Motorola announced this Thursday (10) the Moto G9 Play for the price suggested around $190 succeed the Moto G8 Play. The passing of the generation of the mid-range brought important changes in the technical file of the mobile phone, such as the new processor and improvements in the photographic set. Also, there was an increase in storage and screen size. Check below the evolutions in the specifications of the G Play line.
The Moto G8 Play was presented in October 2019 for $150, but has already undergone a price reduction and can be seen for values in the range of $119.99 – $31 discount. The Moto G9 Play was recently launched and has not yet had a cost reduction for the consumer, who needs to disburse $190 to purchase the smartphone.
Moto G8 Play vs. Moto G9 Play
| Moto G8 Play | Moto G9 Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | October 2019 | September 2020 |
| Current price | $119 | $190 |
| Screen | 6.2 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Resolution | HD (1520 x 720 pixels) | HD + (1600 x 720 pixels) |
| Processor | Helio P70 (octa-core up to 2 GHz) | Snapdragon 662 (octa-core up to 2 GHz) |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| Memory card | yes, microSD up to 512 GB | yes, microSD up to 512 GB |
| Main camera | triple, 8, 13, and 2 MP | triple, 48, 2, and 2 MP |
| Front Camera | 8 MP | 8 MP |
| Operating system | Android 9 (Pie) | Android 10 |
| Battery capacity | 4,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Dimension and weight | 157.6 x 75.4 x 9; 183.6 g | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2; 200 g |
| Colors | black and red | blue, green, and pink |
Screen and Design
The design on the front is similar on both mobile phones, as the drop-shaped notch and the edges of the Moto G8 Play were kept. In the back, the change in the release is due to the photographic set, which was previously arranged vertically in the corner of the device. Now Moto G9 Play organizes the three cameras and the flash in a square in the center of the smartphone.
The size of the screen has also increased from one generation to the next. While the Moto G8 Play had 6.2 inches, the newer model has 6.5 inches. As for the resolution, which used to be 1520 x 720 pixels, it is now 1600 x 720 pixels. The panel has LCD technology in both versions.
Regarding the finish, the colors of Moto G9 Play are different from its predecessor, Sapphire Blue, Turquoise Green, and Quartz Pink, while the previous version has only two options, Onyx Black and Magenta Red.
Cameras
While the sensor for selfie remains with 8 MP on both models, the rear photo set takes a jump on the main camera. The triple camera has been maintained, but the sensor that used to be 13 MP becomes 48 MP.
The interesting G8 Play’s ultra-wide 8 MP camera, indicated for exploring more exuberant scenarios, comes out of the scene – to the sadness of consumers. In its place, Motorola bets on a 2 MP macro camera that can capture more details of very close objects, such as food details or fabric fibers.
The depth sensor – responsible for assisting in portrait mode – also has 2 MP in the G9 Play, a decrease in relation to the G8 Plus, which had a 5 MP component.
Both realize the portrait mode, a famous feature that blurs the background of the image. Just like Moto One Vision, Moto G9 Play features Quad Pixel technology to enhance photo quality by adding four pixels to one.
Performance and Storage
The technical sheet brings many differences when it comes to performance. The Moto G8 Play came to market with 32 GB of storage and 2 GB of RAM. In the G9 Play, Motorola bets on the combination of 64 GB and 4 GB. In other words, the new model is undeniably more powerful.
In the processor, the Moto G8 Play presents the Helio P70M, from MediaTek, while the successor has the Snapdragon 662, from Qualcomm. Despite the difference in brands, the two chips have eight cores with speeds up to 2 GHz.
Battery
The battery also follows the evolution between generations. The Moto G8 Play came with 4,000 mAh while the new Play comes with 5,000 mAh. The official promise is 83 hours of audio playback, 16 hours for movies and series or 13 hours surfing the internet. Battery life should reach two days in mixed-use.
On the occasion of the launch of the predecessor, Motorola released the projection for 63 hours of music and 14 hours of videos.
The battery of the two phones is recharged with the Turbo Power charger. But while the Moto G8 Play is powered with 10 W, the Moto G9 Play has a 20 W charger.
Android Version
The factory version of Moto G8 Play is Android 9 (Pie), but the smartphone is already able to receive Android 10. Moto G9 Play, in turn, already comes with Android 10 installed.
Both are customized with the manufacturer’s interface which includes Moto Actions. The features allow you to trigger the camera and flashlight by gesture command, for example.
Additional Features
Bluetooth is different on both phones. In Moto G8 Play the tool appears in version 4.2, while in Moto G9 Play the mobile phone technology is the fifth generation. Both feature a USB-C connection, as well as 3.5 mm input for the headphones.
Neither has NFC connectivity, which does not make it impossible to pay for proximity.
The fingerprint reader at the back of the device is present in both smartphones. The small space on the back with the letter M remains the place to unlock the device.
Price and Availability
The Moto G8 Play landed in October 2019 for a price of around $150 and currently, it can be acquired at a price in the range of $119.99, depending on the offer of the day. The Moto G9 Play arrives at a price higher than its predecessor: around $190.
- Buy Moto G8 Play
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