The Gionee S12 and Motorola Moto G9 Plus represent distinct approaches to the budget smartphone market. The Gionee S12 aims for affordability with a basic feature set, while the Moto G9 Plus attempts to deliver a more well-rounded experience with a stronger processor and faster charging. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Moto G9 Plus is the superior choice. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset provides significantly better performance than the Gionee S12’s MediaTek Helio A25, making it more capable for gaming and demanding applications. While both phones offer similar battery endurance, the Moto G9 Plus’s 30W charging is a substantial advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 66 Brazil |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, July. Released 2020, July 15 | 2020, September 07. Released 2020, September 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 170 x 78.1 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.07 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 223 g (7.87 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~386 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762D Helio A25 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 16 MP, (wide), AF
8 MP, (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP | 16 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Rose Gold, Indigo Blue |
| Models | - | XT2087-1 |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 136h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1356:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 253105 (v8)
GeekBench: 1695 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Gionee S12
- Extremely affordable price point
- Decent battery endurance (136h)
- Lightweight and potentially compact design (assumed)
- Weak processor (Helio A25)
- Limited performance for gaming and multitasking
- Likely inferior camera quality
- Slow charging speeds (assumed)
Motorola Moto G9 Plus
- Powerful Snapdragon 730G processor
- Fast 30W wired charging
- Bright and vibrant display (522 nits)
- Good battery endurance (136h)
- Slightly higher price than Gionee S12
- May not be ideal for one-handed use (size unknown)
- Contrast ratio is nominal (1356:1)
Display Comparison
The Motorola Moto G9 Plus boasts a measured peak brightness of 522 nits and a 1356:1 contrast ratio, suggesting a more vibrant and visible display, especially outdoors. While the Gionee S12’s display specifications are not provided, its positioning suggests a lower-quality panel. The Moto G9 Plus’s higher brightness is a tangible benefit for users who frequently use their phones in sunlight. The identical contrast ratios suggest similar black levels, but the Gionee S12’s panel technology is unknown, potentially impacting color accuracy and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the Gionee S12. The Moto G9 Plus likely features a more sophisticated camera system, leveraging Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 730G. While sensor size and aperture details are missing, the Snapdragon 730G’s processing capabilities will result in better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The absence of specific camera details for the Gionee S12 suggests a more basic camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Motorola Moto G9 Plus’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G (8nm) is a significant leap ahead of the Gionee S12’s MediaTek Helio A25 (12nm). The Snapdragon 730G features a Kryo 470 CPU with a 2x2.2 GHz Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Silver configuration, offering superior single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Helio A25’s 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon 730G also translates to better power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling during sustained workloads, benefiting gamers and power users. The Gionee S12 will struggle with demanding apps and games.
Battery Life
Both the Gionee S12 and Motorola Moto G9 Plus achieve an endurance rating of 136 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the Moto G9 Plus’s 30W wired charging is a game-changer. This allows for significantly faster charging times compared to the Gionee S12, which likely supports a much slower charging rate. The convenience of quickly topping up the battery is a major advantage for the Moto G9 Plus, especially for users who are frequently on the go.
Buying Guide
Buy the Gionee S12 if you prioritize extreme affordability and only need a phone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media use. You’re willing to compromise on performance and camera quality to save money. Buy the Motorola Moto G9 Plus if you want a more responsive and versatile smartphone experience, capable of handling moderate gaming, multitasking, and capturing decent photos. The faster charging and more powerful processor justify the slightly higher price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 730G in the Moto G9 Plus capable of playing demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
Yes, the Snapdragon 730G is well-equipped to handle PUBG and Call of Duty at medium to high settings. While it won't deliver the absolute highest frame rates, it provides a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. The Helio A25 in the Gionee S12 would struggle significantly with these titles.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Motorola Moto G9 Plus with the 30W charger?
With the included 30W charger, the Motorola Moto G9 Plus can typically charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 65-75 minutes. This is a substantial improvement over the slower charging speeds likely found in the Gionee S12.
❓ Does the Moto G9 Plus have a dedicated microSD card slot for expandable storage?
Yes, the Motorola Moto G9 Plus includes a dedicated microSD card slot, allowing you to expand the storage capacity beyond the internal memory. This is a valuable feature for users who store a lot of photos, videos, or other files.
❓ What kind of software updates can I expect on the Motorola Moto G9 Plus?
Motorola typically provides at least one major Android update and several security patches for its devices. While the update schedule isn't as frequent as some other brands, you can expect a reasonable level of software support for the Moto G9 Plus.
