Alright, let's dive into a detailed comparison of the Motorola Moto G31 and the Motorola ThinkPhone. I've taken a close look at the specs, and I’m ready to break down what these numbers mean for you, the user.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a detailed table comparing the key specifications of both phones, focusing on how they translate into real-world experiences:
| Feature | Motorola Moto G31 | Motorola ThinkPhone | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 161.9 × 73.9 × 8.6 mm | 158.8 × 74.4 × 8.3 mm | The ThinkPhone is slightly shorter and thinner, making it a bit more pocketable, though only by a very small amount. |
| Weight | 181g | 188.5g | The Moto G31 is lighter, which might be preferable for extended use. |
| Build Quality | Unknown Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | The ThinkPhone offers significantly better screen protection, improving durability against scratches and drops. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.6" | The ThinkPhone’s larger display offers a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2400 | Both offer the same crisp image detail for media, reading, and general use. |
| PPI | 411 | 399 | Both have a very similar pixel density meaning the display sharpness is almost identical. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, with P-OLED being a slightly newer variant of OLED. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | The ThinkPhone's 144Hz refresh rate results in much smoother animations, especially noticeable when gaming or scrolling. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | The ThinkPhone has dramatically better outdoor visibility and is very usable in bright sunlight. The Moto G31 is likely not very usable in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G85 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | The ThinkPhone's chipset is dramatically faster and more efficient, offering smoother performance, faster app loading, and better gaming capabilities. |
| AnTuTu Score | 225,154 | 1,232,700 | The ThinkPhone's AnTuTu score is over 5 times higher, indicating vastly superior overall performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 730 | The ThinkPhone's Adreno 730 provides higher-quality gaming and graphics performance. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | The ThinkPhone’s larger sensor and pixel size should capture better images, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32MP, f/2.45, (unknown pixel size) | The ThinkPhone's higher resolution should capture more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | None | The Moto G31 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape and group photos. |
| Portrait Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4, (unknown pixel size) | The ThinkPhone has a dedicated portrait lens for depth of field in portraits. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | None | The Moto G31 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.4, (unknown pixel size) | The ThinkPhone has a dedicated lens for ultrawide and macro shots, however it is unknown whether these are distinct modes or integrated. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps; No; Slow-motion: Yes, 120 fps | Up to 8K@30fps; Yes, multiple high frame rates; Slow-motion: Yes, 120 fps | The ThinkPhone offers far superior video recording capabilities, including higher resolutions and stabilization. |
| Other Features | Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, LAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, OIS, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | Both offer various features, however the ThinkPhone additionally offers optical image stabilization, OIS which provides significantly better stability. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both should offer similar battery life, however the more powerful chipset of the ThinkPhone may consume more power. |
| Charging | 10W | 68W | The ThinkPhone charges much faster, saving valuable time. |
| Wireless Charging | None | 15W | The ThinkPhone offers convenient wireless charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 | The ThinkPhone offers a more modern Android experience with the newest features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | The ThinkPhone offers faster Wi-Fi speeds and better network handling. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 | The ThinkPhone has a slightly newer Bluetooth version with potentially more reliable and efficient connections. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128 GB | 256GB | The ThinkPhone offers much more storage space for apps, photos, and videos. |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | The ThinkPhone offers better multitasking capabilities with more RAM. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD cards so you're limited to the internal storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, 2 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | The ThinkPhone has stereo speakers providing more immersive audio, especially for gaming and media. |
2. Key Insights
- Motorola Moto G31: This phone is positioned as a budget-friendly option with a decent AMOLED display and a solid battery, suitable for everyday tasks. Its main advantage is the presence of both a wide-angle and macro lens, offering versatility for various photo modes. However, it lags significantly in performance, charging speeds, and display quality compared to the ThinkPhone.
- Motorola ThinkPhone: This phone is a high-performance device with a flagship-level processor, a high refresh rate display, faster charging, wireless charging, and much better camera performance. Its main strength lies in its speed, premium build quality, and professional-grade video capabilities. The lack of dedicated Macro or wide angle lenses is a drawback compared to the Moto G31 but is balanced by its very capable Wide Angle + Macro lens.
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 casual photography. It’s a good fit for users who need a long battery life, but do not need or expect outstanding performance or image quality.
- Use Case: Daily driver for basic communication, media consumption on a relatively budget device.
- Motorola ThinkPhone:
- Best for: Power users, gamers, and professionals who require top-tier performance, a high-quality display, and exceptional camera and video capabilities. This is suited for demanding users that need the best of mobile technology.
- Use Case: Demanding mobile gaming, photography, videography, or heavy multitasking and productivity workflows.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three key questions to help you decide between these two phones:
- What is your budget? If you’re on a tight budget, the Moto G31 is the more affordable option. However, the ThinkPhone is worth the cost if you have the budget and need the extra performance.
- How important is performance? If you need a phone that handles demanding tasks, gaming, and multitasking well, the ThinkPhone is the only real contender. However, if you only need basic functionality, the Moto G31 is a fine choice.
- What is your use case for a camera? If having macro and wide angle lenses are important to you, the Moto G31 is the clear choice. However, the overall camera quality, and the video recording on the ThinkPhone is significantly better.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Casual User: If you mostly browse the web, use social media, and occasionally snap photos, the Motorola Moto G31 is a good choice and provides great value with great battery life.
- Enthusiast/Gamer: If you love gaming and need peak performance, the Motorola ThinkPhone will deliver a much more fluid experience with its high-performance chipset and high refresh display.
- Content Creator: If you shoot videos and photos regularly, the Motorola ThinkPhone is the clear winner with its significantly superior camera sensor, video quality, and professional video capabilities.
- Business Professional: The Motorola ThinkPhone is also the better choice for business users who need a fast and reliable device that can keep up with their workday. It offers better battery life and an enhanced suite of tools to keep the user connected.
My Choice and Why
If I had to choose, I'd go with the Motorola ThinkPhone. While the Moto G31 is an impressive budget phone, the ThinkPhone’s high-performance chipset, superior display, and far better camera capabilities make it the much better choice for me. My use case involves heavy multitasking, mobile gaming, and photography. The 144Hz refresh rate, enhanced camera, and wireless charging are all features that are very enticing. I’m a big advocate for longevity, and the superior processor will ensure that the ThinkPhone can keep up with my needs for years to come. The 68W fast charging is also something I would not be willing to give up, after having used high speed charging for a long time. The ThinkPhone is much more future-proofed and is more suited to my needs, making it the obvious choice.
