The Motorola Moto S30 Pro and Xiaomi 12S Pro represent interesting points in the flagship Android landscape. The S30 Pro, leveraging the Snapdragon 888+, offers a compelling value proposition as it ages, while the 12S Pro, with the newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, aims for top-tier performance. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi 12S Pro is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset delivers noticeably faster performance and improved efficiency, complemented by significantly faster 120W charging. However, the Motorola Moto S30 Pro remains a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing value.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 / 1900 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 11 | 2022, July 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 11 | Available. Released 2022, July 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 71.2 x 7.5 mm or 7.7 mm | 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm or 8.7 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g / 167 g (5.89 oz) | 203 g / 204 g (7.16 oz) |
| | Splash and dust resistant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, MYUI 4.0 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Leica lens, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/1.9, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom
50 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", AF | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+ |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Tuned by Harman Kardon |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | Ready For 3.5 support | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 68W wired, 50% in 10 min | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min
50W wireless, 100% in 42 min
10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 4600 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black | Gray, White, Purple, Green |
| Models | XT2243-2 | 2206122SC |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 670 EUR |
Motorola Moto S30 Pro
- More affordable price point
- Capable Snapdragon 888+ performance
- 68W fast charging is still respectable
- Older chipset with lower efficiency
- Slower charging compared to the 12S Pro
- Lacks wireless charging capabilities
Xiaomi 12S Pro
- Superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Ultra-fast 120W wired charging
- 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging
- Higher price tag
- Potentially more heat under sustained load (though mitigated by 4nm process)
- May not represent a massive upgrade for users already on a Snapdragon 888+
Display Comparison
While specific display details (resolution, panel type) are missing, both phones likely feature high refresh rate AMOLED panels typical of flagships. The key difference lies in the underlying chipsets impacting display driving capabilities. The Xiaomi 12S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 benefits from improved image signal processing, potentially leading to more accurate color reproduction. The absence of LTPO information suggests neither phone dynamically adjusts refresh rates for optimal power saving, a feature increasingly common in premium devices.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12S Pro offers a more advanced image signal processor (ISP), enabling superior image processing capabilities – better noise reduction, dynamic range, and faster autofocus. The 888+ in the Moto S30 Pro is still capable, but will likely fall behind in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of information on sensor sizes makes it difficult to assess low-light performance, but Xiaomi flagships generally prioritize camera quality.
Performance
The Xiaomi 12S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Motorola Moto S30 Pro’s Snapdragon 888+ (5nm). The 8+ Gen 1 features the newer Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.19 GHz versus the 888+'s Cortex-X1 at 2.99 GHz, resulting in faster single-core performance. More importantly, the 4nm process node of the 8+ Gen 1 offers substantially improved thermal efficiency, mitigating throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The 12S Pro’s use of Cortex-A710 cores also provides a performance boost over the 888+'s A78 cores. While both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the 8+ Gen 1’s memory controller is more efficient.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 12S Pro’s charging capabilities are a standout feature. Its 120W wired charging can fully charge the battery in just 19 minutes, a significant advantage over the Moto S30 Pro’s 68W charging (50% in 10 minutes). The 12S Pro also adds 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the S30 Pro. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the 8+ Gen 1’s efficiency means the 12S Pro will likely offer comparable or better real-world battery life despite potentially having a similar or smaller battery size.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto S30 Pro if you need a capable flagship experience on a tighter budget and aren't overly concerned with having the absolute latest processor. It's ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and casual gaming. Buy the Xiaomi 12S Pro if you prioritize raw performance, faster charging speeds, and are willing to pay a premium for the latest Snapdragon technology, making it better suited for demanding games and power users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 888+ in the Moto S30 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 888+ is capable, it may exhibit more thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions compared to the 8+ Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12S Pro. Expect slightly lower frame rates and potential for frame drops after prolonged gameplay. Lowering graphics settings can mitigate this.
❓ How much faster is the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 12S Pro compared to the 68W on the Moto S30 Pro in real-world use?
The 12S Pro can go from 0-100% in approximately 19 minutes, while the S30 Pro takes considerably longer. This means you can quickly top up your battery during short breaks, making the 12S Pro ideal for users who are frequently on the go.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 12S Pro get noticeably hotter than the Moto S30 Pro during heavy use?
Despite the more powerful processor, the Xiaomi 12S Pro’s 4nm process node is more efficient, meaning it generates less heat than the Moto S30 Pro’s 5nm Snapdragon 888+. While it may get warm, it’s less likely to experience significant throttling.
