1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Motorola Moto G30 and Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.2 × 75.7 × 9.1 mm | 162.8 × 75.4 × 8.6 mm | The Moto G30 is slightly taller and thicker, making the Poco F5 Pro feel more compact and pocketable. |
| Weight | 200g | 204g | Both phones have a similar weight, so neither would feel significantly heavier in hand. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (screen) | Xiaomi provides added durability for the display against scratches and accidental drops. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | Poco F5 Pro offers a slightly larger screen, providing a more immersive viewing experience for videos and games. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1440x3200 | The Poco F5 Pro's significantly higher resolution results in a much sharper and clearer image, with much more detail. |
| PPI | 269 | 526 | The Poco F5 Pro’s higher pixel density results in noticeably sharper text and images, making everything look clearer. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED technology in the Poco F5 Pro provides richer colors, deeper blacks, and higher contrast, plus better battery efficiency with dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Poco F5 Pro provides smoother scrolling and animations due to the higher refresh rate, enhancing the user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1400 nits | The Poco F5 Pro’s significantly higher brightness makes it much easier to see the screen in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Poco F5 Pro's chip offers much faster processing and better efficiency, leading to significantly better performance. |
| Antutu Score | 170,968 | 1,317,798 | The Poco F5 Pro is much faster for gaming, multitasking, and general use. This performance difference is significant. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 730 | The Poco F5 Pro has a much more powerful GPU, providing better gaming performance and graphics rendering. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 64.4MP, f/1.7, 0.7µm | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.7µm | Both have similar resolution. The Moto G30 has a slightly wider aperture, but the F5 Pro uses a larger sensor, which can impact quality especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06", 1.00µm | Poco F5 Pro has slightly higher resolution, while Moto G30 has a wider aperture. The Poco F5 Pro also has a larger sensor. This will affect the low light performance. |
| Wide Angle lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", 1.12µm | Both have identical aperture and resolution. The Poco F5 Pro has a smaller sensor. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | Not Available | The Moto G30 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, while the Poco F5 Pro does not. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm | Both phones offer comparable macro capabilities. The Moto G30 has a slightly larger sensor. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30/60fps, Slow-mo 60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps Slow-mo 1920fps | The Poco F5 Pro offers far superior video recording capabilities, including 8K, 4K@60fps, and a variety of slow motion options, with video stabilization on all settings. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, PDAF, LAF, basic modes | Triple camera, OIS, EIS, advanced modes, Night Mode, 4K and 8K recording. | The Poco F5 Pro is geared for more advanced photography. |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5160mAh | Similar battery capacity suggests comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging, 30W Wireless Charging | The Poco F5 Pro charges much faster, with the convenience of wireless charging, allowing for faster top ups. |
| Removable | Non-removable | Non-removable | Neither phone allows for battery replacement. |
Software
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 13 | The Poco F5 Pro will have a newer Android version out of the box, and likely a longer period of support and more features. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | The Poco F5 Pro supports a newer WiFi standard, offering better performance and speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | The Poco F5 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version, likely providing better connection stability, and additional codecs for audio. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5) | The Poco F5 Pro has a more robust suite of satellite systems, which could enhance location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both phones allow for two SIM cards. |
Storage
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 64/128 GB | 256/512 GB | The Poco F5 Pro offers significantly more storage space, allowing more apps and media to be kept on the phone. |
| RAM | 4/6 GB | 8/12 GB | The Poco F5 Pro has more RAM for more efficient multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
Audio
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The Poco F5 Pro has superior audio output with stereo speakers and enhanced audio features, providing an immersive media experience. |
Security
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Features | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both have similar fingerprint sensor technology |
Sensors
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | The Poco F5 Pro has a compass, useful for navigation and AR applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:
- Lower price: The Moto G30 is likely to be significantly more affordable.
- Dedicated depth sensor: Offers a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, potentially slightly better bokeh effects.
- Laser Autofocus: May offer faster autofocus performance in some conditions.
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED with higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness, providing a significantly better visual experience.
- Much Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip is dramatically faster than the Snapdragon 662, leading to smoother performance and gaming.
- Much Better Camera: Improved sensor, OIS, EIS, and far superior video capabilities compared to Moto G30.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: 67W fast charging and 30W wireless charging offer much faster and more convenient power replenishment.
- More Storage and RAM: Offers more space for apps and media with more RAM for multitasking.
- Better Audio: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos offer a more immersive experience.
- Newer Bluetooth and WiFi Standards: Offers faster and more reliable wireless performance.
- Better Build: Corning Gorilla Glass provides better screen protection against drops.
- More Advanced Software: Comes with a much more up-to-date Android version, which has longer support.
- Additional Sensors: Includes a compass for improved navigation and AR features.
Trade-offs:
- The Poco F5 Pro's superior performance and features come at a higher price point.
- The Moto G30 has a depth sensor, whilst the Poco F5 Pro does not.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G30:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, those with basic smartphone needs, and those who prefer a simple interface.
- Use Cases: Daily communication (calls, messages, emails), light social media use, basic browsing, and light gaming.
- Price-to-Value: Offers good value for its low price but lacks higher end features.
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro:
- Ideal User: Power users, gamers, photography enthusiasts, and those who prioritize performance and display quality.
- Use Cases: High-performance gaming, intensive multitasking, high-resolution video consumption, high-quality photography and videography, and demanding apps.
- Price-to-Value: Excellent price-to-performance ratio within the high-end market.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Moto G30 is significantly cheaper.
- What are your primary uses? Basic usage versus demanding tasks (gaming, video editing).
- How important is display quality and camera performance? The Poco F5 Pro is much better for both.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget Buyer: If your budget is very tight and you only need basic smartphone functionality, the Motorola Moto G30 will suffice.
- Performance-Oriented User: If you prioritize high performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications, and want a good camera and screen, the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is the clear choice.
- Photography Enthusiast: The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is a much better option for its superior main camera capabilities, 4K and 8K video recording, and additional camera features.
- Media Consumer: The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro offers a much better experience, with its Dolby Atmos stereo speakers and AMOLED display.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro. Although it is more expensive, the performance and features far outweigh those of the Motorola Moto G30. The Poco F5 Pro's superior display quality, much faster processor, better cameras, faster charging, better audio, and more advanced software make it a more compelling choice for my usage scenarios.
I am a power user, and would need the higher performance for tasks such as gaming, running demanding applications and multitasking, as well as consuming media. The better camera and video recording are also important, and the AMOLED display would make consuming visual content much more enjoyable. The much faster charging would also come in handy, as I am frequently on the go.
