LG G8
This is a flagship-level phone that now dips down to a mid-range price at times. The hardware, display, specs, and cameras are all on par with a phone that's hundreds more, which puts it way beyond your typical $500 phone.
Moto Z4
The Moto Z4 leans on Motorola's clean software, simple hardware, and Moto Mod compatibility. It's a reliable phone, but not one that can compete with devices in the tier above.
The LG G8 would usually sit way above the Moto Z4, but sales bring the G8's price so low that they're directly comparable at times.
What's the difference between the LG G8 and Moto Z4?
LG G8 price drops bring it down to $600 or even $500 at times, which makes it an incredible value and also a completely unfair fight for the Moto Z4 that was designed to be this price from the start. Just looking at the spec sheet, you can see the LG G8's head start: a higher-resolution screen, a dramatically better processor, more RAM, more cameras, water resistance, and more.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | LG G8 | Moto Z4 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie |
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED 3120x1440 Gorilla Glass 6 | 6.39-inch OLED 2340x1080 Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| Expandable | microSD | microSD |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB |
| Rear Camera 1 | 12MP, 1.4µm pixels, f/1.5, OIS 78° lens | 48MP quad pixel, f/1.7 |
| Rear Camera 2 | 16MP, 1.0µm pixels, f/1.9 107° lens, fixed focus | n/a |
| Front Camera 1 | 8MP, f/1.7 80° lens, fixed focus | 25MP, f/2.0 wide-angle lens |
| Front Camera 2 | ToF | n/a |
| Audio | 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC Boombox speaker Crystal Sound OLED speaker Headphone jack | Front-facing speaker Headphone jack |
| Battery | 3500mAh Non-removable | 3600mAh Non-removable |
| Charging | USB-C Quick Charge 3.0 Qi wireless | USB-C TurboPower charger |
| Water resistance | IP68 MIL-STD 810G certified | Water-repellent coating |
| Security | Rear fingerprint sensor Face unlock Hand ID | In-display fingerprint sensor |
| Dimensions | 151.9 x 71.8 x 8.4 mm 167 g | 75 x 158 x 7.35 mm 165 g |
The G8's spec sheet is stronger, but that advantage also carries over to how the phone actually operates. You'll immediately notice the difference in display quality and overall performance with the G8, which are areas companies tend to skimp when prices drop. You'll also be getting an extra camera on both the front and back of the G8, and while the Moto Z4's cameras are capable they don't stand up to what LG has to offer. Incredibly, you could get this much phone for as little as $500 with the LG G8 when sales land.
The $500 Moto Z4 isn't a complete loser here, because its software is superior in terms of being simple and easy to use, its battery life is a big strength, and it has Moto Mods compatibility for fun accessorizing. But you can probably look past LG's more antiquated and sometimes frustrating software to get all of the other benefits that put it above the Moto Z4 in daily use.
Deep discounts make this flagship-level phone an incredible value at a mid-range price.
The G8 doesn't offer much value at its regular retail price, but with deep discounts, it's a top competitor. The hardware, specs, display, and camera quality are well beyond what you would expect for the money. Just wait for a deep discount, and go for it.
Keep it simple.
Motorola's easy-to-use software and robust hardware make the Z4 a solid choice. The rest of the experience rounds out as you'd expect for this price, but performance and display quality are shortcomings.
