The sub-$200 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The vivo Y5s and Motorola Moto G8 Plus both aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches. The Y5s leverages MediaTek’s Helio P65, while the Moto G8 Plus opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Moto G8 Plus emerges as the slightly better choice. Its measured 581 nits of brightness and 87-hour endurance rating provide a more consistently reliable experience, particularly for outdoor visibility and all-day use. While the Y5s offers faster 18W charging, the G8 Plus’s overall balance is stronger.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 600/100 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 66 - LATAM |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, November. Released 2019, December | 2019, October 24. Released 2019, October 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162.2 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.39 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 158.4 x 75.8 x 9.1 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | 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 MT6768 Helio P65 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.2 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), dedicated video camera (1080p)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 25 MP, f/2.0, 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
5W reverse wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Magnetic Black, Spring White, Blue | Dark Blue, Dark Red |
| Models | V1934A | XT2019, XT2019-2 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 270 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.88 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.2dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 87h |
| Camera | - |
Photo |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 79dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 80dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 168699 (v8)
GeekBench: 5641 (v4.4), 1385 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 6.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo Y5s
- Faster 18W charging
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Potentially better single-core performance with Helio P65
- Display brightness is unknown and likely lower than Moto G8 Plus
- Limited camera information available
Motorola Moto G8 Plus
- Brighter display (581 nits)
- Excellent 87-hour battery endurance
- More efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Slower 15W charging
- Lacks reverse charging
Display Comparison
The Motorola Moto G8 Plus boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 581 nits compared to the vivo Y5s’ unspecified brightness. This translates to better outdoor visibility, a crucial factor for many users. Both displays share a 1505:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar color depth and black levels. However, the lack of detailed display specifications for the Y5s – such as panel type (IPS vs. AMOLED) and color gamut coverage – leaves the G8 Plus with a clear advantage in terms of known display quality.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are described as having a 'Photo' camera, which is unhelpful. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the market positioning of the Moto G8 Plus suggests a greater emphasis on camera capabilities. The inclusion of features like Night Vision mode (often found on Motorola phones) hints at more sophisticated image processing. The Y5s, being a more budget-focused device, likely prioritizes affordability over advanced camera features. The absence of information regarding sensor size and aperture on both devices makes a definitive assessment impossible, but the G8 Plus’s brand reputation suggests a slightly more capable camera system.
Performance
The vivo Y5s’ MediaTek Helio P65 (12nm) and the Motorola Moto G8 Plus’ Snapdragon 665 (11nm) represent different approaches to budget chipset design. The Helio P65 utilizes a big.LITTLE architecture with 2x Cortex-A75 cores for performance and 6x Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency. The Snapdragon 665 employs 4x Kryo 260 Gold and 4x Kryo 260 Silver cores. While both are octa-core, the P65’s Cortex-A75 cores offer a theoretical performance edge in single-threaded tasks. However, the Snapdragon 665’s 11nm process node is more efficient, potentially leading to better sustained performance and thermal management under load. Real-world performance will likely be similar for everyday tasks, but the Snapdragon 665 may hold an advantage in more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both the vivo Y5s and Motorola Moto G8 Plus achieve an impressive endurance rating of 87 hours, indicating excellent battery life. However, they differ in charging capabilities. The Y5s supports 18W wired charging, while the G8 Plus is limited to 15W. This means the Y5s can theoretically charge faster, potentially reducing downtime. The Y5s also includes 5W reverse wired charging, allowing it to top up other devices – a feature absent on the G8 Plus. Despite the faster charging, the G8 Plus’s proven 87-hour endurance provides a more reliable long-term battery experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y5s if you prioritize faster charging speeds and a slightly newer chipset architecture, potentially benefiting from future software optimizations. This phone suits users who frequently top up their battery throughout the day. Buy the Motorola Moto G8 Plus if you value a brighter, more visible display in sunlight and exceptional battery life. This is the better option for users who need a phone that can reliably last a full day – or longer – on a single charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio P65 in the vivo Y5s struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG Mobile?
The Helio P65 can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. The Snapdragon 665 in the Moto G8 Plus offers slightly more consistent performance in gaming due to its more efficient architecture, potentially allowing for higher settings without significant frame drops.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Motorola Moto G8 Plus with the 15W charger?
With the included 15W charger, the Motorola Moto G8 Plus typically takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge from 0%. While slower than the Y5s’ potential charging time, the exceptional battery life minimizes the need for frequent full charges.
❓ Is the camera on either of these phones suitable for low-light photography?
Neither phone excels in low-light photography. While the Moto G8 Plus may have software features like Night Vision, expect noise and limited detail in very dark environments. Both phones rely on budget sensors and image processing, making them less capable in challenging lighting conditions.
