Motorola Edge 20 vs Edge 40: The Ultimate Showdown

Motorola's Edge series consistently delivers impressive features at competitive prices. The Edge 20 was a strong contender, but the newer Edge 40 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 is the clear winner, offering a brighter display, faster charging, and improved performance thanks to the Dimensity 8020. While the Edge 20 remains a capable device, the Edge 40's enhancements make it a worthwhile upgrade for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 20 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, 18, 19, 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 3)Glass front, aluminum frame, plastic back or eco leather back
Dimensions163 x 76 x 7 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.28 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
Weight163 g (5.75 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 (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G77 MC9
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 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 dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple108 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-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@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
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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 4000 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsFrosted Grey, Frosted White, Frosted EmeraldNebula Green, Lunar Blue, Eclipse Black, Viva Magenta
ModelsXT2143-1XT2303-2
PriceAbout 140 EUR€ 202.03 / $ 419.99 / £ 199.00 / ₹ 29,999
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 86h Endurance rating 98h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.7 LUFS (Average) -24.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 424031 (v8), 488574 (v9) GeekBench: 2550 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 688347 (v9) GeekBench: 3320 (v5.1), 3603 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 20

  • Excellent battery life
  • Solid performance
  • Good value for money
  • Compact design

  • Less bright display
  • Slower charging
  • Older chipset
  • No wireless charging

Motorola Edge 40

  • Brighter display
  • Faster performance
  • Faster charging (wired & wireless)
  • Modern design
  • Improved image processing

  • Potentially higher price
  • May not offer significantly better camera hardware

Display Comparison

The Edge 40 boasts a significantly brighter display at 1043 nits compared to the Edge 20's 650 nits. Both offer excellent contrast (infinite nominal), but the Edge 40's increased brightness makes it much more usable outdoors. The Edge 40 also likely has a higher refresh rate (typically 144Hz) compared to the Edge 20 (90Hz), resulting in smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Edge 40 likely has improvements in image processing and low-light performance. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are not provided, but the newer chipset often includes enhanced image signal processing (ISP) capabilities. Both phones likely offer similar video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Edge 40's Mediatek Dimensity 8020 chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the Edge 20's Snapdragon 778G. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Edge 40. Both phones have ample RAM, but the newer chipset provides a more efficient and powerful experience.

Battery Life

The Edge 40 edges out the Edge 20 with an endurance rating of 98h versus 86h. While both offer excellent battery life, the Edge 40's slightly larger battery and more efficient chipset contribute to its longer runtime. The Edge 40 also features significantly faster 68W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, a major advantage over the Edge 20's 30W wired charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Edge 20? Those on a tighter budget who prioritize excellent battery life and a solid overall experience. Who should buy the Motorola Edge 40? Users seeking a brighter, faster, and more feature-rich phone with faster charging and wireless charging capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Motorola Edge 40 worth the upgrade from the Edge 20?
If you value a brighter display, faster performance, and quicker charging, then yes, the Edge 40 is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're happy with your Edge 20's battery life and performance, the upgrade might not be essential.
❓ What is the difference in camera quality between the two phones?
While both phones have capable cameras, the Edge 40 likely benefits from improved image processing thanks to its newer chipset. Expect slightly better low-light performance and more refined image quality on the Edge 40.