Okay, let's dive into a head-to-head comparison of the Motorola Moto G31 and the Huawei nova 9 SE. I'll approach this as if we're chatting over coffee, breaking down the tech without getting lost in jargon, focusing on what really matters to you, the user.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Here’s a detailed comparison table highlighting the key technical specs of both phones and what they mean in real-world usage:
| Feature | Motorola Moto G31 | Huawei nova 9 SE | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 161.9 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm, 181g | 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm, 191g | The nova 9 SE is slightly taller and wider, but thinner. The G31 is lighter by 10g – noticeable over long usage periods, however, not a significant amount. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones, no fancy foldables here. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.78" | The nova 9 SE offers a more immersive viewing experience with its larger display. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2388 | Both offer a sharp viewing experience. Marginal difference, almost unnoticeable. |
| Pixel Density | 411 ppi | 387 ppi | G31’s display will look marginally sharper, but not a huge difference. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | AMOLED on the G31 provides deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colours, plus improved power efficiency when using dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | nova 9 SE will have smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both are reported to have 0 nits of brightness. This is odd. Peak brightness cannot be 0 nits, so more information is needed. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G85 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 680 (6 nm) | The nova 9 SE has the advantage here with a more modern, more power-efficient processor and higher benchmark scores meaning better general and gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 225,154 | 248,000 | The nova 9 SE is likely to feel slightly faster in day-to-day tasks. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 610 | Different GPU configurations. The Adreno 610 on the nova 9 SE performs slightly better in gaming than the Mali-G52 MC2. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76" | 108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52" | nova 9 SE wins with a much higher resolution and larger sensor, translating to better low-light performance and more detailed photos. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.2 | Both have good selfie cameras, with nova 9 SE offering slightly more resolution. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.0 | No | The G31 has a dedicated wide-angle lens. |
| Depth Sensor | No | 2MP, f/2.4 | The nova 9 SE has a depth sensor for better portrait mode effects. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both offer macro lenses of equal quality. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | No | 8MP, f/2.2 | The nova 9 SE includes an additional wide angle macro camera. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (EIS) | Both offer 1080p for standard social sharing. The nova 9 SE offers EIS (electronic image stabilization) |
| Slow-Motion | 120 fps | 960 fps | The nova 9 SE excels at slow-motion capabilities. |
| Features | Triple Camera, PDAF, LAF | Quadruple Camera, 4k, PDAF, Night Mode | The nova 9 SE has many more camera features, including 4K video. G31 includes LAF for faster autofocus. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4000mAh | The G31 has a significantly larger battery, potentially meaning longer usage between charges. |
| Charging | 10W | 66W | The nova 9 SE charges way faster, reaching full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the G31. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | The nova 9 SE offers reverse charging, allowing it to charge other devices. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (WiFi 6) | Nova 9 SE is more advanced supporting Wi-Fi 6, offering faster speeds and lower latency |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.0 + APT-x, LDAC | Both offer good Bluetooth, with the Huawei including enhanced audio codecs for high-quality audio over Bluetooth. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Both offer good GPS, but Nova 9 SE offers more satellite systems |
| Storage & RAM | |||
| Internal Storage | 64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | The nova 9 SE offers more storage variants and a higher capacity option. |
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 or 8 GB | The nova 9 SE offers more RAM, especially for multitasking and gaming. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither offers the option to expand storage with an SD card. |
2. Key Insights
Motorola Moto G31:
- Strengths: Superior AMOLED display for vibrant visuals, a larger battery for extended usage, a wide angle lens.
- Competitive Advantage: The screen is its stand-out feature, ideal for media consumption and users who appreciate deeper blacks and vibrant colors. Good for users looking for a long lasting device.
- Trade-offs: Slower charging speeds and average performance compared to the nova 9 SE.
Huawei nova 9 SE:
- Strengths: Superior chipset for smoother performance, faster charging speeds, a higher resolution main camera with a larger sensor, more RAM for better multitasking and gaming, and a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations.
- Competitive Advantage: Excellent for photography enthusiasts and users who prioritize performance and speed. The 66W fast charging is a huge advantage.
- Trade-offs: Smaller battery capacity, less vibrant screen, lacks a dedicated wide angle lens on the rear of the device.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
- Motorola Moto G31: Best for users who prioritize display quality and battery life. It's great for daily media consumption, reading, and light gaming. Think of this phone as your reliable daily driver that doesn't need charging all the time.
- Huawei nova 9 SE: Best for users who prioritize performance, camera quality, and speed (thanks to the 66W charging). This phone is great for mobile photography, gaming, and multitasking. If you need a phone that won't slow you down, this is it.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three practical questions to help you decide:
- How much do you value screen quality? If deep blacks and vibrant colors are crucial, the Moto G31’s AMOLED is a win. If a faster refresh rate is more important then the Huawei nova 9 SE is the better option.
- How important is battery life versus charging speed? The G31 has a larger battery, but the nova 9 SE charges much faster. How often are you willing to charge?
- Are you a photography enthusiast? The nova 9 SE offers better camera hardware and features. The Motorola G31 offers a dedicated wide angle lens, however, not to the same quality as the main sensor.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: The Media Lover: You often binge-watch videos and browse social media. Go for the Motorola Moto G31 for its gorgeous AMOLED display.
- Scenario 2: The Speed Demon: You want the fastest performance, best charging speeds, and like to game and take photos. Go for the Huawei nova 9 SE.
- Scenario 3: The Balanced User: If you want a balance of features and are comfortable with charging more often, the Huawei nova 9 SE would be the choice.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two, I'd personally lean towards the Huawei nova 9 SE. Here’s why:
- Performance Matters: As someone who values smooth performance, the Snapdragon 680 provides an experience that's just smoother, especially when multitasking.
- Photography Prowess: As a tech journalist, I often need to take high-quality photos on the go. The 108MP camera and the additional features on the nova 9 SE are just more appealing.
- Speedy Charging: The 66W charging is a game-changer. It just makes life easier not having to plan charging around my day, and it's a feature that I can make great use of.
- Minor Trade-offs: While I do appreciate the vibrant colors of AMOLED screens, I'm happy to sacrifice this slightly for the performance, speed and camera quality.
While the Moto G31 is a solid phone with a fantastic display and long battery life, the overall user experience with the nova 9 SE edges it out. I'm a fan of getting things done quickly and the nova 9 SE caters to that.
