Moto G7 vs. Moto G7 Power: Which should you buy?

Moto G7

The Moto G7 is an all-rounder that gets the basics right. The hardware on offer is powerful for most day-to-day tasks, and the camera also holds up well. The glass back gives it a more premium feel, and Motorola has cut down on the bezels on the front by switching to a waterdrop cutout. The 3000mAh battery easily delivers a day's worth of use, and the software doesn't have a lot of clutter. Overall, the Moto G7 is a great budget phone for 2019.

Moto G7 Power

The Moto G7 Power retains a lot of the same internal hardware as the G7 but adds a massive 5000mAh battery that's guaranteed to last over two days. It has 15W fast charging as well, which means you'll be able to charge the device in under two hours fully. The 720p display isn't as sharp as what you get on the G7, but it also ekes out more battery life from the device. If you need a reliable budget phone with outstanding battery life, look no further.

Motorola is no stranger to the budget segment, and in recent years, the brand has differentiated its products to better cater to global markets. That has resulted in the introduction of devices with large batteries and entry-level models with hardware that's just decent enough for everyday use. With four models in the G7 series, let's take a look at how the standard Moto G7 differs from the G7 Power.

The Moto G7 and G7 Power share a lot of specs

Motorola has switched up the design of its Moto G series a few times in recent years, and the current glass-backed design gives the phones a more premium look. Both the Moto G7 and G7 Power share a similar design aesthetic, with the main difference being the cutout at the top of the display. The standard G7 has a tiny waterdrop cutout whereas the G7 Power has a wider notch.

Both devices also have a chin that has the Motorola logo on full display, and the fingerprint sensors are tucked underneath the Batwing symbol at the back. The glass front and back are sandwiched by a polycarbonate frame, and Motorola has managed to do a great job retaining that upmarket feel with both devices.

The internal hardware is nearly identical as well: the Moto G7 and G7 Power are both powered by the Snapdragon 632 chipset. The G7 comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage as standard, and the G7 Power has a more modest 3GB/32GB configuration. That said, the G7 Power costs considerably less.

Both devices sport 6.2-inch IPS panels, but the G7 has an FHD+ display (2270 x 1080), while the G7 Power has a 720p screen. As you'd expect, the display on the G7 Power isn't as sharp as that of the standard G7, but it's still a decent enough panel in its own right. Both devices charge over USB-C and have 3.5mm jacks.

The Moto G7 has a 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel camera configuration at the back, and the ƒ/1.8 lens coupled with the secondary sensor gives it a tiny advantage over the G7 Power in this regard. You still get portrait mode on the G7 Power, but it's software-based.

Things are even when it comes to the software side of things. Both phones run Android 9 Pie out of the box, and Motorola's software experience continues to be fluid and clutter-free — though unfortunately, neither phone is likely to get updated past Pie any time soon, given Motorola's poor track record in that regard.

The Moto G7 Power dominates when it comes to battery life

The Moto G7 Power's marquee feature is the 5000mAh battery. Combined with the low power draw of the 720p display, Motorola says the device will last over two days between charges. The added battery makes the device thicker by 1.3mm from the standard G7 and heavier by 21g, but it's well worth it, considering the G7 Power vastly outmatches the G7 in longevity.

The G7 Power always manages to deliver screen-on time over 10 hours, and the fact that you don't have to plug in your phone for charging at the end of the day is pretty great. When you do need to top up your device, the G7 Power has 15W fast charging.

The Moto G7 doesn't come close to these figures, but it still manages to deliver a day's worth of use. But if battery life is what you're after, the G7 Power is the obvious winner.

You can't go wrong with either device

The Moto G7 will be the default choice for many, but the Moto G7 Power is the better option for those that prioritize battery life. Its 5000mAh battery combined with the 720p display deliver unmatched battery life in this segment, and there aren't any devices at this price point that come close to the G7 Power's battery figures.

Motorola knows what sells in the budget segment, and that was the reason for the introduction of the Power series in the first place. The Moto G7 is a solid choice for the money, but if you also can't go wrong with the G7 Power. You lose out on a high-res screen and memory, but the insane battery life more than makes up for it.