Motorola Edge+ (2020) vs Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and wireless charging, the Motorola Edge+ (2020) is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 5a 5G offers superior battery endurance and Google’s renowned camera processing, making it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those seeking all-day battery life.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge+ (2020) | 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 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66, 71 - Global | 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 | 5, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 66, 260, 261 mmWave/Sub6 - Verizon | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 22 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, May 14 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm (6.34 x 2.81 x 0.38 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 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 (~95.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 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 SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| 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, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth) | - |
| Video | 6K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Smokey Sangria, Thunder Grey, Baltic Gray | Mostly Black |
| Models | XT2061-3 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 670 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 574155 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Edge+ (2020)
- Significantly faster processor for demanding tasks
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities
- Potentially faster RAM speeds
- More powerful GPU for gaming
- Shorter battery life compared to Pixel 5a 5G
- Less detailed camera specifications
- No PD2.0 fast charging
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional camera quality and image processing
- Longer battery life for all-day use
- PD2.0 support for faster wired charging
- Clean and streamlined software experience
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
- No wireless charging
- Lower peak display brightness compared to some competitors
Display Comparison
Both the Motorola Edge+ (2020) and Pixel 5a 5G feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. However, the Pixel 5a 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 861 nits, significantly exceeding what’s typically found in phones at this price point, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely utilize OLED panels, the Edge+’s display specifications are less detailed, leaving questions about color accuracy and PWM dimming frequency unanswered. The Pixel 5a’s higher brightness is a tangible benefit for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable camera systems, their approaches differ. The Pixel 5a 5G is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to deliver consistently excellent results, even in challenging lighting conditions. The Edge+’s camera specifications are less detailed, making a direct sensor comparison difficult. However, Google’s software optimization often compensates for hardware limitations, and the Pixel 5a’s focus on image processing is a key differentiator. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Edge+ suggests a more traditional camera experience, relying more on hardware than software.
Performance
The Motorola Edge+ (2020) leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, built on a 7nm+ process, featuring a powerful octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This contrasts with the Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm), which utilizes a Kryo 475 CPU with a lower peak clock speed of 2.4 GHz. The 865’s superior CPU architecture and higher clock speeds translate to noticeably faster performance in demanding applications and benchmarks. While the 765G is capable, the 865 offers a more future-proof experience, particularly for gaming and resource-intensive tasks. The Edge+ also benefits from potentially faster RAM speeds, though specifics aren't provided.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 5a 5G claims an endurance rating of 122 hours, exceeding the Motorola Edge+ (2020)’s 100-hour rating. This suggests the Pixel 5a 5G offers significantly longer battery life in real-world usage. While both support 18W wired charging, the Pixel 5a 5G also includes PD2.0 support for faster charging with compatible chargers. The Edge+ adds the convenience of 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Pixel 5a 5G. The trade-off is clear: the Pixel 5a 5G prioritizes longevity, while the Edge+ offers charging versatility.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2020) if you need a phone capable of handling demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value the convenience of wireless charging. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize exceptional camera quality, long battery life, and a clean, streamlined software experience with guaranteed updates.