Budget phones are faster, take great photos, and are look much better than their counterparts from just a few years ago. At Android Central we’ve used every budget phone that has come out of Motorola and Xiaomi, and are here to help you choose the right budget phone for your needs.
Redmi Note 7 Pro
Budget behemoth
₹13,999 at Flipkart
Pros
- Outstanding specs
- Great 48MP camera
- Two-day battery life
- Gorgeous gradient design
Cons
- MIUI filled with ads
- Limited to Asian markets
- Available only via flash sales
Like previous Redmi devices, the Redmi Note 7 Pro delivers incredible value for your money. The switch to a Snapdragon 675 has made things that much faster, and the 48MP camera is the one to beat in the budget segment. Combine that with a 4000mAh battery that charges over USB-C at 18W and you get one of the best overall packages in 2019.
Moto G7
Underwhelming
$300 at Amazon
Pros
- Clean software
- Works on U.S. carriers
- 12MP camera takes decent photos
Cons
- Slow updates
- Costly for what you get
Motorola isn’t what it used to be, but the Moto G7 is one of its strongest budget phones to date. The hardware has picked up a much-needed refresh, as has the design. The software continues to be devoid of any overt customization, but you’ll have to wait a while to receive updates. That said, it does cost more than the Redmi Note 7 Pro in India.
Motorola is often the first name you think of when buying a budget phone, but in recent years the brand has lagged behind Chinese rivals like Xiaomi and Honor. Xiaomi, in particular, has come to rule this space in markets like India and China thanks to a string of Redmi devices that offer great value for money. Let’s see if the Moto G7 has what it takes against the beastly Redmi Note 7 Pro.
The Redmi Note 7 Pro has much better specs
From the very beginning, the Redmi series defined value in the budget segment. That particular trait hasn’t changed in the last five years, and the Redmi Note 7 Pro manages to deliver outstanding value. There’s a new Snapdragon 675 under the hood that offers a decent performance boost, and the chipset is specifically optimized for gaming.
Like previous Redmi phones, the Redmi Note 7 Pro breaks new ground for value.
You also get a 48MP camera that spits out 12MP photos, a 4000mAh battery that lasts for two days, an IR blaster, and a headphone jack. Fast charging was one area where previous Redmi devices were found to be lacking, but the Redmi Note 7 Pro has 18W fast charging over USB-C. Oh, and there’s also a notification LED embedded in the bottom bezel.
While earlier models had lackluster designs, Xiaomi overhauled the aesthetic on the Redmi Note 7 Pro, with the phone sporting a fresh design with interesting gradient patterns at the back.
The 48MP camera is also interesting as it takes breathtaking photos. On the hardware front, there isn’t a single area where the Redmi Note 7 Pro does not utterly dominate.
| Operating system | Android 9.0 PieMIUI 10 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Display | 6.3-inch IPS LCD, 2340×1080 (19.5:9)Gorilla Glass 5 | 6.2-inch IPS LCD, 2270×1080 (19:9)Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 6752 x 2.0GHz Kryo 460 Gold6 x 1.7GHz Kryo 460 SilverAdreno 612 | Snapdragon 6324 x 1.8GHZ Kryo 250 Gold4 x 1.8GHz Kryo 250 SilverAdreno 506 |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB | 64GB |
| MicroSD slot | Yes (up to 256GB)Hybrid slot | Yes (up to 512GB)Dedicated slot |
| Rear camera 1 | 48MP f/1.8 PDAF | 12MP f/2.0 PDAF |
| Rear camera 2 | 5MP f/2.2 | 5MP f/2.2 |
| Front camera | 13MP f/2.2 | 8MP f/2.2 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 acBluetooth 5.0GPSFM radio | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/nBluetooth 4.2 LEGPSFM radio |
| Audio | 3.5mm jackSingle speaker | 3.5mm jackSingle speaker |
| Battery | 4000mAhNon-removable | 3000mAhNon-removable |
| Charging | USB-C18W | USB-C15W |
| Water resistance | No rating | No rating |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 75.2 x 8.1mm186g | 157 x 75.3 x 8mm172g |
| Colors | Neptune Blue, Space Black, Nebula Red | Ceramic Black, Clear White |
Motorola wasn’t known for delivering the absolute latest specs, with its Moto G phones striking a balance between speed and affordability. That’s true of the Moto G7 as well; the Snapdragon 632 is a definite upgrade over last year’s SD450, and it’s immediately evident once you start using the device.
The Moto G7 has robust hardware, but it isn’t quite on the same level as Xiaomi.
There’s much more power on offer, and the design has also been updated for 2019. That said, the hardware just isn’t on the same level as what you get on the Redmi Note 7 Pro, and the 3000mAh battery is good for just a day’s worth of use. The 4000mAh unit on the Redmi Note 7 Pro lasts considerably longer.
Furthermore, Motorola is getting increasingly tone-deaf when it comes to pricing, with the Moto G7 retailing for ₹3,000 more than the Redmi Note 7 Pro in India. Even Samsung has managed to turn things around with its budget-focused Galaxy A30 and A50, so it’s a shame to see Motorola fail to adapt to market realities.
The Moto G7 delivers a cleaner software
The Moto G7’s redeeming factor is the software. Motorola continues to deliver a clean and uncluttered software experience interspersed with a few unique additions in the form of Moto Display and Moto Actions.
Motorola’s software continues to be great — even if updates aren’t delivered timely anymore.
The result is that the software on the Moto G7 is a delight to use, and it’s vastly better than MIUI 10 on the Redmi Note 7 Pro. Xiaomi has made numerous changes in MIUI over the last two years, but there’s also an unwelcome addition in the form of ads. The interface is bogged down with ads, and while there is an option to disable them, it mars the overall experience.
That said, Motorola also has a few issues of its own when it comes to software. The brand no longer delivers updates on time — if at all — so if you’re eyeing the Moto G7, know that you’ll have to wait a long time before it’ll pick up platform or security updates.
Redmi Note 7 Pro is the obvious choice — if you can get it
It’s no wonder that Xiaomi has managed to sell over a million units of the Redmi Note 7 series in just under a month. The hardware on offer combined with the gorgeous design makes the Redmi Note 7 Pro one of the best budget phones of 2019, and it’s an easy decision to make provided you’re in a country where the phone is officially on sale.
If not, the Moto G7 is a decent alternative. The hardware isn’t at the same level as the Redmi Note 7 Pro, but you do get cleaner software.
Redmi Note 7 Pro
Budget behemoth
₹13,999 at Flipkart
The best budget phone in 2019.
There are few devices that come close to the Redmi Note 7 Pro when it comes to value. With a Snapdragon 675 chipset, 48MP camera, and 4000mAh battery with USB-C and 18W fast charging, there’s not a single area where the phone doesn’t excel. Combine all that with a price tag under $250, and you can see why Xiaomi dominates this space.
Moto G7
Underwhelming
- $300 at Amazon
- ₹16,999 at Flipkart
A decent effort that ultimately isn’t worth your time.
Motorola deserves credit for trying, but the Moto G7 just isn’t able to hold its own next to the Redmi Note 7 Pro. The design isn’t as exciting as Xiaomi’s phone, and the G7 also loses out when it comes to the hardware. What ultimately kills the phone is the fact that it costs more than the Redmi Note 7 Pro, making it a non-starter in key markets like India.
