Smartphone Comparison: Motorola One 5G Ace vs. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Apple iPhone 13 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm | The Motorola is noticeably larger and thicker, which may feel less comfortable in hand and pocket, while the iPhone is more compact and pocketable. |
| Weight | 212g | 204g | The iPhone is slightly lighter making it comfortable for long usage sessions. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | The Motorola offers a larger screen, better for media consumption, gaming, and those who prefer larger text. The iPhone is smaller, and therefore more pocketable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1170x2532 | The iPhone has a sharper screen which means more detailed images and text. |
| PPI | 393 | 460 | The iPhone's display is noticeably sharper, making text and images crisper. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | The iPhone's OLED display has better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The iPhone's higher refresh rate provides much smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | The iPhone is significantly brighter, offering superior outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. Motorola's brightness is unknown, implying potential issues in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | The iPhone's chip is significantly more powerful, leading to faster performance, smoother multitasking and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 1,325,768 | The iPhone's much higher score indicates much faster app loading, smoother multitasking and higher gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Apple GPU (5-core) | The iPhone's GPU provides significantly better graphics performance, especially in demanding tasks and gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7 | 12MP, f/1.5 | The iPhone has a larger sensor and wider aperture, leading to better low light performance, although the Motorola has higher resolution (meaning more details in bright light). |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.2 | Both have similar selfie cameras, but the iPhone is likely to perform better in low-light conditions due to sensor differences which are not available. |
| Telephoto Lens | No | 12MP, f/2.8 | The iPhone offers optical zoom, which allows users to zoom in without losing image quality while the Motorola doesn't offer it. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/1.8 | The iPhone captures wider photos with more details due to its lower aperture and higher resolution. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | No | 12MP | The iPhone provides improved depth sensing which helps in AR apps. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | No | The Motorola offers dedicated macro photography, enabling close-up shots. |
| Video | Up to 4K@60fps | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR and stereo sound | The iPhone records higher quality videos with better stabilization. |
| DXOMark | Mobile: 141, Selfie: 134 | The iPhone has a much higher DxOMark score and is therefore rated as having a superior camera system. | |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 3125mAh | The Motorola has a larger battery which should provide longer battery life under normal use. |
| Charging | 15W | 20W | The iPhone has faster charging capability, despite having a smaller battery. |
| Wireless Charging | No | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | The iPhone offers wireless charging options, which provides more convenient charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Larger Display: The 6.7-inch screen is great for media consumption and gaming for people who prefer larger screens.
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery potentially offers longer battery life, beneficial for heavy users.
- Macro Lens: The dedicated macro lens allows for close-up photography.
- Price: The Motorola One 5G Ace is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 13 Pro.
- Fingerprint Sensor: The fingerprint sensor offers a secure and convenient way to unlock your phone.
- Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display: These additional WiFi features could be useful for specific tasks.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: The OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate is significantly more vibrant, sharper, and smoother.
- Much Higher Performance: The A15 Bionic chip provides unmatched speed and responsiveness.
- Better Camera System: The iPhone has a superior camera setup with better low-light performance, telephoto lens, and advanced video capabilities and scores much higher on DXOMark.
- Faster Charging: The 20W charging helps charge the phone more quickly.
- Wireless Charging: Convenient wireless charging with MagSafe is a plus.
- Dual SIM Support: Supports a Nano SIM and an eSIM.
- Advanced Audio: Better audio quality with Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers and noise cancellation microphones.
- Environmental Sensor: The barometer provides additional environmental information.
- Software Support: iOS offers consistent updates and a large ecosystem of apps.
Trade-offs:
- The Motorola offers a larger screen and bigger battery at a lower price point, but it sacrifices display quality, performance, and camera capabilities.
- The iPhone has top-tier performance and a premium experience, but it comes with a higher price tag, smaller screen, and smaller battery.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Prioritizing affordability and screen size over premium features.
- Media consumers: Who watch a lot of video and want a larger screen.
- Users needing long battery life: Users who want their battery to last throughout the day.
- Macro Photography enthusiasts: Those who like taking close-up pictures.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Ideal User:
- Performance enthusiasts: Who need top-tier performance for gaming or demanding apps.
- Camera enthusiasts: Who want the best camera quality for photography and videography.
- Users who value a premium experience: Preferring a high quality build, smooth experience and premium features.
- iOS users: Who are already in the Apple ecosystem and prefer iOS.
- Users who need a great screen: Those who value high quality screens, which the OLED display on the iPhone 13 Pro provides.
Use Cases:
- Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Watching movies and videos on the go.
- Daily use with less intensive tasks.
- Taking detailed close-up macro shots.
- Users needing a long-lasting battery for day-long usage.
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro:
- Playing demanding mobile games.
- Taking high-quality photos and videos.
- Using professional mobile editing apps.
- Seamless multitasking.
- Users who work within the Apple ecosystem.
Price-to-Value:
- The Motorola provides good value for its price, offering 5G connectivity and a large screen on a budget.
- The iPhone is much more expensive, but offers a premium experience and justifies its price tag with top-tier performance, a superior camera, and an incredible display.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Motorola is significantly cheaper.
- What is your primary use case? Media consumption (Motorola) vs. performance (iPhone).
- How important is camera quality? The iPhone has a significantly better camera system.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Constrained Scenario: If you are on a tight budget and need a large display for consuming media, the Motorola One 5G Ace is the better option.
- Performance and Camera Focused Scenario: If you need the best performance, a premium display, and top-tier camera capabilities, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro is the way to go, provided you're prepared to pay the premium.
- Balanced Usage Scenario: If you are looking for a balance between price, screen size, and battery life, the Motorola One 5G Ace is acceptable, but be prepared to sacrifice performance and camera quality. For a premium experience, with a smaller form factor, and better performance, consider the Apple iPhone 13 Pro.
My Choice and Explanation
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Apple iPhone 13 Pro. Although the Motorola One 5G Ace has a larger battery and a bigger display, which can be useful for consuming media, the iPhone 13 Pro excels in almost every other aspect that's more important for my needs.
My priorities include:
- Performance: The A15 Bionic chip on the iPhone is leaps and bounds ahead of the Snapdragon 750G, meaning it's much faster, smoother, and more responsive in everything from basic tasks to demanding applications.
- Camera Quality: I value a high-quality camera for photography and videography. The iPhone's superior camera system with its advanced features, and high DXOMark score, ensures I get the best images in a variety of conditions.
- Display Quality: The iPhone 13 Pro's OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is a far superior experience, providing a much smoother and richer visual experience, especially during media consumption.
- Ecosystem: As someone who is already invested in the Apple ecosystem, the seamless integration of the iPhone with other Apple devices makes my user experience much more fluid.
While I recognize the Motorola has some advantages like a larger battery and a significantly lower price, I am willing to pay a premium for the performance, camera quality and display that the iPhone 13 Pro provides. This aligns best with my preferences and requirements for a smartphone.
