Motorola Moto G9 Plus and Moto G30 are mid-range phones with similar technical data for sale in the market. The two smartphones have triple photosets but have important differences in design and screen.
Motorola Moto G30 vs. Motorola Moto G9 Plus
| Specifications | Motorola Moto G30 | Motorola Moto G9 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | March 2021 | September 2020 |
| Current price | from | from |
| Screen | 6.5 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Screen resolution | HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels) | FullHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 662, octa-core up to 2.0GHz | Snapdragon 730G, octa-core up to 2.2GHz |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| Memory card | MicroSD up to 1TB | MicroSD up to 512GB |
| Main camera | Quad Camera: 64, 8, 2, and 2 megapixels | Quad Camera: 64, 8, 2, and 2 megapixels |
| Front camera | 13 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
| Operating system | Android 11 | Android 10 |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Dimensions and weight | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.1 mm; 200 grams | 170 x 78.1 x 9.7 mm; 223 grams |
| Colors | Dark prism and white lilac | Indigo blue and rose gold |
Screen and design
With such similar devices, the differences are found in the details. The Moto G30 is more compact than the Moto G9 Plus. With a 6.5-inch screen – versus 6.8 on the G9 Plus – and a smaller body, it should fit better in the hand than its older brother, albeit by a small difference. Both devices have plastic construction and there is no mention of screen protection.
The display of the phones, meanwhile, is different in the two versions. The screen of the Moto G30 has HD+ resolution, an average number by the standards found on devices in the same price range. The Moto G9 Plus has Full HD+ resolution. This difference represents more than 100 pixels in density (pixels per inch), which increases from 269 to 386, respectively. To compensate, the Moto G30 offers a screen with a 90 Hz refresh, which should smooth out games and movies watched on the device.
The biometric sensor has different locations on the models: on the Moto G30, it is on the back of the device, near where the index finger would be in the grip, while on the Moto G9 Plus the reader is on the side of the phone, near the position of the thumb. The front camera is also positioned differently in both cases: centered on the Moto G30, in a drop shape, and on the left corner of the screen on the Moto G9 Plus.
Camera (main and front)
There are differences in the cameras. Both bring a set of five, but with variations in focus. To put it simply, the lower the f-number, the larger the lens aperture, which provides greater light capture and detail. Thus, the main sensor present in the Moto G30 should have better results compared to the other Motorola model, but the situation is reversed in the selfie cameras, both in aperture and resolution. On the configurations, starting with the Moto G30:
- 64 MP main camera (f/1.7)
- 8 MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2)
- 2 MP Macro (f/2.4)
- 2 MP depth sensor (f/2.4)
- 13 MP (f/2.2) front camera
And the Moto G9 Plus bundle brings:
- 64 MP main camera (f/1.8)
- 8 MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2)
- 2 MP Macro (f/2.2)
- 2 MP depth sensor (f/2.2)
- 16 MP (f/2.0) front-facing camera
Aside from the technical specifications, both devices boast photographic features such as smile detection, beautification, color highlighting, slow motion, and night vision. According to Motorola, Quad Pixel technology is present in smartphones and ensures crisp, clear photos with a higher sensitivity to light.
Finally, it is important to mention that in recording, the Moto G9 Plus promises to surpass the Moto G30. In addition to shooting in 4K, the smartphone guarantees 30, 60, and 120 fps videos in Full HD resolution. Electronic stabilization (EIS) is also present in the set. The Moto G30, on the other hand, is limited to Full HD, and at 30 or 60 frames per second. There is no mention of any kind of image stabilization.
Performance and storage
If both phones share several features, in performance the situation changes the picture. The models have different processors from Snapdragon: the Moto G30 brings a Snapdragon 662 and the Moto G9 Plus a 730G. The latter promises to operate at a higher frequency and provides better overall performance.
The Moto G9 Plus’ graphics chip is, on average, 100% superior in Benchmarks tests. In games like League of Legends: Wild Rift, the result also remains high, with performance hitting 99 to 114 fps, while the Adreno 610 delivers only 60 frames per second. Although everyday tasks do not demand as much from the processor and graphics chip, the superior performance should repeat itself and ensure the Moto G9 Plus performs better and saves more power.
Both devices have 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage and accept the microSD memory card. In the case of the Moto G30, the card can hold up to 1 TB of storage. In the Moto G9 Plus, the device accepts 512 GB.
Battery
Both have a powerful 5,000 mAh battery and are sold with a fast-charging TurboPower charger. Here, the difference lies in the power of each, higher in the case of the Moto G9 Plus: it’s 30 Watts versus 20 Watts of the option that comes with the Moto G30. According to Motorola, 20 minutes of charging guarantees 12 hours of battery use. Motorola claims that the battery of both should last up to two days away from the socket.
Android Version
Being older, the Motorola Moto G9 Plus comes standard with Android 10, while the Moto G30 already comes with Android 11. Motorola, however, has already reported that the Moto G9 Plus will receive an update to the latest operating system. Both should share the same software update schedule due to the close release between them.
Additional Features
Along with the manual and charger, Motorola ships its own headphones with a USB-C plug, an input available on the phones. Both feature Bluetooth 5.0 and can use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, but only the Moto G30 has an OTG adapter for connecting USB accessories to the device.
Both devices also have a dedicated Google Assistant button. By pressing it on the side, voice control is activated and allows you to ask questions, control device functions, and even other electronics integrated with Google’s service and connected home.
Pricing and Availability
The Motorola Moto G30 is a simpler option, which reflects in the price. It is possible to find it priced in the range of $209.49, as the Moto G9 Plus is sold at $219.99 on Amazon. The difference is justified by the set of better processors, faster charger, screen with higher resolution, and camera with more recording options. The Moto G9 Plus is sold in the colors indigo blue and rose gold. The Moto G30 is found in colors that Motorola calls dark prism and white lilac (black and white, basically).
