Motorola Edge 50 vs. Nothing Phone (2): A Deep Dive into Performance and Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 50 and Nothing Phone (2) represent compelling choices in the increasingly competitive mid-to-high range smartphone market. The Edge 50 prioritizes endurance and a bright display, while the Nothing Phone (2) aims for a more premium experience with a flagship-tier chipset and unique design. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a vibrant display, the Motorola Edge 50 emerges as the stronger contender. However, power users and gamers will find the Nothing Phone (2)'s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 a more compelling choice, despite its shorter battery endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 50 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 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
Announced2024, August 012023, July 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, August 08Available. Released 2023, July 17
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, silicone polymer (eco leather or eco suede) backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.8 x 72.4 x 7.8 mm (6.33 x 2.85 x 0.31 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
Weight180 g (6.35 oz)201.2 g (7.09 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5, Mohs level 4Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~92.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 1600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 AE (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 644Adreno 730
OSAndroid 14, up to 5 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual-50 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
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f2.0, 73mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, live HDR, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps1080p@30fps
Sound
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, GALILEOGPS (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
Battery
Charging68W wired 15W wireless45W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC4, 100% in 55 min 15W wireless, 100% in 130 min 5W reverse wireless
Type5000 mAhLi-Ion 4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsKoala Gray, Jungle Green, Peach FuzzWhite, Dark Gray
ModelsXT2407-1A065
Price$ 299.99 / ₹ 21,437$ 379.99 / £ 370.00
EU LABEL
Battery45:48h endurance, 1200 cycles-
EnergyClass B-
Free fallClass A (270 falls)-
RepairabilityClass B-

Motorola Edge 50

  • Exceptional battery life (45:48h endurance)
  • Very bright display (1416 nits)
  • Faster wired charging (68W)

  • Less powerful processor (Snapdragon 7 Gen 1)
  • Limited camera information

Nothing Phone (2)

  • Flagship-level performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
  • Unique Glyph Interface
  • Faster charging speed (45W) with PD3.0, PPS, QC4

  • Shorter battery life
  • Lower peak display brightness

Display Comparison

The Motorola Edge 50 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1416 nits, compared to the Nothing Phone (2)'s 998 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the Edge 50’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor users. Details regarding refresh rate and panel type (LTPO) are missing, but the brightness difference is a key differentiator. The Nothing Phone (2)'s Glyph Interface, while visually unique, doesn't impact display performance directly, but adds to the overall user experience.

Camera Comparison

Context data for the cameras is limited. However, the Nothing Phone (2) is marketed with a strong emphasis on its camera capabilities, suggesting a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensors. The Motorola Edge 50’s camera specs are not provided, making a direct comparison difficult. Given Nothing’s focus on photography, it’s reasonable to assume a more feature-rich camera experience, including potentially better low-light performance and video stabilization. We can assume both phones will have a standard array of lenses, but the Nothing Phone (2) likely offers more advanced features.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Motorola Edge 50 utilizes the Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 AE, while the Nothing Phone (2) features the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The 8+ Gen 1, with its Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, offers a substantial performance uplift over the 7 Gen 1’s Cortex-A710 based architecture. This is reflected in real-world usage, with the Nothing Phone (2) handling demanding games and multitasking with greater ease. Both chips are fabricated on a 4nm process, offering good efficiency, but the 8+ Gen 1’s superior architecture provides a clear advantage. The Edge 50’s CPU configuration (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) is less optimized for peak performance than the Nothing Phone (2)'s.

Battery Life

Battery life is where the Motorola Edge 50 truly shines. Its 45:48h endurance rating and 9:56h active use score significantly outperform the Nothing Phone (2)'s active use score of 14:21h (endurance rating is older and less comparable). While the Nothing Phone (2) supports faster wired charging at 45W (vs. 68W on the Edge 50), the Edge 50’s superior battery endurance means you’ll likely need to charge it less frequently. The Nothing Phone (2) also offers 5W reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the Edge 50, allowing it to charge accessories. The Edge 50’s reported 1200 charge cycles suggest a longer lifespan for the battery itself.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 50 if you need exceptional battery life, a very bright screen for outdoor visibility, and a reliable daily driver that won't leave you scrambling for a charger. Buy the Nothing Phone (2) if you prioritize raw processing power for demanding games and applications, appreciate a distinctive design, and are willing to trade some battery life for performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in the Motorola Edge 50 struggle with graphically intensive games?
While the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is a capable chip, it won't deliver the same level of performance as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Nothing Phone (2). Expect to potentially lower graphics settings in demanding titles to maintain smooth frame rates. It's suitable for most mobile games, but hardcore gamers will prefer the Nothing Phone (2).
❓ How does the Nothing Phone (2)'s Glyph Interface impact battery life?
The Glyph Interface, while visually appealing, does consume some battery power. However, Nothing has optimized its software to minimize this impact. Users can customize the Glyph Interface's behavior and disable it entirely to conserve battery life when needed. The impact is relatively minor compared to the overall battery drain from screen usage and app activity.
❓ Is the 15W wireless charging on both phones significantly slower than the wired charging?
Yes, 15W wireless charging is considerably slower than the 68W wired charging on the Motorola Edge 50 and the 45W wired charging on the Nothing Phone (2). Expect a full wireless charge to take several hours, making it more suitable for overnight charging rather than quick top-ups. Wired charging remains the fastest and most efficient method.