Smartphone Comparison: Motorola One 5G Ace vs. Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G
1. Specifications Comparison
Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G | Practical Impact |
---|---|---|---|
Design | |||
Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm, 212g | 157.4 x 75.8 x 7.6 mm, 195g | S22+ is more compact and lighter, enhancing portability and comfort for one-handed use. One 5G Ace is bulkier, less pocketable. |
Display | |||
Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | Slightly larger screen on One 5G Ace for media consumption; difference is marginal. |
Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2340 | Negligible difference in sharpness. |
PPI | 393 | 393 | Both phones have similar pixel density - indistinguishable sharpness. |
Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED on S22+ offers deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors; better viewing experience, especially for HDR content. |
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | S22+ provides much smoother scrolling and animations, making user interface feel more fluid. |
Brightness | 0 nits | 1750 nits | S22+ screen is significantly brighter, making it much more usable in direct sunlight. One 5G Ace's brightness is unknown, implying poor outdoor visibility. |
Performance | |||
Chipset | Snapdragon 750G (8 nm) | Exynos 2200 (4 nm) | S22+ has a much more powerful and efficient processor, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 890,774 | S22+ offers significantly higher performance - almost 2.7 times higher performance in synthetic benchmarks |
GPU | Adreno 619 | Xclipse 920 | S22+ GPU is significantly more powerful, resulting in better gaming experience with higher frame rates and graphical fidelity. |
Battery | |||
Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | One 5G Ace has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life. |
Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 45W Fast Charging | S22+ charges significantly faster, minimizing downtime. |
Features | 10W in-box charger, Non-removable | Bypass Charging, Wireless 15W, Reverse Wireless 4.5W | S22+ offers more convenient charging options, such as wireless and reverse wireless charging. |
Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.57" sensor | S22+ main sensor has a bigger sensor leading to better low-light performance. The S22+ also has a slightly better main camera on paper. |
Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2 | 10MP, f/2.2 | One 5G Ace has a higher resolution selfie camera, potentially capturing slightly more detail under ideal conditions. Pixel size on S22+ is larger. |
Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP, f/2.4 | S22+ offers optical zoom capabilities, capturing sharper zoomed-in images compared to digital zoom on the One 5G Ace. |
Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.2 | S22+ offers a higher resolution ultrawide lens, leading to more detailed ultrawide shots. |
Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | One 5G Ace has a dedicated macro lens, enabling close-up shots. S22+ relies on the main camera. |
Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | S22+ has far superior video capabilities, including 8K recording, higher frame rates, and advanced stabilization and HDR. |
DXOMark | Not Tested | 125 Overall, 122 Photo, 124 Video | S22+ offers far superior image quality, as confirmed by DxOMark scoring, while Motorola has no score. |
Software | |||
OS | Android 10 | Android 12, Upgradeable to 16 | S22+ has a much more recent OS and will receive significantly more updates. |
Connectivity | |||
Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | S22+ offers faster Wi-Fi speeds, better network performance, and lower latency on compatible networks. |
Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.2 LE | S22+ has a newer Bluetooth version, potentially offering improved connectivity and efficiency. |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | S22+ supports more satellite systems, potentially offering more accurate location tracking. |
SIM | Single Nano-SIM | Dual Nano-SIM + eSIM | S22+ offers dual SIM functionality and eSIM support for additional flexibility. |
Storage | |||
Internal | 64GB/128GB | 128GB/256GB | S22+ offers more storage options, with a maximum of 256GB vs One 5G Ace's 128GB. |
RAM | 4GB/6GB | 8GB | S22+ has more RAM, leading to better multitasking capabilities. |
Expandable | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
Audio | |||
Quality | 2 microphones | Stereo Speakers | S22+ offers a better audio experience with stereo speakers. One 5G Ace has two microphones that can help with sound recording and clarity. |
Security | |||
Features | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both devices have standard fingerprint security measures. |
Build Quality | |||
Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ | S22+ offers superior screen protection against scratches and damage. One 5G Ace screen protection is unknown. |
Sensors | |||
Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Barometer | S22+ includes additional environmental sensors like barometer, hall and geomagnetic. |
## 2. Key Differences Analysis |
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Potentially Longer Battery Life: Larger 5000mAh battery may provide longer use between charges (Note this is a possibility, not a certainty)
- Macro Camera: Dedicated macro lens for close-up photography.
- Lower Price: Typically available at a lower price point.
Practical Implications: The One 5G Ace is a more budget-friendly option with a slightly better battery on paper. Its macro camera offers added versatility for close-up shots.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate and high brightness offers a much better viewing experience.
- Significantly Higher Performance: Much faster processor and GPU for smoother multitasking, gaming, and overall responsiveness.
- Better Cameras: Telephoto lens for optical zoom, higher quality main and wide-angle cameras and 8k video recording capabilities. Higher DxOMark scores.
- Faster Charging: 45W fast charging and wireless charging
- Modern Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for faster, more efficient connections.
- More Modern OS: Android 12 with promised upgrades and more security features.
- Premium Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ screen protection and more premium construction.
Practical Implications: The S22+ offers a more premium user experience across the board, with a superior display, powerful performance, versatile cameras, and faster connectivity. It's designed for users who demand the best.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Motorola One 5G Ace: Sacrifices display quality, performance, and camera capabilities for a lower price.
- Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G: Is significantly more expensive.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life and a larger screen over premium features.
- Use Cases:
- Casual users who need a reliable phone for basic tasks.
- Users who frequently use the phone for basic media consumption.
- Users who need a phone for light gaming and everyday tasks.
- Users who need a dedicated macro lens.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G:
- Ideal User: Power users who demand top-tier performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
- Use Cases:
- Users who play demanding mobile games.
- Users who frequently take photos and videos, especially in challenging conditions.
- Users who consume a lot of high-quality content, like HDR movies.
- Users who need a fast, responsive device for productivity.
- Users who want advanced features, such as wireless charging and Dual-SIM functionality.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How much am I willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Performance: How important is smooth, fast performance for my daily use and gaming?
- Camera Quality: How much emphasis do I place on the camera quality and video recording capabilities?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget-Focused): If budget is the primary concern and basic smartphone functions suffice, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a viable option.
- Scenario 2 (Balanced User): If you need a reliable phone with good performance for daily tasks, casual gaming and decent camera, with a price closer to a budget phone, the Motorola is a decent option.
- Scenario 3 (Performance and Features): If performance, display quality, and camera quality are critical, and budget is less of a concern, the Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G is the better choice.
What I Would Choose and Why
Given the comprehensive analysis, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G.
Here's why:
- Superior User Experience: The S22+ offers a much better overall user experience. The AMOLED display with its 120Hz refresh rate is a noticeable upgrade, providing a far more enjoyable experience for general usage, watching videos and gaming. The difference between the 60Hz LCD of the Motorola vs the 120Hz OLED on the Samsung is drastic and makes a huge difference when interacting with the phone.
- Performance: The significantly faster processor and GPU on the S22+ make it a much more capable device for demanding tasks and modern applications. The AnTuTu score is almost 3x times greater and that is noticeable in everyday use.
- Camera Versatility: The optical zoom capabilities and higher overall camera quality on the S22+ make it a more versatile tool for photography and videography. While the lack of a macro lens on the S22+ is a minor loss, the higher quality of the main and wide angle lenses more than make up for it, not to mention the video capabilities being far better on the S22+.
- Longevity: The S22+ will likely receive software updates for longer and has a more modern OS from the get-go. This will also mean it is less likely to slow down over time.
- Better Charging: Wireless and reverse wireless charging with 45W fast charging make the S22+ far more convenient to live with.
While the Motorola One 5G Ace has a potentially longer battery life (although it's not drastically bigger), that is not enough to make up for the large performance, display and camera deficits. Ultimately, the better performance, display and camera features of the Samsung, as well as its improved connectivity, make the added cost worthwhile for me.