Nokia C110 vs. Motorola Moto G Play (2023): A Deep Dive into Budget Smartphone Choices
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and slightly faster charging, the Motorola Moto G Play (2023) is the better choice. Its Mediatek Helio G37 chipset, with higher clocked Cortex-A53 cores, provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Nokia C110’s Helio P22, despite both being 12nm chips. The 10W charging is also a step up from the C110's 5W.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nokia C110 | Motorola Moto G Play (2023) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| - | CDMA 800 / 1900 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, June 02 | 2022, December 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, June 14 | Available. Released 2022, December 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 74 x 8.5 mm (6.33 x 2.91 x 0.33 in) | 167.2 x 76.5 x 9.4 mm (6.58 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 203 g (7.20 oz) |
| - | Water-repellent coating | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~273 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~79.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio G37 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| - | eMMC 5.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, (wide), AF | - |
| Triple | - | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 5W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 3000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray | Deep Indigo |
| Models | N156DL | XT2271-1, XT2271-3, XT2271-5, XT2271-4 |
| Price | About 100 EUR | $ 54.00 / C$ 129.00 |
Nokia C110
- Potentially longer software support from Nokia.
- Simple and straightforward user experience.
- Lower price point (potentially).
- Slower processor (Helio P22).
- Slower charging (5W).
- Less responsive overall performance.
Motorola Moto G Play (2023)
- Faster processor (Helio G37).
- Faster charging (10W).
- More responsive user experience.
- Slightly better graphics performance.
- Potentially shorter software support.
- Motorola's software bloatware (potentially).
- May be slightly more expensive.
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both likely utilize LCD panels, common in this price bracket. Specifics like resolution and brightness are not provided, but we can assume both target 720p+ resolutions. The lack of high refresh rates or advanced features like LTPO is expected. Bezels are likely substantial on both, maximizing screen real estate within a budget-friendly form factor. Color accuracy will likely be standard for the price point, prioritizing power efficiency over color fidelity.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely to be similar, and largely unimpressive. Both devices likely feature a primary camera alongside basic auxiliary lenses (often 2MP macro or depth sensors, which we'll largely ignore due to their limited utility). Sensor size and aperture details are unavailable, but expect modest image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. Image processing will likely focus on basic enhancements rather than advanced computational photography features. The G37's slightly more capable ISP *might* offer a marginal improvement in image processing speed, but the overall experience will be dictated more by the primary sensor's quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Motorola Moto G Play (2023) features the Mediatek Helio G37, with a CPU configuration of 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 cores and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. The Nokia C110 uses the older Mediatek Helio P22, clocked at 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53. While both are octa-core and utilize the same Cortex-A53 architecture, the higher clock speeds on the G37 translate to faster processing for tasks like app loading and web browsing. The G37 also benefits from a slightly more modern GPU, offering a marginal improvement in graphics performance. Both devices will likely struggle with demanding games, but the G37 will provide a smoother experience.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for either device, but both likely house batteries in the 4000-5000 mAh range, typical for this segment. The key difference is charging speed. The Motorola Moto G Play (2023) supports 10W wired charging, while the Nokia C110 is limited to 5W. This means the Moto G Play will charge significantly faster, reducing downtime. While a larger battery capacity is desirable, the faster charging of the Moto G Play mitigates the impact of a potentially slightly smaller battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nokia C110 if your primary need is a very basic smartphone for essential tasks like calls, texts, and light social media, and you prioritize a potentially longer software support lifespan from Nokia. Buy the Motorola Moto G Play (2023) if you want a more responsive device for everyday use, including slightly more demanding apps, and value faster charging, even if it means potentially shorter software support.