ZTE Blade A31 Plus vs. Motorola Moto G51 5G: A Budget Showdown

Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The ZTE Blade A31 Plus and Motorola Moto G51 5G are both contenders in the budget space, offering a range of features at competitive prices. But which one comes out on top? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola Moto G51 5G takes the crown thanks to its superior chipset (Snapdragon 480+ 5G), brighter display, and 5G connectivity. While the ZTE Blade A31 Plus might offer slightly more RAM in some configurations, the Moto G51 5G provides a more polished and future-proof experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE Blade A31 Plus	Motorola Moto G51 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Europe, Asia, Saudi Arabia
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 - Europe/Asia
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe/Asia
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China

Launch
Announced	2021, October 31	2021, November 03
Status	Available. Released 2021, October 31	Available. Released 2021, December 16

Body
Build	-	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	159.2 x 77.5 x 9.6 mm (6.27 x 3.05 x 0.38 in)	170.5 x 76.5 x 9.1 mm (6.71 x 3.01 x 0.36 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	-	208 g (7.34 oz)
	-	Water-repellent design

Display
Resolution	480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~179 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)
Size	6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~75.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD, 120Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460)
Chipset	Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm)	Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm)
GPU	IMG8322	Adreno 619
OS	Android 11 (Go edition)	Android 11, upgradable to Android 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	32GB 1GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP (up-scaled to 8 MP)	-
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	720p@30fps	1080p@30/60/240fps

Selfie camera
Single	2 MP (up-scaled to 5 MP)	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm - Global or 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm - China only
Video	-	1080p@30fps

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

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD/Adaptive
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	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
Sensors	Accelerometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	-	20W wired (India) 10W wired (Global)
Type	Li-Ion 3000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Blue, Gray	Indigo Blue, Bright Silver, Aqua Blue
Models	-	XT2171-2, XT2171-1
Price	-	About 210 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 124h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1634:1
Loudspeaker	-	-28.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 302859 (v9) GeekBench: 1696 (v5.1) GFXBench: 26fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Blade A31 Plus

Larger screen
Potentially more RAM configurations
Affordable price

Weaker chipset
Lower brightness display
Slower charging
No 5G

Motorola Moto G51 5G

Faster Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset
Brighter display
5G connectivity
Faster charging (in some regions)

Slightly smaller screen
Potentially less RAM in some configurations
Price slightly higher than Blade A31 Plus

Display Comparison

The Motorola Moto G51 5G boasts a significant advantage with its measured 595 nits peak brightness, making it much easier to view outdoors. Both phones share a high 1634:1 contrast ratio, promising deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the Moto G51 5G's brightness gives it a clear edge in usability.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable, with both phones offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. However, the Moto G51 5G likely has better image processing due to the more powerful chipset, potentially resulting in slightly more detailed and vibrant photos. Low-light performance is likely to be a weak point for both devices.

Performance

Here, the Moto G51 5G shines. The Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset is considerably more powerful than the Unisoc SC9863A. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience on the Moto G51 5G. The Cortex-A55 cores in both phones are similar, but the Snapdragon's architecture and 8nm process provide a noticeable performance boost.

Battery Life

Both phones claim impressive endurance ratings (124h), suggesting excellent battery life. Real-world usage will vary, but both should easily last a full day, and potentially longer, on a single charge. The Moto G51 5G's 20W charging (in some regions) is faster than the Blade A31 Plus's charging speed.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Blade A31 Plus is a good option for users prioritizing a larger screen and potentially more RAM on a very tight budget. The Motorola Moto G51 5G is ideal for those who want 5G connectivity, a smoother performance, and a brighter, more vibrant display, even if it means a slightly smaller screen.