Motorola Moto G31 vs Moto G53: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

Motorola consistently delivers excellent value in the budget smartphone market. The Moto G31 and G53 are two compelling options, but which one reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison will break down their key features to help you make the right choice.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Moto G53 emerges as the clear winner thanks to its superior display, more efficient chipset, and faster charging. While the G31 offers a decent experience, the G53's upgrades make it a more future-proof and enjoyable device for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto G31	Motorola Moto G53

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA & AP, China
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42 - EMEA & AP
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - EMEA & AP
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat7 300/150 Mbps	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China

Launch
Announced	2021, November 18	2022, December 15
Status	Available. Released 2021, December 06	Available. Released 2022, December 15

Body
Build	-	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	161.9 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm (6.37 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)	162.7 x 74.7 x 8.2 mm (6.41 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	181 g (6.38 oz)	183 g (6.46 oz)
	Water-repellent design	Water-resistant design

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED	IPS LCD, 120Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm)
GPU	Mali-G52 MC2	Adreno 619
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 12	Android 13, planned upgrade to Android 14

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	-	50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro)
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 0.64µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm or 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio (market/region dependent)
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band

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

Battery
Charging	10W wired	18W wired (China, LATAM) 10W wired (International) Reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Mineral Grey, Baby Blue	Ink Blue, Arctic Silver, Pale Pink
Models	XT2173-3	XT2335-2
Price	About 120 EUR	$ 295.00 / £ 143.15

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 123h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1746:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 314195 (v9) GeekBench: 1594 (v5.1), 1797 (v6.0) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Moto G31

Larger screen (potentially)
Familiar Motorola design
Generally more affordable

Slower performance
Dimmer display
Slow charging (10W)
Older chipset

Motorola Moto G53

Brighter and smoother display
Faster performance (Snapdragon 480+)
5G connectivity
Faster charging (18W in some regions)
Reverse wired charging

Slightly smaller battery
Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

The Moto G53 boasts a significant advantage with its 599 nits max brightness, making it much easier to view outdoors. The 1746:1 contrast ratio is excellent on both, but the G53's brightness elevates the overall viewing experience. The G31's display is adequate but noticeably dimmer.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the G53 likely benefits from the more modern image processing capabilities of the Snapdragon 480+. Expect slightly better image quality and potentially improved low-light performance on the G53. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are missing, making a definitive judgment difficult.

Performance

The Snapdragon 480+ in the Moto G53 is a more modern and efficient chipset (8nm) compared to the Helio G85 (12nm) in the G31. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better overall performance. The G53's CPU architecture also offers a slight edge in processing power.

Battery Life

Both phones have similar battery capacities, but the G53's more efficient chipset gives it a slight edge in battery life, as evidenced by its endurance rating of 123h. The G53 also supports 18W charging (in some regions), significantly faster than the G31's 10W charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Moto G31? Users prioritizing a slightly larger screen and a familiar design on a tighter budget. Who should buy the Motorola Moto G53? Those seeking a brighter, smoother display, faster performance, and 5G connectivity, even if it means a slightly smaller battery.