Motorola has unveiled the new Moto G6. This is the successor to the Moto G5S and the latest entry into its budget G series. The Moto G6 is the latest entry in its budget G series.
The Moto G6’s mid-range MotoX4 has its share of premium features, but it’s still within reach price-wise. They can both be reaching the same customers by offering a wide range of mobile carrier support, which is why they have such a diverse selection.
Let’s look at each phone’s story and see if it is a better buy.
Design
The Moto X4 & Moto G6 can easily be mistaken at first glance. The Moto G6 takes many design elements from the Moto X4. Both feature a glass back and curved sides. Both have dual-lens cameras that are mounted at the top of each phone. They also both have a raised ring around their edges.
They also feature a metal frame and fingerprint scanner at the screen’s front.
These differences are subtle and mostly due to size and port placement. The Moto G6 is larger than the X4 except that it has its flash lower than the X4. It is 153.8 x 72.3 x 9.3mm and 167g, compared to the Moto X4’s 148.4 x 73.4 x 8mm and 163g.
The buttons are slightly different. The Moto G6 has small buttons that are separated for volume up, power, and volume down. The fingerprint scanner is also quite slim, but it’s still wide. The Moto X4 also has a larger power button and a single volume knob. The fingerprint scanner is more oval-shaped.
The Motorola branding is obnoxious on both phones. Both phones have a Motorola logo at the back and a Motorola logo on their fronts.
Although the differences in aesthetic design are minimal, they have a greater impact on internal design decisions. Although the Moto G6 is waterproof due to its p2i coating it was not designed to withstand water pressure or submersion. With an IP68 rating, the Moto X4 can swim for up to half an hour in water as deep as 5 feet.
Display
The Moto G6 easily wins when it comes to displaying.
The Moto G6 is following the industry trend of maximizing the screen and decreasing everything else. The phone’s screen measures 5.7 inches. Although it’s not completely bezel-less, the phone has a premium appearance.
The Moto X4 screen measures 5.2 inches and is flanked by a substantial amount of bezel.
The G6 is larger than the X4 in terms of size. Full HD+ is the higher resolution option for the larger screen. The standard Full HD screen on the Moto X4 is, however, available.
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Both screens are IPS and don’t have the same pure blacks as OLED displays. This can make the Moto X4’s 18-inch screen more appealing than the Moto G6’s 18.9 screen. It doesn’t have letterboxes that are susceptible to backlight bleed while viewing video in the 16:9 aspect ratio. However, no smartphone screen will be cinematic, so larger screens are preferred.
OS and power
With its Snapdragon 630 chipset, the Moto X4 gains some ground on the Moto G6 in terms of performance. Both phones have octa-core processors. However, the Moto X4’s CPU is faster than the Snapdragon 450 that powers the Moto G6, which saves the Snapdragon 630 for Moto G6+ that isn’t coming to the US.
The Moto X4 is expected to be more performant than the G6 in terms of graphics. While the Moto G6 uses Adreno 506 graphics for graphics, the Moto X4 has Andreno 508 graphics and a screen with a lower resolution. This allows it to run more smoothly with fewer pixels.
The base configurations of both phones have 3GB RAM. However, the Snapdragon 630 gives the Moto X4 a faster RAM speed. You can also expand your storage with microSD, which allows you to store up to 256GB. MicroSD can be used to expand the Moto G6’s storage, but not up to 128GB.
Both phones are Android Oreo. However, the Moto X4 was launched with Android 7.1. It may need an update depending on where you purchased it. You can also get the Moto X4 is an Android One version, which offers a cleaner Android experience and quicker access to new updates. Both phones will receive the Android update.
The Moto X4 is a better choice than the Moto G6 in this group, but neither are they performance powerhouses.
Camera and battery
These phones share a similar 3,000mAh battery with TurboPower charging of 15W.
Although the dual-lens cameras at the back appear similar, there are significant differences. These differences are in favor of the Moto X4.
The Moto X4 has a 12MP f/2.0 lens and an 8MP f/2.2 lens with a 120-degree field of view on its back. This gives it extra flexibility for photo composition. You can also record video at Full HD 60fps at 30fps and 4K at 30fps. Front-facing cameras feature a 16MP sensor and a wide aperture of f/2.0.
The Moto G6 isn’t quite as good in the camera department. The Moto G6 has a 12MP and a 5MP sensor at the back. It also features slightly wider f/1.8 apertures which offer a slight improvement in low light photography. It can only record Full HD video at 60 frames per second. The 8MP sensor in the selfie camera is lower-resolution.
We’ll have to wait and see how the Moto G6’s camera performs during our testing, but the numbers are in favor of the Moto X4.
Price
The Moto G6 will launch at a base price of $249 (PS219; no word yet on AU pricing). This price is significantly lower than the Moto X4’s base price of $399 (PS199 AU$599) and still a substantial chunk of change less than its current reduced price of $349.
Both phones can be used on a variety of mobile networks so they are able to compete head-to-head. With its features and styling, the Moto G6 is quite compelling for its price. The Moto X4 is a more expensive option for those with tight budgets. However, it may not be worth the small improvements that it provides.
This is compounded by the fact that the Moto X4’s price isn’t much higher. The screen is an extremely important component of a phone and the Moto X4’s display falls just 0.5 inches short of the Moto G6.
Takeaway
It is up to you to decide which of the Moto G6 or Moto X4 phones wins the crown.
The Moto X4 seems to have slightly better hardware. It has a higher-end camera system and superior water resistance. It’s also 40% more costly.
The Moto G6 looks even better than the X4. Even though it is slower than the X4, it will still be able to handle most everyday activities. Its smaller screen and lower price are what make it attractive. Motorola packs a lot of desirable features into a budget-friendly phone.
If you are looking for performance and protection and can afford it, the Moto X4 is likely to be your best choice. If performance is important, however, you might want to consider the Moto Z2Play or Moto Z2 For.
The Moto G6 is a great choice if you want a large screen on a budget phone that still looks great.
