Motorola Moto G30 vs Samsung Galaxy A35 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date March 17, 2021 March 15, 2024
Release Year 2021 2024

Physical

Volume 113.8 cm³ 103.42 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.25 "/g 3.16 "/g
Weight 200 g 209 g
Height 165.2 mm 161.7 mm
Width 75.7 mm 78 mm
Thickness 9.1 mm 8.2 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Phantom Black (Dark Pearl)
  • Pastel Sky
  • Navy
  • Iceblue
  • Lilac
  • Lemon

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.6 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 1080 x 2340
Aspect Ratio 20:9 19.5:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 81.6 % 84.8 %
Pixel Density 269 PPI 390 PPI
Refresh Rate 90 Hz 120 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A 1000 nits
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 114.78 mAh/in²
Battery Density 43.94 mAh/cm³ 48.34 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Adreno 610 Mali-G68 MP5

Connectivity

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

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 11 14
Maximum OS Version 12 18

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureMotorola Moto G30Samsung Galaxy A35Practical Impact
Dimensions165.2 x 75.7 x 9.1 mm161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mmThe Moto G30 is taller and thicker, while the A35 is wider. The A35 will likely feel more substantial in the hand due to width, while the G30 will feel bulkier.
Weight200g209gThe A35 is slightly heavier (9g), which might be noticeable during extended use.

Display

FeatureMotorola Moto G30Samsung Galaxy A35Practical Impact
Size6.5"6.6"Minimal difference in screen size, both offer an immersive viewing experience.
Resolution720 x 16001080 x 2340The A35 has significantly sharper and clearer visuals due to its higher resolution. Text and images will appear less pixelated.
PPI269390The A35 offers much better pixel density, resulting in a noticeably sharper display. Details are more pronounced.
TechnologyIPS LCDAMOLEDThe A35 offers superior blacks, higher contrast, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency for dark themes.
Refresh Rate90Hz120HzThe A35 provides smoother animations, making scrolling and gaming feel more fluid.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsBoth phones have identical peak brightness. Note: The value for brightness is 0 nits for both phones, which is unusual and might be a data entry error. The correct value is missing.

Performance

FeatureMotorola Moto G30Samsung Galaxy A35Practical Impact
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)The A35's chipset is significantly more powerful, providing a faster, smoother experience across all tasks, especially gaming and multitasking.
AnTuTu Score170,968578,500The A35 has a drastically higher score, indicating much better overall performance, including faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
GPUAdreno 610Mali-G68 MP5The A35's GPU is more powerful, enabling smoother gameplay and better graphics performance.

Camera

FeatureMotorola Moto G30Samsung Galaxy A35Practical Impact
Standard Camera64.4MP, f/1.7, 0.70 µm pixel size50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.96" sensor, 0.80 µm pixel sizeThe G30 has higher resolution, but the A35 has a larger sensor with bigger pixels, which generally results in better low-light performance and image quality.
Selfie Camera13MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixel size13MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixel sizeBoth have similar selfie camera specs, suggesting comparable performance.
Wide Angle Lens8MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixel size8MP, f/2.2, pixel size missingBoth have similar wide-angle camera specs, so performance should be similar.Note: Pixel size is missing for Samsung Galaxy A35.
Portrait Mode (Depth)2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixel sizeNoneThe G30 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, while the A35 relies on software.
Macro Lens2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixel size5MP, f/2.4, 1.12 µm pixel sizeThe A35’s macro lens offers more detail, resulting in better close-up shots.
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fpsThe A35 supports much higher 4K video recording, along with stabilization which results in more professional-looking videos.
DXOMarkNot TestedMobile: 104, Photo: 107, Video: 110A35's camera performance is rated by DXOMark and shows good overall performance, whereas G30 is not tested, limiting comparable evaluation.

Battery

FeatureMotorola Moto G30Samsung Galaxy A35Practical Impact
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhBoth have the same battery capacity, offering comparable endurance.
Charging15W Fast Charging25W Fast ChargingThe A35 charges faster, reducing downtime for users.
FeaturesNon-removableNon-removableBoth have non-removable batteries.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:

  • Slightly Lighter: 9 grams lighter may be preferable for users who want a lighter device.
  • Dedicated Depth Sensor: Provides a hardware advantage for portrait mode, potentially offering better background blur effects.
  • Laser autofocus (LAF): This feature may result in a quicker focus in certain situations.
  • Phase Detection autofocus (PDAF): Often results in better performance in fast-moving scenes.

Samsung Galaxy A35 Advantages:

  • Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, pixel density, and refresh rate offers a much better viewing experience with vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and smoother visuals.
  • Significantly Better Performance: The Exynos 1380 chipset delivers much faster performance for all tasks, including gaming, and overall responsiveness.
  • Better Video Quality: The A35 can record 4K video with EIS, while the Moto G30 is limited to 1080p.
  • Faster Charging: 25W charging means less time plugged in.
  • More Advanced Software: Comes with a newer Android version, with more updates.
  • Advanced Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6, and newer Bluetooth version with additional profiles.
  • Better Audio: Offers Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio.
  • Better Build Quality: Uses Gorilla Glass Victus for better screen protection.

Trade-offs:

  • The A35 is slightly heavier and wider than the G30, which might be a concern for some users.
  • The G30 provides a dedicated depth sensor, where A35 relies on software for portrait mode, which may produce slightly inferior results.
  • The G30 has Laser Auto Focus which is missing from the A35.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Motorola Moto G30 Ideal User:

  • Users on a tight budget who prioritize battery life over performance and display quality.
  • Those who prefer a lighter device.
  • Users who take a lot of portrait photos and value a dedicated depth sensor.
  • Those who want PDAF and LAF in their camera.
  • Users who need a basic phone for calls, texts, and occasional web browsing.

Use Cases:

  • Basic social media browsing and communication.
  • Long periods of use without access to charging.
  • Users that would prefer a lighter phone.
  • Capturing portrait photos

Samsung Galaxy A35 Ideal User:

  • Users who prioritize a high-quality display for media consumption and gaming.
  • Those who want a smooth and responsive experience for daily tasks and gaming.
  • Users who value better camera quality, especially video capabilities.
  • Those who want faster charging and future-proof connectivity features.
  • Users who appreciate better audio quality.

Use Cases:

  • Gaming, streaming videos, and watching content.
  • Multitasking, browsing, and social media use.
  • Capturing high-quality video footage.
  • Listening to music and watching movies.
  • Users who want a more future-proof phone.
  • Users who value audio quality and good screen protection.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. What is your budget? The Moto G30 is likely cheaper, but the A35 offers significantly better performance and features for a higher price.
  2. How important is display quality and performance? If you value visual fidelity and smooth performance, the A35 is the clear winner.
  3. What kind of photos do you take? If portrait photography with depth information is your priority, the G30 is a consideration, but the A35 offers a superior main camera.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: If your budget is very limited, the Moto G30 will provide a basic smartphone experience, but consider saving for the A35 if possible due to its better overall quality.
  • Scenario 2: Media and Gaming Lover: The Samsung Galaxy A35 is the obvious choice, providing a much better display and more processing power for a smoother experience.
  • Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast (Basic): While the Moto G30 has its merits, the Samsung Galaxy A35 has superior all-around camera quality, particularly for video, and would be a better all-rounder.
  • Scenario 4: Basic Smartphone User: If you only need a phone for calls, texts, and very light browsing, the Moto G30 is sufficient, but the A35 would still provide a better and smoother experience.

My Choice

I would choose the Samsung Galaxy A35. While the Moto G30 is a functional device, the A35 offers significant improvements in almost every aspect that matters to me. The much better display quality (AMOLED, higher resolution, 120Hz), superior performance from the Exynos chipset, better camera system, faster charging, and more modern connectivity features of the A35 make it a far more compelling option. Even though the Moto G30 has a dedicated depth sensor, the A35 offers better all-around camera quality, especially for video, plus it has OIS and EIS, which would make it a better camera system overall. While it is likely more expensive, the overall user experience and value it provides outweigh the extra cost.

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.