Moto G 2014 vs. BlackBerry Z3 – Specifications, Features And Price Showdown

The Moto G 2014 has recently been released in September with improved features, whereas the well-received BlackBerry Z3 was released in May. Readers who are interested in the budget-friendly and well-specced BlackBerry Z3 or the Moto G 2014 should check out this comparison.

Display, Exterior And Size

Interestingly, both the smartphones feature the same 5.0-inch display. However, the screen resolution and pixel density of the Moto G 2014 and the BlackBerry Z3 stand at (720 x 1,280 pixels and 294 ppi) and (540 x 960 pixels and 220 ppi), respectively .

When it comes to design, the 2014 Moto G variant looks identical to the 2013 model, barring the size difference. The latest smartphone features the same plastic exterior and the option of alterable rear shells, similar to other Moto series of devices. Motorola has carefully crafted the handset and the plastic build quality has improved tremendously, thereby making the 2014 Moto G model a worthy replacement for the 2013 version, says Phone Arena.

BlackBerry, on the other hand, has used smooth glass with less bezels surrounding the screen of the Z3. In NDTV's words, "the Z3 is ridiculously good looking and its construction quality is impeccable." The rear panel of the BlackBerry Z3 is made of textured plastic material. Furthermore, the Z3 provides good grip, even if the device is slightly on the heavier side. Overall, the handset is thin, smooth and can give high-end smartphones a run for their money, reports NDTV.

Speaking of size, the thickness and the weight of the BlackBerry Z3 and the Moto G are (0.37-inch and 164 g) and (0.43-inch and 149 g) respectively. While the Moto G is lighter, the BlackBerry Z3 is slimmer out of the two devices.

Hardware, Software And Memory

The Moto G 2014 is powered by a quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 400) Cortex-A7 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz. Meanwhile, the BlackBerry Z3 is powered by a dual-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 400) Krait 200 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz. The Motorola and BlackBerry smartphones come equipped with 1 GB and 1.5 GB of RAM, respectively. While the Moto G 2014 runs on Android v4.4.4 KitKat OS that is upgradable to Android L, the BlackBerry Z3 runs on BlackBerry 10.2.1 OS.

As far as the memory goes, the 2014 Moto G offers 8 GB and 16 GB of internal storage, whereas the BlackBerry Z3 settles for 8 GB. Nonetheless, both the handsets support microSD card for expansion up to 32 GB.

Camera And Battery

The BlackBerry Z3 sports a 5 MP primary camera unit with LED flash. The Moto G 2014, on the other hand, features an improved 8 MP rear-facing camera with LED flash and HDR. Additionally, the Motorola and BlackBerry devices house 2 MP and 1.1 MP secondary units. When it comes to battery, the 2014 Moto G is backed by a good Li-Ion 2070 mAh unit, whereas the BlackBerry Z3 comes with a relatively better Li-Ion 2500 mAh battery unit.

Misc

1. Similar to other Motorola handsets, the 2014 Moto G also features the same alterable rear panels with the help of Moto Maker. In addition, the front panel comes with two choices namely black and white. Meanwhile, the BlackBerry Z3 dons the professional look in black hue.

2. Both the handsets support Bluetooth v4.0, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi hotspot and microUSB port. However, both the devices do not support 4G LTE or NFC.

3. Unlike other BlackBerry handsets, the Z3 does not come with mini-HDMI port. Lastly, both the smartphones employ micro-SIM.

Price

The BlackBerry Z3 (8 GB) can be purchased for AU$269.95. Meanwhile, the Moto G 2014 (8 GB) is priced at AU$268 in Australia.

Also Read

1. Nexus X (aka Nexus 6, Motorola Shamu) Gets High Benchmark Scores, Trumping Other Android Rivals - [Read]

2. Apple iPad Air 2 On Release Date To Feature Thinner Profile, 2GB RAM, Apple Pay, Touch ID, Fully-Laminated Display - [Read]

3. Fresh Video Of Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Emerges Focusing On Improved S Pen As Samsung's Q3 Operating Profits Drop - [Read]