Motorola Moto G 3rd Generation vs Moto G Turbo Edition: Which Should You Buy?

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Motorola Moto G Turbo is the upgraded version of the Moto G 3rd Generation android smartphone. Moto G 2015 was launched in July 2015 while the Turbo Edition has been recently launched on 10th Dec 2015. Both these android smartphones are exactly same in appearance and most hardware specs. The Moto G Turbo now packs an octa-core CPU with turbocharging support. The device can be charged to give 6 hours of backup in just 15 minutes as said by Motorola. With the launch of Moto G Turbo edition, Motorola has left many android users in a confusing state. They are unable to decide which phone to choose between the two. This post will tell you whether you should buy or upgrade to Moto G Turbo edition or not.

Moto G 3rd Generation vs Moto G Turbo Edition: Which Should You Buy?

1. Processor: The Moto G 2015 has a 1.4 GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor while Moto G Turbo Edition has an octa-core CPU. I have found the regular Moto G processor fast enough which is capable of running heavy apps and games without lags. App multitasking is very smooth. So, using an octa-core CPU in place of a quad-core is only beneficial if you are going to run heavy games and multiple apps simultaneously.
2. GPU: Moto G Turbo is backed by a Qualcomm snapdragon MSM8939 chipset which features the Adreno 405 GPU. Adreno 405 GPU is better than Adreno 306 which is the graphics processor in Moto G 3rd Generation. So, you will get good 3D graphics and smooth gaming experience on Moto G Turbo edition.
3. RAM/Memory: Both the latest version of these smartphones have exactly 2 GB of RAM. So, there is almost no difference.

Conclusion: -

Well gaming on the Moto G Turbo is definitely better than regular model. But gaming on the Moto G 2015 is also very good. You can use any of the two and see that there are no lags in gaming. Moto G 3rd generation is capable of running any android game without lags. So only consider the newer Turbo Edition if you are a hardcore gamer and want slightly good performance in android gaming.

Upgrading from the regular version to the turbo version for this reason is not at all a wise decision. The snapdragon 615 chipset features an octa-core CPU with Adreno 405 GPU, so heating issues can be felt on the screen and the back panel while gaming or using Wi-Fi for longer times.

Moto G Turbo Specs That Are Exactly The Same In Moto G3 

The regular and the turbo version of Moto G share a set of same hardware specifications that are listed below.

1. Camera: Both smartphones have the same 13MP rear camera and 5MP selfie camera.
2. Storage: Both the phones have 16 GB onboard storage which can be further expanded to 32 GB.
3. Battery Capacity: Both smartphones have exactly the same 2470 mAh battery which is non-removable. Battery supports USB OTG function.
4. Connectivity: Both these phones share a common set of connectivity options like Bluetooth, 2G/3G/4G LTE, Wi-Fi (only b/g/n), Dual SIM support, GPS and radio.
5. Display: The display is replicated from the regular version to the turbo version of Moto G. The display is 5 inches IPS LCD touchscreen with 294 ppi. The resolution is HD 1280x720 pixels. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 which is also replicated. You may want to install a tempered glass see it how.
6. Android OS: Both these android smartphones are currently running android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS. A planned upgrade to android 6.0 Marshmallow is scheduled for both of these phones in January 2016 (expected).

Which Features Make Moto G Turbo Different From Moto G 2015

The Turbo Edition model has some unique features that can not be found in the regular version. The list is stated below.

1. IP67 Certification: Moto G Turbo is IP67 certified which means it is dust and waterproof. While Moto G3 is only water resistant. I really missed the IP67 certification in Moto G3 which I mentioned in this post. Dust is the ultimate enemy of mobile phones. So, having a dust-proof android phone is a good choice, because your phone will repel dust and will keep itself clean.
2. Turbocharging: The Moto G Turbo edition comes with a turbocharger which can charge it's battery really fast. 15 minutes of turbocharging can make the phone ready for 6 hours. This is Qualcomm's quick charge technology which is not supported by Moto G 3rd Generation. This feature becomes useful when you do not have enough time to charge the phone. The only disadvantage is that phone becomes hot after a quick charge. However, using a normal 5V USB charger will prevent overheating of battery. Turbocharging feature will not work with a normal 5V charger.
3. CPU & GPU: I have already mentioned above about CPU and GPU. The Moto G Turbo has an octa-core CPU with a better Adreno 405 GPU. So gaming and multitasking are better in turbo edition than the regular Moto G. However, this is not a solid reason to buy or upgrade to Moto G Turbo Edition.

Why Should You Buy Moto G Turbo If Most Of The Specs Are Same

The only solid reason that makes me buy this phone is the not much price difference between the regular and turbo edition which is just $22 dollars (INR 1500). So, caring not much about $22 dollars, I would prefer Moto G Turbo. Because it is coming with an octa-core cpu, Adreno 405 GPU, turbocharging support and IP67 certification.

Is Turbocharging, Upgraded CPU/GPU And IP67 Certification A Reason To Buy Or Upgrade To Moto G Turbo

No, above-mentioned features are not at all solid reasons to buy this phone. You can read more below.

1. Turbocharging: This is not a useful feature. The 2470 mAh is capable of providing a one day backup. This battery pack is capable of giving 10 hours of continuous video playback. The battery can last 2 full days if you use your phone 6 hours daily i.e 2 hours each for telephony, web browsing and video playback per day.
   
   So, turbocharging is only useful when you don't have much time to charge the phone. The regular Moto G3's battery take 2 hours to fully charge. It doesn't matter how busy you are in day to day life, you will definitely give this much of time to your phone to charge it.
   
   
2. CPU/GPU: The Turbo edition packs the snapdragon 615 chipset. It has an octa-core CPU with Adreno 405 GPU. The device will heat up during heavy gaming and long Wi-Fi usage sessions. The gaming experience would be definitely better than the Moto G 2015 but device overheating may encountered.
   
   I have personally used Moto G 3rd Generation and played most heavy games without lags. So, this is also not a solid reason, but totally depends on user needs.
   
   
3. IP67 Certification: Having a phone which is dust and waterproof is good. But it is also not a solid reason to buy this phone. Since water damages are accidental so you are assured that your phone won't be damaged by water. The regular version and the turbo version both are waterproof phones if the back cover is properly installed.
   
   Moto G Turbo is dust-proof also. You can make your older Moto G3 dust-proof by buying a phone cover. A phone cover will protect your phone from dust and shocks. Both these phones have Gorilla Glass 3.0 protection which is also dust-proof. So this is also not a solid reason. But it is really a good feature for the people who want to keep their phones dust free.

Should You Upgrade From Moto G 3rd Generation To Moto G Turbo Edition

If you are the owner of a regular Moto G3 and planning to upgrade to Moto G Turbo then this is not a wise decision. Because Moto G Turbo is just another Moto G3 with mild changes. It doesn't have full HD display, a 5GHz Wi-Fi support, an upgraded battery, nearly all hardware specs are same except the CPU and GPU. The turbocharging and dust resistance feature are not much useful for an advanced user.

Verdict

Moto G Turbo Edition is overall a good phone with an upgraded Snapdragon 615 chipset, turbocharging and IP67 certification. So, if this phone is going to be your new phone then spending additional $22 dollars, for it is a good idea. But people who are already using Moto G3 will not experience much difference, so it is better not to upgrade.

 If you have any questions then you can ask via comments.

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