The Motorola Moto G series consistently delivers excellent value in the budget smartphone market. The Moto G9 Play and G9 Plus offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different users. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Moto G9 Plus is the clear winner, offering a significantly faster processor, brighter display, and faster charging. While the G9 Play is more affordable, the G9 Plus's superior performance and features justify the price difference for most users.
| 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, 17, 28, 66 Brazil |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 28 | 2020, September 07. Released 2020, September 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) | 170 x 78.1 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.07 x 0.38 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 223 g (7.87 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~386 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (standard) |
| 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 |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| 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 |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Forest Green, Sapphire Blue, Spring Pink | Rose Gold, Indigo Blue |
| Models | XT2083, XT2083-1 | XT2087-1 |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 136h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1944:1 |
Contrast ratio: 1356:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-27.6 LUFS (Good)
|
-29.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 170064 (v8)
GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 253105 (v8)
GeekBench: 1695 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 136h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | 1944:1 contrast ratio, 465 nits max brightness (measured) | 1356:1 contrast ratio, 522 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.6 LUFS (Good) | -29.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 170064 (v8)
GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 253105 (v8)
GeekBench: 1695 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto G9 Play
- Excellent battery life
- Affordable price
- Large display
- Decent build quality
- Slower processor
- Lower brightness display
- Basic camera system
- Slower charging
Motorola Moto G9 Plus
- Faster processor (Snapdragon 730G)
- Brighter display
- Better camera system
- Faster charging (30W)
- Improved performance
- Slightly more expensive
- Battery life slightly less than G9 Play
Display Comparison
The Moto G9 Plus boasts a slightly brighter display at 522 nits compared to the G9 Play's 465 nits. Both offer impressive contrast ratios (1944:1 and 1356:1 respectively), delivering vibrant colors. However, the G9 Plus's slightly higher brightness provides better visibility in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the G9 Plus generally has a better camera system. The G9 Plus typically features a higher resolution main sensor and potentially additional lenses (like an ultrawide) which the G9 Play may lack. Image processing is also likely to be superior on the G9 Plus due to its more powerful chipset.
Performance
Here's where the G9 Plus truly shines. Its Snapdragon 730G chipset is considerably more powerful than the G9 Play's Snapdragon 662. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the G9 Plus. The G9 Play can handle everyday tasks, but will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The G9 Play is known for its exceptional battery life, and the G9 Plus, with its endurance rating of 136h, is also very impressive. While both offer all-day battery life, the G9 Play might edge out the G9 Plus slightly due to its less power-hungry processor.
Buying Guide
The Moto G9 Play is ideal for users prioritizing affordability and extended battery life who don't demand high performance. The Moto G9 Plus is a better choice for those seeking a smoother experience, better camera capabilities, and faster charging, even on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Moto G9 Plus worth the extra money?
Yes, if performance and camera quality are important to you. The Snapdragon 730G provides a significant upgrade over the G9 Play's processor.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both offer excellent battery life, but the Moto G9 Play might have a slight edge due to its less demanding processor.
❓ What is the difference in charging speed?
The Moto G9 Plus supports 30W fast charging, while the G9 Play supports 20W. This means the G9 Plus will charge significantly faster.
