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Sony and Motorola are two big names in the world of mobile, so how do their current devices,
the Xperia Z1 Compact and Moto G compare?
It has been widely covered that the Moto G is exceptional value for money, but the Z1
Compact brings high end technology into a smaller form factor.
When looking at the spec sheet the Z1 Compact offers a lot more and it will set you back
another £200 over the Moto G, so is it worth it?
We often want the latest versions of things and this includes the software. The Moto G
has the advantage of running a very lightly customised version of Android, thus the updates
do tend to come quicker as a result, not to mention their previous ownership by Google.
Motorola are now owned by Lenovo, so there may be some slow down with the update speeds.
Sony do release updates at an equivalent speed to the likes of HTC and Samsung but the heavier
customisation and wider device portfolio they offer does inevitably delay this in comparison
to Motorola, but they do come.
With just .2" between this is perhaps where the devices are most closely matched. Both
have 720p resolution, but the Compact has an IPS panel with 342PPI compared to Motorola's
326, but thats minimal difference. The bezel around the Z1 screen ends up making the device
comparably sized to the Motorola Moto G.
Clocked at 2.2GHz compared to the 1.2GHz of the Moto G, there is quite some speed difference
if you really push the devices hard. The Compact will be better suited to the mobile gamer,
but the Moto G certainly stands strong for everyday tasks on a phone and you would be
hard pushed to really say the Z1 Compact was much better in this department.
With half the RAM, the 1GB in the Moto X is inferior to the Sony, but truth be told in
our usage unless you are gaming or have lots of apps open at the same time, could the difference
really be noted. If you are particular about lag you may notice this is more everyday tasks
but not enough to really frustrate the majority of users.
Motorola offer a degree of choice with 8 & 16GB memory options on the G, but remember this
is before the OS is installed. There is no scope for expansion unless you want to go
to the cloud. A heavier user may find memory management something they need to complete
on a regular basis. I personally stream my music, but I know many who have music databases
of 10GB. Such a user would not get on so well with the Moto G.
Only the Z1 Compact offers memory expansion through the use of a microSD card, which will
be a bonus if you like to store media such as films and music or simply take a lot of
photos.
It is 5 megapixels on the Motorola G v the 20.7 on the Z1 Camera. Motorola offer a very
practical camera that is well suited to quick snaps, sharing on social media and the odd
print out.
Sony on the other hand takes the crown here, with superior quality, colour definition and
camera features, not to mention the dedicated camera button.
4G, MHL & Miracast are available on the Z1, all of which are not available on the Motorola.
For many, these will not be a deal breaker but as technology develops so quickly the
Z1 Compact offers the more 'future proof' solution.
The Z1 Compact can be submerged in fresh water for 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 metres. This
is a real bonus maybe if you are a fisherman, but for many it will not bring much advantage.
However, if you use your phone in the rain a lot, the Compact will survive whereas the
Moto G may not. The G does have a special coating on the components in the devices,
but I do not advise really testing its water resistance.
An aluminium frame gives the Compact a solid premium feel but despite the more plastic
of the Moto G, it feels, weights and certainly looks like it could take a few knocks. The
Compact does have some covers over key ports which seem like they can stand the test of
time, but could be damaged with excessive use. The Moto G does not suffer from this
issue.
With a few mAh between them (2070mAh just beaten by the Compact with 2300mAh) you would
argue there is not a lot between them, but don't be fooled. Turn on Sony's STAMINA mode
and wow, you could get 2-3 days out of this for a lighter user. Not to say it is not possible
on the Motorola with battery saver mode, but Sony's battery saving technology wins here.
The Z1 Compact is lighter and thinner at 137g and 9.5mm thick compared to the G at 143g
and 11.6mm. However the specs on paper often transition differently when in the hand. The
Moto G is slightly more comfortable thanks to the curved edges whereas the squared edges
give a slab design on the Z1 Compact. It is however impressive that Sony manage to pack
so much into a small and light form factor device.
The Z1 Compact is arguably the better device all round. More features with a more premium
feel and design. There is however real advantage in the cost effective Moto G and the speed
of updates to software, but for an extra £10 per month over an average 24 month contract
period the Z1 Compact may be the more justifiable purchase for longer term value and satisfaction.
That said opting for the Moto G will leave you with a smile on the face and more money
in the bank unless you desire more premium features.
For the full detailed specification comparison visit Clove.co.uk