Mobile Technology

Moto G5 Plus vs. iPhone SE

Moto G5 Plus vs. iPhone SE
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Moto G5 Plus (left) and Apple iPhone SE
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Moto G5 Plus (left) and Apple iPhone SE
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3D Touch
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3D Touch
Camera aperture (rear)
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Camera aperture (rear)
Battery
3/24
Battery
Build
4/24
Build
Camera megapixels
5/24
Camera megapixels
Color options
6/24
Color options
Processor
7/24
Processor
Dimensions
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Dimensions
Display resolution
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Display resolution
Display size
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Display size
Display type
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Display type
Fast charging
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Fast charging
Fingerprint sensor
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Fingerprint sensor
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Moto G5 Plus (left) and Apple iPhone SE
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New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Moto G5 Plus (left) and Apple iPhone SE
microSD
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microSD
Mobile payments
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Mobile payments
Optical Image Stabilization
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Optical Image Stabilization
Starting price (full retail)
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Starting price (full retail)
RAM
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RAM
Release
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Release
Software
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Software
Storage
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Storage
Water resistance
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Water resistance
Weight
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Weight
View gallery - 24 images

Lenovo's Moto G series has been, for four generations, the ideal prototype of a high-quality, mid-ranged smartphone. The closest Apple gets to that is its tiny iPhone SE. Let's compare the features and specs of the new Moto G5 Plus and iPhone SE.

Size

Dimensions
Dimensions

There are many phones bigger than the Moto G5 Plus, but it towers over the teensy iPhone SE. The G5 comes out 21-percent taller and 25-percent wider.

Keep in mind the Moto's depth measurement is only counting the thickest point of its rounded back.

Weight

Weight
Weight

The iPhone SE is 27-percent lighter.

Build

Build
Build

The Moto G series has always cut the bill of materials by using all plastic, but this year it adds some metal to the mix.

Colors

Color options
Color options

You have two colors to choose from for the Moto, next to the iPhone's four.

Water resistance

Water resistance
Water resistance

Motorola lists some light splash resistance for the G5 Plus, but neither has an IP rating.

Display size

Display size
Display size

The Moto G5 Plus' screen is 69-percent bigger.

Display resolution

Display resolution
Display resolution

The iPhone SE has the same pixel density as today's 4.7-in iPhones, but it lacks the improved contrast and color gamut that you'll see on the iPhone 7.

Display type

Display type
Display type

Both manufacturers use IPS display panels.

Pressure-sensitive display

3D Touch
3D Touch

The lower-end iPhone SE lacks the 3D Touch (press deeper on the screen for shortcuts) found in the iPhone 6s and newer.

Processor

Processor
Processor

The iPhone SE has the same A9 chip found in Apple's late-2015 flagships (iPhone 6s and Plus), and it should still be at least a little faster than the Moto's mid-ranged Snapdragon 625 processor.

RAM

RAM
RAM

You'll double your RAM if you opt for the higher-storage tier of the Moto G5 Plus.

Storage

Storage
Storage

The US model of the Moto G5 Plus will double the entry-level storage of the iPhone SE. (Some regions will see 16 GB and 32 GB options for the Moto.)

microSD

microSD
microSD

No matter which storage configuration you get, though, the Moto G5 Plus lets you augment its internal storage with a microSD card.

Battery

Battery
Battery

The Moto G5 Plus has a much bigger (higher-capacity) battery, though that won't necessarily translate into longer uptimes. Stay tuned for testing in our review.

Fast charging

Fast charging
Fast charging

No matter what its battery life looks like, the Moto G5 Plus gives you quick-charging tech.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels
Camera megapixels

The only aberration in this visual is the iPhone's low-res front-facing camera.

OIS

Optical Image Stabilization
Optical Image Stabilization

Neither phone's rear camera has Optical Image Stabilization.

Mobile payments

Mobile payments
Mobile payments

Apple compromised in some areas for the iPhone SE, but it included NFC so it can support Apple Pay.

With no NFC, you can't use Android Pay on the Moto.

Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensor
Fingerprint sensor

Both have front-facing fingerprint sensors.

Software

Software
Software

It's Android Nougat (mostly stock) vs. iOS 10.

Release

Release
Release

The Moto G5 Plus releases this month, while the iPhone SE has been around for a year. It isn't yet clear whether Apple is planning on updating the SE for 2017, but we may know before long.

Starting price (full retail)

Starting price (full retail)
Starting price (full retail)

The Moto G5 Plus can save you US$170. While some customers may find that premium worth paying to get the iOS operating system and Apple's hardware-software symmetry in a small and somewhat-inexpensive package, others may prefer the Moto's bigger screen and capable all-around spec sheet.

We'll have more on the Moto G5 Plus in our full review, but in the meantime you can revisit our hands-on impressions from MWC.

View gallery - 24 images
1 comment
1 comment
gbsderm
Sorry, but this review misses the point.
First, comparing a newly release computer product to one a year old and due for an up grade is a valid comparison.
More importantly, Apple produced a phone with iPhone qualities but in a smaller size. For those of us who don't want to carry around a small TV and computer in our pocket, the size of the iPhone SE is an asset, not a liability.