Motorola Edge 20 Pro vs. Edge 40: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Motorola's Edge series consistently delivers impressive features at competitive prices. The Edge 20 Pro, a previous flagship, faces off against the newer Edge 40. Which phone offers the best value and performance for your needs? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola Edge 40 emerges as the winner thanks to its significantly brighter display, faster charging (wired and wireless), and more modern chipset. While the Edge 20 Pro boasts slightly better battery endurance, the Edge 40's overall improvements make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 20 Pro Motorola Edge 40
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, July 292023, May 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 16Available. Released 2023, May 04
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) or eco leather backGlass front, aluminum frame, plastic back or eco leather back
Dimensions163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)158.4 x 72 x 7.6 mm (6.24 x 2.83 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight185/190 g (depending on color) (6.53 oz)167 g or 171 g (5.89 oz)
 Water-repellent designIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+P-OLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G77 MC9
OSAndroid 11, planned upgrade to Android 13Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual-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
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple108 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-
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 -Moto Ready For support
Battery
Charging30W wired68W wired 15W wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Blue, Blue Vegan Leather, Iridescent CloudNebula Green, Lunar Blue, Eclipse Black, Viva Magenta
ModelsXT2153-1XT2303-2
PriceAbout 330 EUR€ 202.03 / $ 419.99 / £ 199.00 / ₹ 29,999
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 112h Endurance rating 98h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -29.2 LUFS (Average) -24.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 711090 (v9) GeekBench: 3140 (v5.1) GFXBench: 49fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 688347 (v9) GeekBench: 3320 (v5.1), 3603 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 20 Pro

  • Slightly better battery life
  • Mature software experience
  • Potentially better zoom capabilities

  • Older chipset
  • Lower display brightness
  • Slower charging

Motorola Edge 40

  • Brighter display
  • Faster charging (wired & wireless)
  • More modern chipset
  • Likely higher refresh rate

  • Slightly lower battery life

Display Comparison

The Edge 40's display is a clear winner. It boasts a measured peak brightness of 1043 nits compared to the Edge 20 Pro's 673 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility outdoors and a more immersive viewing experience. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the Edge 40's brightness advantage is undeniable. The Edge 40 also likely features a higher refresh rate (typically 144Hz) compared to the Edge 20 Pro (135Hz), further enhancing smoothness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. The Edge 20 Pro likely has a slightly more versatile camera setup with potentially better zoom capabilities. However, the Edge 40's image processing and newer sensor technology could result in improved low-light performance and more accurate colors. Both phones likely record video up to 8K resolution.

Performance

The Edge 40's Dimensity 8020 chipset offers a noticeable performance boost over the Edge 20 Pro's Snapdragon 870. While the Snapdragon 870 is still a capable processor, the Dimensity 8020 benefits from a more modern architecture and improved efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Edge 40. Both phones offer ample RAM (likely 8GB or 12GB) for most users.

Battery Life

The Edge 20 Pro holds a slight edge in battery endurance, with an endurance rating of 112 hours compared to the Edge 40's 98 hours. However, the Edge 40's significantly faster 68W wired charging and 15W wireless charging more than compensate for the slightly lower battery life. You'll spend less time plugged in with the Edge 40.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Edge 20 Pro? Users prioritizing maximum battery life and a slightly more mature software experience might find value. Who should buy the Motorola Edge 40? Those seeking a vibrant display, faster charging, and a more recent processor will appreciate the Edge 40's upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Motorola Edge 40 worth upgrading from the Edge 20 Pro?
Yes, the Edge 40 offers significant improvements in display brightness, charging speed, and performance, making it a worthwhile upgrade for most users.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Motorola generally provides timely software updates. However, the Edge 20 Pro, being older, may have a shorter window of guaranteed updates compared to the Edge 40.