Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G30 vs. ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G30 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.2 × 75.7 × 9.1 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.8 mm | Similar size overall, but the G30 is slightly taller and thicker, the Z60 Ultra is marginally wider. Differences are minor. |
| Weight | 200g | 246g | The Moto G30 is significantly lighter (46g) making it more comfortable for extended one-handed use, while Z60 Ultra might feel hefty over time. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.8" | The Z60 Ultra offers a slightly larger screen, providing a more immersive experience for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1116x2480 | The Z60 Ultra has a much sharper display with significantly higher pixel density. Text, images and videos will look much clearer on the Z60 Ultra. |
| PPI | 269 | 400 | The higher pixel density on the Z60 Ultra results in significantly sharper visuals. Individual pixels are much less noticeable, which is beneficial for reading and detail viewing. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to IPS LCD. The Z60 Ultra's display will be more visually appealing, particularly for media. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Z60 Ultra offers slightly smoother animations and scrolling, contributing to a more fluid user experience. The difference might be noticeable to some users. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1500 nits | The Z60 Ultra is much more readable in bright sunlight, while the G30 would struggle. This is crucial for outdoor usability. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The Z60 Ultra's chipset is significantly faster and more power-efficient, providing much better performance for demanding tasks and games. The G30 is suitable for basic tasks only. |
| AnTuTu Score | 170,968 | 2,017,588 | The Z60 Ultra shows much higher benchmark performance, translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, better graphics in games, and improved overall responsiveness. The G30 will feel slow. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 750 | The Adreno 750 in the Z60 Ultra offers substantially better graphics performance, enabling smooth gameplay and better processing for GPU intensive tasks, compared to the G30's Adreno 610 which will lag behind. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 6000mAh | The Z60 Ultra has a larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life, especially when combined with a more efficient chipset. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 80W fast charging | The Z60 Ultra charges much faster, which is a significant convenience. The G30's charging will feel slow, particularly with a large battery. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res. | 64MP | 54MP | While the G30 has a higher megapixel count, the Z60 Ultra's sensor has a larger pixel size (1.00µm vs 0.70µm) and larger sensor (1/1.49" vs unknown) which can lead to better low light performance and image quality. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.6 | The wider aperture on the Z60 Ultra lets in more light, which can lead to better performance in low-light environments. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP | The Z60 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities, allowing for more detailed photos when zoomed in. The G30 relies on digital zoom, which degrades image quality. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP | 50MP | The Z60 Ultra has a much higher resolution wide-angle lens, enabling capturing more detail in wide shots. The G30 is limited by a much lower resolution sensor. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.0 | The Z60 Ultra's selfie camera has a slightly wider aperture, potentially allowing for better low light performance, but the resolution is slightly lower. |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 8K@30/4K@30/60/120fps | The Z60 Ultra can record much higher quality video with a larger range of options, including 8K and high frame-rate 4K. The G30 is limited to 1080p. |
| Stabilization | No | Yes | The Z60 Ultra offers Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), which helps reduce camera shake, leading to smoother video and sharper still images, particularly in low light. G30 lacks stabilization. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 14 | The Z60 Ultra has a newer OS version with latest features, while the G30 is using an older version that may not receive further updates, creating a security and feature disparity. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) | The Z60 Ultra offers much newer and faster Wi-Fi standards, providing faster and more reliable wireless speeds on compatible networks, with less interference. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | The Z60 Ultra has a newer version of Bluetooth, offering slightly improved performance and potentially more power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, multiple GPS/GLONASS/QZSS bands, NavIC System | The Z60 Ultra has support for a greater number of satellite navigation systems, leading to more accurate and reliable location tracking, especially in challenging environments. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64/128 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | The Z60 Ultra provides significantly more internal storage space, which is important given neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| RAM | 4/6 GB | 8/12/16/24 GB | The Z60 Ultra offers far more RAM, which is crucial for multitasking and running demanding apps or games without slowdowns. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers the option to add extra storage via SD card, meaning the selected storage variant is final. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic Audio Features | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The Z60 Ultra offers much better audio quality with stereo speakers and DTS support, resulting in better audio experience for music and videos. 3 mics allow for better quality calls and recordings. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both offer fingerprint sensor technology. The practical difference between them is negligible |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | The Z60 Ultra has a much more robust screen protection, reducing the risk of scratches and damage from drops. The G30's screen protection is not specified. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity, Gravity, RGB | The Z60 Ultra has more sensors that add additional functionality, including more accurate orientation, better light sensing and more. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G30 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: Significantly lighter (200g vs 246g), making it more comfortable for prolonged use.
- Lower Price: Likely to be more budget-friendly, representing a much lower cost of entry.
- Dedicated macro and portrait cameras: Offers dedicated cameras for macro and portrait photography, which the ZTE does not have
Practical Implications:
- The G30 is better suited for users who prioritize comfort and ease of handling and do not require high-performance capabilities.
ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED, higher resolution, higher pixel density, higher refresh rate and much better brightness results in a more vibrant and enjoyable visual experience.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers vastly superior processing and graphics capabilities, suitable for heavy multitasking and gaming.
- Superior Cameras: Offers a telephoto lens for optical zoom, a high-resolution wide-angle lens, and better main camera low light capabilities.
- Higher Quality Video: Supports up to 8K video recording and better stabilization options, suitable for video creation.
- Bigger Battery & Faster Charging: Larger battery capacity and much faster charging ensure much longer usage time and less time tethered to the charger.
- More RAM & Storage: Larger RAM capacity and storage offering better multitasking and memory management with faster and more efficient storage.
- Newer Software & Connectivity: Comes with a newer Android version and supports the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- Superior Audio: Higher quality audio through stereo speakers, DTS support and 3 microphones.
- More sensors: Provides more sensors for more functionality.
- Screen Protection: Offers Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, making the screen more durable and resistant to damage.
Practical Implications:
- The Z60 Ultra is the better choice for users seeking top-tier performance, advanced features, and the highest display quality.
Trade-offs:
- Motorola Moto G30: The main trade-off is significantly lower performance, lower-quality display, and basic cameras compared to the Z60 Ultra.
- ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra: The main trade-off is a higher price and a heavier device.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G30 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users who prioritize affordability over top-tier performance.
- Users with basic needs, such as web browsing, social media, and occasional light gaming.
- Users who value a lightweight and easy-to-handle device.
- Users who want dedicated macro and portrait cameras.
Use Cases:
- Basic daily tasks, such as phone calls, messaging, and email.
- Casual browsing and social media use.
- Light gaming, such as puzzle or simple arcade games.
ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Ideal User:
- Power users who demand high performance for demanding games and apps.
- Users who consume and create a lot of high-quality media.
- Users who prioritize top-tier display quality and camera capabilities.
- Users who want a device that will last several years and still remain performant.
Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming with demanding graphics.
- Professional video recording and photography.
- Multitasking with multiple demanding apps simultaneously.
- Consuming high-resolution videos and other media.
- Business use where a phone with the latest features and performance is important.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The G30 is a budget-friendly device, while the Z60 Ultra is a high-end option.
- What are my primary use cases? Do I need maximum performance for gaming and heavy use, or just basic daily tasks?
- How important are screen quality, camera performance, and video quality? The Z60 Ultra excels in these areas, while the G30 is basic.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Constrained User
- Recommendation: Choose the Motorola Moto G30.
- Reasoning: It will handle basic tasks adequately, providing a good experience for its price and not require the extra expense.
- Scenario 2: Performance-Oriented User
- Recommendation: Choose the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra.
- Reasoning: It is the better choice for anyone looking for peak performance for demanding tasks, gaming and media consumption, as well as the best quality experience.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Photographer or Videographer
- Recommendation: Choose the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra.
- Reasoning: It provides much better capabilities with its wide range of options, better sensors, optical zoom and superior stabilization.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra.
Reasoning:
My primary focus is performance, the best possible display and camera quality, as well as future-proofing. While the Moto G30 is an okay budget device for a basic user, it does not meet my performance needs. The Z60 Ultra, however, offers substantially better display, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, storage, connectivity and audio capabilities, all of which are worth the added expense for my use case. The heavier weight is a trade-off I'm willing to make for the superior experience and the screen protection is very much needed. Ultimately, the ZTE Nubia Z60 Ultra's advanced features and capabilities align much better with my needs as a power user, and I prefer it over the budget friendliness of the Moto G30.
