Motorola Moto G9 Play vs Moto G22: A Budget Showdown

The Motorola Moto G9 Play and Moto G22 are both contenders in the fiercely competitive budget smartphone market. Both offer compelling features at affordable prices, but which one truly delivers the best value? This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Moto G9 Play edges out the G22 thanks to its superior Snapdragon 662 chipset, resulting in noticeably smoother performance. While the G22 boasts a slightly better camera sensor, the G9 Play's overall processing power makes it the more enjoyable daily driver for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto G9 Play	Motorola Moto G22

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
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41
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 Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 28	2022, March 04
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2022, March 04

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 in)	164 x 75 x 8.5 mm (6.46 x 2.95 x 0.33 in)
Keyboard	QWERTY	-
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	200 g (7.05 oz)	185 g (6.53 oz)
	Water-repellent coating	Water-repellent design

Display
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~268 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 103.5 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD, 90Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)	Mediatek MT6765V/CB Helio G37 (12 nm)
GPU	Adreno 610	PowerVR GE8320
OS	Android 10, upgradable to Android 11	Android 12

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

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

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1.0µm
Video	1080p@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
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio	Unspecified
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
Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE)	-
Sensors	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	20W wired	20W wired (India) 15W wired (Global)
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Forest Green, Sapphire Blue, Spring Pink	Pearl White, Iceberg Blue, Cosmic Black, Mint Green
Models	XT2083, XT2083-1	XT2231-1, XT2231-2, XT2231-5
Price	About 430 EUR	About 120 EUR

Tests
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1944:1	-
Loudspeaker	-27.6 LUFS (Good)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 170064 (v8) GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Motorola Moto G9 Play

Faster Processor (Snapdragon 662)
Brighter Display (465 nits)
Generally Smoother Performance
Good Value for Money

Potentially Less Detailed Camera Photos
Older Design

Motorola Moto G22

Potentially Higher Resolution Camera Sensor (50MP)
Likely Longer Software Support
Modern Design

Slower Processor (Helio G37)
Lower Brightness Display
Performance Limitations

Display Comparison

The Moto G9 Play boasts a measured 465 nits of brightness, offering better visibility in sunlight compared to the G22 (estimated around 400-430 nits). Both feature similar display resolutions (likely 720 x 1600 pixels) and panel types (likely IPS LCD). The G9 Play's 1944:1 contrast ratio suggests slightly deeper blacks, but the difference will be subtle.

Camera Comparison

The Moto G22 is rumored to feature a 50MP main camera sensor, potentially offering more detailed photos in ideal lighting conditions. The G9 Play's camera is likely a 13MP sensor. However, the G9 Play's superior processor aids in image processing, potentially mitigating some of the sensor advantage. Both phones likely offer standard features like portrait mode and HDR.

Performance

Here's where the G9 Play shines. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset is significantly more powerful than the G22's MediaTek Helio G37. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the G9 Play. The G22's Helio G37 is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones are expected to have large batteries (likely 5000mAh or similar). Battery life should be comparable, offering a full day of moderate use. Charging speeds are both rated at 20W wired, though the G22 has a regional variation of 15W.

Buying Guide

The Moto G9 Play is ideal for users prioritizing performance and a slightly brighter display. The Moto G22 is a good choice for those heavily focused on camera quality and potentially longer software support, though performance will be a compromise.