1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-14 | 2024-08-03 | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is significantly newer, likely with more modern features & software support. |
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 161.7 × 76.3 × 8.5 mm | Motorola is taller & thicker, Nothing is slimmer and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 212g | 190g | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is lighter making it more comfortable for longer use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both have the same screen size for similar viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2412 | Virtually identical sharpness; differences not noticeable in regular use. |
| PPI | 393 | 395 | Both offer similar pixel density, and will appear equally sharp. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Nothing has superior color, contrast, and black levels, better for media and dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Nothing has smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing overall responsiveness. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1300 nits | Nothing is much brighter outdoors and in sunlight, enhancing visibility |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) | Nothing has a newer, more efficient processor, resulting in faster speeds and better performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 805,721 | Nothing is significantly faster, better for multitasking and demanding games. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G610 MC4 | Nothing has a more modern GPU for better graphics performance |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer similar battery life under normal use. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 50W fast charging | Nothing charges much faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | 10W charger in box | No charger in box | Motorola provides a charger, while Nothing requires users to buy one separately. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56", 1.00µm | Nothing has larger sensor pixels, usually better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Nothing offers significantly higher resolution for selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | Motorola has a dedicated ultrawide lens for more versatile photography. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | None | Motorola has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Nothing uses its ultrawide as a macro lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | 4K@30fps, EIS, 1080p@120fps | Nothing supports higher frame rate recording at 1080p with EIS. |
| OIS | No | Yes | Nothing has optical image stabilization, generally offering better video quality. |
| Features | Digital zoom, Triple camera, PDAF, LAF, etc. | Time-Lapse, 4K Video, Dual camera, OIS, PDAF, etc. | Nothing provides OIS and Timelapse, while Motorola offers laser autofocus |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | Nothing has a much newer OS, with more features, security and likely longer support. |
| Max Version | N/A | 17 | Nothing is likely to be receiving longer Android support |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Nothing has the latest WiFi for faster speeds, lower latency, and improved performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 | Nothing has newer Bluetooth offering better features and efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), NavIC System | Nothing offers more satellite support, better accuracy and reliability |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Nothing can support two active SIMs at the same time, useful for travel or separating work and personal use. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 256GB | Nothing has a much larger base storage for more files, apps and media. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 12GB | Nothing has far more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and faster app switching |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports memory cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 microphones | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Nothing offers higher audio fidelity, more immersive sound with stereo speakers and better voice capture |
| Security | |||
| Features | rear-mounted fingerprint | basic fingerprint sensor | Both offer fingerprint security for quick and secure access. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Gorilla Glass 5 | Nothing has better screen protection for more durability |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Nothing offers an additional gravity sensor |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Dedicated Macro and Ultrawide Lens: Offers more versatile photography options.
- Practical Impact: Allows users to capture a wider variety of shots, from expansive landscapes to close-up details.
- Includes a Charger in the Box: Saves the user the extra cost and hassle of buying a charger.
- Practical Impact: Ready to use out of the box.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate, much higher brightness, resulting in richer colors, smoother motion and better outdoor visibility.
- Practical Impact: Enjoying media consumption and playing games is dramatically better.
- Significantly Higher Performance: Much faster processor and GPU.
- Practical Impact: Noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming experience.
- Faster Charging: 50W charging greatly reduces charging times.
- Practical Impact: Less time waiting for the battery to charge.
- Better Cameras: Higher resolution front camera, bigger sensor on the main camera.
- Practical Impact: Better low-light photos and sharper selfies.
- More RAM and Storage: 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage
- Practical Impact: Significantly better multitasking and room for more photos, videos and apps.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 14 (likely to be upgraded), compared to Android 10 on the Motorola.
- Practical Impact: Access to the latest features, security updates and a longer software support.
- Improved Connectivity: Supports the latest Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and more precise GPS.
- Practical Impact: Faster and more reliable wireless connections.
- Better Audio: Stereo speakers and High-Res audio
- Practical Impact: More immersive sound with better clarity and depth.
Trade-offs:
- The Motorola includes a charger, while the Nothing does not.
- The Motorola has a dedicated ultrawide and macro lens, while the Nothing uses its main camera for wide angle and macro shots.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who value having an included charger and macro and wide angle lenses for basic photography needs.
- Use Cases:
- Casual photography with a variety of perspectives.
- Users who like the convenience of having a charger in the box.
- Basic smartphone tasks like browsing, calling, and social media.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus:
- Ideal User: Users seeking a superior display, faster performance, and better overall experience, and are happy to purchase a charger separately.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers and heavy multitaskers who want fast performance.
- Frequent media consumers who appreciate high-quality audio and display.
- Users who want a phone with a modern, stylish design and are interested in future software updates
- Users who want a phone with faster charging
- Users who take regular selfies.
- Users who want the best mobile connectivity
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Motorola One 5G Ace is likely more affordable but lacks in key areas like display, performance, and software.
- The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, while potentially more expensive, offers significantly better specifications and a better user experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is a high-quality display and performance? (If critical, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is superior.)
- Do you need a dedicated macro and ultrawide camera lens? (Motorola has these, while Nothing doesn't, but utilizes it's main sensor for ultrawide shots)
- Is a fast charger and latest software a priority? (Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers much faster charging and a more recent OS version.)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: If the budget is the most important factor, the Motorola One 5G Ace might be acceptable, understanding the compromise.
- Scenario 2: Everyday User: If you value a better display, smoother performance, faster charging, and better cameras, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is the better choice, despite the separate charger.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Gamer/Power User: The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus's superior performance, display and RAM is far better for a heavy user.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus.
While the Motorola has dedicated lenses for macro and ultrawide photography, these are not as important for my use case as a great display, fast performance, and modern software. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers a significantly better viewing experience, a much faster processor, faster charging, and is more future-proof due to its newer operating system. The trade-off of needing to purchase a charger separately is a minor inconvenience for the substantial overall improvements this phone provides. The much greater storage and RAM and stereo speakers are also very appealing. The only thing that would have swayed my decision would be a very large price discrepancy between the two but at similar price points the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is superior.
