Motorola Moto X Play vs Oppo R7 Plus: A Clash of Mid-Range Titans

The Motorola Moto X Play and Oppo R7 Plus were both popular mid-range contenders, offering compelling features at accessible prices. But which one truly delivered the better experience? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Oppo R7 Plus edges out the Moto X Play thanks to its superior charging speed, slightly better display visibility in sunlight, and marginally longer battery life. Both offer solid performance, but Oppo's refinements give it a slight advantage for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Moto X Play Oppo R7 Plus
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - XT1562HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Global, Taiwan
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 41 - XT15621, 3, 5, 7, 8, 40 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - India1, 2, 4, 7, 17 - USA
Launch
Announced2015, July. Released 2015, August2015, May. Released 2015, May
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Dimensions148 x 75 x 10.9 mm (5.83 x 2.95 x 0.43 in)158 x 82 x 7.8 mm (6.22 x 3.23 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + Micro-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)192 g (6.77 oz)
 Splash and dust resistant-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 82.6 cm2 (~74.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~76.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDAMOLED
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)
GPUAdreno 405Adreno 405
OSAndroid 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat)Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), ColorOS 2.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 4.5eMMC 4.5
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, panoramaLaser AF, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single21 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.4", 1.1µm, PDAF13 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps
Selfie camera
Single5 MP, f/2.28 MP, f/2.4
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX4.0, LE
NFCYesNo
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximityFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging15W wired20W wired, 75% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 3630 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4100 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteGolden, Silver
ModelsXT1562, XT1563, XT1564R7plusf
PriceAbout 240 EURAbout 430 EUR
SAR0.56 W/kg (head)     0.80 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.49 W/kg (head)     0.68 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -95.2dB Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -94.9dB
Battery life Endurance rating 83h Endurance rating 94h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1520:1 (nominal), 3.222 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.499 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB Voice 73dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 79dB
Performance Basemark OS II 2.0: 809Basemark X: 5032 Basemark OS II 2.0: 968Basemark X: 5349
OUR TESTS
Audio qualityNoise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -95.2dBNoise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -94.9dB
Battery (old)Endurance rating 83hEndurance rating 94h
CameraPhoto / VideoPhoto / Video
DisplayContrast ratio: 1520:1 (nominal), 3.222 (sunlight)Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.499 (sunlight)
LoudspeakerVoice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dBVoice 73dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 79dB
PerformanceBasemark OS II 2.0: 809Basemark X: 5032Basemark OS II 2.0: 968Basemark X: 5349

Motorola Moto X Play

  • Clean Android experience
  • Excellent battery life
  • Water-repellent coating
  • Stock Android updates

  • Slightly dated design
  • Average camera performance
  • Slower charging

Oppo R7 Plus

  • Fast charging (20W)
  • Brighter display
  • Slightly faster CPU
  • Premium design

  • 'Infinite' contrast ratio is marketing
  • Software bloatware (typical of Oppo at the time)
  • Less frequent software updates

Display Comparison

Both phones feature 5.5-inch displays, but the Oppo R7 Plus boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term, but suggests strong blacks) and a slightly higher sunlight readability score (3.499 vs 3.222). While both offer good viewing angles, the Oppo's display generally appears more vibrant. The Moto X Play's display is perfectly adequate, but the R7 Plus has a slight edge.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is comparable. Both phones offer decent image quality in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is average for the time. The Oppo R7 Plus might have slightly better post-processing, resulting in more vibrant colors, but the Moto X Play's camera is no slouch. Video recording is standard for both.

Performance

Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset, but the Oppo R7 Plus has a slightly faster CPU clock speed (4x1.5 GHz vs 4x1.7 GHz) for the high-performance cores. In real-world usage, the difference is minimal, and both phones handle everyday tasks and moderate gaming smoothly. However, the Oppo's slightly better thermal management might prevent throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The Oppo R7 Plus takes a clear lead in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 94 hours compared to the Moto X Play's 83 hours. More importantly, the Oppo R7 Plus's 20W fast charging (75% in 30 minutes) is a game-changer, significantly reducing downtime.

Buying Guide

The Motorola Moto X Play is a good choice for users prioritizing a clean Android experience and excellent battery life on a budget. The Oppo R7 Plus is ideal for those who value fast charging, a brighter display, and a slightly more premium feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Moto X Play generally received quicker and more consistent software updates due to Motorola's commitment to stock Android.
❓ Is the Oppo R7 Plus worth it if I value fast charging?
Absolutely! The 20W fast charging is a significant advantage over the Moto X Play's slower charging speeds.