Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G30 vs. Motorola Moto G72
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Moto G72 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.2 × 75.7 × 9.1 mm | 160.5 × 74.4 × 7.9 mm | The G72 is noticeably smaller and thinner, making it more pocketable and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 200g | 166g | The G72 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and carrying. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.6" | Virtually the same viewing area, negligibly different. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The G72 has a much sharper display, with crisper text, images, and video. Better for media consumption. |
| PPI | 269 | 402 | Higher pixel density on the G72 means a noticeably clearer and more detailed image. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | P-OLED | P-OLED offers better contrast, richer colors, and deeper blacks, resulting in a more vibrant visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The G72's higher refresh rate provides smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have unknown peak brightness - difficult to gauge outdoor visibility |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | The G72's chipset is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 170,968 | 415,300 | The G72 offers a much better performance, meaning a more fluid overall experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G57 MC2 | The G72's GPU is more capable, better for graphics-intensive apps and gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 64MP | 108MP | The G72 has a higher resolution main camera, capturing more detail in photos. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.7 | Both have same aperture. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.70 µm | 0.64 µm | Slightly smaller pixels on G72, which may impact light sensitivity. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 13MP | 16MP | The G72's selfie camera will capture slightly more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Pixel Size | 1.12 µm | Not specified | Difficult to gauge low light performance without this info. |
| Wide Angle Resolution | 8MP | 8MP | Comparable Wide Angle lenses |
| Wide Angle Aperture | f/2.2 | f/1.9 | G72's wider aperture allows for more light, better low light shots. |
| Portrait Mode | Yes | No | The G30 has dedicated hardware for depth effects, G72 relies on software. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | 2MP | Both have similar Macro Lenses |
| Video Recording | Up to 1080p@60fps | Up to 1080p@60fps | Both record at similar resolutions. |
| Slow Motion | 60fps | 120fps | The G72 can capture higher frame rate slow motion videos, which provides more detail. |
| Features | Quadruple camera, RAW | Triple camera, Digital Image Stabilization | G30 has RAW capture, G72 has digital image stabilization. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W | 33W | The G72 charges significantly faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 12 | The G72 starts on a newer OS, with potentially longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac, dual-band | 802.11ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Display | G72 includes Wi-Fi display support for easier screen mirroring. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.0 LE | Both phones offer similar Bluetooth functionality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | G72's support for Beidou provides potentially more accurate GPS data. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both phones support dual SIM usage. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | The G72 offers more storage capacity. |
| RAM | 4/6 GB | 6/8 GB | The G72 has more RAM, beneficial for multi-tasking and gaming. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers microSD card expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Features | Basic Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | The G72 provides superior audio experience with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Rear-mounted | Basic Sensor | Both have fingerprint sensor |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | The G72 has more sensors, enabling a more comprehensive experience, particularly for apps and games. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:
- Dedicated Portrait Camera: Offers hardware-based depth information for more natural-looking bokeh in portrait photos.
- RAW Photo Capture: Allows for more flexibility in post-processing of photos, appealing to enthusiasts.
- Lower price point: Usually the older phone can be found for less, which is important to consider for budget-minded people.
Motorola Moto G72 Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, better contrast with P-OLED, and higher refresh rate offer a superior visual experience.
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Helio G99 chipset delivers significantly better performance for demanding apps and gaming.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging drastically reduces charging time.
- More Storage and RAM Options: Offers up to 256 GB of storage and 8GB RAM for better multi-tasking and storage.
- Better Main Camera Resolution: 108MP camera allows more detail and clarity to images
- Enhanced Audio: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos provide a more immersive audio experience.
- More Advanced Sensors: Includes a compass and magnetometer for more advanced features and gaming.
- Slightly more future-proof software: Comes with Android 12, making it more likely to receive future updates.
Trade-offs:
- The G30 trades some performance and display quality for a potentially lower price and a dedicated depth sensor.
- The G72 does not have RAW capability or a dedicated depth sensor, relying on software for portrait effects, but offers significantly faster performance and better display and audio.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G30 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Individuals who prioritize cost-effectiveness over top-tier performance.
- Basic Smartphone Users: Those who primarily use their phones for calls, texts, social media, and light web browsing.
- Photography Enthusiasts (entry level): Those who enjoy photography and like the possibility to work with RAW images in post editing.
- Users who use portrait mode more frequently.
Use Cases for Moto G30:
- Basic daily communication and social media use.
- Casual browsing and media consumption with standard display quality.
- Occasional photography with good enough features.
Motorola Moto G72 Ideal User:
- Performance Seekers: Those who require smooth performance for demanding apps, gaming, and multitasking.
- Media Enthusiasts: Individuals who value a high-quality display for video streaming and gaming.
- Users seeking modern features: Those that seek modern features like faster charging, more storage, better audio, and a modern OS.
- Users who prefer better performance and multitasking:
Use Cases for Moto G72:
- Mobile gaming with its superior chipset.
- Streaming high-quality video on its vibrant P-OLED display.
- Smooth multitasking between various apps.
- More advanced photography.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What's Your Budget? Is price the primary concern, or are you willing to spend more for enhanced features?
- What's Your Primary Use Case? Is it basic communication, or more demanding tasks like gaming and streaming?
- How important is display quality and audio? Do you value a vibrant screen and great sound, or is this less important for you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If budget is the highest priority and you need basic phone functionality, the Moto G30 is a good enough choice.
- If you desire a smoother user experience, better performance, and superior display quality, the Moto G72 is well worth the investment, even if the price point is a bit higher.
- If you take more portrait photos with the phone, you might want to pick the G30.
- If you prefer an up-to-date OS and want a more future-proof device, the G72 is the obvious option.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Moto G72. While the G30 has the advantage of a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, the G72's benefits are simply too compelling for my needs. The much better display, significantly superior performance, and faster charging make a huge difference in day-to-day use. As someone who consumes a lot of media and sometimes enjoys gaming, the upgrade in screen quality and processing power is very noticeable and desirable. While both devices have similar battery capacity, the added RAM and Storage on the G72 would allow me to multitask more easily and have more space available, which is an important factor for me. The inclusion of features like Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers on the G72 also make it a more attractive option for my needs. While the G30 might be a better pick for someone who wants a more budget-friendly phone and also uses RAW photography often, the G72 is the superior device overall and offers a much better experience for me.
