Motorola Moto G 4G (2nd Gen) vs. Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact: A Clash of Generations

The Motorola Moto G 4G (2nd gen) was a budget champion, offering impressive value for its time. The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact, on the other hand, packed flagship features into a compact form. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 835 chipset, superior camera, and faster charging significantly outperform the Moto G 4G. While the Moto G offers affordability, the XZ1 Compact provides a much more modern and capable experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto G 4G (2nd gen)	Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 7, 20	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/75 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2015, March. Released 2015, March	2017, August. Released 2017, October
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	141.5 x 70.7 x 11 mm (5.57 x 2.78 x 0.43 in)	129 x 65 x 9.3 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.37 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	155 g (5.47 oz)	140 g (4.94 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density)	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~319 ppi density)
Size	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.9% screen-to-body ratio)	4.6 inches, 58.3 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD
	-	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7	Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8926 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm)
GPU	Adreno 305	Adreno 540
OS	Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop)	Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	8GB 1GB RAM	32GB 4GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	UFS 2.0

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, AF	19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF
Video	720p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps

Selfie camera
Single	2 MP	8 MP, f/2.4, 18mm, 1/4.0"
Video	-	1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired, QC3
Type	Li-Ion 2390 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black	Black, White Silver, Horizon Blue, Twilight Pink
Models	XT1072	G8441, SO-02K
Price	About 210 EUR	About 300 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -85.5dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 108h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1243:1 (nominal), 3.729 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 65dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 76dB
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 204581 (v7), 255140 (v8) GeekBench: 5596 (v4.4), 1681 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Moto G 4G (2nd gen)

Affordable
Decent battery life
Compact size
Clean Android experience (at the time)

Outdated chipset
Weak camera
Low screen quality
Slow performance

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

Powerful Snapdragon 835 chipset
Excellent camera
Bright and vibrant display
Compact size
Fast charging (QC3)

Older device (potential software update issues)
May have battery degradation (depending on condition)
Premium price when new

Display Comparison

The Xperia XZ1 Compact boasts a significantly better display. While both have a nominal contrast ratio of 1243:1, the XZ1 Compact's sunlight readability (3.729) is exceptional, making it usable outdoors. The Moto G 4G's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and outdoor visibility of the XZ1 Compact. The XZ1 Compact also likely has better color accuracy.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia XZ1 Compact's camera is a major advantage. While specific camera specs are listed as 'Photo / Video' for both, the XZ1 Compact's Snapdragon 835 and Sony's image processing capabilities result in significantly better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The Moto G 4G's camera is functional but noticeably inferior.

Performance

Performance is where the XZ1 Compact truly shines. Its Snapdragon 835 chipset and Octa-core processor are vastly superior to the Moto G 4G's Snapdragon 400 and Quad-core CPU. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the XZ1 Compact. The Moto G 4G will struggle with demanding apps and games.

Battery Life

Both devices are listed with an endurance rating of 108h, which is exceptionally high. However, the XZ1 Compact's more efficient Snapdragon 835 and likely better power management contribute to longer real-world battery life despite the similar rating. The Moto G 4G's battery life is decent, but not as impressive as the XZ1 Compact's.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Moto G 4G (2nd gen)? Those seeking a very budget-friendly option for basic tasks and nostalgia. Who should buy the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact? Users prioritizing performance, a compact size, a good camera, and a more modern Android experience, even if it's an older device.