1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.2 × 75.7 × 9.1 mm | 161.5 × 74 × 8.8 mm | Realme 12 Pro+ is slightly smaller and thinner, potentially feeling more comfortable in hand. |
| Weight | 200g | 196g | Virtually identical weight; negligible difference in hand feel. |
| Foldable | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones, not foldable. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Realme 12 Pro+ has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2412 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a significantly sharper display with much more detail. |
| PPI | 269 | 394 | Realme 12 Pro+ has noticeably crisper text and images. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Realme 12 Pro+ offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast. It's also more efficient for dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Realme 12 Pro+ provides smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness at 0 nits. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) | Realme 12 Pro+ has a much more powerful and energy-efficient chipset, leading to better performance in apps, games, and multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 170,968 | 603,400 | Realme 12 Pro+ will feel significantly faster in daily use and handle demanding tasks more smoothly. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 710 | Realme 12 Pro+ offers superior graphics performance for gaming and other graphically intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have similar battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging, Li-Ion | 67W Fast Charging, Li-Polymer | Realme 12 Pro+ charges much faster, going from empty to full in significantly less time. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both have non-removable batteries. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 64.4MP, f/1.7, 0.70 µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", Sony IMX890, 1.00 µm | Realme 12 Pro+ has a larger sensor and larger pixels for better low-light performance and image quality, despite having lower megapixel count. |
| Front Selfie | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74", Sony IMX615, 0.80 µm | Realme 12 Pro+ offers higher resolution selfies with more detail and a wider field of view. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2", Omnivision OV64B, 0.70 µm | Realme 12 Pro+ offers telephoto capabilities for zoomed photos with good detail. The Motorola does not have this feature. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm | None | Motorola Moto G30 has a dedicated ultrawide camera for capturing wider scenes. The Realme lacks this. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm | None | Motorola Moto G30 has a dedicated depth sensor, enhancing portrait mode. The Realme lacks this. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm | None | Motorola Moto G30 has a dedicated macro lens for very close up images. The Realme lacks this. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", Hynix HI-846, 1.12 µm | Realme 12 Pro+ has a combined wide-angle/macro lens for more creative possibilities. The Motorola lacks this. |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, No stabilization, Slow-mo 60fps | 4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@30/60/120fps (EIS), Slow-mo 240fps | Realme 12 Pro+ records higher resolution and smoother videos with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, LAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance, ISO, Exposure, Scene, Self-timer, RAW | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, OIS, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance, ISO, Exposure, Scene, Self-timer, RAW | Realme 12 Pro+ offers better zoom capabilities, and better stabilization while recording. Motorola Moto G30 has a laser autofocus. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, max 12 | Android 14 | Realme 12 Pro+ has the newer operating system and potentially longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6) | Realme 12 Pro+ supports the faster and more stable Wi-Fi 6 standard. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.2 LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | Realme 12 Pro+ has a newer Bluetooth version with more advanced audio codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Realme 12 Pro+ has better GPS functionality thanks to supporting more satellite networks. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both offer dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128GB | 128/256/512GB | Realme 12 Pro+ offers more storage options. |
| RAM | 4/6GB | 8/12GB | Realme 12 Pro+ offers more RAM for better multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation mic, Stereo Speakers, 2 mics | Realme 12 Pro+ has a much more advanced audio system, providing a superior listening experience with stereo sound and clearer calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Rear-mounted Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Both phones have similar fingerprint sensor technology for security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection type unknown for both. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Realme 12 Pro+ has additional Geomagnetic sensor for more accurate compass applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:
- Dedicated Ultrawide, Macro, and Depth Sensors: Offers more versatility in the rear camera for different scenarios like landscape, macro, and portrait photos.
- Laser Autofocus: Potentially faster and more accurate autofocus in certain situations.
- Lower price: As an older and less powerful device, the Moto G30 will be far more affordable.
Realme 12 Pro+ Advantages:
- Superior Display: Larger, higher resolution AMOLED panel with a faster refresh rate for a much better visual experience.
- Significantly Faster Performance: The much newer Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip provides superior app loading, gaming, and multitasking.
- Much Faster Charging: 67W charging drastically reduces charging time.
- Better Cameras: Although fewer dedicated lenses, the main sensor and telephoto sensor capture superior images with more detail and better low-light performance. The front camera is a significant upgrade as well.
- Enhanced Video Recording: Supports 4K video with stabilization and offers higher-quality slow-motion.
- More Storage and RAM Options: Provides significantly more storage capacity and RAM for smoother operation.
- Newer Operating System and Bluetooth Version: Benefits from a newer OS and the latest Bluetooth standard with better audio codec support.
- Stereo Speakers and Better Audio: Significantly superior audio system with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
- Better GPS: Supports more satellite systems for improved GPS accuracy.
- More advanced Wi-Fi: Supports the faster and more reliable Wi-Fi 6 standard.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Motorola G30 compromises significantly on display quality, processing power, charging speed, and camera performance to offer a lower price.
- The Realme 12 Pro+ does not have a dedicated wide angle lens and depth sensor for portrait mode, instead relying on a combined ultrawide/macro and computational processing.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G30 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Individuals seeking the most affordable smartphone, prioritizing price over performance.
- Users with Basic Needs: People who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, social media, and light browsing.
- Users Prioritizing Macro and Ultrawide Photography: Those who enjoy creative photography with dedicated lenses for macro and ultrawide shots.
- Users who value Laser Autofocus: Users who need faster and more accurate autofocus, even if it's only in certain situations.
Realme 12 Pro+ Ideal User:
- Users Seeking Premium Visuals: Those who prioritize a high-quality display with vivid colors, sharpness, and smooth animations.
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who demand fast app loading, smooth multitasking, and good gaming performance.
- Mobile Photographers: Users who want high-quality photos with detailed telephoto and better low-light performance as well as higher quality selfies and video.
- Users who consume media: Those that watch videos, listen to music and play games. The superior display, stereo speakers and better audio codecs greatly enhance this.
- Users who need a fast charging device: Those who don't want to wait for their phone to charge.
Specific Use Cases:
- Motorola Moto G30: Casual web browsing, social media use, photography that utilizes the dedicated ultrawide, macro, or depth cameras, occasional video calls.
- Realme 12 Pro+: Gaming, watching videos, taking high-quality photos and videos (including telephoto and selfie), demanding productivity apps, and anyone who values smooth user experience with good sound.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Motorola Moto G30 offers basic functionality for a very low price, but compromises heavily on performance and display quality.
- The Realme 12 Pro+ offers significantly better value for its price due to its superior performance, display, and camera capabilities.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Motorola Moto G30 will likely be significantly cheaper than the Realme 12 Pro+.
- How important is performance? If you require smooth operation for games or multitasking, the Realme 12 Pro+ is the clear choice.
- What are your camera priorities? The Realme 12 Pro+ offers far better quality in most cases but the Motorola has dedicated macro and ultrawide lenses.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Needs: If budget is the primary concern and you only use your phone for basic tasks, the Motorola Moto G30 is the more affordable option.
- Scenario 2: Balanced Performance, Good Camera: If you desire a good overall experience, with good performance, a high-quality screen and a great camera the Realme 12 Pro+ is the better choice.
- Scenario 3: Performance-Focused User: If you are a power user, prefer gaming, or want the best possible experience, then the Realme 12 Pro+ is the clear winner.
My Choice
If I were choosing, I would choose the Realme 12 Pro+. The significantly better display, performance, cameras, and features justify the price difference. The superior overall user experience, future-proofing with a more powerful processor, and the advanced camera capabilities with telephoto lens make it a worthwhile investment over the Moto G30, which has several compromises. While the Motorola has some lens versatility, the quality of the images from the Realme 12 Pro+ will be superior. The Realme 12 Pro+ simply provides a much more modern and refined smartphone experience, more in line with what is expected from a mid-range device today. The enhanced audio and newer wifi standards are significant advantages for media consumption.
