The sub-$200 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Umidigi C1 Plus and Motorola Moto G23 both aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at an accessible price point, but they take drastically different approaches to achieving this. The C1 Plus prioritizes affordability above all else, while the Moto G23 attempts to balance cost with a more modern chipset and faster charging.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users, the Motorola Moto G23 is the superior choice. Its Helio G85 chipset provides a significantly more responsive experience, and the 30W charging dramatically reduces downtime. While the Umidigi C1 Plus is cheaper, the performance trade-offs are too substantial for most.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Europe, AP/MEA |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - AP/MEA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2023, January 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023 | Available. Released 2023, January 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 162.7 x 74.7 x 8.2 mm (6.41 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 184.3 g (6.49 oz) |
| | - | Water-resistant design |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Panda glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT8766 | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8300 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 13, planned upgrade to Android 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 0.64µm, PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1.0µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 30W wired |
| Type | 5150 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Starry Black, Sunglow Gold | Matte Charcoal, Pearl White, Steel Blue |
| Models | - | XT2333-1 |
| Price | - | About 80 EUR |
Umidigi C1 Plus
- Lowest possible price point
- Potentially longer battery life due to less powerful processor
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks
- Significantly slower performance
- Extremely slow 10W charging
- Likely lower quality display
Motorola Moto G23
- Much faster performance with Helio G85
- 30W fast charging for quick top-ups
- More refined design and user experience
- Slightly higher price
- Battery life may be slightly shorter due to more powerful processor
- Still a budget device with inherent limitations
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price bracket. However, details like resolution and peak brightness are missing for the Umidigi C1 Plus. The Moto G23’s display is likely to offer a more vibrant and responsive experience due to the more powerful GPU driving it. Bezels are expected to be substantial on both, but the Moto G23’s design language is generally more refined.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely to be similar in real-world usage, given the focus on cost reduction in both devices. Details regarding sensor sizes and apertures are unavailable for the Umidigi C1 Plus, making a direct comparison difficult. The Moto G23 likely features a more sophisticated image processing pipeline, leveraging the increased processing power of the Helio G85. The inclusion of a 50MP main sensor on the Moto G23, while not guaranteeing exceptional image quality, is a step up from the likely lower-resolution sensor on the C1 Plus. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are largely marketing filler and offer limited practical benefit.
Performance
This is where the Moto G23 truly shines. The Mediatek Helio G85 (12nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Umidigi C1 Plus’s Mediatek MT8766. The G85’s octa-core configuration (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) provides significantly more processing power than the C1 Plus’s quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53. The Cortex-A75 cores in the G85 are considerably more capable than the A53 cores, resulting in faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. The 12nm process node of the Helio G85 also contributes to better power efficiency compared to the MT8766. This translates to longer sustained performance before thermal throttling becomes a concern.
Battery Life
While battery capacity isn't specified for the Umidigi C1 Plus, it's reasonable to assume it's in the 4000-5000 mAh range, similar to the Moto G23’s 5000 mAh battery. However, the charging speed is a critical differentiator. The Moto G23’s 30W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a significantly faster 0-100% charge time compared to the Umidigi C1 Plus’s slow 10W charging. This means less time tethered to a wall and more time using the device.
Buying Guide
Buy the Umidigi C1 Plus if you absolutely need the lowest possible price and your smartphone usage is limited to basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media. Buy the Motorola Moto G23 if you value a smoother user experience, faster app loading times, and the convenience of rapid charging, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Motorola Moto G23 handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Helio G85 in the Moto G23 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to use lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The Umidigi C1 Plus’s MT8766 would struggle significantly with this title.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the Motorola Moto G23 with the included charger?
With the 30W charger, the Motorola Moto G23 should fully charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 70-90 minutes. The Umidigi C1 Plus, with its 10W charging, will take considerably longer – likely exceeding 3 hours.
❓ Is the Umidigi C1 Plus a good option for someone who primarily uses their phone for calls and texts?
Yes, the Umidigi C1 Plus is perfectly adequate for basic communication tasks. Its lower processing power won't be a hindrance for calls, texts, and simple messaging apps. However, if you anticipate using any more demanding applications, the Moto G23 is a better investment.
❓ Does the Moto G23 support software updates?
Motorola generally provides at least one major Android update and several security patches for its G series phones. While the exact update schedule for the Moto G23 isn't guaranteed, it's likely to receive more consistent software support than the Umidigi C1 Plus.
