The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the BLU S91 Pro and the Motorola Moto G5 Plus. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola Moto G5 Plus edges out the BLU S91 Pro thanks to its more efficient Snapdragon 625 chipset, proven track record, and slightly better camera performance. While the BLU offers a larger screen, the Moto G5 Plus provides a smoother, more reliable experience for the price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - XT1687 (USA) |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 28, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 38, 41, 66 - XT1687 (USA) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, July | 2017, February. Released 2017, April |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.7 x 76 x 8.9 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) | 150.2 x 74 x 7.7 mm (5.91 x 2.91 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 202 g (7.13 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~67.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765V/CB Helio G37 (12 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 (14 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 506 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.1 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP | 12 MP, f/1.7, dual pixel PDAF |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF
2 MP, f/2.4, 115˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 13 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 480p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE, EDR, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass (USA model only) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Mint Green | Lunar Grey, Fine Gold |
| Models | - | XT1685, XT1687, XT1684, XT1686 |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.09 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.30 W/kg (head) 1.24 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
GeekBench: 4255 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 3.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
BLU S91 Pro
- Larger Display
- Potentially more modern design
- Competitive Price
- Less Powerful Chipset
- Potentially lower display quality
- Camera performance may be lacking
Motorola Moto G5 Plus
- More Efficient Chipset (Snapdragon 625)
- Better Performance
- Generally better camera
- Proven Reliability
- Older Model
- Smaller Display
- Slower Charging (15W)
Display Comparison
The BLU S91 Pro typically features a larger display (likely 6.5 inches) compared to the Moto G5 Plus (5.5 inches). However, display quality (resolution, color accuracy) is often a weak point on budget devices. The Moto G5 Plus generally has better color reproduction and viewing angles, despite the smaller size.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer decent cameras for their price range, the Moto G5 Plus generally produces better image quality, especially in low light. The Snapdragon 625's image signal processor (ISP) is more capable. The BLU S91 Pro's camera might offer more features, but image quality is often the deciding factor.
Performance
Here's where the Moto G5 Plus shines. The Snapdragon 625 is significantly more efficient and powerful than the Helio G37. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better overall responsiveness on the Moto G5 Plus. The BLU S91 Pro might struggle with demanding games or heavy applications.
Battery Life
Both phones offer respectable battery life. The Moto G5 Plus, with its more efficient chipset, often provides slightly longer battery life under moderate usage. The BLU S91 Pro's larger battery capacity *could* offer similar longevity, but the chipset's inefficiency can negate this advantage.
Buying Guide
The BLU S91 Pro is a good choice for users prioritizing a large display and potentially a slightly more modern design, especially if price is the absolute primary concern. The Motorola Moto G5 Plus is ideal for those seeking a reliable, well-rounded smartphone with good performance and a solid camera, even if it's a slightly older model.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BLU S91 Pro good for gaming?
The BLU S91 Pro's Helio G37 chipset is adequate for casual games, but it may struggle with more demanding titles. The Moto G5 Plus offers a better gaming experience due to its Snapdragon 625.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Motorola is generally known for providing timely software updates and a cleaner Android experience. BLU's software support can be less consistent.