Motorola Moto G Fast vs Moto G Power: Which Budget Phone is Right For You?

The sheer amount of great budget phones these days can make choosing confusing. Well, allow me to lend some insight specifically around two popular picks – the Moto G Fast and Moto G Power from Motorola‘s value-packed Moto G series.

First…what are these phones exactly? The Moto G lineup has long provided quality Android smartphones at affordable prices. We‘re talking flagship-level features for under $300.

The latest entries, the Moto G Fast and Moto G Power continue this trend but with a few key differences among otherwise comparable specs. Think of them like fraternal twins – similar DNA but unique qualities setting them apart.

This guide will compare their displays, performance, cameras and features to help clarify precisely how they diverge. Let‘s dive in and hopefully make your buying decision easier!

At a Glance Comparison

Before getting into nitty-gritty details, here‘s a high-level overview:

|   | Moto G Fast | Moto G Power |
| —- | ————– |
| Display | 6.4” LCD 60Hz | 6.5" LCD 90 Hz
| Chipset | Snapdragon 665 | MediaTek Helio G37
| RAM | 3GB | 4GB
| Storage | 32GB | 64GB
| Camera | 16MP triple | 50MP triple
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh

In short: The Moto G Fast promises faster processing and responsiveness while the Moto G Power prioritizes epic battery life, photo quality and storage.

But what do those spec sheet lines actually mean in real world use? Let‘s investigate further…

Display and Design

Both phones sport nearly bezel-less LCD screens with similar 720p resolutions. But the Moto G Power‘s extra 0.1-inches of diagonal screen space pushes it slightly ahead for a more immersive viewing experience:

• Moto G Fast: 6.4” 1560 x 720 pixels, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
• Moto G Power: 6.5” 1600 x 720 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio

Pixel density lands at 268 ppi vs 270 ppi respectively – a difference imperceptible to the naked eye.

However, while matched on paper, independent lab tests reveal around 12% higher peak brightness (475 nits) for the Moto G Power over the Moto G Fast‘s 425 nits. This gives the Power better outdoor visibility when ambient light washes displays out.

More significantly, a 50% faster screen refresh rate on the Moto G Power smoothens animations and scrolling. Its 90Hz refresh versus 60Hz on the Moto G Fast reduces motion blur for better-looking games and video.

For casual users, a 90Hz display holds less importance. But media lovers and mobile gamers will appreciate the fluidity.

Physically, both showcase stylishly rounded corners and nearly identical dimensions/weight. Tasteful tear-drop notches house front cameras while square camera bumps adorn backsides.

Overall, while minor discrepancies separate their screens and designs, the Moto G Power wins this round thanks to extra real estate, brighter output and a smoother refresh rate.

Performance and Hardware

Now let‘s peek under the hood at the silicon and components enabling these phones‘ functionality…

The Moto G Fast runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. Conversely, the Helio G37 powers the Moto G Power paired to 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

Benchmark tests illustrate a clear hierarchy:

• AnTuTu scores: Moto G Fast 259,487 versus Moto G Power 177,106
• Geekbench 5 (single/multi core): Moto G Fast 311 / 1345 versus Moto G Power 174 / 874

Translated – the Moto G Fast holds around a 45% compute and graphics advantage for noticeably snappier response when opening apps, applying filters to photos or battling enemies in mobile games.

Think of processors like car engines. The Snapdragon 665 simply packs more horsepower.

However, an extra 1GB RAM helps the Moto G Power edge ahead in multi-tasking scenarios. You can keep 2-3 more apps actively cached in the background before slowdowns kick in.

Storage favors the Moto G Power at 64GB over 32GB on the Moto G Fast. This leaves adequate room for photos, playlists and Netflix downloads out the gate before needing expansion via microSD card.

In summary – The Moto G Fast promises a faster, smoother user experience best leveraged by avid gamers and streaming addicts. But the Moto G Power counterpunches with enough oomph for daily tasks plus superior memory and storage.

Battery Life

Given the “Power” branding, all-day endurance tops priorities here…

The Moto G Power packs a chunky 5000mAh battery – 25% greater capacity than the 4000mAh cell inside the Moto G Fast. As expected, this translates to substantially lengthier runtime off charger:

• Moto G Fast: around 14 hours of continuous web browsing over WiFi
• Moto G Power: approximately 18 hours via similar workload

So in terms of raw longevity, the Moto G Power definitely lives up to its namesake. Most users should expect two full days between charges depending on usage. Even heaviest users will easily achieve a full day without battery anxiety kicking in.

Both phones also support fast charging. But the Moto G Power juices up quicker thanks to 18 watt charging versus just 10 watts on the Moto G Fast.

For shoppers demanding supreme battery life above all else, the Moto G Power can’t be beat at its price point. While the Moto G Fast still impresses at 14 hours/charge, the Power runs laps around it here.

Camera Performance

Cameras remain a priority point for many new phone buyers as well. Let‘s examine the snappers…

While both deliver flexible triple camera arrays, the Moto G Power pulls off noticeably better image quality thanks to its higher resolution 50MP main sensor. Better dynamic range and cleaner low light shots give it the decisive edge:

Moto G Power camera sample illustrating sharp detail and wide dynamic range

Conversely, photos from the Moto G Fast‘s 16MP shooter still look nice for a budget phone. But expect mushier details, poorer contrast and extra noise in challenging lighting:

Moto G Fast camera sample exhibiting noisier low light performance

Casual shooters may deem the Moto G Fast adequate. However, comparing samples against the Moto G Power reveals obvious wins in clarity and HDR-like vibrance.

For mobile photographers or imaging enthusiasts on a budget, the Moto G Power emerges as the unambiguous pick here. Even at this affordable pricing tier, its 50MP triple camera impresses similar to more expensive mid-rangers.

Software Features

On the software front, both launch with Android 10 and can upgrade to the recent Android 11. So you’re set on OS updates for a couple years with either device.

Motorola adds a light proprietary skin on top mainly adding unique iconography, background themes and a customizable always-on display mode. But otherwise, they stick very close to Google‘s stock Android vision – clean, intuitive, and bloatware-free.

That said, the Moto G Power does pack one special treat missing from its sibling – an integrated FM Radio app. This nifty addition lets you tune FM stations and record live content without internet connectivity. It‘s an underrated entertainment lifesaver when you have bad cell service like camping or commuting underground.

Which Should You Buy?

So wrapping up this Moto G showdown, should you go Fast or Power?

Buy the Moto G Fast for:

• Snappy performance
• Smooth gaming
• Brighter display

Buy the Moto G Power for:

• 2-day battery life
• Excellent camera quality
• More internal storage
• FM radio listening

On paper, both navigate everyday tasks fine considering budget price points. And they share plenty in common like headphone jacks, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and vibrant 6.4”+ LCDs.

But depending on your must-have priorities – fluid speed, stunning photography, marathon runtimes – one likely suits you better. Hopefully mapping out their differences here guides your decision clearly!

Let me know if any other questions come up. Enjoy whichever Moto G phone you choose!