Motorola Moto G42vsMotorola Moto G Play (2021)

We compare these two popular phones to help you decide which one fits your needs and budget better.

Motorola
Motorola Moto G42
Moto G42
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (SM6225)
RAM:4GB
Storage:128GB

Quick Stats

The Moto G42's impressive battery life, lasting over a day and a half, is its standout feature.
The Motorola Moto G42's impressive display is its strongest selling point, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks.
The Motorola Moto G42's macro camera is subpar and an insult to consumers, failing to deliver genuine value.
The Motorola Moto G42 offers reliable performance for everyday use, despite some limitations with RAM and connectivity.
Motorola
Motorola Moto G Play (2021)
Moto G Play (2021)
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 460
RAM:3GB
Storage:32GB

Quick Stats

The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) boasts an exceptional battery life, lasting at least two days with moderate use.
The Motorola Moto G Play's display is a mixed bag, lacking vivid colors and sufficient brightness.
The Motorola Moto G Play (2021)'s camera is an average performer that fails to impress in low-light conditions.
The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) struggles with demanding activities due to mediocre performance specs.
Key Differences

Processor Speed

Winner
Motorola Moto G42
2.40 GHz
Motorola Moto G Play (2021)
1.80 GHz

RAM

Winner
Motorola Moto G42
4GB
Motorola Moto G Play (2021)
3GB

Storage

Winner
Motorola Moto G42
128GB
Motorola Moto G Play (2021)
32GB

Weight

Winner
Motorola Moto G42
174g
Motorola Moto G Play (2021)
204g
Specifications Comparison
Specification
Motorola Motorola Moto G42
Motorola Motorola Moto G Play (2021)
Model
Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (SM6225)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 460
CPU
4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold + 4x1.9GHz Kryo 265 Silver
4x Kryo 240 1.8 GHz + 4x Kryo 240 1.5 GHz
Type
Octa-Core
Octa-Core
Nanometer
6
11
Frequency
2.40
1.80
64 Bits
Yes
Yes
GPU
Adreno 610
Qualcomm Adreno 610
RAM
4
3
Type
LPDDR4X RAM
LPDDR4X RAM
Capacity
128
32
Fingerprint security
Yes, on the side
Yes, on the side
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Proximity sensor
Yes
Yes
Light sensor
Yes
Yes
Accelerometer sensor
Yes
Yes
Compass sensor
Yes
N/A
Gyroscope sensor
Yes
Yes
Audio
Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers
N/A
Antutu Score
249000
142150
Antutu Version
Antutu v9
Antutu v8
Antutu Standing
Overall performance better than 59% of devices
Overall performance better than 52% of devices
Cooling system
No
No
Gaming buttons
No
No
Extras
N/A
N/A

Note: Highlighted specifications show differences between the two devices.

Pros and Cons

Motorola Moto G42

Strengths

The phone comes with a nice inclusion, a 20W charger and a Type-C to Type-A cable.
The device has a pretty decent display, a 6.4-inch AMOLED display at a resolution of 1080 x 2400, which is great for its price (around €200).
The phone's battery size is impressive, with a 5000mAh capacity, making it suitable for heavy users.
The charging speed is not bad at all, with a 20W charger that can quickly top up the battery.
The display is also quite good in terms of color accuracy and brightness.
The device has a triple camera setup, which might appeal to some users.
The phone's design is sleek and slim, making it comfortable to hold.

Weaknesses

The phone's RAM capacity is on the lower side, with only 4GB available.
There is no 5G connectivity, which is a drawback in today's market where most phones already have this feature.
The secondary camera (8MP ultra-wide) and macro camera (2MP) are not very impressive and can be considered as 'garbage sensors' by the reviewer.
The phone's chipset is a Snapdragon 680, which might not be powerful enough for demanding users.
The macro camera's performance is particularly disappointing, with the reviewer unable to take a clear photo even at close range.

Motorola Moto G Play (2021)

Strengths

A relatively modern design with a small teardrop-shaped notch and rear-mounted fingerprint sensor
Good battery life, lasting at least two days even with moderately heavy use
The phone can squeeze a few full days of use out of its 5,000 milliamp hour battery
Decent camera performance in well-lit environments, capturing decent shots
A relatively clean software experience with Motorola's My UX, which is close to stock Android 10
Good value for money at $170, making it a great option for those on a tight budget
Wireless charging would be expected, but not really necessary given the price point

Weaknesses

The phone has a low-end display with a 720p resolution, which can look dull and lack vivid colors
Performance is slightly underpowered, leading to skips and freezes in software and longer load times for mobile gaming
Benchmark results show that the phone's performance lags behind other devices in the Moto G series
Camera performance is not great in low-light environments, resulting in noisy photos with little detail
The front-facing camera also struggles in low light, making it difficult to capture clear images
Software updates are limited, with only one major update planned for Android 11 and two years of security updates
No telephoto or ultrawide lenses on the camera, which can be a drawback for some users
Read Full Reviews

Motorola Moto G42

The Motorola Moto G42 is a budget-friendly smartphone that punches above its weight class. With a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, the phone offers impressive visuals for a device in this price range. The spec list leans towards affordability, with a Snapdragon 680 chipset and 4GB of RAM. A 5000mAh battery and 20W fast charging are also notable features. However, the absence of 5G connectivity is a drawback, as is the inclusion of a subpar macro camera sensor.

Motorola Moto G Play (2021)

The Motorola Moto G Play has long been the benchmark for budget-friendly smartphones, offering impressive performance without breaking the bank. Priced at an affordable $170, this device seems like a no-brainer. But is it truly a home run? With its relatively modern design and decent specs, including a 5,000mAh battery and Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor, the Moto G Play promises to deliver. But how does it hold up in real-world use?

Need help choosing?

Read our detailed reviews to understand which device is better for your specific needs and budget.

Read Motorola Moto G42 ReviewRead Motorola Moto G Play (2021) Review

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