1. Specifications Comparison
Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Asus ROG Phone 7 | Practical Impact |
---|---|---|---|
Design | |||
Launch Date | 2021-01-14 | 2023-05-01 | Asus ROG Phone 7 is significantly newer, benefiting from newer tech and software |
Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm, 212g | 173 x 77 x 10.3 mm, 239g | Asus ROG Phone 7 is larger, thicker, and heavier. Motorola One 5G Ace is more pocketable and comfortable for extended use. |
Display | |||
Size | 6.7" | 6.78" | Negligible difference in screen size. |
Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2448 | Both provide a sharp viewing experience, with a minimal difference in pixel count. |
Pixel Density | 393 PPI | 395 PPI | Both offer similar sharpness, and the difference won't be noticeable to the naked eye. |
Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Asus ROG Phone 7 has superior blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colours and better power efficiency with dark themes |
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | Asus ROG Phone 7 provides much smoother scrolling and animations, making the user interface feel more responsive, especially in games. |
Brightness | 0 nits | 1500 nits | Asus ROG Phone 7 has significantly better outdoor visibility, making it usable in bright sunlight; Motorola One 5G Ace's brightness is unknown. |
Performance | |||
Chipset | Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Asus ROG Phone 7's chipset is vastly superior, offering much faster processing for apps, gaming, and general use. |
AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 1,603,292 | Asus ROG Phone 7 delivers significantly better performance in all aspects including app loading, multitasking and gaming |
GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 740 | Asus ROG Phone 7 offers far better graphics performance, crucial for demanding games and graphic-intensive apps. |
Battery | |||
Capacity | 5000 mAh | 6000 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 7 offers significantly longer battery life due to a larger battery capacity. |
Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | Asus ROG Phone 7 charges much faster, reducing the time spent plugged in; It also includes bypass charging that keeps the phone cool while gaming |
Battery Features | 10W charger in-box | Bypass Charging, Reverse Charging, 65W charger, 10W reverse wired | Asus ROG Phone 7 offers features such as bypass charging to extend battery life during gaming, plus it can act as a power bank for other devices via reverse charging |
Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48MP f/1.7, 0.8µm | 50MP f/1.9, 1.0µm, 1/1.56" Sony IMX766 | Asus ROG Phone 7 has a better sensor and pixel size leading to improved image quality, especially in low light conditions; Motorola One 5G Ace has a wider aperture for better light intake. |
Selfie Camera | 16MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32MP f/2.5, 0.7µm, 1/3.2" Omnivision OV32C | Asus ROG Phone 7 has a higher resolution, allowing for more detail in selfies; Motorola One 5G Ace has a wider aperture for better light intake. |
Wide Angle Camera | 8MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | 13MP f/2.2, 1.12µm, 1/3.06" Omnivision OV13B10 | Asus ROG Phone 7 captures more detailed wide angle shots with its higher resolution |
Macro Camera | 2MP f/2.4, 1.75µm | 5MP f/2.4, 1.12µm, 1/5" Samsung S5K5E9 | Asus ROG Phone 7 takes higher quality macro photos thanks to its higher resolution sensor; |
Video | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS, 4K@60fps with HDR, EIS | Asus ROG Phone 7 is superior, recording higher quality videos and offering more flexibility thanks to more frame rate options |
Camera Features | LAF | 4K Video, 8K Video, Manual Focus | Asus ROG Phone 7 can record videos at a much higher resolution and allows for a more manual experience, with focus controls. |
Software | |||
OS | Android 10 | Android 13 (Upgradable to 15) | Asus ROG Phone 7 has a newer operating system and will receive more updates, offering the latest features and security patches. |
Connectivity | |||
WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 7 | Asus ROG Phone 7 supports much newer WiFi standards, enabling faster download and upload speeds, lower latency, better performance and reduced network interference. |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Asus ROG Phone 7 has a newer Bluetooth version offering more robust connections, lower power consumption, and better audio support. |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Asus ROG Phone 7 has much better location accuracy due to its more robust support of satellite systems. |
SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Asus ROG Phone 7 offers more flexibility by supporting two SIM cards at the same time, which can be useful for having two numbers or plans on one phone. |
Storage | |||
Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 256 GB or 512 GB | Asus ROG Phone 7 offers significantly more storage space, enabling users to store more apps, media, and documents. |
RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB | Asus ROG Phone 7 has much more RAM, which enables smoother multitasking and faster app loading. |
Expandable | No | No | Both phones lack expandable storage |
Audio | |||
Quality | 2 Microphones | DTS, Hi-Res Audio, Noise Cancellation Microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | Asus ROG Phone 7 offers a much better audio experience with more features, more microphones, noise cancellation, better speakers, and high fidelity support |
Security | |||
Features | Rear-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones provide biometric security. |
Build Quality | |||
Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Asus ROG Phone 7 provides better screen protection. |
Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall | Asus ROG Phone 7 includes a more complete sensor suite for enhanced features like gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: It is more comfortable to hold for extended periods and easier to carry around.
- Wider Aperture on Main & Selfie Camera: Allows for better light intake
Asus ROG Phone 7 Advantages:
- Significantly More Powerful Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset offers drastically superior performance for gaming, heavy multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Superior Display Quality: AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate offers vibrant colors, deeper blacks, smoother visuals, and better outdoor visibility with much higher brightness.
- Larger Battery and Faster Charging: It has much better battery life and can be recharged much faster, reducing downtime. It also features "bypass charging" which is a great way to cool the phone while gaming.
- Higher Quality Cameras: Better sensors and higher resolutions results in significantly better image and video capture.
- Better Audio Experience: The inclusion of stereo speakers and Hi-Res Audio results in much better quality and immersion during listening sessions.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 offer much faster and more stable connections.
- Newer Software: Android 13 and the promise of upgrade to 15 is a big upgrade in functionality, security, and user experience
Trade-offs:
- The Asus ROG Phone 7 is larger and heavier than the Motorola One 5G Ace, making it less comfortable to hold and carry for some users. The price will be substantially higher.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a capable smartphone at a lower price point.
- Casual Users: Individuals who prioritize basic smartphone functionality over high performance and advanced features.
- Users who value portability and comfort: Those who prefer a lighter and more compact device for easy handling.
- Users who don't do extensive mobile gaming: Those who would not benefit from the higher refresh rate or more powerful processor
Use Cases:
- Basic social media browsing, emails, and web surfing.
- Casual photography and video recording.
- Everyday use that does not involve demanding tasks.
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ideal User:
- Mobile Gamers: Those who prioritize gaming performance and a smooth visual experience.
- Power Users: Individuals who demand high performance for demanding applications, video editing, and multitasking.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Those who appreciate high-quality audio and visuals, and the ability to capture high quality video.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Those who desire the latest technology, top-of-the-line features, and a device that is built to last.
Use Cases:
- Playing graphics-intensive games with high framerates.
- Video editing and content creation.
- Professional work with demanding applications.
- Extensive multimedia consumption with high quality audio and video.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The Motorola One 5G Ace is expected to be significantly cheaper than the Asus ROG Phone 7
- What are my primary use cases? Am I primarily using the phone for basic tasks or for gaming, content creation, and other heavy-duty applications?
- How important is battery life, display quality, and performance? Do I need a device that lasts all day and offers a top tier visual experience?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Basic User with a Tight Budget: If the budget is the primary concern and heavy gaming or video editing is not a priority, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a more suitable option due to its lower price. It will be adequate for basic smartphone tasks and will also be more comfortable to hold, thanks to its lighter frame.
- Scenario 2: Gaming Enthusiast: If gaming is the primary use case, the Asus ROG Phone 7 is the obvious choice, thanks to its powerful processor, high refresh rate display, and gaming features like bypass charging.
- Scenario 3: Performance-Oriented User: If the user requires a powerful device for demanding applications, content creation, or extensive multitasking, the Asus ROG Phone 7 is much better due to its superior processor, RAM, and storage options.
- Scenario 4: User wanting the best screen and audio quality: If the best visual experience and high fidelity audio is essential, then the Asus ROG Phone 7 is the clear winner due to its AMOLED screen, higher refresh rate, and superior audio quality.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 7. While the price difference is likely significant, the performance boost, superior display, much better cameras, vastly better audio, more features and future-proof nature of the phone justify the added cost. The Motorola One 5G Ace is a reasonable phone if you are on a very tight budget, but is severely lacking in most aspects when compared with the Asus ROG Phone 7. The Asus is not just a phone for gamers, it is a phone for anyone who wants a quality product with no compromises, with future proof specs.