Motorola Moto E 2nd Gen vs Honor 8A Pro: Which Budget Champion Reigns?

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen) and the Honor 8A Pro. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges as the ultimate winner.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor 8A Pro generally edges out the Moto E 2nd Gen thanks to its more modern chipset and improved processing power. While the Moto E boasts wireless charging, the 8A Pro's overall performance and efficiency make it a stronger choice for most users seeking a reliable budget device.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto E Dual SIM (2nd gen)	Honor 8A Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - XT1506, XT1521	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 7, 28, 40 - XT1521	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2015, March. Released 2015, March	2019, April. Released 2019, April
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame	-
Dimensions	129.9 x 66.8 x 12.3 mm (5.11 x 2.63 x 0.48 in)	156.3 x 73.5 x 8 mm (6.15 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	145 g (5.11 oz)	150 g (5.29 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3, oleophobic coating	-
Resolution	540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density)	720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density)
Size	4.5 inches, 55.8 cm2 (~64.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.09 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~79.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 - 3G modelQuad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 - LTE model	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (28 nm) - 3G modelQualcomm Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) - LTE model	Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)
GPU	Adreno 302 - 3G modelAdreno 306 - LTE model	PowerVR GE8320
OS	Android 5.0 (Lollipop)	Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	8GB 1GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Features	Panorama, HDR	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, AF	13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
Triple	40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)	-
Video	480p@30fps (3G), 720p@30fps (4G)	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR
Single	VGA	8 MP, f/2.0
Video	-	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, LE, aptX	4.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	FM radio, RDS	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity

Battery
Charging	40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless	-
Type	Li-Ion 2390 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 3020 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White	Black, Blue, Red, Gold
Models	XT1521, XT1506	JAT-L41, JAT-LX1, JAT-LX3
Price	About 100 EUR	About 200 EUR

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 103h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	-
Loudspeaker	-29.3 LUFS (Average)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 378950 (v7), 484529 (v8) GeekBench: 11936 (v4.4), 3038 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Motorola Moto E Dual SIM (2nd gen)

Wireless charging
Simple Android experience
Good battery life (claimed)

Outdated chipset
Potentially sluggish performance
Limited camera capabilities
Unclear display specs

Honor 8A Pro

More powerful chipset (Helio P35)
Smoother performance
Decent camera with depth sensor
Larger display

No wireless charging
Design may be less appealing to some

Display Comparison

The Moto E 2nd Gen's display is described as having an 'infinite' contrast ratio, which is a nominal claim and doesn't provide concrete details. It likely features a standard IPS LCD panel. The Honor 8A Pro typically features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. While both offer decent viewing angles, the Honor 8A Pro's slightly larger size and potentially better color accuracy give it a slight advantage.

Camera Comparison

Camera specs are limited for the Moto E. It's likely a basic setup. The Honor 8A Pro typically features a 13MP main camera and a depth sensor. While neither phone is a photography powerhouse, the Honor 8A Pro's additional depth sensor allows for better portrait mode shots and potentially slightly improved image processing.

Performance

Here's where the Honor 8A Pro shines. Its Mediatek Helio P35 chipset, built on a 12nm process, is significantly more efficient and powerful than the Moto E's Snapdragon 200 or 410 (both 28nm). The octa-core CPU in the 8A Pro handles multitasking and demanding apps with greater ease. The Moto E can feel sluggish at times, especially with heavier applications.

Battery Life

The Moto E 2nd Gen boasts an impressive endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Honor 8A Pro, with its more efficient chipset, also delivers solid battery performance, easily lasting a full day of moderate use. The Moto E's wireless charging is a unique feature, but it doesn't necessarily translate to longer overall battery life.

Buying Guide

The Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen) is ideal for users prioritizing wireless charging and a simple, straightforward Android experience. The Honor 8A Pro is a better fit for those needing a smoother, more responsive experience for everyday tasks and light gaming.