Samsung Galaxy J8 vs Moto G6 vs Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Max Pro M1: A specs face off

While my last comparison saw the legendary Moto G in its latest iteration stack up against the mighty Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, a few new smartphones have been launched recently so it makes complete sense to add these new smartphones to the mix and then take a broader look at which one you should go in for.Another reason for this comparison is the recent launch of the Samsung Galaxy J8. Now, Samsung has been making several attempts at releasing new budget smartphones with new software features, but they somehow always paled in comparison to the current king of the ring, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro that currently retails at Rs 14,999. Samsung’s Galaxy J8 is priced at a hefty Rs 18,990 and sees Samsung attempt to take the crown from the Redmi Note 5 Pro. But there are several smartphones in the hierarchy that the J8 will have to tackle before it even gets a chance to contest with Xiaomi’s contender.[caption id="attachment_4626691" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Samsung Galaxy J8.[/caption]So what does the Samsung Galaxy J8 bring to the table?Not much. Samsung’s banking on some new software camera features to woo in customers for its budget dual camera offering.On paper, here's how the phones compare and an overview of which phone has the edge.Design: Moto G6The design is similar to Samsung’s slightly pricier Galaxy A6+ smartphone, just that the J8 uses polycarbonate (plastic) instead of metal on the A6+. The design is strictly Samsung with the typical rounded corners, but lacks a display with rounded corners to go with the overall design theme. Indeed, the winner here is the Moto G6 with its metal and glass design, one that looks good enough to make me forget its Snapdragon 450 SoC inside.[caption id="attachment_4495717" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Motorola Moto G6 looks and feels premium. Image: tech2/Sheldon Pinto[/caption]Display specs: Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1Moving to the display, it is indeed one the of the Galaxy J8’s weak points. Samsung has included a Super AMOLED display with an HD+ (720 x 1,480) which seems a bit too less, when compared every single contender in this comparison. It’s actually a tie between the Xiaomi and Asus here, but we liked Asus’s display a wee bit more.Power specs: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 ProNext up is the choice of SoC. Samsung has gone in for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC which is pretty much the stuff that Xiaomi chucks into its entry-level smartphones (read the Redmi 5). Both the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro do a lot better here and the difference will be visible only for those who love playing graphics-intensive games on their smartphones. If you are not one of them, the Moto G6 is still a better choice than the Galaxy J8. If you look for better multi-tasking capabilities, the 6 GB Redmi Note 5 Pro is your best deal right now, and it is still priced lower than the Galaxy J8 at Rs 16,999.[caption id="attachment_4463773" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The ZenFone Max Pro is the best choice for battery life and stock Android. Image: tech2/ Shomik Sen Bhattacharjee[/caption]Camera specs: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 ProThis is a comparison done on solely going by the specifications on paper. But while we have yet to review the Samsung Galaxy J8 we have reviewed its contenders in the recent past.With that it’s easy for me to conclude that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is still at the top with its AI chops. Samsung’s run rate with cameras, on their mid-range and budget devices, has not been too great in the past, (and so was Xiaomi’s until the Note 5 Pro) and I don’t expect to see a sea change with this one either.Going by their spec sheets, Samsung does have an edge here with wider apertures and bigger sensors.Samsung's highlight with the J8’s camera are its bag of party tricks. The camera offers a features such as Background Blur Shape, Portrait Dolly, and Portrait Backdrop. Out of the three Portrait Dolly seems to be the new camera feature that lets you move the background while keeping your subject steady in the foreground. It looks cool, but we are not sure how many would buy this smartphone just for it. If you don't know what it means, check out this video.Battery specs: Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1The clear winner here is Asus’s ZenFone Max Pro M1. It packs in the highest capacity battery out of all the contenders in the lot and also beats the Redmi Note 5 Pro to the crown. Samsung on its J8 offers a 3,500 mAh battery and with this it only trumps the Moto G6 when it comes to capacity.

Smartphone	Samsung Galaxy J8	ASUS Zenfone Max Pro	Moto G6	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
Display Size (inch)	6	5.99	5.7	5.9
Resolution (pixels)	720 x 1,480	2,160 x 1,080	2,160 x 1,080	2,160 x 1,080
Pixel Density (PPI)	274	402	424	403
Display Type	Super AMOLED	IPS LCD	IPS LCD	IPS LCD
Dimensions(mm)	NA	159 x 76 x 8.5	153.8 x 72.3 x 8.3	158.6 x 75.4 x 8.05
Weight (gm)	NA	-	167	181
Dual SIM	NA	Yes	Yes	Yes
SIM Type	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM
Connectivity Types	GSM / WCDMA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / WCDMA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / VoLTE
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 450	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636	Qualcomm Snapdragon 450	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
CPU Cores	Octa-core	Octa-core	Octa-core	Octa-core
CPU Clock Speed (GHz)	8 x Qualcomm Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 GHz	8xQualcomm Kryo 260 @ 1.8 GHz	8 x Qualcomm Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 GHz	4x Kryo 260 @ up to 1.8 GHz & 4x Kryo 260 @ up to 1.6 GHz
GPU	Adreno 506	Adreno 509	Adreno 506	Adreno 509
RAM	4 GB	3, 4, 6 GB	3, 4 GB	4,6 GB
Ruggedness	NA	–	p2i-rated	–
On-Board Memory	64 GB	32, 64 GB	32, 64 GB	64, 128 GB
Expandable Memory	Yes, up to 256 GB	Yes, up to 2 TB	Yes, up to 256 GB	Yes, upto 256 GB
Sensors	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient light, Proximity, Magnetometer, Ultrasonic	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass
Primary Camera	16 MP f/1.7 aperture + 5 MP f/1.9 aperture	13 MP and 5 MP	12 MP f/1.8 aperture and 5 MP f/1.8 aperture	12 MP, f/2.2 and 5 MP, f/2.0
Optical Image Stabilisation	No	No	No	-
Camera Array	Dual Camera	Dual Camera	Dual Camera	Dual Camera
Autofocus System	NA	Phase detection autofocus	Phase detection autofocus	Phase detection
Secondary Camera	16 MP	8 MP	16 MP	20 MP
Video Capture	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps	1080p@60/30fps	1080p
Flash	LED	LED	LED	Dual-LED
OS Version	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 8.1 Oreo	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 7.1.1 Nougat-based MIUI 9.2
AI (Smart Assistant)	Google Assistant	Google Assistant	Google Assistant	Google Assistant
GPS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 GHz+ 5 GHz	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot
Bluetooth	v4.2	v4.2, A2DP, LE	v4.2, A2DP, LE, EDR	v4.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	No	No	No
Infrared	No	No	No	Yes
Fingerprint Scanner	Yes, Rear	Yes, Rear button	Yes, Front	Yes, Rear button
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Radio	Yes, FM Radio	Yes, FM Radio	Yes, FM Radio	Yes, FM Radio
USB Type	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go	Type-C	microUSB v2.0
USB Standard	USB v2.0	USB v2.0	USB v2.0	USB v2.0
Battery (mAh)	3,500	5,000	3,000	4,000
Fast charging	NA	No	Yes	No
Colors	Blue, Black, Gold	Deepsea Black, Grey	Indigo Black	Black, Gold, Rose Gold, Blue
Prices in India	Starting at Rs 18,990	Starting at Rs 10,999	Starting at Rs 13,999	Starting at Rs 14,999

ConclusionSamsung’s really not got much going with its Galaxy J8 here even if we go just by the specifications on paper. It’s not the best looking smartphone in the lot, nor is it the most powerful device. Add to this the steep price and the plastic construction and you are better off with Moto G6 that looks better and is still a lot cheaper.With that said, Xiaomi is still retains its ‘king of the ring’ title with its Note 5 Pro being the all-rounder (with the best camera) while the Moto G6 wins the beauty contest. And Asus is your best choice for an almost stock Android experience with a focus on battery life. We will let you know the complete verdict on the Samsung J8 after we are done reviewing it thoroughly.