Google Pixel 7a vs Motorola Edge 40: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is heating up, and two contenders are battling for your attention: the Google Pixel 7a and the Motorola Edge 40. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola Edge 40 takes the lead with its significantly faster charging, longer battery life, and powerful Dimensity 8020 chipset. However, the Pixel 7a's renowned camera and clean Android experience remain strong selling points, making it a solid choice for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Google Pixel 7a Motorola Edge 40
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, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK31, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8-
Launch
Announced2023, May 102023, May 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, May 10Available. Released 2023, May 04
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic backGlass front, aluminum frame, plastic back or eco leather back
Dimensions152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)158.4 x 72 x 7.6 mm (6.24 x 2.83 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight193.5 g (6.84 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
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR, 90HzP-OLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1200 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 (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetGoogle Tensor G2 (5 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MP7Mali-G77 MC9
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm50 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
FeaturesDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 -Moto Ready For support
Battery
Charging18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless68W wired 15W wireless
TypeLi-Po 4385 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsCharcoal, Snow, Sea, CoralNebula Green, Lunar Blue, Eclipse Black, Viva Magenta
ModelsGWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8XT2303-2
Price€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980€ 202.03 / $ 419.99 / £ 199.00 / ₹ 29,999
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 98h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- 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 7a

  • Exceptional camera quality
  • Clean and smooth Android experience
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Compact and comfortable design

  • Slower charging speed
  • Shorter battery life
  • Performance not as strong as competitors
  • Tensor G2 chipset can be inconsistent

Motorola Edge 40

  • Blazing-fast 68W wired charging
  • Longer battery life
  • Powerful Dimensity 8020 chipset
  • Vibrant and bright display
  • Competitive price

  • Camera not as impressive as Pixel 7a
  • Motorola's software support can be less consistent
  • Design may be less premium than Pixel 7a

Display Comparison

Both phones boast impressive displays. The Edge 40 edges out the Pixel 7a with a slightly higher peak brightness (1043 nits vs 1070 nits - a negligible difference) and an infinite contrast ratio, suggesting deeper blacks. The Edge 40 also likely has a smoother 144Hz refresh rate (assumed, not explicitly stated), while the Pixel 7a is likely 90Hz. Both offer excellent viewing experiences.

Camera Comparison

This is where the Pixel 7a shines. Google's computational photography is legendary, and the Pixel 7a consistently produces stunning images, especially in challenging lighting conditions. While the Edge 40's camera is capable, it doesn't quite match the Pixel's image processing prowess. Video quality is likely comparable, but the Pixel's software enhancements could give it a slight edge.

Performance

The Motorola Edge 40's Dimensity 8020 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Pixel 7a's Tensor G2. While the Tensor G2 is optimized for Google's AI features, the Dimensity 8020 generally delivers faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking. Gaming performance will likely be better on the Edge 40.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 40 clearly wins in the battery department. Its endurance rating of 98h significantly surpasses the Pixel 7a's 76h. Coupled with its 68W wired charging, the Edge 40 offers a much faster and more convenient charging experience.

Buying Guide

The Google Pixel 7a is ideal for users prioritizing camera quality, a seamless Android experience, and guaranteed software updates. The Motorola Edge 40 is a better fit for those seeking blazing-fast charging, a vibrant display, and strong performance at a competitive price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Google Pixel 7a is guaranteed to receive faster and more frequent software updates directly from Google.
❓ Is the Motorola Edge 40 good for gaming?
Yes, the Edge 40's Dimensity 8020 chipset provides ample power for smooth gaming performance.