Motorola Edge 40 vs Nothing Phone (2): A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Features

The Motorola Edge 40 and Nothing Phone (2) represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive sub-$600 flagship space. The Edge 40 focuses on a sleek design and balanced feature set, while the Nothing Phone (2) aims to disrupt with its unique Glyph Interface and a focus on software experience. This comparison dives deep into the specifications and real-world implications to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Nothing Phone (2) emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset delivers superior performance and thermal management, coupled with a slightly better battery endurance score. While the Edge 40 boasts a marginally brighter display, the Phone (2)'s overall package is more compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 40 Nothing Phone (2)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 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, 42, 43, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, May 042023, July 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, May 04Available. Released 2023, July 17
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, plastic back or eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.4 x 72 x 7.6 mm (6.24 x 2.83 x 0.30 in)162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm (6.38 x 3.01 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight167 g or 171 g (5.89 oz)201.2 g (7.09 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 1600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, up to 2 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
Dual50 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, AF50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, live HDR, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass
 Moto Ready For support-
Battery
Charging68W wired 15W wireless45W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC4, 100% in 55 min 15W wireless, 100% in 130 min 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Ion 4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsNebula Green, Lunar Blue, Eclipse Black, Viva MagentaWhite, Dark Gray
ModelsXT2303-2A065
Price€ 202.03 / $ 419.99 / £ 199.00 / ₹ 29,999$ 379.99 / £ 370.00
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 98h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.2 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 688347 (v9) GeekBench: 3320 (v5.1), 3603 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Motorola Edge 40

  • Sleek and lightweight design
  • Slightly brighter display (1043 nits)
  • Clean Android software experience

  • Less powerful chipset (Dimensity 8020)
  • Potentially more thermal throttling
  • Slower charging speeds

Nothing Phone (2)

  • More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
  • Faster charging with multiple protocols
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Slightly heavier and bulkier design
  • Lower peak display brightness (998 nits)
  • More visually distinct (Glyph Interface) may not appeal to everyone

Display Comparison

Both devices feature excellent displays, but with subtle differences. The Motorola Edge 40 achieves a measured peak brightness of 1043 nits, slightly surpassing the Nothing Phone (2)'s 998 nits. While this difference is noticeable in direct sunlight, both screens are perfectly usable outdoors. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel type, but both are expected to be high refresh rate OLED panels. The Edge 40's 'Infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term, and both displays will offer excellent contrast. The user experience will likely be similar, with the Edge 40 potentially offering a slightly more vibrant image due to the higher peak brightness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the market positioning suggests the Nothing Phone (2) will likely have a more refined camera system. While sensor size and aperture are unknown, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s image signal processor (ISP) is generally considered superior to MediaTek’s offerings. The Nothing Phone (2)'s software processing is also a key differentiator, with a focus on natural-looking images. The Edge 40 will likely deliver good results in well-lit conditions, but may struggle in low-light scenarios compared to the Phone (2).

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Nothing Phone (2) utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm), a proven performer known for its efficiency and power. The Motorola Edge 40, on the other hand, employs the MediaTek Dimensity 8020 (6nm). The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s 4nm process provides a thermal advantage, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The CPU architecture also favors the Snapdragon, with its Cortex-X2 prime core (3.0 GHz) offering a significant performance boost over the Edge 40’s Cortex-A78 cores (2.6 GHz). This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience on the Nothing Phone (2).

Battery Life

The Nothing Phone (2) boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, slightly exceeding the Motorola Edge 40’s 98 hours. However, real-world usage is better represented by the Phone (2)'s active use score of 14:21h. The Edge 40’s charging speeds are 68W wired and 15W wireless, while the Phone (2) offers 45W wired (with PD3.0, PPS, QC4 support, reaching 100% in 55 minutes), 15W wireless (130 minutes), and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Nothing Phone (2)'s faster wired charging and the addition of reverse wireless charging provide greater convenience and flexibility.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 40 if you prioritize a lighter, slimmer design and prefer a more traditional Android experience with minimal visual flair. It’s a solid all-rounder for users who value portability and a clean aesthetic. Buy the Nothing Phone (2) if you want a more powerful processor for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, appreciate a unique and customizable user interface, and value faster charging speeds and reverse wireless charging capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 8020 in the Motorola Edge 40 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Dimensity 8020 is a capable chipset, it's likely to exhibit more thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Nothing Phone (2) during extended gaming sessions. Expect lower frame rates and potential stuttering in graphically intensive titles on the Edge 40, especially after prolonged use.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between the 68W on the Edge 40 and the 45W on the Phone (2)?
Despite the lower wattage, the Nothing Phone (2)'s 45W charging, coupled with support for PD3.0, PPS, and QC4, is more efficient. It reaches 100% in 55 minutes, while the Edge 40 takes longer. The Phone (2) also offers reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the Edge 40.
❓ Is the Glyph Interface on the Nothing Phone (2) just a gimmick, or does it offer practical benefits?
The Glyph Interface is more than just aesthetic. It can be customized to display notifications, charging progress, and even act as a visual timer. While its utility is subjective, it offers a unique and potentially useful way to interact with your phone.