1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Nothing CMF Phone 1 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-14 | 2024-07-09 | Nothing CMF Phone 1 is significantly newer, suggesting more modern features and software support. |
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 164 × 77 × 8.2 mm | The Motorola is slightly taller and thicker. The Nothing Phone is more compact and likely more comfortable to hold and carry. |
| Weight | 212g | 197g | The Nothing Phone is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Very similar screen sizes; negligible difference. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness; both offer crisp visuals. |
| PPI | 393 | 395 | Similar pixel density; both look equally sharp to the naked eye. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | The Nothing CMF Phone 1 will have better contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency, especially with dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Nothing Phone has much smoother scrolling, animations, and a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2000 nits | The Nothing Phone offers significantly better outdoor visibility and is easier to use in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) | The Nothing phone's newer chipset on a smaller process offers improved efficiency and performance for gaming and heavy apps. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 673,000 | The Nothing Phone has significantly better performance for daily tasks, gaming, and multitasking, feeling much faster overall. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G615 MC2 | The Nothing phone's GPU is expected to offer better graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have the same capacity, suggesting similar battery life under normal use. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 33W fast charging | The Nothing phone will recharge much faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable, 10W rapid charger in-box | Non-removable | Motorola ships with a 10W charger in the box. Nothing CMF phone does not include a charger. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7 | 50MP, f/1.79, Sony IMX882 | The Nothing Phone has a slightly higher resolution sensor and a newer sensor, potentially yielding better image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.0, GalaxyCore GC16B3C | The Nothing Phone offers wider aperture, which should result in better low-light performance for selfies. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.2 | None | Motorola One 5G Ace offers a wide-angle lens for capturing more of a scene. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | None | 2MP, f/2.3, Smartsens sc202pcs | The Nothing CMF Phone 1 has a dedicated depth sensor that can enhance portrait shots. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Motorola has a dedicated macro lens for close up photography |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | 4K@30fps, EIS | Both phones offer similar video recording capabilities with stabilization. |
| Slow-motion | 60 fps | 240 fps | The Nothing Phone captures much smoother slow-motion videos with 240 fps capability. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Triple camera, PDAF, LAF, RAW, Night Mode | Noise reduction, 4K Video, Dual camera, Continuous autofocus | The Motorola offers features like RAW capture and a dedicated night mode, while the Nothing CMF has noise reduction and continuous autofocus. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | The Nothing phone has a much newer operating system with the latest features, security updates and likely better future support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | The Nothing Phone has faster and more efficient Wi-Fi for better data speeds and performance on compatible networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.3 LE | The Nothing phone has a newer version of Bluetooth for better power efficiency and connection stability, as well as better audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | The Nothing Phone has more comprehensive GPS support, offering better location accuracy |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM, Dual Standby | The Nothing Phone supports two SIM cards at the same time, useful for users managing multiple phone numbers. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | The Nothing Phone has a higher base storage option, providing more space for media and applications. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB | The Nothing phone has more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither of these phones supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 microphones | Basic audio features | The Motorola has a dedicated dual microphone set-up, suggesting better voice capture. |
| Security | |||
| Features | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both have a basic fingerprint sensor for unlocking. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection type is unspecified for both phones. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both phones have comprehensive sensor suites, suitable for advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Triple Camera System: Includes a dedicated wide-angle and macro lens for more photography versatility.
- Included Charger: Comes with a 10W rapid charger in the box.
- 2 Microphones: Enhanced audio capture, suitable for clearer voice recordings.
- Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), RAW photo capture, Night Mode: This could provide some edge in specific scenarios.
Practical Implications: The Motorola One 5G Ace is better for users who want camera flexibility with wide-angle and macro lenses and need a charger included in the box. The enhanced audio may be beneficial for voice recording.
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate offers a much better visual experience with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smoother animations and significantly better brightness.
- Better Performance: The more modern processor and GPU offer faster speeds for gaming, multitasking and faster app loading.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging will significantly reduce charging times.
- Newer OS: Comes with a much newer Android version, offering better features, security, and support.
- Better Connectivity: Newer Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 offer better data speeds and efficiency.
- Dual SIM Support: Allows for managing two phone numbers.
- More RAM: 8GB option leads to better multitasking and overall fluidity.
- Higher Base Storage: 128GB of internal storage compared to 64GB of the Motorola's option.
- Superior slow motion: Captures much smoother slow-motion videos with 240 fps capability.
- Superior selfie camera: Wider aperture means better performance in low-light conditions.
Practical Implications: The Nothing CMF Phone 1 is geared toward users who prioritize performance, display quality, charging speed, and overall smoothness of user experience. The dual-SIM capability is great for those needing to manage two numbers. The modern OS means more features and better security.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Motorola One 5G Ace has dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses, while the Nothing CMF Phone 1 doesn't offer a wide-angle or macro lens for photography versatility.
- The Nothing phone does not include a charger in the box
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize camera versatility with a wide-angle and macro lens, prefer the simplicity of a triple camera setup, and do not mind a less powerful device or older OS.
- Use Cases:
- Casual photographers who want flexibility in their shooting options.
- Users on a tighter budget who still want a decent feature set.
- Users who prefer physical buttons and fingerprint sensor
- Price-to-Value Ratio: While older, it may offer a decent value at a lower price point if camera versatility is a must.
Nothing CMF Phone 1:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize a superior display experience, smoother performance, faster charging, and a modern software experience.
- Use Cases:
- Users who frequently game or use demanding apps.
- Users who want a great multimedia experience with a high-quality screen.
- Users who need the convenience of dual SIM support.
- Users who want a more premium feeling phone with the latest features.
- Price-to-Value Ratio: The Nothing phone offers excellent value for its price, given the premium features and performance it offers.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is display quality to you? If a vibrant AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is important, the Nothing CMF Phone 1 is the clear choice.
- Do you need a wide-angle or macro lens? If so, the Motorola One 5G Ace is the option, as the Nothing phone does not include them.
- How important is performance, charging speed and software experience to you? The Nothing CMF Phone 1 is the better choice, offering much faster speeds, charging and a newer operating system.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious User Needing Camera Versatility: The Motorola One 5G Ace is a good choice with a wider camera array.
- Performance-Oriented User: The Nothing CMF Phone 1 is the clear choice due to its faster processor, superior display, and faster charging.
- Multimedia Enthusiast: The Nothing CMF Phone 1 is better due to its superior AMOLED display and 120Hz refresh rate.
- User Requiring Dual-SIM: The Nothing CMF Phone 1 supports dual SIMs while the Motorola only supports a single SIM.
My Choice
I would choose the Nothing CMF Phone 1.
Reasoning:
While the Motorola One 5G Ace has a wide angle and macro lens, the advantages of the Nothing CMF Phone 1 are far more compelling to me. The superior AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate provides a much better viewing experience and the 2000 nits of brightness, is a massive advantage for using the phone outdoors. The significant performance boost from the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 chipset will result in a faster, smoother and more responsive phone overall, especially when gaming or multitasking. I also appreciate that it has a more up to date version of Android and the inclusion of newer WiFi and Bluetooth versions. Even though the Motorola has 2 microphones, this is easily offset by the Nothing's faster charging, dual SIM support and larger storage and RAM options. While a charger isn't included in the box, I have plenty available at home. For my use case, the Nothing CMF Phone 1 is the clear winner and the value for money it offers is outstanding.
