The Moto G4 is almost here. Arriving in UK shops in early June, Motorola's latest budget wonderphone looks set to be even more of a bargain than last year's incredible 3rd Gen model. However, this year, it's also being joined by the Moto G4 Plus a couple of weeks later, giving you more choice than ever before.
However, unlike every other phone that has the word 'Plus' in the title, the Moto G4 Plus isn't simply a bigger version of the regular G4. In fact, it's not bigger at all, as both phones are exactly the same size. That might sound counter-intuitive, but to help you understand the differences between each smartphone, we've put both of them head to head to give you a quick rundown of what's new and which one you should be thinking about buying. For a more detailed look at each phone, check out our in-depth Moto G4 hands on review.
Dimensions and screen size
You'd expect a 'Plus' phone to be bigger than the regular version, but this isn't the case with the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus. Instead, they both measure 153x77x7.9mm and weigh 155g. They also have exactly the same screen size, which this year is a 5.5in display with a 1,920x1,080 resolution. That's a huge step up from the previous Moto G, as this only had a 5in, 1,280x720 display.
Processor, storage and battery
The Moto G and Moto G Plus also have the same processor – an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chip, so their speed and day-to-day performance should be nigh-on identical. You will, however, be able to specify how much RAM each handset has if you choose to customise it with Motorola's Moto Maker service. The Moto G4 will be available in 2GB and 4GB configurations, while the Moto G4 Plus will have 2GB, 3GB and 4GB options. Otherwise, the standard handsets you buy in shops will both have 2GB of RAM. You can also customise how much storage the phone has, but here each one has the same capacity options: 16GB, 32GB or 64GB.
The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus have a 3,000mAh battery as well, but only the Moto G4 Plus will come with one of Motorola's TurboPower chargers in the box. Both phones support the technology, which lets you charge your smartphone much faster than a regular charger, but you'll have to buy the TurboPower charger separately if you opt for the regular Moto G4. It's a worthwhile purchase, though, as Motorola claims you'll be able to get 6 hours of use in just 15 minutes of charge, which is incredibly handy for those moments you're due to go out the door and haven't remembered to charge your smartphone beforehand.
Camera
Instead, the main difference comes in the phone's cameras. The Moto G4 has a 13-megapixel sensor, but the G4 Plus has a 16-megapixel sensor. The G4 Plus also has laser and phase detect autofocus, which isn't available on the regular G4. This should, in theory, make the G4 Plus much faster to lock on to targets, but I'll have to wait and see how each camera performs in our tests to see whether it's worth paying the extra.
Security
Another unique feature on the Moto G4 Plus is its front-facing fingerprint sensor. The regular Moto G4 doesn't have one of these, so you won't be able to use it with Android Pay or to wake your phone from sleep with a touch of your finger.
Price
The last key difference between each phone is its price. The regular Moto G4 costs £169 and will be available in early June, while the Moto G4 Plus costs £199 and arrives in late June. I don't know how much the Moto Maker versions of each phone will cost just yet, but customising your phone will obviously add more on top of each respective handset. I'll bring you my final verdict on each phone as soon as review samples are available.
