Motorola Moto G9 Play vs LG G7 ThinQ: A Clash of Generations
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The LG G7 ThinQ offers significantly better performance and a more premium experience thanks to its Snapdragon 845 chipset. However, the Moto G9 Play provides excellent value for money and a longer battery life. The G7 wins on power, the G9 on affordability and endurance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto G9 Play | LG G7 ThinQ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Global |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 42, 46 - Global |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps or Cat15 800/150 Mbps (region dependant) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G710EMW, G710EAW1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,13,17,20,25,29,30,38,41,46,66 - G710AWM | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 28 | 2018, May 02. Released 2018, June 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) | 153.2 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm (6.03 x 2.83 x 0.31 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 162 g (5.71 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~564 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) - single-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 16 MP, f/1.6, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/1.9, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", no AF |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 1.3 MP | - |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| - | 32-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, 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, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE) | - |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired, QC3 Wireless (USA) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Forest Green, Sapphire Blue, Spring Pink | New Platinum Gray, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue, Raspberry Rose |
| Models | XT2083, XT2083-1 | LM-G710, LM-G710N, LM-G710VM, G710, SM-G710, LM-G710V |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 370 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.24 W/kg (head) 1.47 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -94.0dB / Crosstalk -93.0dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 77h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1944:1 | Contrast ratio: 2044:1 (nominal), 3.978 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.6 LUFS (Good) | -24.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 170064 (v8) GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 259393 (v7), 297116 (v8) GeekBench: 8865 (v4.4), 2047 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -94.0dB / Crosstalk -93.0dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 77h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | 1944:1 contrast ratio, 465 nits max brightness (measured) | Contrast ratio: 2044:1 (nominal), 3.978 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.6 LUFS (Good) | -24.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 170064 (v8) GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 259393 (v7), 297116 (v8) GeekBench: 8865 (v4.4), 2047 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto G9 Play
- Excellent battery life
- Affordable price
- Reliable performance for basic tasks
- Good contrast ratio
- Lower performance compared to flagship phones
- Less bright display
- Camera details are limited
- Older chipset
LG G7 ThinQ
- Powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset
- Brighter display with better sunlight visibility
- Wireless charging (USA)
- Premium feel
- Older model (potential software support issues)
- Battery life not as impressive as G9 Play
- Price may be higher on the used market
Display Comparison
The LG G7 ThinQ boasts a slightly better contrast ratio (nominally) and significantly better sunlight visibility (3.978 vs 465 nits for the Moto G9 Play). While both offer good contrast, the G7's outdoor performance is a clear advantage. The Moto G9 Play's display is adequate, but not exceptional.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally comparable for photo and video, but the G7's image processing and overall hardware are likely to produce slightly better results, especially in low light. Both phones offer standard camera features, but the G7's processing capabilities give it a slight edge. Specific camera specs are missing for the G9, making a definitive comparison difficult.
Performance
Here, the LG G7 ThinQ absolutely dominates. Its Snapdragon 845 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Moto G9 Play's Snapdragon 662. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the G7. The G9 is perfectly adequate for basic tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Moto G9 Play shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 77h is impressive, suggesting significantly longer battery life than the LG G7 ThinQ. While the G7 also offers decent battery life, the G9 is the clear winner for those who need a phone that lasts all day and beyond.
Buying Guide
The Motorola Moto G9 Play is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life and a simple, reliable experience. The LG G7 ThinQ is a better choice for those seeking a faster processor, a brighter display, and a more premium feel, even if it's an older model.