Google Pixel 5 vs. Motorola Edge+ (2023): A Generational Leap in Performance?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers significantly faster performance and future-proofs the device for demanding tasks. However, the Pixel 5’s exceptional battery endurance and incredibly low price point make it a compelling choice for users prioritizing longevity and value over raw power.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 5 | Motorola Edge+ (2023) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 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 bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 258, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - GD1YQ | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - GTT9Q | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 30 | 2023, May 02 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, October 15 | Available. Released 2023, May 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm (5.70 x 2.77 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 | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 151 g (5.33 oz) | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 87.6 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm | - |
| Features | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| 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 |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ready For 3.5 support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 12W wireless 5W reverse wired | 68W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wired 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4080 mAh | Li-Po 5100 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Just Black, Sorta Sage | Interstellar Black |
| Models | GD1YQ, GTT9Q, G5NZ6 | - |
| Price | € 181.31 / $ 272.44 / £ 136.00 | $ 298.99 |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | $ 194.84 | - |
| RENEWED | $ 253.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 95h | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
Google Pixel 5
- Exceptional Battery Life (95h endurance)
- Very Affordable Price ($194.84)
- Clean and Optimized Software Experience
- Outdated Chipset (Snapdragon 765G)
- Slower Charging Speed (18W)
- Less Future-Proof
Motorola Edge+ (2023)
- Blazing-Fast Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
- Rapid Charging (68W Wired)
- Modern Feature Set
- Higher Price Point
- Potentially Lower Battery Endurance (Unspecified)
- Larger Form Factor (Likely)
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5 features a 6.0-inch OLED display capable of 699 nits of peak brightness, which is respectable but falls short of modern flagships. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) doesn’t specify brightness, but given its flagship status, it likely exceeds this. More importantly, the Pixel 5’s older chipset limits its ability to drive high refresh rate panels, while the Edge+’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 can easily handle 120Hz or higher displays (though this isn’t specified in the provided data). The Pixel 5’s contrast ratio is listed as infinite (nominal), typical for OLED, but the Edge+’s panel technology is unknown, potentially offering superior color accuracy and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
While both phones likely feature capable camera systems, the provided data doesn’t allow for a detailed comparison. The Pixel 5 is known for its excellent computational photography, leveraging Google’s software prowess. However, the Edge+’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 includes a more advanced ISP (Image Signal Processor), potentially enabling faster image processing and improved low-light performance. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively say which phone has the better camera, but the Edge+’s newer hardware gives it an edge.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Pixel 5’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm) is a capable mid-range processor, but it’s dwarfed by the Motorola Edge+ (2023)’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The 4nm process node of the 8 Gen 2 offers significantly improved power efficiency and thermal performance, meaning less throttling during sustained workloads. The Edge+’s CPU configuration – a Cortex-X3 prime core alongside A715 and A710 performance cores – provides a substantial performance uplift over the Pixel 5’s Kryo 475 cores. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a far superior gaming experience.
Battery Life
The Pixel 5 boasts an impressive 95-hour endurance rating, a testament to its efficient chipset and software optimization. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) doesn’t have an endurance rating provided, but its 68W wired charging significantly surpasses the Pixel 5’s 18W charging. This means the Edge+ can replenish its battery much faster, mitigating any potential battery life disadvantage. While the Pixel 5 excels in longevity, the Edge+ offers convenience with its rapid charging capabilities. Both offer 5W reverse wired and the Edge+ adds 5W reverse wireless.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 5 if you need a reliable, long-lasting phone for everyday tasks, prioritize excellent battery life (95h endurance), and are on a tight budget. It’s ideal for users who don’t heavily game or require the latest processing speeds. Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2023) if you demand top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, or multitasking, and value faster charging (68W) and a more modern feature set. This is the phone for power users who want a flagship experience.