The Realme C3 and Motorola Moto G9 Play represent compelling options in the ultra-budget smartphone segment. Both aim to deliver essential features without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches to achieving this. The C3 prioritizes processing power with its Helio G70, while the G9 Play focuses on a more refined user experience and faster charging.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around usability and faster charging, the Motorola Moto G9 Play is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 662 offers a smoother experience, and the 20W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, gamers on a tight budget might find the Realme C3's Helio G70 a slightly more appealing option.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| EDGE | - | Class 10 |
| GPRS | - | Class 10 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 05. Released 2020, February 14 | 2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75 x 9 mm (6.47 x 2.95 x 0.35 in) | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| | Weather-sealed ports & loudspeaker | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CB Helio G70 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EEMC2 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.25µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 1.3 MP |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | - | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE) |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 20W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Frozen Blue, Blazing Red, Volcano Grey shade | Forest Green, Sapphire Blue, Spring Pink |
| Models | RMX2027, RMX2020, RMX2021 | XT2083, XT2083-1 |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 430 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1944:1 |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 192223 (v8)
GeekBench: 1262 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 170064 (v8)
GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme C3
- Potentially higher peak CPU performance for gaming
- More affordable price point (typically)
- Helio G70 offers decent graphics capabilities
- Slower 10W charging
- Less detailed display specifications
- Potentially less efficient chipset
Motorola Moto G9 Play
- Faster 20W charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- More efficient Snapdragon 662 chipset
- Smoother overall user experience
- Potentially slightly lower peak CPU performance
- May be slightly more expensive
- Camera performance likely similar to Realme C3
Display Comparison
The Motorola Moto G9 Play boasts a measurable 465 nits of peak brightness, a significant advantage over the Realme C3, which lacks published brightness data. While both share a 1944:1 contrast ratio, the higher brightness of the G9 Play translates to better visibility outdoors. The Realme C3's display specifications are less detailed, suggesting a more basic panel. This makes the G9 Play the superior choice for users who frequently use their phones in bright environments.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack detailed camera specifications. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market positioning of both phones suggests similar camera performance – adequate for social media sharing but not exceptional. The absence of details implies neither phone is a photography powerhouse, and users shouldn't expect flagship-level image quality. Focusing on the chipset's ISP capabilities, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 662 generally provides better image processing than Mediatek's Helio G70, potentially resulting in slightly more refined photos from the Moto G9 Play.
Performance
The Realme C3's Mediatek Helio G70 (12nm) features a dual-cluster CPU design with two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.7 GHz. This configuration prioritizes peak performance. Conversely, the Motorola Moto G9 Play utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) with four Kryo 260 Gold cores at 2.0 GHz and four Kryo 260 Silver cores at 1.8 GHz. The Snapdragon 662's 11nm process offers improved efficiency, potentially leading to better sustained performance and thermal management. While both CPUs have similar peak clock speeds, the Snapdragon 662's architecture and process node give it an edge in real-world smoothness and multitasking.
Battery Life
The Realme C3 is limited to 10W wired charging, a relatively slow standard in today's market. The Motorola Moto G9 Play, however, supports 20W wired charging, effectively halving the charging time. While battery capacity isn't specified for either device, the faster charging of the G9 Play is a significant advantage, minimizing downtime and offering greater convenience. This is particularly beneficial for users who rely heavily on their phones throughout the day.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme C3 if you need a phone primarily for casual gaming and demand the most processing power for the price. Its Helio G70 chipset offers a performance edge in demanding applications. Buy the Motorola Moto G9 Play if you prefer a more balanced experience with a brighter display, faster charging, and a generally smoother user interface for everyday tasks. It's the better choice for those who value convenience and reliability over raw horsepower.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Realme C3's Helio G70 struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
While the Helio G70 can run PUBG Mobile, you may need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The Snapdragon 662 in the Moto G9 Play generally offers a smoother gaming experience with less throttling, allowing for higher settings.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Motorola Moto G9 Play with the 20W charger?
With the included 20W charger, the Motorola Moto G9 Play can typically charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging. This is significantly faster than the Realme C3's 10W charging.
❓ Is the difference in chipset efficiency between the Helio G70 and Snapdragon 662 noticeable in daily use?
Yes, the Snapdragon 662's 11nm process is more efficient than the Helio G70's 12nm process. This translates to better battery life and less heat generation during everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video playback on the Moto G9 Play.
❓ Does the Moto G9 Play support fast charging protocols beyond its included charger?
The Moto G9 Play supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, meaning you can potentially use compatible third-party chargers for even faster charging speeds, although the included 20W charger is already quite efficient.
