Smartphones that contain the word “Play” in their model name are usually affordable devices that have the quality-price ratio as one of their strongest points. Moto G7 Play was announced a few days ago as the most affordable phone from the G7 series, and it is one of the most interesting last-generation handsets for people with a low budget. Even Xiaomi and Huawei released two low-end “Play” devices: the Xiaomi Mi Play and the Honor Play 8A. Here is a comparison that will help you find out which of these devices actually offers the best value for money.
Motorola Moto G7 Play vs Huawei Honor Play 8A vs Xiaomi Mi Play
| Motorola Moto G7 Play | Huawei Honor Play 8A | Xiaomi Mi Play | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 147.3 x 71.5 x 8 mm, 149 grams | 156.28 x 73.5 x 8 mm, 150 grams | 147.76 x 71.89 x 7.8 mm, 150 grams |
| DISPLAY | 5.7 inches, 720 x 1512p (HD+), 294 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.09 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 290 ppi, IPS LCD | 5.84 inches, 1080 x 2280p (HD+), 432 ppi, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 632, octa-core 1.8 GHz | MediaTek Helio P35, octa-core 2.3 GHz | MediaTek Helio P35, octa-core 2.3 GHz |
| MEMORY | 2 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie, EMUI | Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS |
| CAMERA | 13 MP f/2.2 8 MP f/2.2 front camera |
13 MP f/1.8 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 12 +2 MP 8 MP front camera |
| BATTERY | 3000 mAh, fast charging 10W | 3000 mAh | 3000 mAh |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
Xiaomi put a lot of efforts in the design and build quality of the Mi Play and it is definitely one of the most beautiful devices you can buy with a price tag inferior to $200. It is equipped with a stunning glass back that you can get in reflective and gradient color variants. And it also has a very small dewdrop notch that minimizes the bezels around the display. Moto G7 Play has original but uglier aesthetics than both Xiaomi Mi Play and Honor Play 8A, but it has a more solid build quality and it is splash resistant. Further, it is the only to integrate a fingerprint reader on the back, and its display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.
Display
Among these devices, only Xiaomi Mi Play comes with a Full HD+ display, so it delivers a much higher definition and image clarity. However, you’ll want to know that Honor Play 8A has a significantly bigger display that is preferred by a lot of users. But it is only an HD+ display, so if you are looking for the best sharpness this is not the device for you. Moto G7 Play is even less interesting: not only it comes with the HD+ resolution, but it also has a way bigger notch and an even smaller display than the Xiaomi Mi Play. On the other hand, it is a more compact and lightweight smartphone.
Specs & Software
If we talk about the chipset, all these devices should deliver more or less the same level of performance. The Helio P35 found on the Xiaomi Mi Play and Honor Play 8A is at the same level as the Snapdragon 632 in most of the scenarios. The element making the difference on these handsets is the memory configuration. Indeed, Xiaomi Mi Play has whopping 4 GB of RAM, Honor Play 8A has 3 GB and Moto G7 Play just 2 GB of RAM which represent an important limit for a midrange-class chipset such as the Snapdragon 632. Further, note that Xiaomi Mi Play has 64 GB of internal storage while Moto G7 Play stops at 32 GB. Xiaomi Mi Play and Honor Play 8A have custom user interfaces, while Moto G7 Play has stock Android.
Camera
Unlike its rivals, Xiaomi Mi Play sports a dual camera setup on the back with a depth sensor. But despite the double sensor, Honor Play 8A impressed me more with its rear camera quality. It does not provide a so good bokeh effect, but it captures a lot of detail, even when light conditions are not the best. It also comes with accurate and pretty fast autofocus. If you prefer to have a better front camera, then Moto G7 Play is for you as it comes with a great front snapper and a front-facing LED flash.
Battery
You get exactly the same battery capacity for all of these handsets: 3000 mAh. But we believe Xiaomi Mi Play will not reach the same battery life of its opponents due to its less efficient Full HD+ display. We still did not have a chance to test the Moto G7 Play, but I personally prefer it because it is the only to feature a fast charging technology (10W is not much, but still faster). However, note that fast charging will come only in selected markets and not on all the units.
Price
You can grab a unit of the Honor Play 8A for just €100/$113, Xiaomi Mi Play, that is the winner of this comparison, costs about €170/$191, while Moto G7 Play will cost about €150/$170.
Motorola Moto G7 Play vs Huawei Honor Play 8A vs Xiaomi Mi Play: PROs and CONS
Motorola Moto G7 Play
PROs
- Compact design
- Fast charging
- Affordable
- Android Pie
- Fingerprint reader
- Front-facing LED flash
CONS
- Less impressive cameras
Xiaomi Mi Play
PROs
- Compact and lightweight
- Good design
- Android Pie
- Better hardware
CONS
- Average cameras
- No fingerprint reader
Honor Play 8A
PROs
- Very affordable
- Good cameras
- Android Pie
- Fast charging
CONS
- No fingerprint reader
