Motorola Edge 50 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra arrives as a compelling alternative to established flagships, boasting a focus on raw performance and rapid charging. We pit it against Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, a device renowned for its computational photography and integrated AI features, to determine which phone delivers the best overall experience.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw speed and charging convenience, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and 125W charging significantly outperform the Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s superior camera processing and AI capabilities make it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply invested in the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 50 Ultra Google Pixel 8 Pro
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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, April 162023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, May 15Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), wooden back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.1 x 72.4 x 8.6 mm (6.34 x 2.85 x 0.34 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight197 g (6.95 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~92.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 2500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 735Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSAndroid 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 3 major Android upgradesAndroid 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/1.9, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, HDR4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging125W wired 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
Type4500 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsForest Grey, Nordic Wood, Peach FuzzObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
Models-GC3VE, G1MNW
Price$ 939.00 / C$ 1,299.00 / £ 490.00 / € 609.90 / ₹ 59,999€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Motorola Edge 50 Ultra

  • Significantly faster 125W charging
  • Potentially better GPU performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
  • Longer active use battery life (12:56h)

  • Camera performance likely trails the Pixel 8 Pro
  • Software support may not match Google’s commitment

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera quality and AI features
  • Seamless Google software experience and long-term updates
  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility

  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • Less powerful GPU compared to Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
  • Shorter active use battery life (11:14h)

Display Comparison

Both devices feature 4nm chipsets, but their displays differ significantly. The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a higher peak brightness of 1600 nits compared to the Edge 50 Ultra’s 1473 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. While the difference isn’t massive, it’s noticeable. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display technology is likely LTPO, enabling variable refresh rates for improved efficiency, a feature not explicitly stated for the Edge 50 Ultra. This could translate to better battery life during static content viewing. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is also known for its color accuracy, a key consideration for content creators.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro is renowned for its computational photography prowess. While specific sensor details aren’t provided in the context data, Google’s image processing algorithms consistently deliver exceptional results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera excels in both photo and video capture, leveraging AI to enhance image quality and stabilization. The Edge 50 Ultra’s camera capabilities are less defined, but a focus on hardware specifications suggests a potential emphasis on sensor size and optical image stabilization (OIS). Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively assess its image quality compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s AI-driven approach. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also likely superior due to its advanced stabilization and processing.

Performance

The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, an octa-core processor with a prime Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.0 GHz. This contrasts with the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s Google Tensor G3, a nona-core chip featuring a Cortex-X3 core also at 3.0 GHz. While clock speeds are similar, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 generally offers superior GPU performance, making the Edge 50 Ultra more suitable for demanding games. The Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 excels in AI and machine learning tasks, powering features like Magic Eraser and real-time translation. The Edge 50 Ultra’s chipset is built on a 4nm process, potentially offering better thermal efficiency than the Tensor G3, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The Pixel 8 Pro’s performance is heavily reliant on software optimization, while the Edge 50 Ultra leans towards brute force.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra achieves an impressive 12:56h active use score, slightly exceeding the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. However, the charging speeds are where the Edge 50 Ultra truly shines. Its 125W wired charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W charging, allowing for a full charge in a fraction of the time. The Edge 50 Ultra also supports 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, further enhancing its convenience. The Pixel 8 Pro offers 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, along with 'bypass charging' which minimizes battery degradation during charging. While the Pixel 8 Pro’s older endurance rating of 90h suggests good overall battery life, the Edge 50 Ultra’s faster charging is a major advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra if you need a phone that prioritizes gaming, demanding applications, and incredibly fast charging – ideal for power users who dislike waiting. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a seamless software experience, exceptional camera quality with advanced AI features, and long-term software support, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra throttle under sustained gaming loads?
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is a thermally efficient chip, and the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra’s cooling system should mitigate throttling. However, prolonged, demanding gaming sessions may still result in some performance reduction, though likely less than with the Tensor G3 due to the Snapdragon’s architecture.
❓ How does the Pixel 8 Pro’s 'bypass charging' feature impact long-term battery health?
Google’s 'bypass charging' feature aims to reduce battery degradation by directly powering the device when plugged in, minimizing the time the battery spends at 100%. This can potentially extend the battery’s lifespan, especially for users who frequently leave their phone plugged in overnight.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 23W wireless charging?
Yes, the 50W wireless charging on the Edge 50 Ultra is considerably faster. Expect a substantial difference in charging times, making it a more convenient option for users who prefer wireless charging.
❓ What kind of software updates can Pixel 8 Pro users expect compared to the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra?
The Pixel 8 Pro benefits from Google’s commitment to 7 years of OS, security, and feature drops. The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra will likely receive fewer major OS updates and a shorter support window, potentially impacting long-term usability and security.