Google Pixel 7 vs. Motorola Edge+ (2023): A Deep Dive into AI and Raw Performance

The Google Pixel 7 and Motorola Edge+ (2023) represent distinct philosophies in the Android space. The Pixel 7 prioritizes Google’s AI-driven features and computational photography, while the Motorola Edge+ (2023) focuses on delivering uncompromising performance with the latest Qualcomm silicon. This comparison dissects these approaches to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera quality, software experience, and AI features, the Google Pixel 7 remains a compelling choice. However, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is the clear winner for power users demanding the fastest performance and quickest charging, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

PHONES
Phone Names Google Pixel 7 Motorola Edge+ (2023)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GQML31, 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, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GQML31, 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, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GVU6C-
Launch
Announced2022, October 062023, May 02
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 13Available. Released 2023, May 19
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm (6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 in)161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight197 g (6.95 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
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 96.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetGoogle Tensor G2 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MP7Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm-
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm-
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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ready For 3.5 support
Battery
Charging20W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 20W wireless Reverse wireless68W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wired 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4355 mAhLi-Po 5100 mAh
Misc
ColorsObsidian, Lemongrass, SnowInterstellar Black
ModelsGVU6C, GQML3, GO3Z5-
Price€ 199.00 / $ 179.26 / £ 189.99 / ₹ 28,499$ 298.99
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 96h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -26.2 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 813114 (v9) GeekBench: 3288 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Google Pixel 7

  • Exceptional camera and image processing
  • Seamless Google software experience
  • Excellent battery life (96h endurance)

  • Less powerful processor than Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Slower charging speeds (20W wired)

Motorola Edge+ (2023)

  • Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Ultra-fast 68W wired charging
  • Potentially better thermal management

  • Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel
  • Camera performance relies more on hardware

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7 boasts a display capable of reaching 974 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Motorola Edge+ (2023) display specs are not provided, Motorola typically uses high-quality panels. The Pixel 7’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a strong OLED implementation. The lack of refresh rate information for the Edge+ is a drawback, but the Pixel 7’s brightness advantage is a significant win for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but approach image processing differently. The Pixel 7 leverages Google’s computational photography expertise, focusing on software enhancements to deliver consistently excellent photos and videos. While specific sensor details are missing, the Pixel 7’s strength lies in its image processing pipeline. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) relies more on the capabilities of its hardware, but without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance or dynamic range compared to the Pixel 7. The Pixel 7’s video capabilities are likely to be superior due to Google’s advanced video stabilization and processing algorithms.

Performance

The Motorola Edge+ (2023) unequivocally leads in raw performance. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) chipset, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, significantly outperforms the Google Tensor G2 (5nm) in the Pixel 7. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s architecture – with its Cortex-A715 and A710 cores – is more efficient and powerful than the Tensor G2’s Cortex-A78 and A55 cores. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon also provides better thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

The Pixel 7 achieves an impressive 96-hour endurance rating, suggesting excellent battery optimization despite not having the largest capacity. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) compensates for potentially lower optimization with significantly faster charging: 68W wired versus the Pixel 7’s 20W. This means the Edge+ can gain 50% charge in less time than the Pixel 7’s 30-minute benchmark. The Edge+ also offers 15W wireless charging, compared to the Pixel 7’s 20W, and both support reverse wireless charging, though the Edge+’s wired reverse charging at 5W is a unique addition.

Buying Guide

Buy the Google Pixel 7 if you need a consistently excellent camera experience, seamless integration with Google services, and a phone that intelligently adapts to your usage patterns. Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2023) if you prioritize raw processing power for gaming and demanding applications, and value the fastest possible charging speeds – a crucial benefit for those constantly on the move.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Google Tensor G2 chip in the Pixel 7 overheat during extended gaming sessions?
While the Tensor G2 is a capable chip, it's known to run warmer than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Expect some throttling during prolonged, graphically intensive gaming, but it shouldn't be a dealbreaker for casual gamers. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) will maintain higher sustained performance due to its more efficient chipset.
❓ How does the 68W charging on the Motorola Edge+ (2023) compare to the Pixel 7's 20W charging in real-world use?
The Motorola Edge+ (2023)'s 68W charging is significantly faster. While the Pixel 7 can reach 50% in 30 minutes, the Edge+ will likely achieve a full charge in under an hour, whereas the Pixel 7 will take considerably longer. This is a major advantage for users who need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on both phones useful for charging accessories like earbuds?
Yes, both phones offer reverse wireless charging, allowing you to use the phone as a wireless charging pad for accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. However, the charging speeds are relatively slow (5W for Motorola, unspecified for Pixel), so it's best suited for small top-ups rather than full charges.