Motorola Edge 20 Pro vs. Edge 40 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

Motorola's Edge series consistently delivers impressive features at competitive prices. The Edge 20 Pro was a strong contender, but the newer Edge 40 Pro brings significant upgrades. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is the clear winner, offering a vastly superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, significantly faster charging, and a brighter display. While the 20 Pro remains a capable device, the 40 Pro's advancements make it the better investment for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 20 Pro Motorola Edge 40 Pro
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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 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, April 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 16Available. Released 2023, April 04
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) or eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight185/190 g (depending on color) (6.53 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 Water-repellent designIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 740
OSAndroid 11, planned upgrade to Android 13Android 13, up to 3 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
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), 1.0µm50 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
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/960fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 -Ready For 3.5 support
Battery
Charging30W wired125W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 6 min, 100% in 23 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wired 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4600 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Blue, Blue Vegan Leather, Iridescent CloudInterstellar Black, Lunar Blue
ModelsXT2153-1-
PriceAbout 330 EUR€ 313.87
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 112h Endurance rating 117h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -29.2 LUFS (Average) -22.6 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance AnTuTu: 711090 (v9) GeekBench: 3140 (v5.1) GFXBench: 49fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1273764 (v9) GeekBench: 4896 (v5.1), 5352 (v6) GFXBench: 112fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 20 Pro

  • Excellent battery life
  • Capable camera
  • Solid performance for the price
  • Good value

  • Outdated chipset
  • Slower charging
  • Lower display brightness
  • Lacks wireless charging

Motorola Edge 40 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 125W charging
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Improved camera processing

  • Potentially higher price
  • Battery life marginally better but not a huge difference

Display Comparison

The Edge 40 Pro boasts a massive upgrade with a 1050 nits peak brightness compared to the 20 Pro's 673 nits. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the 40 Pro's increased brightness makes it significantly better for outdoor visibility. The 40 Pro also likely has a more modern panel with smoother scrolling and potentially a higher refresh rate (likely 144Hz vs 130Hz on the 20 Pro).

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Edge 40 Pro likely has improvements in image processing and low-light performance due to the newer chipset and potentially updated sensors. Both likely offer similar primary sensor resolution (50MP), but the 40 Pro's image signal processor (ISP) will be more advanced. Video recording capabilities are also likely enhanced on the 40 Pro.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Edge 40 Pro is a generational leap over the Snapdragon 870 in the 20 Pro. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and vastly improved gaming performance. The 40 Pro's newer chipset also benefits from improved power efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones offer similar endurance ratings (112h vs 117h), suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage. However, the Edge 40 Pro's 125W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups compared to the 20 Pro's 30W charging. The 40 Pro also includes wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the 20 Pro.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Edge 20 Pro? Those on a tighter budget who prioritize battery life and don't need the absolute latest performance. Who should buy the Motorola Edge 40 Pro? Anyone seeking a flagship experience with blazing-fast charging, a stunning display, and top-tier performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Motorola Edge 40 Pro worth the upgrade from the Edge 20 Pro?
Yes, the Edge 40 Pro offers significant improvements in performance, charging speed, and display brightness, making it a worthwhile upgrade for most users.
❓ What is the battery life like on both phones?
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings around 112-117 hours. However, the Edge 40 Pro's faster charging makes it more convenient.