Smartphone Comparison: Motorola One 5G Ace vs. OnePlus Nord 4
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a breakdown of the key specifications of the Motorola One 5G Ace and the OnePlus Nord 4, along with their practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 162.6 × 75 × 8 mm | The OnePlus Nord 4 is smaller and slimmer, making it more pocketable and easier to handle. The Motorola One 5G Ace is noticeably bulkier. |
| Weight | 212g | 199.5g | The OnePlus Nord 4 is lighter, which may feel more comfortable during extended use. |
| Build | Not specified | Not specified | Specific build materials are unknown for both, preventing analysis of durability or premium feel. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.74" | Nearly identical screen sizes with no significant difference in viewing area. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1240x2772 | The OnePlus Nord 4's higher resolution results in a significantly sharper and more detailed display. |
| PPI | 393 | 450 | The OnePlus Nord 4's higher pixel density leads to text and images appearing much clearer, especially noticeable when reading or viewing detailed graphics. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | The OnePlus Nord 4's AMOLED screen offers deeper blacks, richer colors, better contrast, and improved energy efficiency when using dark modes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The 120Hz refresh rate on the OnePlus Nord 4 provides significantly smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2200 nits | The OnePlus Nord 4's dramatically higher brightness will make the screen much more visible in bright sunlight conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (4 nm) | The OnePlus Nord 4’s significantly newer and more powerful chip provides much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. It's also more future-proof. |
| Antutu Score | 330,000 | 1,366,982 | The OnePlus Nord 4 delivers significantly higher performance (over 300% higher), translating to a much more fluid and responsive user experience in all tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 732 | The Adreno 732 in the OnePlus Nord 4 provides a considerable advantage in graphics-intensive tasks, such as gaming and video editing. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7 | 50MP, f/1.8, Sony LYT-600 | The OnePlus Nord 4's main camera has a slightly higher resolution and a better sensor, resulting in improved detail and low-light performance. While the Ace has a slightly wider aperture, the sensor difference likely favors the Nord. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.4, Sony IMX471 Exmor RS | The Motorola One 5G Ace's selfie camera has a slightly wider aperture, potentially better in low light, but the Nord 4 has a more advanced sensor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2, Sony IMX355 | Both phones have comparable wide-angle cameras, likely offering similar results. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Motorola One 5G Ace includes a macro lens for close-up shots, a feature missing from the OnePlus Nord 4. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@60fps | Up to 4K@60fps (EIS), 1080p@120fps | OnePlus Nord 4 offers higher quality video capture, with 4K at 60fps and 1080 at 120fps for slow-motion recording, compared to Motorola One 5G Ace (4K@30fps). |
| Video Stabilization | EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) | EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) | OnePlus Nord 4's Optical Image Stabilization provides superior video stability compared to Motorola One 5G Ace's Electronic Image Stabilization. |
| Features | Digital 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, Night Mode | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Dual 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 | The camera features are overall comparable, but the OnePlus Nord 4's OIS is a significant advantage. The Ace offers LAF, RAW, and Night Mode while the Nord 4 offers 4K Video, Dual camera and OIS. |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5500mAh | The OnePlus Nord 4 has a slightly larger battery, likely providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 100W fast charging | The OnePlus Nord 4's 100W fast charging is significantly faster than the Motorola One 5G Ace's 15W, allowing for much quicker charging times. |
| Battery Tech | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | OnePlus Nord 4 uses a more modern Li-Polymer technology |
| Features | 10W rapid charger in-box, Non-removable | Non-removable | The Motorola One 5G Ace includes a charger in the box, but it's slower than the charging speeds possible on the OnePlus Nord 4. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Macro Lens: Offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography, which is absent on the OnePlus Nord 4.
- Slightly Wider Main Camera Aperture: Has a slightly wider f/1.7 aperture on the main camera, potentially better for low-light scenarios, although the Nord has a better sensor.
- Lower Price: Likely to be significantly cheaper given its age.
Practical Implications: The macro lens is useful for users who enjoy taking close-up detail shots. The wider aperture might offer a slight advantage in certain low-light situations, however, this is offset by the better sensor in the Nord 4. The main advantage for the Ace is its affordability.
OnePlus Nord 4 Advantages:
- Superior Display: Significantly higher resolution, PPI, AMOLED technology, 120Hz refresh rate, and much higher brightness providing a much more enjoyable viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Much Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset offers vastly superior performance for gaming, multitasking, and overall smoothness.
- Faster Charging: 100W charging allows for significantly faster battery replenishment.
- Larger Battery: The slightly bigger battery capacity enhances battery life.
- Better Video Recording: Supports recording 4K videos at 60fps and 1080p at 120fps
- Optical Image Stabilization: Offers OIS for superior video stabilization.
- Newer Software: Ships with a much more recent version of Android (14).
- Better Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- Dual SIM Support: Allows for use of two SIM cards at the same time.
- Stereo Speakers: Provides a more immersive audio experience.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Significantly more options and storage
Practical Implications: The Nord 4's display advantages make a noticeable difference in day-to-day use, while the superior performance and fast charging make for a much more responsive, and convenient experience. The OIS is a key advantage for video recording. The support for the newest connectivity standards makes it more future-proof, and the larger battery means longer use between charges.
Trade-offs:
- Macro Lens vs. OIS: Motorola includes the macro lens while OnePlus prioritizes OIS. Users must consider what they value more between the two features
- Price: The OnePlus Nord 4 will likely be considerably more expensive than the Motorola One 5G Ace, due to its newer technology and higher performance.
- Bulk vs. Performance: The smaller and lighter Nord 4 has better performance while the larger and heavier Ace lacks performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, those who prioritize battery life over performance, and those who specifically need a macro lens.
- Use Cases: Basic everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and calls. Casual photography focused on macro shots. Users who need a cheaper backup or secondary phone.
- Price-to-Value: Offers a more affordable option, but users need to accept the older technology and slower performance.
OnePlus Nord 4:
- Ideal User: Users who want a smooth and responsive experience, enjoy gaming and media consumption, and value a superior display and camera.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, video editing, high-quality media consumption (movies, streaming), and fast-paced app use. Ideal for photography and video capture, especially with its OIS. Users who require fast charging.
- Price-to-Value: Provides a premium experience with significant improvements in all areas, but at a higher price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What's my budget? The Motorola One 5G Ace is likely significantly cheaper.
- How important is performance and display quality? The OnePlus Nord 4 is vastly superior in these areas.
- What features do I value more? The macro lens is available only on the Motorola, while OIS and 120Hz display is only on the OnePlus.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is the primary concern. If price is the most crucial factor, the Motorola One 5G Ace is the more sensible choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance and experience is essential. If the user prioritizes performance, a high-quality display, and fast charging, the OnePlus Nord 4 is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3: Focus on Macro Photography. If the user likes macro photography, the Motorola One 5G Ace is the only option between the two.
- Scenario 4: Focus on video recording: If the user likes video recording, the OnePlus Nord 4 is the better choice due to higher quality, higher FPS and OIS.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the OnePlus Nord 4. While the Motorola One 5G Ace might be more budget-friendly, the performance and display quality of the Nord 4 are vastly superior and would greatly enhance the overall user experience. The 120Hz AMOLED screen, powerful processor, fast charging, better camera, and latest software are significant advantages that justify the likely higher price tag. The inclusion of OIS also makes the phone a better option for people who tend to record a lot of video. The trade-off of losing the macro camera is an acceptable one. For me, the overall fluidity and responsiveness of the OnePlus Nord 4 are worth the extra investment.
