Motorola Edge 20 Pro vs. Edge 30 Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown

Motorola's Edge series consistently delivers impressive features at competitive prices. The Edge 20 Pro was a strong contender, but the Edge 30 Ultra raises the bar significantly. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone deserves your money.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is the clear winner, boasting a vastly superior display, significantly faster performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, and incredibly fast charging. While the 20 Pro offers decent value, the 30 Ultra's upgrades make it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Edge 20 Pro	Motorola Edge 30 Ultra

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, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2021, July 29	2022, September 08
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 16	Available. Released 2022, September 08

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) or eco leather back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions	163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)	161.8 x 73.5 x 8.4 mm (6.37 x 2.89 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	185/190 g (depending on color) (6.53 oz)	198.5 g (7.02 oz)
	Water-repellent design	-

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+	P-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1250 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 730
OS	Android 11, planned upgrade to Android 13	Android 12, upgradable to Android 15

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/3.4, 126mm (periscope telephoto), 1.0µm, 5x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm	200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.22", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/1.6, (telephoto), 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm
Video	8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/960fps, gyro-EIS	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/320/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm	60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct - InternationalWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct - PRC

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	Ready For support

Battery
Charging	30W wired	125W wired 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4610 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Blue, Blue Vegan Leather, Iridescent Cloud	Interstellar Black, Starlight White
Models	XT2153-1	XT-2201
Price	About 330 EUR	€ 238.91

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 112h	Endurance rating 92h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-29.2 LUFS (Average)	-23.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 711090 (v9) GeekBench: 3140 (v5.1) GFXBench: 49fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 1074722 (v9) GeekBench: 4265 (v5.1) GFXBench: 73fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 20 Pro

Good value for money
Decent camera performance
Solid overall performance
Good battery life (initial endurance rating)

Older chipset
Lower display brightness
Slower charging speeds
Less premium feel

Motorola Edge 30 Ultra

Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Stunning, high-brightness display
Incredibly fast charging (125W wired)
Improved camera system
Premium design

Higher price
Battery life slightly lower than 20 Pro (though charging compensates)
Potential for overheating under sustained load (typical of high-performance chips)

Display Comparison

The Edge 30 Ultra's display is a major upgrade. Its 1047 nits peak brightness blows the 20 Pro's 673 nits out of the water, making it far more visible in direct sunlight. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite, nominally), but the 30 Ultra's higher resolution and refresh rate (likely 144Hz, versus the 20 Pro's 135Hz) contribute to a smoother, more vibrant visual experience. Color accuracy is also likely improved on the 30 Ultra.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Edge 30 Ultra likely has a larger primary sensor (rumored to be 200MP) which should translate to better low-light performance and more detail. The 20 Pro's camera is still good, but the 30 Ultra's advancements are noticeable. Video recording capabilities are also likely improved on the 30 Ultra.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Edge 30 Ultra is a generational leap over the Snapdragon 870 in the 20 Pro. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. The 30 Ultra's more efficient 4nm process also contributes to better power management despite the increased performance.

Battery Life

The Edge 20 Pro initially had a slight edge with a higher endurance rating (112h vs 92h). However, the Edge 30 Ultra's 125W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging further enhance its convenience.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Edge 20 Pro? Those on a tighter budget who still want a solid, reliable phone with a good camera and decent performance. Who should buy the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra? Anyone seeking a flagship experience with a stunning display, blazing-fast speeds, and cutting-edge charging technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra worth the extra cost over the Edge 20 Pro?

Yes, if you prioritize performance, display quality, and charging speed. The 30 Ultra offers a significant upgrade in these areas.

❓ What is the battery life like on the Edge 30 Ultra?

While the endurance rating is slightly lower than the 20 Pro, the incredibly fast charging makes up for it. You can quickly top up the battery when needed.