Entry-level showdown: Moto C vs Xiaomi Redmi 4 vs Xiaomi Redmi 4A

Rehan Hooda • June 3, 2017, 10:14:58 IST

We have taken the best entry-level smartphones available in the Indian market under Rs 7,000 and compared how they compare against each other in terms of specs.

Entry-level showdown: Moto C vs Xiaomi Redmi 4 vs Xiaomi Redmi 4A

Lenovo just launched a new entry-level smartphone, the Moto C in India . The company is planning to target the untapped market that is planning to buy their first smartphone with the Rs 5,999 price tag. The launch of Moto C points to a trend where smartphone makers are trying to expand the market and price segments. This device is the third device this year that smartphone makers have launched in India.

Prior to the launch by Lenovo, Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi Redmi 4 and Redmi 4A . Both smartphones by the company aimed at consumers who are moving to buy their first smartphone. With the companies pushing it in terms of the combination of price and specs, we thought that it is the right time to compare the entry-level devices available in the market.

Smartphone	Moto C	Xiaomi Redmi 4	Xiaomi Redmi 4A
Display Size (inch)	5	5	5
Resolution (pixels)	480 x 854	720 x 1280	720 x 1280
Pixel Density (PPI)	196	296	296
Display Type	TFT	IPS LCD	IPS LCD
Dimensions(mm)	145.5x73.6x9	141.3x69.6x8.9	139.9x70.4x8.5
Weight (gm)	154	156	131.5
Dual SIM	Yes	Yes	Yes
SIM Type	Micro-SIM	Micro, Nano-SIM	Micro, Nano-SIM
Connectivity Types	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
Processor	Mediatek MT6737M	Qualcomm Snapdragon 435	Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
CPU Cores	Quad-core	Octa-core	Quad-core
CPU Clock Speed (GHz)	4x1.1 Cortex A53	8x1.4 Cortex A53	4x1.4 Cortex A53
GPU	Mali-T720MP2	Adreno 505	Adreno 308
RAM	1 GB	2 GB,3 GB,4 GB	2 GB
Ruggedness	–	–	–
On-Board Memory	8,16 GB	16,32,64 GB	16 GB
Expandable Memory	Yes, up to 32 GB	Yes, up to 256 GB	Yes, up to 128 GB
Sensors	Accelerometer	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass
Primary Camera	5MP	13MP, f/2.2	13MP, f/2.2
Optical Image Stabilization	No	No	No
Camera Array	Single Camera	Single Camera	Single Camera
Autofocus System	-	Phase detection	Phase detection
Secondary Camera	5MP	5MP, f/2.2	5MP, f/2.2
Video Capture	1080p	1080p	1080p
Flash	LED	LED	LED
OS Version	Android 7.0 Nougat	Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow	Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
AI (Smart Assistant)	Google Assistant	Google Assistant	Google Assistant
GPS	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot
Bluetooth	v4.2, A2DP, LE	v4.1, A2DP, LE	v4.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	No	No
Infrared	No	Yes	Yes
Fingerprint Scanner	No	Yes, Rear button	No
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes	Yes
Radio	Yes, FM Radio	Yes, FM Radio	Yes, FM Radio
USB Type	microUSB v2.0	microUSB v2.0	microUSB v2.0
USB Standard	USB v2.0	USB v2.0	USB v2.0
Battery (mAh)	“>2,350	“>4,100	“>3,120
Quick Charge	No	Yes	No
Colors	Pearl White, Starry Black	Gray, Gold, Black	Gold, Rose Gold, Dark Grey
Prices in India (Rs.)	“>5,999	“>6,999	“>5,999

Verdict

Xiaomi Redmi 4 offers the best value for money at a price of Rs 6,999 when compared against the Moto C and Xiaomi Redmi 4A. One thing to note here is that the comparison only takes the specifications in the account. The reason for this is because Redmi 4 sports Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, which is faster than the processor in other phones in the comparison. It comes with double the RAM in Moto C and equal to the RAM available in the Redmi 4A.

Redmi 4 also offers more configurations in terms of the RAM and storage in comparison to Moto C and Redmi 4A. Last but not the least, Redmi 4 offers HD screen while Moto C offers FWVGA resolution which is laughable at best in 2017.

We have not taken the user experience offered by the smartphones in the account because we have yet to test the Moto C. But going by what we have on paper, the smartphone still packs in the bare minimal to run the Android OS.

Talking about Android what you do get with Moto C is Android 7.0 Nougat, something that is currently a rarity across Xiaomi’s smartphone range. Still, then the 2 GB RAM seems future proof considering that Android Go is not arriving anytime soon. Android Go according to Google will provide the latest version of Android (O in this case) that is optimised to run on devices with just 512 MB RAM. But for now, the Redmi 4 with a metal body, fingerprint reader clearly wins this entry-level showdown.