Motorola Edge 30 vs. iPhone 13: A Detailed Comparison of Performance, Camera, and Value

The Motorola Edge 30 and Apple iPhone 13 represent distinct approaches to the smartphone market. The Edge 30 aims to deliver a near-flagship experience at a mid-range price point, leveraging the Snapdragon 778G+ 5G chipset. Conversely, the iPhone 13, while now a generation older, remains a potent contender with Apple’s A15 Bionic and a tightly integrated ecosystem. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support, a refined user experience, and strong resale value, the iPhone 13 remains the superior choice. However, the Motorola Edge 30 offers compelling performance and features for its price, making it an excellent option for Android enthusiasts seeking value.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 30 Apple iPhone 13
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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 41, 42, 43, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2633, A2634, A2635
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 Sub6/mmWave - A2633
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2634, A2635
Launch
Announced2022, April 272021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, May 12Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions159.4 x 74.2 x 6.8 mm (6.28 x 2.92 x 0.27 in)146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight155 g (5.47 oz)174 g (6.14 oz)
 Water-repellent designIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~86.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LApple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9", 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF Auxiliary lens-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging33W wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 4020 mAhLi-Ion 3240 mAh (12.41 Wh)
Misc
ColorsMeteor Grey, Supermoon Silver, Aurora GreenStarlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, Green
ModelsXT2203-1A2633, A2482, A2631, A2634, A2635, iphone14,5
Price$ 529.00 / € 168.00€ 304.00 / $ 249.97 / £ 248.00
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 89h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 775519 (v9) GeekBench: 4645 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 30

  • More affordable price point
  • Potentially faster wired charging (33W)
  • Likely higher display refresh rate (144Hz)

  • Less powerful processor (Snapdragon 778G+ vs A15 Bionic)
  • Shorter software support lifespan
  • Less refined user experience

Apple iPhone 13

  • Superior performance (A15 Bionic)
  • Long-term software support
  • Excellent camera quality and video recording

  • Higher price
  • Slower wired charging (compared to Edge 30)
  • Standard 60Hz display

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 boasts a measured peak brightness of 802 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. While the Edge 30’s display specs aren’t provided, its likely OLED panel will offer vibrant colors. The iPhone 13’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio delivers deep blacks and a more immersive viewing experience. The Edge 30’s refresh rate is likely higher, potentially 144Hz, offering smoother scrolling and animations compared to the iPhone 13’s standard 60Hz. This difference will be most noticeable during gaming and fast-paced content consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but approach image processing differently. The iPhone 13’s camera excels in computational photography, delivering consistently accurate colors and excellent dynamic range. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, Apple’s image processing pipeline is renowned for its natural-looking results. The Edge 30’s camera performance will depend heavily on its software algorithms. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to assess its low-light capabilities. The iPhone 13’s video recording capabilities are also superior, offering cinematic mode and ProRes video recording (on higher storage models).

Performance

Apple’s A15 Bionic, fabricated on a 5nm process, significantly outperforms the Motorola Edge 30’s Snapdragon 778G+ (6nm). The A15’s hexa-core CPU, with its 3.23 GHz Avalanche cores, provides substantially higher single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and demanding tasks. While the Snapdragon 778G+ is a capable chip, its octa-core configuration, with a peak clock speed of 2.5 GHz, cannot match the A15’s raw processing power. The iPhone 13 benefits from Apple’s optimized software and hardware integration, resulting in smoother multitasking and sustained performance under load. The Edge 30 will handle everyday tasks and most games well, but may exhibit more noticeable slowdowns with graphically intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both the Motorola Edge 30 and iPhone 13 achieve an endurance rating of 89 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, their charging approaches differ significantly. The iPhone 13 supports 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired PD2.0 charging, 15W wireless charging with MagSafe, and 15W wireless charging with Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2). The Edge 30 offers 33W wired charging, potentially providing a faster full charge, but lacks the convenience of wireless charging options. The iPhone 13’s optimized power management and efficient A15 Bionic contribute to its impressive endurance despite a potentially smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 30 if you need a versatile Android phone with a smooth 144Hz display, fast charging, and don't mind potentially shorter software support. It's ideal for media consumption and casual gaming. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 if you prioritize a seamless user experience, exceptional camera quality, long-term software updates, and integration with the Apple ecosystem, even if it means paying a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G+ in the Motorola Edge 30 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 778G+ is a capable chip, Genshin Impact may require reduced graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience. The A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 will handle the game at higher settings without significant performance drops.
❓ How does the iPhone 13’s software update policy compare to Motorola’s?
Apple provides typically 5-7 years of software updates for its iPhones, ensuring long-term security and feature enhancements. Motorola’s update policy is less consistent, generally offering 2-3 years of major Android updates and a few years of security patches.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Motorola Edge 30 a significant drawback?
For users who frequently utilize wireless charging, the absence of this feature on the Edge 30 is a notable omission. The iPhone 13 offers both MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging for added convenience.
❓ What are the real-world charging times for both devices?
The Motorola Edge 30’s 33W charging can likely achieve a full charge in around 60-75 minutes. The iPhone 13’s 20W charging reaches 50% in 30 minutes, and a full charge takes approximately 90-100 minutes.