Moto G Power vs. Moto G8 Plus: Which should you buy?

Moto G Power

Hands-down, the Moto G Power is one of the best budget phones you can buy right now. It's plenty fast, takes respectable pictures, and having a battery that can last up to three days on a single charge is magical. Anyone can buy the phone thanks to its compatibility with all U.S. carriers, and it being backed by a warranty adds greatly-appreciated peace of mind.

Moto G8 Plus

The Moto G8 Plus is cheaper than the G Power despite offering nearly identical specifications, making it a really enticing purchase. If you're just looking at the specs-to-dollar ratio, it's hard to argue with. That said, issues do start to pop up when you consider that it doesn't support Sprint or Verizon's networks and ships without any sort of manufacturer warranty.

If you're shopping for a new Android phone and don't want to spend a lot of cash, you can't go wrong with either of these two phones. They share a lot of the same DNA, making the Moto G8 Plus an especially appealing purchase considering its lower price. The value proposition of the phone is undoubtedly there, but if you rely on Sprint or Verizon for your wireless service, it's a no go. While the Moto G Power does cost a bit more, we think it's the safer purchase for most folks. It's compatible with all carriers, it offers some of the best battery life around, and you actually get a warranty to cover your purchase (something that's not offered with the G8 Plus).

Two very similar phones

Although Motorola doesn't sell the Moto G Power and Moto G8 Plus in the same markets, both phones have a lot in common. In fact, other than some subtle differences with the display and rear camera setup, these are basically the same device.

Both phones are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 665 processor with 4GB of RAM. There's 64GB of built-in storage for all of your local files and you can expand that with a microSD card should you find yourself needing more room. Android 10 is available out-of-the-box with a promise for at least one major OS upgrade, there's a snappy rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging, dual stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack (yes, those still exist).

The Moto G Power has a slightly larger 6.4-inch display with a 2300x1080 resolution, whereas the Moto G8 Plus gets a 6.3-inch 2280x1080 panel. The G Power also opts for a left-mounted hole punch cutout while the G8 Plus has a more symmetrical waterdrop notch in the center.

When it comes to rear cameras, this is where we see the biggest difference. On the Moto G Power, you're treated to a 16MP primary camera, 2MP Macro Vision camera, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera that can be used for photos and videos. Switching to the Moto G8 Plus, you'll find a 48MP primary camera, 5MP depth camera, and 16MP ultra-wide Action Cam that's used exclusively for recording video.

We'd argue that the Moto G Power's camera setup is more useful, though content creators may be drawn to the G8 Plus's Action Cam, which allows you to record horizontal video while holding the phone vertically.

Lastly, while battery life on the Moto G8 Plus is very reliable thanks to its 4,000 mAh battery, there's no beating the up to three-day endurance you get out of the 5,000 mAh battery in the Moto G Power.

Where the Moto G Power comes out ahead

With both phones having so much in common, why are we recommending most people get the more expensive Moto G Power over the Moto G8 Plus? It boils down to two things — carrier compatibility and post-purchase support.

The Moto G8 Plus isn't officially sold in the U.S., meaning when you buy it off Amazon, you're getting an international model. Not only does this limit the G8 Plus to only working with AT&T and T-Mobile, but it also means it doesn't come with a traditional manufacturer warranty. If you break the phone or something else goes wrong, Motorola won't help you one bit.

Comparatively, the Moto G Power works with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It also comes with a one-year limited warranty, giving you added peace of mind in case something does happen.

This makes your decision quite easy if you use Sprint or Verizon, but for folks on AT&T or T-Mobile, you'll need to decide if the extra money required for the G Power is worth it. We think it is considering the potentially more useful cameras, longer battery life, and the included warranty, but that'll ultimately come down to your budget.

No matter which phone you end up choosing, you're getting one heck of a deal.