1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Xiaomi Poco F4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 163.2 × 76 × 7.7 mm | Poco F4 is slightly shorter and noticeably thinner, making it more pocketable and comfortable to hold. |
| Weight | 212g | 195g | Poco F4 is lighter, which contributes to better ergonomics during extended use. |
| Build | Plastic | Plastic, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 screen protection | Poco F4 has added screen protection with Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Negligible size difference; both offer large viewing experiences. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness; both offer a crisp viewing experience. |
| PPI | 393 | 395 | Practically indistinguishable pixel density, both look sharp. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Poco F4’s AMOLED offers deeper blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colors. Better for media consumption. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Poco F4 provides smoother scrolling and animations, making it feel more responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1300 nits | Poco F4 is significantly brighter, making it much easier to see outdoors in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 | Poco F4 has a considerably more powerful chipset, leading to faster app loading, better multitasking, and smoother gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 861,200 | Poco F4 offers significantly higher performance, handling demanding apps and games more easily. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 650 | Poco F4 has a more powerful GPU, resulting in better gaming and graphics performance. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.8µm | 64MP, f/1.79, 0.7µm, 1/2" sensor, Omnivision OV64B | Poco F4 has higher resolution, slightly smaller pixel size, and a larger sensor, suggesting better detail and low-light performance, although aperture is slightly narrower |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 20MP, f/2.4, 0.8µm, 1/2" sensor, Sony IMX596 | Poco F4 has higher resolution, slightly narrower aperture, and a larger sensor, suggesting better detail |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm, 1/4" sensor, Omnivision OV8856 | Similar specs, likely comparable performance |
| Macro | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm, 1/5" sensor, GalaxyCore GC02M1 | Similar specs, likely comparable performance |
| Video | 4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@30/60fps (EIS); Slow-motion: 60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; Slow-motion: 960fps, Optical image stabilization (OIS) | Poco F4 offers 4k at 60fps and much higher slow-motion capabilities, and OIS for stabilized videos |
| Features | PDAF, LAF, EIS | PDAF, OIS, EIS, 4K video | Poco F4 offers superior video stabilization and 4k 60fps recording |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Motorola One 5G Ace has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W | 67W | Poco F4 charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 12, upgradeable to 13 | Poco F4 has a more up-to-date OS with additional features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Poco F4 supports the newer WiFi 6 standard. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Poco F4 has the newer Bluetooth standard |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Poco F4 supports more satellite systems for more accurate location tracking |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Poco F4 offers dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 128GB/256GB | Poco F4 provides more storage options. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 6GB/8GB/12GB | Poco F4 offers significantly more RAM for smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 Microphones | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 Microphones | Poco F4 has better audio features with stereo speakers, dolby atmos and Hi-Res Audio |
| Security | |||
| Features | Rear-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Both have fingerprint sensors, although the side mounted sensor of the Poco F4 may be faster and more convenient. |
| Other | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor | Both have full sensor suites, with slightly different proximity sensor implementations |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Slightly larger battery: Offers a bit more battery capacity, potentially translating to a slightly longer battery life.
- Wider aperture for Main Camera: May perform better in specific low-light situations.
- Wider aperture for Selfie Camera: May perform better in specific low-light situations.
Xiaomi Poco F4 Advantages:
- Significantly more powerful processor (Snapdragon 870): Offers superior performance for demanding tasks, gaming, and overall responsiveness.
- Superior AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate: Provides more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, smoother visuals and significantly better outdoor visibility.
- Much faster 67W charging: Dramatically reduces charging times.
- Better camera setup with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Significantly improves video recording quality.
- Higher resolution Main and Selfie Camera Sensors: Better detail in some situations
- More RAM and storage options: Provides better multitasking and more space for data.
- Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio: Provides superior audio experience for media consumption
- Newer Software: Comes with a more recent Android version and is upgradeable.
- Dual SIM support: Ability to use two sim cards at once.
- More advanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards: Newer wireless technology.
- Better screen protection: Includes Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Trade-offs:
- Motorola One 5G Ace: Sacrifices performance and display quality for a slightly larger battery. Slower charging speeds. Older software and connectivity features.
- Xiaomi Poco F4: Loses a very small amount of battery capacity for significant gains in performance, display, and charging speed.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life over top-tier performance.
- Users who value simplicity and are less demanding in terms of processing power and display quality.
- Users who want a reliable everyday phone with basic functionality.
Specific Use Cases:
- Long periods away from a charger where a larger battery is needed.
- General social media browsing, basic app use, and casual web surfing.
- As a secondary or backup device, perhaps for calling or email.
Xiaomi Poco F4 Ideal User:
- Performance-oriented users who prioritize speed, smooth gaming, and fluid multitasking.
- Media enthusiasts who want a vibrant display for watching videos and enjoying multimedia.
- Users who take many videos
- Users who need fast charging to minimize downtime.
- Users who want a more modern device with the latest features.
Specific Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming, including demanding 3D titles.
- Heavy multitasking between multiple apps and tasks.
- Watching movies and TV shows on a high-quality display.
- Photography and videography where stabilization and quality are key.
- As a main phone for day to day usage with many features.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Poco F4 offers significantly better value for the price due to its superior performance, display, and features, making it a better overall option for most users. The slightly higher cost is likely worth the upgrade.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case? (e.g., gaming, media consumption, basic calling/texting).
- How important is screen quality, fast charging, and performance to me?
- What is my budget and do I need the best value at the expense of battery?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Basic Use with Long Battery Life: If your primary needs are basic calling, texting, and web browsing, and you value battery life over everything else, the Motorola One 5G Ace could suffice, but the advantages of the Poco F4 are significant even for basic users.
- Scenario 2: Performance & Media Enthusiast: If you are a gamer, heavy multitasker, or someone who enjoys watching videos on their phone, the Xiaomi Poco F4 is the better choice due to its superior processor, display, and audio features.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you want a good balance of performance, display, and features, and are willing to trade a small amount of battery capacity for faster charging and better screen quality, the Xiaomi Poco F4 is the better choice by far.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would definitely choose the Xiaomi Poco F4.
Here's why:
The Poco F4's advantages are significant and affect almost every aspect of the user experience. The superior processor makes a huge difference in responsiveness and gaming, the AMOLED 120Hz display makes a huge difference in media consumption and smoothness, and fast charging makes the phone more convenient. Even the camera differences, while not huge, lean towards the Poco F4 with the addition of OIS and 4k 60fps video recording.
While the Motorola One 5G Ace has a slightly larger battery, the performance, display, and faster charging capabilities of the Poco F4 outweigh this advantage. In practical usage, the much faster charging of the Poco F4 would offset any slightly reduced battery life.
For me, a phone should be fast, have a vibrant display and not take too long to charge. The Poco F4 is a clear winner in all of these categories and is the superior choice for the majority of users.
