Both the HTC Wildfire E1 Plus and the Motorola Moto G Play (2021) target the ultra-budget smartphone market, but they take different approaches to achieving affordability. The Wildfire E1 Plus relies on MediaTek’s older Helio P23 chipset, while the Moto G Play opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 460. This comparison dissects these core differences to determine which device delivers the best experience for the price.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Moto G Play (2021) is the better choice. While both phones are entry-level, the Snapdragon 460’s more efficient 11nm process and Kryo cores provide a noticeable performance advantage in everyday tasks and a smoother overall experience, despite the Wildfire E1 Plus having a slightly higher clocked CPU.
| 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, 20, 38, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 38, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 30, 66 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, December 18. Released 2019, December 18 | 2021, January 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 157.5 x 75 x 8.9 mm (6.20 x 2.95 x 0.35 in) | 166.6 x 76 x 9.4 mm (6.56 x 2.99 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 165 g (5.82 oz) | 204 g (7.20 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.09 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~77.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6763 Helio P23 (16 nm) | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G71 MP2 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@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 | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red | Misty Blue |
| Models | - | XT2093-3, XT2093-7, XT2093-DL, XT2093DL |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 60 EUR |
HTC Wildfire E1 plus
- Potentially lower initial purchase price.
- May offer slightly faster peak CPU performance in benchmarks.
- Simple and straightforward Android experience.
- Less efficient Helio P23 chipset leads to potential throttling.
- Likely slower app loading times and multitasking.
- Older chipset may receive fewer software updates.
Motorola Moto G Play (2021)
- More efficient Snapdragon 460 chipset for better battery life.
- Smoother overall user experience and app performance.
- Qualcomm’s ISP offers potentially better image processing.
- Likely to receive more consistent software updates.
- 10W charging is slow.
- May be slightly more expensive than the Wildfire E1 Plus.
- Still an entry-level device with limited features.
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Details regarding panel type (IPS vs. TFT) and resolution are missing, but both likely feature 720p+ displays typical of this price bracket. The focus here isn't on visual fidelity. However, the more modern chipset in the Moto G Play *could* translate to slightly better image processing for display output. Bezels are expected to be substantial on both devices, reflecting their budget nature.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely to be similar – underwhelming. Both devices likely feature a primary camera and a depth sensor, with the Wildfire E1 Plus potentially including a secondary camera. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 460 generally offers better image processing capabilities, potentially resulting in slightly more detailed and accurate photos, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Moto G Play’s ISP is likely to offer better noise reduction and dynamic range.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Motorola Moto G Play’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (11nm) is a significant upgrade over the HTC Wildfire E1 Plus’s MediaTek Helio P23 (16nm). The 11nm process node of the Snapdragon 460 inherently offers better power efficiency, leading to less heat generation and potentially reduced throttling during sustained tasks. While the Helio P23 has a higher peak clock speed (2.0 GHz vs 1.8 GHz), the Snapdragon 460’s Kryo 240 cores are architecturally more efficient. This means the Moto G Play will likely handle multitasking and app launches more smoothly. The lack of LPDDR RAM specifications suggests both use slower RAM standards, further limiting performance.
Battery Life
The Moto G Play’s 10W charging is a limiting factor for both devices. Battery capacity details are missing for both, but the Snapdragon 460’s superior power efficiency will likely translate to longer real-world battery life on the Moto G Play, even if the Wildfire E1 Plus has a slightly larger battery. The 11nm process allows the Moto G Play to sip power during idle and light usage, extending the time between charges. Expect both phones to take several hours to fully charge with their included chargers.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Wildfire E1 Plus if you prioritize a potentially lower upfront cost and are willing to accept compromises in performance and efficiency. It's suitable for extremely basic use cases like calls, texts, and light social media. Buy the Motorola Moto G Play (2021) if you value a more responsive user experience, better app loading times, and a chipset designed for improved power efficiency, making it a better all-around daily driver.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Motorola Moto G Play (2021) struggle with popular apps like Facebook or WhatsApp?
While the Snapdragon 460 is an entry-level chipset, it’s generally capable of running popular apps like Facebook and WhatsApp without significant issues. You might experience occasional slowdowns with multiple apps open simultaneously, but for typical social media usage, it should be adequate. The Helio P23 in the Wildfire E1 Plus will likely struggle more with these apps.
❓ Is the 10W charging on the Moto G Play painfully slow?
Yes, 10W charging is relatively slow by today’s standards. Expect a full charge to take around 3-4 hours. However, the Snapdragon 460’s efficiency means you won’t be constantly needing to top up the battery, mitigating the impact of the slow charging speed. The Wildfire E1 Plus likely has similar charging speeds.
❓ Can either of these phones handle basic mobile gaming?
Both phones can handle very basic mobile games, but don't expect a smooth experience with graphically demanding titles. The Snapdragon 460 in the Moto G Play will offer a slightly better gaming experience due to its more powerful GPU, but frame rates will still be limited and settings will need to be turned down significantly.
