Motorola Moto G9 (India) vs Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and smoother multitasking, the Motorola Moto G9 (India) emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 662 chipset, built on a more efficient 11nm process, provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime’s 10nm Exynos 9611, despite the latter’s higher clock speeds.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto G9 (India) | Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| EDGE | - | Yes |
| GPRS | - | Class 10 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 31 | 2020, October 14. Released 2020, October 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) | 159.2 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, One UI 2.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Call records | - | Yes |
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Phonebook | - | Yes |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 3.15 MP |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Games | - | Downloadable |
| Java | - | Yes |
| Messaging | - | SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 150 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 1 h 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Forest Green, Sapphire Blue | Ocean Blue, Space Black, Iceberg Blue |
| Models | - | SM-M315F/DS |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.38 W/kg (head) |
Motorola Moto G9 (India)
- More efficient Snapdragon 662 chipset
- Faster 20W charging
- Potentially smoother multitasking
- Likely smaller battery capacity
- May lack some Samsung-specific software features
Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime
- Potentially larger battery capacity
- Samsung’s One UI software experience
- Established brand reputation
- Less efficient Exynos 9611 chipset
- Slower 15W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a particularly standout display. While specific panel details (like peak brightness or color gamut coverage) are unavailable, the focus here is on the underlying processing power impacting UI smoothness. Both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price segment. The absence of high refresh rate technology on either device means the chipset’s ability to render frames consistently is more crucial than raw resolution.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera sensor information, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market positioning suggests both phones feature a primary camera as the key selling point, supplemented by ultra-wide and macro lenses. The usefulness of the 2MP macro lens on both devices is questionable, offering limited detail. Image processing will likely differ, with Samsung traditionally favoring more saturated colors and Motorola aiming for a more natural look. The chipset’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) plays a role, and the Snapdragon 662’s ISP is generally considered more capable than the Exynos 9611’s, potentially leading to better dynamic range and noise reduction.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Motorola Moto G9’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) utilizes a more modern architecture than the Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime’s Exynos 9611 (10nm). While the Exynos 9611 boasts higher peak CPU clock speeds (2.3 GHz vs 2.0 GHz), the Snapdragon 662’s Kryo cores and the smaller 11nm fabrication process generally translate to better sustained performance and thermal efficiency. This means the Moto G9 is less likely to throttle under prolonged load, benefiting gamers and heavy app users. The Exynos 9611’s Cortex-A73 cores are older generation, potentially leading to lower instructions per clock (IPC) compared to the Kryo 260 Gold cores in the Snapdragon 662.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime likely has a larger battery capacity (spec not provided, but typical for Samsung M-series) than the Moto G9, offering potentially longer screen-on time. However, the Motorola Moto G9 compensates with faster 20W wired charging compared to the M31 Prime’s 15W charging. This means the G9 can replenish its battery more quickly, mitigating the impact of a potentially smaller capacity. The Snapdragon 662’s efficiency also contributes to better battery life per watt consumed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto G9 (India) if you need a phone that feels snappier in everyday use, handles multitasking with ease, and offers a more modern chipset architecture. Buy the Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime if you prioritize a potentially longer-lasting battery experience and are willing to trade some processing power for it, or if you are heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem.