Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Dual vs. Motorola Moto X Play Dual SIM: A Detailed Showdown

The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Dual and Motorola Moto X Play Dual SIM were mid-range contenders offering compelling features. Both devices targeted users seeking a balance of affordability and functionality, but which one ultimately delivers a better experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Moto X Play edges out the Xperia M4 Aqua thanks to its slightly faster processor, larger battery, and faster charging. While the M4 Aqua boasts water resistance, the Moto X Play's overall package provides a more well-rounded and enjoyable user experience for most.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Dual	Motorola Moto X Play Dual SIM

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E2333, E2363	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - XT1563 (DS)
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E2333	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28 - XT1563 (DS)
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E2363	-

Launch
Announced	2015, March. Released 2015, June	2015, July. Released 2015, August
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	145.5 x 72.6 x 7.3 mm (5.73 x 2.86 x 0.29 in)	148 x 75 x 10.9 mm (5.83 x 2.95 x 0.43 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	135 g (4.76 oz)	169 g (5.96 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	Splash and dust resistant

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~65.2% screen-to-body ratio)	5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~75.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 405	Adreno 405
OS	Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow)	Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	8GB 2GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM (E2333,E2363)	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	eMMC 4.5

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama
Single	13 MP, f/2.0, AF	21 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.4", 1.1µm, PDAF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP	5 MP, f/2.2
Video	720p	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.1, A2DP	4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS
Radio	FM radio, RDS	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Browser	HTML	-
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Yes
	ANT+	-

Battery
Charging	-	15W wired
Music play	Up to 64 h 40 min	-
Stand-by	Up to 493 h (2G) / Up to 488 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 12 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 13 h 20 min (3G)	-
Type	Li-Ion 2400 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3630 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Coral, Silver	Black, White
Models	E2312, E2333, E2363	XT1563
Price	About 200 EUR	About 250 EUR
SAR	1.00 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.59 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body)	-

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Dual

Water and dust resistant (IP67)
Compact design
OIS for improved low-light photography
Good build quality

Lower resolution display
Shorter battery life
Slower charging
Limited RAM

Motorola Moto X Play Dual SIM

Larger, higher resolution display
Longer battery life
Faster charging (15W)
Better camera performance
Expandable storage (microSD)

Larger size may not suit everyone
Plastic build feels less premium
Performance can be sluggish with heavy multitasking

Display Comparison

The Moto X Play features a larger 5.5-inch display (1080 x 1920 pixels) compared to the Xperia M4 Aqua's 5.0-inch (720 x 1280 pixels) screen. This translates to a more immersive viewing experience on the Moto X Play. Both use IPS LCD panels, offering decent color reproduction, but the Moto X Play's higher resolution provides sharper visuals.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia M4 Aqua boasts a 13MP main camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a 5MP front camera. The Moto X Play features a 21MP main camera and a 5MP front camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the Moto X Play generally captures more detailed photos, especially in good lighting. The OIS on the M4 Aqua helps with low-light shots, but the Moto X Play's larger sensor often produces better results overall.

Performance

While both phones share the Snapdragon 615 chipset, the Moto X Play has a slightly faster CPU clock speed (4x1.7 GHz vs 4x1.5 GHz). This small difference can result in marginally smoother performance in demanding apps and games. Both phones have 2GB of RAM, which can feel limiting at times.

Battery Life

The Moto X Play shines in the battery department with a 3630mAh battery, offering significantly longer battery life than the Xperia M4 Aqua's 2420mAh battery. The Moto X Play also supports 15W fast charging, a feature absent in the M4 Aqua.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Dual is ideal for users prioritizing water resistance and a compact design. The Motorola Moto X Play Dual SIM is a better choice for those seeking longer battery life, a larger display, and slightly improved performance for everyday tasks and light gaming.