Motorola Moto G9 Play vs Samsung Galaxy A54: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a brighter display, and a more advanced camera system. While the Moto G9 Play is a budget champion, the A54's overall package justifies its higher price for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto G9 Play | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| 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, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 28 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| 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 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 1.3 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE) | - |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Forest Green, Sapphire Blue, Spring Pink | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | XT2083, XT2083-1 | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | About 430 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1944:1 | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.6 LUFS (Good) | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 170064 (v8) GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | Active use score 11:15h |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | 1944:1 contrast ratio, 465 nits max brightness (measured) | 980 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.6 LUFS (Good) | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 170064 (v8) GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto G9 Play
- Brighter Display
- Superior Performance
- Advanced Camera
- Excellent Battery Life
- Modern Design
- Higher Price
- No expandable storage
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Affordable Price
- Decent Battery Life
- Expandable Storage (likely)
- Reliable Brand
- Lower Performance
- Dimmer Display
- Basic Camera
- Can feel sluggish
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54's display is a standout feature, boasting a measured 980 nits of peak brightness and an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal). This translates to vibrant colors, excellent visibility in sunlight, and a more immersive viewing experience. The Moto G9 Play's 465 nits brightness and 1944:1 contrast ratio are adequate but noticeably less impressive.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A54's camera system is significantly more advanced. Expect better image quality, improved low-light performance, and more versatile shooting options. The Moto G9 Play's camera is adequate for basic snapshots but lacks the sophistication of the A54.
Performance
The Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 chipset (5nm) provides a substantial performance advantage over the Moto G9 Play's Snapdragon 662 (11nm). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the A54. The G9 Play can feel sluggish at times, especially with demanding apps.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life. The Galaxy A54 consistently achieves an active use score of 11:15h and an endurance rating of 119h, demonstrating exceptional longevity. The Moto G9 Play also provides solid battery life, but the A54's endurance rating suggests a slight edge.
Buying Guide
The Motorola Moto G9 Play is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize affordability and basic functionality. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a great display, capable camera, and long battery life, even if it means spending a bit more.