Google Pixel 6a vs Motorola Edge 40: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola Edge 40 edges out the Pixel 6a with its significantly faster charging, brighter display, and slightly better battery endurance. However, the Pixel 6a's Google Tensor chip and renowned camera software provide a unique and compelling experience for photography enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 6a | Motorola Edge 40 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 11 | 2023, May 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 21 | Available. Released 2023, May 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front, aluminum frame, plastic back or eco leather back |
| Dimensions | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) | 158.4 x 72 x 7.6 mm (6.24 x 2.83 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 167 g or 171 g (5.89 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR | P-OLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor (5 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP20 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades | Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm | 50 MP, f/1.4, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | Moto Ready For support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD3.0 | 68W wired 15W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4410 mAh | Li-Po 4400 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage | Nebula Green, Lunar Blue, Eclipse Black, Viva Magenta |
| Models | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L | XT2303-2 |
| Price | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 | € 202.03 / $ 419.99 / £ 199.00 / ₹ 29,999 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 94h | Endurance rating 98h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 688347 (v9) GeekBench: 3320 (v5.1), 3603 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Google Pixel 6a
- Excellent camera software
- Clean Android experience
- Google ecosystem integration
- Compact size
- Slower charging
- 60Hz display
- Less powerful chipset than Edge 40
Motorola Edge 40
- Faster charging (68W wired, 15W wireless)
- Brighter display
- Sleek design
- Potentially higher refresh rate display
- Camera may not match Pixel 6a's quality
- Motorola's software updates can be less frequent
Display Comparison
The Motorola Edge 40 boasts a significantly brighter display at 1043 nits compared to the Pixel 6a's 876 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the Edge 40's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The Edge 40 also likely features a higher refresh rate (typically 144Hz) for smoother scrolling, while the Pixel 6a is 60Hz.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6a is renowned for its computational photography prowess. Google's software processing consistently delivers excellent image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Edge 40's camera is capable, but likely doesn't match the Pixel 6a's consistent results. Expect the Pixel 6a to excel in portrait mode and low-light photography.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6a's Google Tensor chip is a unique offering, optimized for Google's AI and machine learning tasks. While not the absolute fastest in raw benchmark scores, it delivers a smooth and responsive experience. The Motorola Edge 40's Dimensity 8020 is a powerful chipset, generally offering slightly better raw performance and efficiency. Gaming performance is likely comparable, but the Edge 40 might have a slight edge.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the Motorola Edge 40 slightly edging out the Pixel 6a with an endurance rating of 98h versus 94h. However, the Edge 40's 68W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups compared to the Pixel 6a's 18W charging.
Buying Guide
The Google Pixel 6a is ideal for users prioritizing camera quality, clean software, and tight Google ecosystem integration. The Motorola Edge 40 is a better choice for those seeking a vibrant display, rapid charging, and a more streamlined, modern design.