Motorola Edge 50 Ultra vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra arrives as a compelling value proposition, boasting incredibly fast charging and a strong feature set. It directly challenges the Sony Xperia 1 VII, a traditional flagship focused on delivering a premium, creator-focused experience with its cutting-edge processor and exceptional battery endurance. This comparison dissects the core differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing speed and convenience, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is the better choice. Its 125W charging and competitive performance offer a compelling package. However, the Sony Xperia 1 VII wins for those demanding ultimate battery life and a more refined, long-term software experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 50 Ultra Sony Xperia 1 VII
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, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, April 162025, May 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, May 15Available. Released 2025, June 04
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), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.1 x 72.4 x 8.6 mm (6.34 x 2.85 x 0.34 in)162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight197 g (6.95 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5
Resolution1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~92.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 2500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
GPUAdreno 735Adreno 830
OSAndroid 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 3 major Android upgradesAndroid 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
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, PDAF48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, no AF 48 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single50 MP, f/1.9, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
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, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging125W wired 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Type4500 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsForest Grey, Nordic Wood, Peach FuzzMoss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black
Models-XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256
Price$ 939.00 / C$ 1,299.00 / £ 490.00 / € 609.90 / ₹ 59,999€ 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94
EU LABEL
Battery-43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles
Energy-Class B
Free fall-Class B (181 falls)
Repairability-Class D

Motorola Edge 50 Ultra

  • Incredibly fast 125W wired charging
  • Competitive performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
  • Versatile charging options (50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless)

  • Shorter battery life compared to the Xperia 1 VII
  • Software experience may not be as refined as Sony’s

Sony Xperia 1 VII

  • Exceptional battery life and 1400 charge cycles
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with Oryon CPU cores
  • Premium build quality and creator-focused features

  • Slower charging speed (30W wired)
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

Both the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and Sony Xperia 1 VII boast excellent displays, achieving nearly identical peak brightness levels at 1473 and 1475 nits respectively. This ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. However, the Xperia 1 VII’s longevity is bolstered by its rated 1400 charge cycles, suggesting a more durable panel over the long term. While both likely employ LTPO technology for variable refresh rates (though not explicitly stated for the Motorola), Sony’s history suggests a focus on color accuracy crucial for professional content creation, potentially exceeding the Motorola’s calibration.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, Sony’s Xperia line is renowned for its image processing and optical expertise. The Xperia 1 VII likely prioritizes natural color reproduction and dynamic range, appealing to photography enthusiasts. The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, while potentially offering a higher megapixel count (not specified), may lean towards more saturated, social media-friendly images. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also likely more advanced, offering superior noise reduction and detail preservation, particularly in low-light conditions. The absence of information on OIS and sensor sizes makes a definitive judgment impossible, but Sony’s brand reputation suggests a more sophisticated camera system.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Sony Xperia 1 VII leverages the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite, featuring Oryon V2 Phoenix CPU cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz. This architecture, designed by Qualcomm, promises significant performance gains over the Motorola’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. The 8s Gen 3, while powerful with its Cortex-X4 prime core at 3.0 GHz, is built on a 4nm process, while the 8 Elite utilizes a more efficient 3nm process. This translates to better thermal management and sustained performance under heavy loads for the Sony. The Xperia 1 VII’s CPU configuration (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) suggests a stronger focus on multi-core performance, benefiting demanding tasks like video editing.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 VII dominates in battery endurance. Its active use score of 15:32h significantly surpasses the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra’s 12:56h. This difference is likely due to the more efficient 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite and optimized power management. While the Motorola compensates with incredibly fast 125W wired charging, allowing for a quick top-up, the Sony’s longevity reduces the need for frequent charging. The Xperia 1 VII also offers 30W wired charging with PD3.0 and PPS, reaching 50% in 30 minutes, and 15W wireless charging. The Motorola adds 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless, offering more versatility, but the Sony’s overall endurance is a clear advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra if you need blazing-fast charging, a vibrant display, and don't mind a slightly less polished software experience. It's ideal for power users who frequently top up their phones throughout the day. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a premium build, and a creator-focused feature set, and are willing to pay a premium for a more refined, long-lasting experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is a capable chip, its 4nm process and potentially less aggressive cooling solution compared to the Xperia 1 VII may lead to some throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, the Motorola’s performance should still be more than adequate for most mobile games.
❓ How does the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s battery life hold up with heavy camera usage?
The Xperia 1 VII’s exceptional battery life is a significant advantage for users who frequently use the camera. The efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite and optimized power management should allow for extended shooting sessions without needing to constantly recharge.
❓ Is the 125W charging on the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra safe for long-term battery health?
While 125W charging is incredibly fast, it's important to note that extremely fast charging can potentially contribute to faster battery degradation over time. However, Motorola likely incorporates safeguards to mitigate this effect, and the convenience of rapid charging may outweigh the potential long-term impact for many users.
❓ What kind of software updates can I expect from Sony compared to Motorola?
Sony generally provides more consistent and longer-term software support for its Xperia devices compared to Motorola. You can expect a more refined software experience and quicker security updates with the Xperia 1 VII.