For the first time in 2019, HMD Global renewed its upper-midrange line-up with a new smartphone launched in the Asian market: the Nokia X71. A few days later, Motorola launched two new variants of the Moto G7 Plus with 4 and 6 GB of RAM, as well as 128 GB of internal storage. Alongside the recently-announced Samsung Galaxy A70, these handsets represent some of the most interesting alternatives when it comes to quality-price ratio. This comparison will tell you which one should have a higher value for money and which is the best device of the trio in case you do not care about the price at all.
Nokia X71 vs Motorola Moto G7 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy A70
| Nokia X71 | Motorola Moto G7 Plus | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 157.2 x 76.5 x 8 mm, 180 grams | 157 x 75.3 x 8.3 mm, 176 grams | 164.3 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm |
| DISPLAY | 6.39 inches, 1080 x 2316p (Full HD+), 400 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.2 inches, 1080 x 2270p (Full HD+), 405 ppi, LTPS IPS LCD | 6.7 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 393 ppi, 20:9 ratio, Super AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, octa-core 1.8 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 670, octa-core 2 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie, One UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 48 + 8 + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 16 + 5 MP f/1.7 and f/2.2 12 MP front camera |
Triple 32 + 8 + 5 MP f/1.7, f/2.2 and f/2.2 32 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 3500 mAh, fast charging 18W | 3000 mAh, fast charging 27W | 4500 mAh, Fast Charging 25W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot |
Design
If you are seeking for the best and most futuristic look you should undoubtedly go for the Nokia X71. It is the first phone by HMD Global to feature a punch-hole display that reaches a screen-to-body ratio close to 100 percent without the need of a notch. Further, it comes with a premium body with a glass back and an aluminum frame. My second place goes to the Moto G7 Plus for having an outstanding build quality. It comes with a glass back protected by Gorilla Glass 3, an aluminum frame and splash resistance. But if you only care about the look, then you may need to know that Samsung Galaxy A70 looks more gorgeous with its gradient colors and a very high screen-to-body ratio. Which one do you prefer?
Display
When it comes to displays, Samsung is most of the times a step forward compared to other manufacturers, as it is one of the most important display manufacturers. Its midrange phones usually come with AMOLED display which boasts a better color reproduction with more brilliant color and deeper blacks. That is exactly the case of the Samsung Galaxy A70 which also comes with an ultra-tall 20:9 aspect ratio and a huge 6.7-inch diagonal. For all these reasons, it easily wins this display comparison. The second place goes to the Moto G7 Plus as it comes with good brightness and nice color reproduction, but it has only marginal differences compared to the Nokia X71.
Specs & Software
Despite Motorola held a separate event to launch a higher-end memory configuration of the Moto G7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy A70 wins the hardware comparison for being equipped with a more powerful chipset and a higher amount of RAM. It sports a wonderful Snapdragon 670 which is paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of internal storage. Moto G7 Plus has an older and less powerful Snapdragon 636, so it gets beaten even by the Nokia X71 which comes with the Snapdragon 660 boasting a higher clock frequency and better graphics performances. Note that Samsung Galaxy A70 has a customized user interface, while Moto G7 Plus and Nokia X71 come with stock Android (X71 is part of the Android One program with faster and more constant updates as well as direct support by Google).
Camera
Overall, the best camera department belongs to the Samsung Galaxy A70. It comes with a triple rear camera composed of a 32 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide secondary lens and a depth sensor, while on the front it has a stunning 32 MP snapper. But if we only consider the rear sensors, Nokia X71 is more or less at the same level with its Carl Zeiss and its 48 MP triple camera. However, we have to test the Nokia X71 thoroughly to give a definitive opinion, and we still did not have the chance to click some photos with it. Unlike its rivals with triple cameras, Moto G7 Plus lacks the ultrawide lens, but it still provides a stunning photo quality thanks to OIS for the primary sensor and a very bright focal aperture.
Battery
Samsung Galaxy A70 is equipped with a monster battery and it lasts a lot more on a single charge. It can even pass two days with a stressed usage pattern, that is amazing. Motorola Moto G7 Plus has the smallest battery and it can not compete with its opponents, but it has also a faster-charging technology, so it is able to fully charge in less time. Nokia X71 sits in the middle with a 3500 mAh unit.
Price
Motorola Moto G7 Plus debuted with a price tag of €300/$335 for the base variant with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage, while Nokia X71 starts from about €350/$393. Samsung still did not reveal the pricing of the Galaxy A70. With the actual info, the Galaxy A70 wins the comparison with better performance, amazing cameras, and a huge battery, but if it will cost more than $450, then its value for money might not be so high.
Nokia X71 vs Motorola Moto G7 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy A70: PROs and CONS
Nokia X71
PROs
- Great design
- Good battery
- Nice build quality
- Nice cameras
CONS
- Costlier
Motorola Moto G7 Plus
PROs
- Good price
- Compact
- Splash resistant
- Stereo speakers
CONS
- Lower-end hardware
Samsung Galaxy A70
PROs
- High performance
- Better display
- Great cameras
- Huge battery
CONS
- Nothing particular
