Readers in India have a vast array of smartphones to choose from. The Motorola Moto G (2014) released in September while the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini arrived last year but is still extremely popular among buyers. We thought we’d bring readers a Moto G 2nd gen vs. Galaxy S4 Mini Dual SIM India shootout.
We’re comparing the new Moto G Dual SIM with the Galaxy S4 Mini Duos, although both are also available in a single SIM variant. These are both Android smartphones in a similar price bracket, although the Galaxy S4 Mini is the more expensive despite it being older. Coming right up we have the main specs of each so that you can see how they compare.
Processors
The Moto G (2014) Dual SIM has a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor and Adreno 305 graphics. The Galaxy S4 Mini has a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 400 dual-core processor, also with Adreno 305 GPU.
Display
The new Moto G has a 5-inch IPS LCD display with resolution of 1280 x 720 and 294 ppi. On the other hand the Galaxy S4 Mini has a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with resolution of 960 x 540 and 256 ppi.
RAM and Storage
There’s 1GB of RAM and 8 or 16GB storage models (expandable to 32GB via microSD) for the Moto G. The Galaxy S4 Mini has 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage that’s expandable to 64GB.
Camera set-up
The Moto G 2014 has an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and 720p video capture, as well as a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The Galaxy S4 Mini has an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and 1080p video recording capability, and also a 1.9-megapixel front-facing unit.
Battery
The Moto G has a non-removable 2070 mAh battery while the Galaxy S4 Mini has a removable 1900 mAh battery.
Connectivity
Both phones support 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, GPRS, EDGE, and microUSB 2.0. The Moto G has WiFi 802.11 b/g/n with WiFi hotspot while the Galaxy S4 Mini has WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n with WiFi hotspot, dual-band, DLNA, and WiFi Direct and also NFC.
Operating System
The Moto G released on Android 4.4.4 KitKat and is upgradable to the new Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Galaxy S4 Mini launched on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean upgradable to Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
Dimensions
The Moto G (2014) measures 141.5mm x 70.7mm x 11mm and weighs 149g. The Galaxy S4 Mini measures 124.6mm x 61.3mm x 8.9mm and weighs 107g.
Price
The 16GB version of the Moto G Dual SIM (2014) launched at Rs. 12,999. The Galaxy S4 Mini was launched with much higher pricing but because of its age has gradually been subjected to price cuts. It can now be found on sale for around Rs. 16,500 depending on retailer and color option, bringing it much nearer to the Moto G price.
This is an interesting specs clash as the pricing of these two phones when they were first released was a long way apart, so comparing the specs of the older more expensive Samsung handset with the newer cheaper Motorola one gives food for thought. Taking a look at the specs we can see that there are some benefits for each phone over the other.
For example the Moto G has a quad-core processor, a larger display with higher resolution, a higher model of internal storage, and a higher capacity battery. It also runs the latest version of Android and Motorola is being prompt in providing timely updates. Alternatively the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini has a faster processor, more RAM and higher expandable storage level, better video capture, the advantage of a removable battery, and a smaller and lighter form factor.
There are some real swings and roundabouts here then, so you will also want to consider designs and brand preference. If you want the latest version of Android and a larger display the Moto G (2014) could be the right choice for you. However, if a removable battery and smaller handset is more important then the Galaxy S4 Mini could be the one. We’d be interested in hearing your comments once you’d considered the above specs comparison.
Would you rather purchase the newer Moto G (2014) Dual SIM or will you stick with the established Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini that’s more expensive despite being the older of the two?