Moto G9 Power vs Moto G8 Power: Know What Changes Between Motorola Phones

The Moto G8 Power and Moto G9 Power phones, by Motorola, are mid-range devices launched in 2020 that share several similarities, such as a battery that guarantees up to two days away from the outlet and expandable memory of up to 512 GB. With prices below $210, the devices tend to be good options for daily use.

Moto G8 Power vs Moto G9 Power Datasheet

SpecificationsMoto G8 PowerMoto G9 Power
LaunchFebruary 2020November 2020
Current price$184.99$208.99
Screen6.4 inches6.8 inches
screen resolutionFull HD+ 19:9 (1080 x 2300 px)HD+ 20.5:9 (720 x 1640 px)
ProcessorSnapdragon 665 (octa-core up to 2.0 GHz)Snapdragon 662 (octa-core up to 2.0 GHz)
RAM4GB4GB
Storage64GB128GB
Memory cardMicro SD up to 512GBMicro SD up to 512GB
Main cameraQuad Camer: 16, 8, 8 and 2 MPTri Camera: 64, 2 and 2 MP
Front camera16 MP16 MP
Battery5,000 mAh6,000 mAh
Operating systemAndroid 10, upgradeable to 11Android 10, upgradeable to 11
Dimensions and weight156 x 75.8 x 9.6 mm; 197 grams172.1 x 76.8 x 9.7 mm; 221 grams
Available colorsBlue and blackgreen and purple
Source: Motorola

Screen and design

Moto G9 Power

The Moto G9 Power is an evolution of the Moto G8 Power, but the manufacturer chose to shrink specifications to cheapen the device. The Moto G9 Power’s screen is 6.8 inches compared to the Moto G8 Power’s 6.4 inches, however, the resolution has decreased. While the former has a Full HD+ resolution screen in a 19:9 aspect ratio, the latter comes equipped with an HD+ screen in a 21:9 aspect ratio, which can generate images with poor definition and sharpness.

Both phones have IPS LCD screens and feature a water-repellent layer. The front camera notch on the devices is unobtrusive, located in the upper left corner. The body construction of the devices is made of plastic with an aluminum alloy bezel and biometric reader located on the back.

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Despite the similar dimensions, there is a noticeable difference in the height of the phones. The Moto G9 Power is 16 mm taller – it’s 172.1 mm versus 156 mm. This change is due to Motorola’s bet on the 21:9 screen format. This, added to the larger battery, has resulted in a heavier handset as well: the Moto G8 Power has 197 grams, while the Moto G9 Power weighs 221 grams. It’s a small increase, but noticeable on a day-to-day basis.

Camera

The cameras have changed from one generation to the next. While the Moto G8 Power has four sensors in the main array, the Moto G9 Power has shrunk to three. Features like the macro camera – capable of photographing objects up close – and HDR are present in both devices.

Moto G8 Power

The Moto G8 Power has an optical zoom of up to two times – which ensures quality photos even from a distance. In addition, it has features such as 4K filming at 30 frames per second (fps) or Full HD at 60 fps and electronic image stabilization (EIS). The ultra-wide camera has a 118Ëš angle for capturing wider images, which reduces the need to move away from the subject.

The combination of optical zoom and 4K shooting makes the device a good option in its price range. However, the phone does not have night mode for low-light photos. The camera set present in the Moto G8 Power is:

  • 16 MP main camera (f/1.7)
  • 8 MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2)
  • 8 MP telephoto (f/2.2)
  • 2 MP Macro (f/2.2)
  • 16 MP front camera (f/2.0)

The Moto G9 Power bets on the quality of photos. There are 64 megapixels in the main camera, which works together with a depth sensor, to assist in portrait mode, an option that blurs the background of the image. The model has neither an ultra-wide camera nor 4K resolution for movies, which are limited to Full HD resolution at 30 or 60 fps.

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The night mode for low-light environments is present, as well as the Quad Pixel function, technology that combines four pixels into a single point to provide greater clarity in photos. The Motorola Moto G9 Power’s set is composed as follows:

  • 64 MP main camera (f/1.8)
  • 2 MP Macro (f/2.4)
  • 2 MP depth sensor (f/2.4)
  • 16 MP (f/2.2) front camera

Performance and storage

Here we find one more similarity: both devices have 4 GB of RAM. The amount is within the standard presented by smartphones in this price range but should affect performance in more demanding games and activities.

Both devices are equipped with mid-range processors, with the main focus on games and photography. The Moto G8 Power features the 2019 Snapdragon 665 with eight cores (4 runs at a speed of up to 2.0 GHz and 4 cores running at 1.8 GHz). The Moto G9 Power, on the other hand, has a 2020 Snapdragon 662, also with eight cores (4 cores run a speed of up to 2.0 GHz and 4 cores running at 1.8 GHz). Although similar, the Moto G9 Power should have an advantage in battery consumption, as its processor is slightly more efficient and modern.

In addition, the devices share the graphics chip (GPU): both are equipped with an older chip, Qualcomm’s Adreno 610, released in 2019. This GPU is also used in the devices released in 2021 and should ensure crash-free game execution.

Another significant difference between the two devices is regarding storage. The Moto G8 Power is sold with 64 GB of storage capacity, satisfactory for an intermediate model. The Moto G9 Power has 128 GB, a similar capacity found in high-end models like the Motorola Edge. Both support micro SD cards up to 512 GB.

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Battery

Battery

One of the highlights of the Power line is the battery. The Moto G8 Power is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery and comes with an 18-watt TurboPower charger. The manufacturer promises hours of battery life with a few minutes of charging.

And if the battery was a differentiator of the Moto G8 Power, the successor has improved a lot – it is 6,000 mAh, which should give autonomy of more than 2 days. The accessory that comes with it has 20 Watts of power and should allow even faster charging.

Android version

Android 10

Both smartphones come out of the factory with Android 10 and are on the list made available by Motorola to receive an update to Android 11. There is, however, no prediction yet as to when this update will reach the devices. Although both phones were released in 2020, one in February and the other in December, the trend is that the Moto G9 Power will have more system updates because it is a more current device.

Additional Features

Both Moto G devices have Bluetooth 5.0, FM radio, USB type C 2.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack, but only the Moto G9 Power has NFC, a technology needed to make payments by proximity. There is also a difference in the Wi-Fi of both. Both can pick up the Wi-Fi signal at 2.4 GHz, but only the Moto G9 Power can use the 5.0 GHz frequency, which has less interference and has a faster connection speed.

Finally, only the most current model, the Moto G9 Power, has a dedicated button for Google Assistant. The button is located on the side of the phone and is used to activate voice control, which makes it possible to ask questions or demand actions from the device to the Assistant. The Moto G8 Power is sold in blue and black colors while the Moto G9 Power is sold in green and purple colors.

Pricing and Availability

The Motorola Moto G8 Power was launched in 2020 and it is available for purchase on Amazon for $184.99. The Moto G9 Power also launched in 2020 is available for purchase on Amazon for $209.99.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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