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
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
The iPhone SE is 27-percent lighter.
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
You have two colors to choose from for the Moto, next to the iPhone's four.
Water resistance
Motorola lists some light splash resistance for the G5 Plus, but neither has an IP rating.
Display size
The Moto G5 Plus' screen is 69-percent bigger.
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
Both manufacturers use IPS display panels.
Pressure-sensitive display
The lower-end iPhone SE lacks the 3D Touch (press deeper on the screen for shortcuts) found in the iPhone 6s and newer.
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
You'll double your RAM if you opt for the higher-storage tier of the Moto G5 Plus.
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
No matter which storage configuration you get, though, the Moto G5 Plus lets you augment its internal storage with a microSD card.
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
No matter what its battery life looks like, the Moto G5 Plus gives you quick-charging tech.
Camera megapixels
The only aberration in this visual is the iPhone's low-res front-facing camera.
OIS
Neither phone's rear camera has Optical Image Stabilization.
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
Both have front-facing fingerprint sensors.
Software
It's Android Nougat (mostly stock) vs. iOS 10.
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)
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.
