The Gionee M12 and Motorola Moto G9 Power represent compelling options in the ultra-budget smartphone segment. While both aim to deliver essential functionality at a low price, they take different approaches to achieving this. The Gionee M12 offers a potentially lower entry price point, while the Moto G9 Power focuses on maximizing battery life and offering a more modern chipset. This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Moto G9 Power is the superior choice. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset provides a significantly smoother and more responsive experience than either variant of the Gionee M12’s MediaTek processors. While both phones boast excellent battery endurance, the Moto G9 Power’s faster 20W charging is a crucial advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe, APEM |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 28, 66 - LATAM |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, November 16. Released 2020, November 16 | 2020, November 05. Released 2020, December 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 2), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 76.8 x 9.3 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.37 in) | 172.1 x 76.8 x 9.7 mm (6.78 x 3.02 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) | 720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) - model 1Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 - model 2 | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762D Helio A25 (12 nm) - model 1Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) - model 2 | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 115˚, (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lenses | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.6, 1/3", AF |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro), AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP | 16 MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 20W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 590 h (2G) / Up to 790 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 21 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 11 h 40 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 5100 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Magic Green, Dazzling Black | Electric Violet, Metallic Sage |
| Models | - | XT2091-3, XT2091-4 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.21 W/kg (head) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 149.99 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 485.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.3dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 155h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1680:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.6 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 182875 (v8)
GeekBench: 1374 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Gionee M12
- Potentially lower price point
- Long battery endurance (155h)
- Basic functionality for essential tasks
- Weak processor performance (Helio A25/P22)
- Limited multitasking capabilities
- Slow charging (likely)
- Missing display details
Motorola Moto G9 Power
- More powerful Snapdragon 662 chipset
- Faster 20W charging
- Brighter display (521 nits)
- Better overall user experience
- Higher price than the Gionee M12
- Still a budget device with limitations
- Camera details are sparse
Display Comparison
Both the Gionee M12 and Motorola Moto G9 Power feature displays with a 1680:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar visual characteristics in terms of black levels and color depth. However, the Moto G9 Power boasts a measured peak brightness of 521 nits, which will translate to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Details regarding the panel technology (IPS, TFT) and resolution of the Gionee M12 are missing, making a direct comparison difficult, but the Moto G9 Power’s higher brightness is a clear advantage.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specific details are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing information, a meaningful comparison is impossible. It’s safe to assume that both cameras will perform adequately in good lighting conditions, but will likely struggle in low-light scenarios. The absence of details suggests neither phone prioritizes camera performance as a key selling point.
Performance
The Motorola Moto G9 Power’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) demonstrably outperforms the Gionee M12’s MediaTek Helio A25 (12nm) or Helio P22 (12nm) chipsets. The Snapdragon 662 utilizes a more efficient 11nm process and features Kryo Gold and Silver cores, offering a more balanced and powerful CPU configuration (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) compared to the Gionee M12’s Cortex-A53 based CPUs. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall user experience. The Gionee M12’s Helio A25 variant, with its lower clock speeds (4x1.8 GHz & 4x1.5 GHz), will struggle with demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both the Gionee M12 and Motorola Moto G9 Power achieve an impressive endurance rating of 155 hours, indicating excellent battery life. However, the Moto G9 Power distinguishes itself with 20W wired charging, allowing for significantly faster replenishment of the battery. While the Gionee M12’s charging speed is not specified, it’s likely to be considerably slower, making the Moto G9 Power more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Gionee M12 if your absolute priority is the lowest possible upfront cost and you primarily need a phone for basic communication tasks like calls and messaging. You'll need to accept compromises in performance. Buy the Motorola Moto G9 Power if you value a more fluid user experience, better app performance, and faster charging, even if it means spending a little more. It’s the better all-rounder for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Gionee M12 struggle with popular apps like Facebook or WhatsApp?
The Gionee M12’s MediaTek Helio A25 or P22 chipset is relatively weak. While it can handle basic apps like Facebook and WhatsApp, you may experience noticeable lag and slowdowns, especially when multitasking or using more demanding features within those apps. The Moto G9 Power’s Snapdragon 662 will provide a much smoother experience.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Motorola Moto G9 Power with the 20W charger?
With the included 20W charger, the Motorola Moto G9 Power can be fully charged from 0% to 100% in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. This is significantly faster than the likely charging time for the Gionee M12, which likely uses a slower charger.
❓ Is the camera on either of these phones good enough for casual social media photos?
Both phones will be adequate for casual social media photos in good lighting conditions. However, don't expect exceptional image quality, especially in low light. The lack of detailed camera specifications suggests neither phone prioritizes camera performance.
