The Huawei Y8s and Motorola Moto G8 Plus represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. Both aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches. The Y8s leverages Huawei’s in-house Kirin 710 chipset, while the Moto G8 Plus opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device offers the best overall package.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around usability and slightly faster charging, the Motorola Moto G8 Plus emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 665 provides a balanced performance profile, and the 15W charging is a modest improvement over the Y8s’ 10W. While the Y8s has a slightly newer architecture, the G8 Plus’s display and battery endurance give it an edge.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - JKM-LX2 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41 - JKM-LX2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 600/100 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - JKM-LX1 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 66 - LATAM |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 6. Released 2020, May 21 | 2019, October 24. Released 2019, October 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162.4 x 77.1 x 8.1 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.32 in) | 158.4 x 75.8 x 9.1 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1, Google Play Services | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), dedicated video camera (1080p)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 25 MP, f/2.0, 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | 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, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Emerald Green, Midnight Black | Dark Blue, Dark Red |
| Models | JKM-LX1, JKM-LX2, JKM-LX3 | XT2019, XT2019-2 |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 270 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.88 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.2dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 87h |
| Camera | - |
Photo |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 79dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 80dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 168699 (v8)
GeekBench: 5641 (v4.4), 1385 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 6.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Y8s
- Potentially faster CPU burst speeds with Kirin 710
- Huawei’s EMUI software offers unique features
- Sleek design (based on market imagery)
- Slower 10W charging
- Less efficient 12nm chipset
- Limited display information
Motorola Moto G8 Plus
- Brighter and higher contrast display (581 nits, 1505:1)
- More efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Faster 15W charging
- Stock Android may lack some advanced features
- Potentially less powerful CPU burst speeds
- Larger size compared to some competitors
Display Comparison
The Motorola Moto G8 Plus boasts a significantly more impressive display, achieving a measured peak brightness of 581 nits and a 1505:1 contrast ratio. While the Y8s’ display specifications are not provided, the G8 Plus’s numbers indicate a more vibrant and readable screen, especially outdoors. The 1505:1 contrast ratio ensures deeper blacks and more vivid colors. This benefits users who consume a lot of video content or browse the web frequently. The lack of detailed display specs for the Y8s makes a direct comparison difficult, but the G8 Plus clearly holds an advantage based on measured data.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having a 'Photo' camera, which is unhelpful. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, given the market positioning, it’s likely both phones feature a primary sensor in the 12-48MP range. The Moto G8 Plus’s advantage lies in its potential for better image processing, leveraging Qualcomm’s ISP. The Y8s relies on Huawei’s image processing algorithms, which are generally strong, but the Snapdragon 665’s ISP is known for its dynamic range and noise reduction capabilities. The absence of information on lens apertures and OIS makes a detailed comparison impossible, but the G8 Plus likely has a slight edge in overall image quality.
Performance
The chipset choice is a key differentiator. The Huawei Y8s utilizes the Kirin 710, fabricated on a 12nm process, while the Moto G8 Plus features the Snapdragon 665, built on a more efficient 11nm process. While both are octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon 665’s Kryo 260 cores offer a slightly more refined architecture. The Kirin 710’s Cortex-A73 cores are clocked higher (2.2 GHz vs 2.0 GHz), potentially offering a burst of speed in certain tasks. However, the Snapdragon 665’s efficiency gains translate to better sustained performance and potentially lower thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Y8s’s 12nm process is less efficient, meaning it may heat up faster under load.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei Y8s and Motorola Moto G8 Plus achieve an impressive endurance rating of 87 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life. However, the Moto G8 Plus benefits from 15W wired charging, compared to the Y8s’ slower 10W charging. This translates to a faster 0-100% charge time for the G8 Plus, reducing downtime. While both phones offer all-day battery life for moderate users, the G8 Plus’s faster charging is a significant convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Y8s if you prioritize a potentially smoother experience with Huawei’s EMUI software and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. Buy the Motorola Moto G8 Plus if you prefer a cleaner Android experience, value a brighter and higher contrast display, and want a phone with proven battery endurance and slightly faster charging. The G8 Plus is also a better choice for those who frequently use the camera in bright outdoor conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 665 in the Moto G8 Plus struggle with demanding games like PUBG?
The Snapdragon 665 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but you’ll likely need to use medium graphics settings for a smooth experience. The 11nm process helps mitigate thermal throttling, but extended gaming sessions may still result in some frame drops. The Kirin 710 in the Y8s may offer slightly higher peak performance, but its less efficient process could lead to more significant throttling.
❓ Is the 10W charging on the Huawei Y8s noticeably slow compared to the Moto G8 Plus’s 15W?
Yes, the difference is noticeable. 10W charging will take significantly longer to fully charge the Y8s, potentially adding an extra hour or more to the charging time compared to the Moto G8 Plus. This is a key consideration for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ How does Huawei’s EMUI software compare to the stock Android experience on the Moto G8 Plus?
EMUI offers a more customized experience with features like gesture navigation and advanced power management. However, it also includes pre-installed apps and a different user interface that some users may find cluttered. The Moto G8 Plus provides a cleaner, more stock Android experience, which is preferred by those who value simplicity and faster software updates.
