Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G30 vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.1 mm | 168.9 x 75.8 x 9.3 mm | The G Stylus 5G is slightly taller and thicker, potentially less comfortable in small hands or pockets. |
| Weight | 200g | 215g | The G30 is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and carrying. The G Stylus 5G might feel heavier over time. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.8" | The G Stylus 5G offers a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2460 | The G Stylus 5G has a noticeably sharper and clearer display, improving text clarity and image quality. The G30 will show pixelation on close inspection. |
| PPI | 269 | 395 | The G Stylus 5G's higher pixel density results in finer details and less pixelation, making the screen look more polished. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | Both offer similar color accuracy and viewing angles. No difference in display technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The G Stylus 5G's 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations smoother, providing a more fluid and responsive experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Brightness is identical. This indicates that outdoor visibility and general brightness should be similar. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 662 (11nm) | Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) | The G Stylus 5G's newer chipset is significantly faster and more efficient, resulting in better app performance, faster loading times and smoother gameplay. |
| AnTuTu Score | 170,968 | 385,000 | The G Stylus 5G demonstrates far superior performance in benchmarks, indicating much smoother performance for heavy apps and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619 | The G Stylus 5G's Adreno 619 provides much better graphics processing, making it a better choice for gamers and users who frequently engage in visually intensive tasks. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res | 64MP (f/1.7) | 50MP (f/1.9) | G30's higher MP count might capture more detail in ideal lighting, but the G Stylus' sensor (S5KJN1) could perform better in low light due to its sensor size. G30 has a wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera Res | 13MP (f/2.2) | 16MP (f/2.2) | The G Stylus 5G's selfie camera has slightly higher resolution, potentially capturing finer details in selfies. |
| Wide Lens | 8MP (f/2.2) | 8MP (f/2.2) | Similar wide-angle performance on both phones. |
| Portrait (depth) | 2MP (f/2.4) | None | G30 includes a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode effects. The G Stylus 5G relies on software for depth. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP (f/2.4) | 2MP (f/2.4) | Similar macro lens performance on both phones. |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps; No EIS | 1080p@30/60fps; Yes EIS | G Stylus 5G has EIS, meaning more stable video recording. G Stylus 5G's slow-motion goes up to 120fps, where G30 is limited to 60fps |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, PDAF, LAF, RAW | Triple camera, OIS, Night Mode 2.0, Manual focus | The G30's PDAF and LAF offer faster focusing; G Stylus 5G's OIS can improve low-light photos, video and has a dedicated night mode. The G30 allows for RAW capture. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both phones should offer similar battery life, with all-day usage for most users on average. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | No information about fast charging | G30 has fast charging which is better than a device that does not support fast charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, up to 12 | Android 12 | The G Stylus 5G ships with a more recent version of Android; it is not clear if this is upgradable. G30 may be upgradeable to Android 12. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac, Dual-band | 802.11ac, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Display | Both offer similar Wi-Fi connectivity; G Stylus 5G supports Wi-Fi Display, useful for wireless screen casting. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Bluetooth 5.1 LE, EDR, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | G Stylus 5G has Bluetooth 5.1 which is newer and supports better codecs for higher audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | G Stylus 5G supports more satellite systems, potentially leading to more accurate positioning. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Single SIM | G30 can use two SIM cards at the same time; G Stylus 5G is only usable with one SIM card. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128 GB | 256 GB | The G Stylus 5G offers significantly more storage, better for users with large media libraries. The G30 has lower storage capacity (64 or 128GB options) |
| RAM | 4/6 GB | 8 GB | The G Stylus 5G has more RAM, enabling better multitasking and smoother performance with demanding apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows storage expansion via microSD cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic audio features | 2 Microphones | The G Stylus 5G should have better voice capture, while G30 only offers basic features. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Rear-mounted | Side-mounted | Side-mounted fingerprint sensors are often more convenient. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | It is not clear what type of screen protection each phone uses. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Both phones have good sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:
- Lighter: More comfortable for extended use and carrying.
- Dual SIM: Can use two SIM cards simultaneously, useful for travel or separating work and personal contacts.
- Fast Charging: Supports 15W fast charging, which is better than no fast charging, providing faster charging time.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: Offers better portrait mode effects compared to software-based solutions.
- Lower Price: Usually found at a more affordable price point.
- PDAF and LAF: Provides faster focusing.
- RAW Capture: Allows for more editing flexibility.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 695 5G chipset offers a huge performance upgrade, better for demanding tasks.
- Higher Resolution Display: Sharper and more detailed display for a better visual experience.
- 120Hz Refresh Rate: Smoother scrolling and animations for better responsiveness.
- More RAM: 8GB allows for improved multitasking and better performance in gaming.
- More Internal Storage: 256GB of storage for storing large amounts of data.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Improves low-light photo quality and reduces video shakiness.
- EIS: Offers more stable video recording.
- Wi-Fi Display: Useful for wireless screen casting.
- Better Bluetooth Codecs: Supports higher-quality audio codecs (APT-x, LDAC), resulting in improved audio quality for compatible wireless devices.
- Better GPS: Includes more satellite systems for more accurate location tracking.
- Night Mode 2.0: Better low-light images.
- Manual Focus: Useful for video and advanced photography.
- 2 microphones: Better voice capture.
Trade-offs:
- The Moto G30 has better camera focusing and a dedicated depth sensor compared to the G Stylus 5G, but the G Stylus 5G has OIS.
- The G30 is lighter and offers dual-SIM support, while the G Stylus 5G has more processing power and storage, making it a better choice for performance and media consumption.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G30:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, users who prefer lighter phones, those who need dual-SIM capabilities, or basic social media users who also need a decent camera.
- Use Cases: Basic web browsing, social media, casual photography, users who need dual SIM support, those who want fast charging or need better focus on their camera.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022):
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize performance, gaming, media consumption, and a better overall experience. The extra RAM and storage is very useful. Users who take a lot of photos and videos might also enjoy OIS.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, streaming video, multitasking, photography, videography, heavy app usage, media consumption, users who require high-quality audio, better GPS accuracy, or users who require a smooth display experience.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Moto G30: Offers good value at a lower price point for basic smartphone users.
- Moto G Stylus 5G (2022): Justifies its higher price with significantly better performance, display quality, and camera features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Performance Needs: Do you need a phone for demanding games and apps, or is basic performance sufficient?
- Camera Priorities: Do you need the best possible camera for low-light or night mode? Do you require raw capture?
- Budget: What is your budget, and how much are you willing to spend on extra features?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-conscious user: Choose the Moto G30 if you primarily need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and social media, and want a dual SIM option.
- Scenario 2: Performance & Media Enthusiast: Choose the Moto G Stylus 5G for significantly better performance, a smoother display, improved camera quality and more storage.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Gamer: The Moto G Stylus 5G is the clear choice for its powerful chipset and superior GPU.
- Scenario 4: Photography enthusiast: The Moto G Stylus 5G is a good choice for photos due to OIS. If you absolutely require raw capture or faster focusing, the G30 might suit you better.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would pick the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022). Although it is slightly heavier, the performance boost provided by the Snapdragon 695 chipset, combined with the smoother 120Hz display, the larger storage, the improved audio and GPS quality, and the optical image stabilization, makes it the more compelling option. While the Moto G30 offers good value, the G Stylus 5G provides a much better user experience in terms of performance, display, and camera functionality, which are very important to me. The larger RAM will ensure the phone remains usable for longer. The benefits of the Moto G Stylus 5G outweigh the cons, and I find the improvements to be worth the added cost, especially for any use cases besides basic calls/text.
