iPhone 14 vs. Motorola Edge+ (2023): A Deep Dive into Performance, Battery, and Value

The iPhone 14 represents Apple’s continued refinement of its established formula, while the Motorola Edge+ (2023) aggressively challenges the flagship space with cutting-edge specs at a more competitive price. This comparison dissects these two devices, focusing on where the A15 Bionic and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 diverge, and which phone best suits different user priorities.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem prioritizing seamless software integration and long-term support, the iPhone 14 remains a solid choice. However, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) delivers superior charging speeds and raw processing power thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, making it the winner for Android enthusiasts and power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 14 Motorola Edge+ (2023)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2882, A28841, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2882, A28841, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 41, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2883-
Launch
Announced2022, September 072023, May 02
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 16Available. Released 2023, May 19
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 in)161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight172 g (6.07 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetApple A15 Bionic (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (5-core graphics)Adreno 740
OSiOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 13, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM512GB 8GB RAM
 NVMeUFS 4.0
Main Camera
Dual12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/1.6, (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBLightning, USB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)Ready For 3.5 support
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update68W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wired 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3279 mAh (12.68 Wh)Li-Po 5100 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red, YellowInterstellar Black
ModelsA2882, A2649, A2881, A2884, A2883, iphone14,7-
Price€ 344.00 / $ 277.58 / £ 300.00 / ₹ 64,900$ 298.99
SAR1.15 W/kg (head)     1.16 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 90h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -25.2 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 817125 (v9) GeekBench: 4761 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Apple iPhone 14

  • Seamless iOS ecosystem integration
  • Long-term software support
  • Excellent video recording quality

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Less powerful processor compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Limited customization options

Motorola Edge+ (2023)

  • Faster 68W wired charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Android software update consistency can vary
  • Less established brand reputation than Apple
  • Camera performance may not match iPhone in all scenarios

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 boasts a display capable of reaching 804 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. While the Motorola Edge+ (2023) display specs are not provided, Motorola typically utilizes high-quality OLED panels. The iPhone 14’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. The iPhone 14 also supports Qi2 wireless charging, requiring an iOS 17.2 update, while the Edge+ offers 15W wireless charging. The lack of refresh rate information for the Edge+ is a notable omission, but the iPhone 14’s display is a known quantity, offering a consistently excellent viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable camera systems, but detailed specifications are limited. The iPhone 14’s camera is known for its excellent video recording capabilities and computational photography. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) likely benefits from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s advanced image signal processor (ISP). Without sensor size or aperture data for the Edge+, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, Motorola has been increasingly focusing on camera quality in its flagship devices, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP should deliver strong image processing. The iPhone 14’s strength lies in its consistent, reliable image quality and user-friendly camera app.

Performance

The Motorola Edge+ (2023) leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), an octa-core processor with a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz. This architecture is designed for sustained performance and efficiency. In contrast, the iPhone 14 utilizes Apple’s A15 Bionic (5nm) – a hexa-core chip. While the A15 is incredibly capable, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s more modern architecture and 4nm process node generally translate to better thermal efficiency and potentially higher sustained performance, particularly in demanding tasks like gaming. The Edge+’s CPU configuration, with its mix of Cortex-A715 and A710 cores, provides a broader range of performance profiles than the A15’s Avalanche/Blizzard setup.

Battery Life

The iPhone 14 achieves an endurance rating of 90 hours, indicating solid battery life. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) significantly outpaces the iPhone 14 in charging speed, offering 68W wired charging, capable of a full charge in under an hour. The iPhone 14’s wired charging is limited to PD2.0, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. The Edge+ also offers 15W wireless charging and even 5W reverse wired/wireless charging for accessories. While the iPhone 14’s endurance is respectable, the Edge+’s faster charging and reverse charging capabilities provide a more convenient user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 14 if you need a phone with a mature, polished operating system, guaranteed software updates for years to come, and tight integration with other Apple devices. Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2023) if you prioritize raw performance, incredibly fast charging, and a more open Android experience without sacrificing flagship-level features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Motorola Edge+ (2023) overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is designed with thermal efficiency in mind, utilizing a 4nm process. While any powerful processor can generate heat, the 8 Gen 2’s architecture and Motorola’s cooling solutions should mitigate significant throttling during extended gaming. However, sustained peak performance will inevitably lead to some heat generation.
❓ How does the iPhone 14’s software support compare to the Motorola Edge+ (2023)?
Apple provides typically 5-7 years of software updates for its iPhones, ensuring long-term security and feature enhancements. Motorola’s software update commitment is generally shorter, typically 2-3 major Android updates and 3 years of security patches. This is a significant advantage for the iPhone 14 in terms of longevity.
❓ Is the 5W reverse wireless charging on the Motorola Edge+ (2023) useful for charging accessories like earbuds?
While 5W reverse wireless charging is slow, it can be convenient for topping up accessories like wireless earbuds or a smartwatch in a pinch. It’s not a replacement for a dedicated charger, but it offers a useful emergency charging option.