Motorola G Pure vs Samsung Galaxy S9: A Clash of Generations
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S9 decisively wins this comparison. While the Motorola G Pure offers affordability, the S9's superior performance, display, camera, and overall build quality make it the better choice, especially considering its often-discounted price. The G Pure is a basic option for those on a very tight budget.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola G Pure | Samsung Galaxy S9 |
| 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(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 07 | 2018, February 25. Released 2018, March 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 14 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167.4 x 75.6 x 8.8 mm (6.59 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 163 g (5.75 oz) |
| Water-repellent design | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~570 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.8 inches, 84.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, HDR10 |
| - | 3D Touch (home button only) Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEAOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | Exynos 9810 (10 nm) - EMEAQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) - USA/LATAM, China |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEAAdreno 630 - USA/LATAM, China |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS (30fps) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF 2 MP (dedicated iris scanner camera) |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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) | Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| - | ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable (11.55 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Deep Indigo | Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue |
| Models | XT-2163-4, XT2163-4, XT2163-6, XT2163-1, XT2163-2 | SM-G960F, SM-G960, SM-G960F, SM-G960U, SM-G960W, SM-G9600, SM-G960U1, SM-G960N, SCV38, SM-G960X, SC-02K |
| Price | $ 63.99 / C$ 123.00 | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.63 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.36 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -93.9dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 78h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.630 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 250156 (v7) GeekBench: 8830 (v4.4) GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola G Pure
- Ultra-affordable
- Large battery capacity (potentially longer standby time)
- Simple and easy to use
- Weak performance
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
- Slow charging (10W)
Samsung Galaxy S9
- Superior performance
- Excellent display
- Good camera
- Wireless charging (market dependent)
- Premium build quality
- Older device (potential software update limitations)
- Battery age (may have degraded)
- Slower charging than modern phones (15W)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S9 boasts a significantly superior display. Its AMOLED panel offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast (Infinite nominal, 4.630 in sunlight). The Motorola G Pure's display is likely a standard IPS LCD, offering acceptable but less impressive visuals. The S9's display is simply in a different league.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy S9's camera system is considerably more advanced. It features better image processing, improved low-light performance, and generally produces higher-quality photos and videos. The G Pure's camera is adequate for basic snapshots.
Performance
The Galaxy S9's Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845 chipset (depending on region) provides a substantial performance advantage over the Motorola G Pure's Helio G25. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the S9. The G Pure will struggle with demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The Motorola G Pure has a larger battery capacity, but the Galaxy S9's endurance rating of 78h is impressive, likely due to its more efficient processor and optimized software. While the G Pure *might* last longer with minimal usage, the S9 offers better overall battery efficiency.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Motorola G Pure? Users needing a basic, ultra-affordable phone for calls, texts, and light app usage. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S9? Anyone seeking a reliable smartphone with a good camera, decent performance, and a premium feel, without paying flagship prices.