difference will be significant.
- How important is performance? If you need a fast phone for gaming or demanding apps, the Edge 40 Pro is the clear choice. If your use is basic, the Moto G30 might be sufficient.
- How important is display and camera quality? The Edge 40 Pro offers a superior display and camera system. If image quality and media consumption are important, you might consider it even if it is more expensive.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight budget and basic needs: If your primary concern is affordability and you only need basic smartphone functionalities, the Moto G30 is a suitable option.
- Scenario 2: Moderate budget and regular multimedia consumption: If you want a phone with a decent display and a good camera without the flagship price, the Moto G30 offers a balance, but bear in mind the Edge 40 Pro's display and camera are vastly superior.
- Scenario 3: Performance, camera and display are a priority: If you need the best performance, highest quality display, and a versatile camera system regardless of price, the Edge 40 Pro is the best choice.
- Scenario 4: Desire for long battery: Both phones offer good battery life. If this is key for you, the Moto G30 is the slightly better option but this will be highly dependent on real-world usage.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 40 Pro.
Here's why:
While the Moto G30 is a solid budget option, the Edge 40 Pro offers a substantially better user experience across the board. The vastly superior display (OLED, 165Hz), the significantly higher performance chipset, the far superior cameras (especially for video), the incredibly fast charging, the extra features like wireless and reverse charging, and its modern connectivity standards make it the better choice for me.
I am a heavy smartphone user, and I value responsiveness, high-quality displays for media, and versatility in camera systems. While I do like the fact the Moto G30 has dedicated macro and depth sensors, these are outweighed by the superior image quality of the Edge 40 Pro's sensors. I would also choose the Edge 40 Pro over the G30 as the Moto G30 does not have its screen protection specified, and has a less durable build overall. The Edge 40 Pro also has more RAM, which I need for the heavy multitasking I tend to do.
While the price difference is a factor, for my needs and preferences, the benefits of the Edge 40 Pro justify the extra cost. Its future-proofed nature with better connectivity and software updates is also an important consideration.
