Motorola Moto G4 Play vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: A Comparative Analysis

The Moto G4 Play is the most recent addition to the fourth-generation Moto G series of smartphones. It is also cheaper than the other two models in the series – Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus – which have been around for a while now.

To get things started, let us compare the two cheaper models in the series – the Moto G4 and the Moto G4 Play – and look into the differences with regard to features and specifications.

Form Factor

The Moto G4 has the dimensions – 153 x 76.6 x 9.8 mm – and weighs 155 grams. The Moto G4 Play is smaller than the former and weighs 137 grams. Its dimensions are 144.4 x 72 x 9.9 mm.

The Moto G4 has screen-to-body ratio of 71.2%. The G4 Play has larger bezels at the top and bottom, so it has a screen-to-body ratio of 66.3%. Both models have a similar plastic build, except the Moto G4 has some metal detailing, giving it a premium feel.

Both smartphones come with water-repellent nano-coating, which protects them from spills and moderate rain.

Platform and Architecture

With respect to operating system, the Moto G4 and the Moto G4 Play both run on Android v6.0 (Marshmallow). The former has a 1.5 GHz Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor. The Moto G4 Play, on the other hand, packs a Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor clocked lower at 1.2 GHz.

As for graphics, the Moto G4 has a 550 MHz Adreno 405 GPU and the Moto G4 Play has a 450 MHz Adreno 306 GPU.

More from iSpyPrice: Check out the price and features of the Moto G4 mobile

Display and Battery

The Moto G4 has a 5.5-inch FHD IPS display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, translating to a pixel density of 401 ppi. Its screen also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The Moto G4 Play has a smaller 5-inch HD display with a relatively modest resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels (294 ppi). Also, this smartphone lacks screen protection.

The Moto G4 has a 3,000 mAh ‘all-day’ battery with TurboPower, a fast-charging feature. Apparently, 15 minutes of charging allows for up to 6 hours of power. On the other hand, the Moto G Play is powered by a 2,800 mAh battery.

Memory and Storage

The Moto G4 comes with two options:

• 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory
• 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory

The Moto G4 Play, however, comes with only one option – 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory.

The internal storage in both the Moto G4 and the G4 Play is expandable up to 128 GB via a microSD card.

Camera 

The Moto G4 has a 13-megapixel primary camera with an f/2.0 aperture and 4X digital zoom. The camera is capable of recording 1,080p HD videos at 30 fps. Other camera features include color balancing dual LED flash, quick capture, burst mode, panorama, auto HDR, drag to focus & exposure, video stabilization, and slow motion video. The secondary camera is a 5-megapixel shooter with an f/2.2 aperture and wide-angle lens.

The Moto G4 Play has an 8-megapixel primary unit with an f/2.2 aperture and an LED flash. Other features are similar to those of the Moto G4’s primary unit. However, the G4 Play lacks certain features like quick capture and slow motion video. The secondary camera in the Moto G4 Play is a 5-megapixel unit with an f/2.2 aperture.

More from iSpyPrice: Have a look at the detailed specifications of the Moto G4 Play mobile

Now that we are done comparing the primary features of the Moto G4 and the Moto G4 Play, it is pretty evident that the former is the superior phone. Among other things, the Moto G4 has better camera and battery features. But the spec that makes it the clear winner is its significantly faster processor and GPU.

The Moto G4 Plus and the Moto G4 have virtually identical specifications, except the former has a fingerprint scanner for better security. The Moto G4 Plus also has a superior 16-megapixel primary camera, which is very impressive for its price.

Lenovo, through its G4 series smartphones, is competing with the likes of Xiaomi, Huawei, and LeEco. The Moto G4 Play, the Moto G4, and the Moto G4 Plus are available in two color options – white and black. Their respective starting prices are about Rs. 9000, Rs. 12,500, and Rs. 13,500.