Alright, let's break down the Motorola Moto G31 and the Honor 70. I'll get under the hood, but keep it relatable, so you get a real sense of what these phones offer in your day-to-day.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the specs, focusing on what they actually mean for you:
| Feature | Motorola Moto G31 | Honor 70 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| DESIGN | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-12-06 | 2022-06-02 | Honor 70 is newer by about 6 months - generally benefits from newer tech and features. |
| Form Factor | Standard | Standard | Both are standard, non-folding phones. |
| Dimensions | 161.9 × 73.9 × 8.6 mm | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | Honor 70 is slightly thinner and smaller overall, might feel a bit more comfortable in hand for some. Moto G31 is slightly bulkier. |
| Weight | 181g | 178g | Both are relatively lightweight, not much of a practical difference here. |
| DISPLAY | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.67" | Honor 70 has a slightly larger screen, offering a bit more space for content consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same level of sharpness – Full HD+ displays. |
| Pixel Density | 411 PPI | 395 PPI | Both have similar pixel density so similar visual clarity will be noticeable, although Moto G31's is slightly sharper |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both have great colors and deep blacks. AMOLED might have a marginal edge in some situations, but both are vibrant. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 70's 120Hz refresh rate results in significantly smoother scrolling and animations, feeling more fluid in use. Moto G31 appears more choppy. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | The "0 nits" is likely data unavailable. Neither value helpful. |
| PERFORMANCE | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G85 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 778G+ (6 nm) | Honor 70’s chipset is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app loading, better multitasking, and smoother gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 225,154 | 600,525 | Honor 70 is more than twice as performant in benchmarks - a massive difference in real-world performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 642L | Honor 70's GPU will provide much better graphics performance for gaming and graphically intensive tasks. |
| BATTERY LIFE | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | Moto G31 has a slightly bigger battery, but real-world battery life can depend on many factors, may only have marginal edge in use time. |
| Charging | 10W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Honor 70 charges much faster, reducing downtime. Moto G31’s slow charging speed may be frustrating for some. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | Honor 70 can charge other devices, and it is non-removable in both cases |
| CAMERA | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | 54MP, f/1.9, 1/1.49", 1.00µm | Honor 70 has a larger, better sensor with a larger pixel size for better light capture, more detailed photos. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2", 0.70µm | Honor 70's selfie camera has much higher resolution for more detail and overall better selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 50MP, f/2.2, -µm | Honor 70 has a drastically higher resolution wide angle camera and likely better overall performance in wide angle photos. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | 2MP, f/2.4, -µm | Similar macro lens performance in both cases. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, EIS, 1080p@60fps, EIS | Honor 70 offers much higher video quality, with 4K recording and better stabilization, whereas the Moto is limited to standard 1080p. |
| DxoMark | - | 115 (photo) 129 (video) | Honor 70 has good photo and video capabilities. Moto G31 has not been tested. |
| Additional Features | Optical zoom, PDAF, LAF | 4K video, Ultra Stable, Night Mode | Moto has extra features for focus while Honor has extras in video recording and night mode. |
| SOFTWARE | |||
| Operating System | Android 11 | Android 12 | Honor 70 ships with a newer Android version; it will have newer features. |
| CONNECTIVITY | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 70 has newer Wi-Fi standard with better speeds and range. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.2 LE, aptX, LDAC | Honor 70 has a newer version, higher audio quality for wireless headphones. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Both have good navigation capabilities; Moto G31 has an additional GPS system. |
| STORAGE | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB | Honor 70 offers much higher storage options. |
| RAM | 4GB | 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB | Honor 70 has more RAM allowing for smoother multi-tasking capabilities. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device allows for storage expansion. |
| AUDIO | Dolby Atmos, 2 mics | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo speakers | Honor 70 has better and more immersive speaker experience, while Moto G31 has Dolby and two mics. |
| SECURITY | Side-mounted sensor | Basic Fingerprint sensor | Moto G31 may be faster due to the side mounted sensor. Both offer biometric security. |
| SENSORS | Hall, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Moto G31 has a hall sensor for extra features. |
| BUILD QUALITY | Unknown | Unknown | Both have similar screen protection technology |
2. Key Insights
- Honor 70 Dominates in Performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ chipset is a significant leap over the Helio G85. This translates to a much smoother experience, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Honor 70.
- Display Advantage: Honor 70: The 120Hz refresh rate on the Honor 70 is a big deal. It makes everything feel more fluid and responsive, a huge win for daily usability and gaming. Plus, while both displays are very good, the larger screen on the Honor 70 provides a better viewing experience.
- Camera Prowess: Honor 70: The Honor 70's camera is superior. It boasts a larger sensor, higher resolution in the wide and selfie cameras, and the ability to shoot 4K video, making it a more capable device for photography and videography.
- Charging Speed: Honor 70: The 66W fast charging on the Honor 70 is a game-changer. It’ll get you back up and running much quicker than the 10W charging on the Moto G31.
- Storage and RAM: Honor 70: The Honor 70 offers significantly more storage options and RAM, making it much better for power users who need to store a lot of data or perform demanding tasks.
- Software: The Honor 70 ships with Android 12, and may be updatable to newer versions, whereas the Motorola ships with Android 11.
Trade-offs:
- Battery Capacity: The Moto G31 has a slightly larger battery, but this difference is likely negligible given the other features and processor differences.
- Price: The Honor 70 will definitely cost more than the Moto G31, making the Moto G31 a better choice for those on a budget.
- Sensor Differences: The Motorola Moto G31 has a hall sensor, which is a small, but important sensor to some use cases.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
- Motorola Moto G31:
- Best For: Budget-conscious users who need a reliable smartphone for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Use Cases: Everyday communication, casual media consumption, those on a very tight budget.
- Honor 70:
- Best For: Power users, gamers, photographers, and anyone who wants a smoother, faster, and more capable smartphone.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, high-quality photography and videography, heavy multitasking, content creation.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three practical questions to guide your choice:
- How Important is Performance? If you need a fast and fluid phone that can handle demanding tasks, the Honor 70 is the clear winner. The Moto G31 is only good for basic tasks.
- How Important is the Camera? If photography is a priority, the Honor 70's superior sensor, resolution, and video capabilities make it the obvious choice.
- What is your budget? The Moto G31 is a budget device. If you need a premium device, the Honor 70 is much more capable.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget User: If your budget is tight, and you only need a basic smartphone, the Moto G31 will meet your needs, but the Honor 70 is a significant step up for only a slightly larger price.
- Gaming Enthusiast: The Honor 70 is the way to go, with its superior chipset, GPU, and 120Hz display.
- Photography Lover: The Honor 70's camera system with its better main sensor, larger resolution in the front and wide angle, and 4K video recording capabilities is much more capable.
- Everyday User: If you can afford it, the Honor 70 provides a much more enjoyable user experience, thanks to its smoother display, faster performance, and better camera. The Moto G31 will be usable for everyday use, but may feel slow compared to the Honor 70.
My Choice
For me, I’d choose the Honor 70, hands down. As someone who values performance, display quality, and camera capabilities, the Honor 70 hits all the right notes. The 120Hz screen and Snapdragon chipset provide a much more enjoyable user experience, and I wouldn't sacrifice the vastly superior camera quality, plus the vastly improved charging speed. While the Moto G31 is decent at its price point, the Honor 70 is just in a different class in terms of all performance aspects. The only reason I would choose the Moto G31 is if I absolutely needed the absolute cheapest phone and could not afford to spend any more.
