Motorola Edge 20 vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 5a 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly superior battery endurance (122h vs 86h) and Google’s computational photography prowess outweigh the Edge 20’s brighter screen and slightly faster processor. However, users prioritizing display brightness and raw processing power may prefer the Motorola Edge 20.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge 20 | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 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 / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 29 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 16 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass 3) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 163 x 76 x 7 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.28 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Water-repellent design | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm, AF | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Frosted Grey, Frosted White, Frosted Emerald | Mostly Black |
| Models | XT2143-1 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 140 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 86h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -28.7 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 424031 (v8), 488574 (v9) GeekBench: 2550 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Edge 20
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- More powerful Snapdragon 778G processor
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Less refined camera software
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional battery life (122h endurance)
- Google’s superior camera software
- Guaranteed software updates
- Less powerful processor
- Slower 18W charging
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a notably brighter display, reaching 861 nits compared to the Edge 20’s 650 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility under direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks, but the Pixel’s higher peak brightness is the defining difference. While both are OLED panels, the Edge 20’s display technology isn’t specified, potentially lacking features like variable refresh rate found in some competitors. The Pixel 5a 5G’s superior brightness makes it the clear winner for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but Google’s computational photography gives the Pixel 5a 5G a significant advantage. While specific sensor details are missing for both, Google’s image processing algorithms excel at dynamic range, detail preservation, and low-light performance. The Pixel 5a 5G consistently delivers excellent photos with minimal effort. The Edge 20’s camera is described as capable for both photo and video, but lacks the software optimization that defines the Pixel experience. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner based on hardware alone, but the Pixel’s software advantage is substantial.
Performance
The Motorola Edge 20 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm), while the Pixel 5a 5G employs the older Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 778G, built on a smaller 6nm process, generally offers improved efficiency and performance. The Edge 20’s CPU configuration – an octa-core setup with a prime Cortex-A78 core clocked at 2.4GHz – provides a slight edge over the Pixel 5a 5G’s Kryo 475 Prime core. However, the real-world performance difference may not be substantial for everyday tasks. The 778G’s Adreno 642L GPU will provide a more noticeable boost in gaming performance compared to the 765G’s Adreno 620. The Edge 20 is the better choice for gamers.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 5a 5G dominates in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 122 hours compared to the Motorola Edge 20’s 86 hours. This substantial difference is a key selling point for the Pixel. While the Edge 20 supports faster 30W wired charging, the Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W charging with PD2.0 is sufficient given its exceptional battery efficiency. The Pixel 5a 5G allows for longer usage between charges, making it ideal for travelers or users who frequently find themselves away from a power source.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge 20 if you need a brighter display for outdoor visibility and value a slightly more powerful processor for demanding tasks. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a consistently excellent camera experience, and guaranteed software updates directly from Google. The Pixel 5a 5G is the better choice for users who rely heavily on their phone throughout the day and value simplicity.