Smartphone Comparison: vivo V21 5G vs. Motorola Moto G31
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Motorola Moto G31 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 159.7 × 73.9 × 7.3 mm | 161.9 × 73.9 × 8.6 mm | Moto G31 is slightly taller and thicker, making V21 5G potentially more pocketable and comfortable for those with smaller hands. |
| Weight | 176g | 181g | V21 5G is slightly lighter, which might be noticeable during extended use and reduce fatigue. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.44" | 6.4" | Very similar screen sizes, the difference is negligible in practical use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness, both display crisp and detailed visuals. |
| PPI | 409 | 411 | Virtually indistinguishable pixel density, both offer similar text and image clarity. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good viewing angles. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | V21 5G offers smoother scrolling, animations and a more fluid user experience, especially noticeable during gaming. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness at 0 nits (data missing) |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) | V21 5G has a more powerful and efficient chipset, leading to better app performance, smoother multitasking, and faster gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 343,150 | 225,154 | V21 5G demonstrates significantly better performance, resulting in a snappier and more responsive user experience. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 (ARM Mali-G57 MC3) | Mali-G52 MC2 (Arm Mali-G52 MC2) | V21 5G has a more powerful GPU, offering superior graphics for gaming and graphically intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 5000mAh | Moto G31 has a larger battery, likely providing significantly longer battery life for all-day usage, especially for heavy users. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 10W fast charging | V21 5G charges much faster, getting you back to full power in significantly less time. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res | 64MP, f/1.79 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76" | V21 5G has higher resolution but slightly smaller pixel size on the main sensor, with a wider aperture which may improve low light performance, sensor size unavailable for V21 5G |
| Selfie Camera Res | 44MP, f/2.0, 1/2.65" | 13MP, f/2.2 | V21 5G has a vastly superior selfie camera with much higher resolution and a wider aperture, leading to better selfie detail and low light performance. |
| Wide Angle Res | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12 µm pixel size | Moto G31 has a wider aperture which may improve low light performance but sensor size is unavailable for V21 5G |
| Macro Camera Res | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixel size | Comparable macro cameras for close-up shots. The Motorola Moto G31 has larger pixel size on its macro lens, improving low light performance |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps with OIS | 1080p@30fps | V21 5G supports higher resolution video recording (4K) with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) resulting in sharper videos and reduced shakiness. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11 | Both run the same base OS. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ac | Both have similar Wi-Fi capabilities. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE with aptX, LDAC, SBC | 5.0 LE | V21 5G has a slightly newer Bluetooth version with additional audio codecs for better audio quality over wireless headphones. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | Motorola Moto G31 has additional SUPL |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 64/128 GB | V21 5G offers larger storage options, allowing for more photos, videos, and apps. |
| RAM | 8GB | 4GB | V21 5G has double the RAM, which results in better multitasking and smoother app switching. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic audio features | Dolby Atmos, 2 microphones | Motorola Moto G31 provides an enhanced audio experience with Dolby Atmos and 2 microphones for better sound recording. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint | Motorola Moto G31 has a more convenient and modern fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall | Motorola Moto G31 has additional Hall sensor |
2. Key Differences Analysis
vivo V21 5G Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Dimensity 800U chipset offers significantly better performance than the Helio G85, resulting in a smoother and faster user experience. This translates to faster app loading, better multitasking, and improved gaming performance.
- Enhanced Display: The 90Hz refresh rate provides a noticeably smoother visual experience.
- Superior Camera System: Higher resolution front and back camera sensors and 4k video recording, optical image stabilization and wider apertures contribute to improved image and video quality, especially for selfies and video.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging gets the phone to full power more quickly.
- More RAM and Storage: 8GB of RAM enables better multitasking, and larger storage options allows more apps, videos, and photos.
- Newer Bluetooth version: Support for Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX, LDAC, SBC for better wireless audio.
Motorola Moto G31 Advantages:
- Significantly Larger Battery: 5000mAh battery offers much longer battery life compared to the V21 5G, making it suitable for users needing all-day power.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos support, with 2 microphones provides a superior audio experience.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: A more convenient and modern fingerprint sensor position.
- Wider Aperture Wide Angle Lens: f/2.0 versus the f/2.2 of the V21 could provide better low light performance.
- Hall Sensor: Additional sensor for advanced use cases.
Trade-offs:
- V21 5G: Sacrifices battery life for better performance and camera.
- Moto G31: Sacrifices performance and camera capabilities for significantly longer battery life.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
vivo V21 5G is ideal for:
- Performance Users: Gamers, heavy app users, or those who value responsiveness and speed.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize camera quality, especially for selfies and video recording.
- Users who want a smooth display: 90hz is noticeably smoother.
- Users who value Fast Charging: Need their phone charged quickly.
- Users who desire large storage: Offers up to 256GB of internal storage.
Specific use cases:
- Mobile gaming, video editing on the go, frequent social media use with high-quality content creation, consuming media with high refresh rate support.
Motorola Moto G31 is ideal for:
- Battery-Conscious Users: Those who prioritize battery life and need a phone that lasts all day without needing to be charged.
- Audio Lovers: Those who value enhanced audio experience through Dolby Atmos.
- Budget-Conscious Users: Likely to be more affordable with decent features.
- Users who value side-mounted fingerprint sensor: The side-mounted sensor is more modern.
Specific use cases:
- Long workdays away from power outlets, frequent travelers, listening to music and podcasts, basic phone functions without demanding performance needs.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is battery life to you? If you prioritize all-day battery, Moto G31 is a better option.
- How important is performance and camera quality? If speed and high-quality media are more crucial, the V21 5G is the clear winner.
- What is your budget? The Moto G31 will probably be more affordable than the vivo V21 5G.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: You are a gamer who also takes lots of selfies. Recommendation: The vivo V21 5G is the clear choice, it has higher performance, better camera, and 90hz refresh rate.
- Scenario 2: You need a phone that lasts all day and you use it for basic tasks only. Recommendation: The Motorola Moto G31 is a better option, with a large battery and decent enough specs for basic tasks.
- Scenario 3: You use your phone frequently throughout the day for various tasks and you also enjoy streaming videos and audio. Recommendation: This depends more on if you prefer long battery life or better performance and camera. If you prefer long battery, go with the Motorola Moto G31. If you prefer better performance and camera, choose the vivo V21 5G
My Choice
If I had to choose between the two, I would personally choose the vivo V21 5G. While the larger battery of the Motorola Moto G31 is appealing, the significant performance difference with the Dimensity 800U, the superior camera system, especially the selfie camera, and the smoother 90Hz display of the vivo V21 5G are more valuable to me. I prioritize performance and image/video quality for my daily usage scenarios. I also prefer faster charging, which the V21 5G has, and can manage to charge my phone at least once a day. The Moto G31 has its advantages, especially for those needing extreme battery life, but the V21 5G is a more well rounded package that suits my needs better.
