Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Detailed Comparison of Performance, Camera, and Battery
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a seamless ecosystem, long-term software support, and a consistently excellent camera experience, the iPhone 13 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) delivers impressive value, offering solid performance and 5G connectivity at a significantly lower price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 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 - A2643, A2644, A2645 |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Verizon, USA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2641 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 14 | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 14 | Available. Released 2021, September 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back | Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 169 x 75.6 x 9 mm (6.65 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| Water-repellent design | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 | Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 11 | iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM |
| - | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens | 12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120ps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Nebula Blue | Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green |
| Models | - | A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | € 423.38 / $ 394.86 / £ 355.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.20 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 121h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.0 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021)
- Significantly lower price point
- Faster wired charging (30W)
- Android's open ecosystem and customization options
- Less powerful processor (Snapdragon 778G)
- Inferior camera system compared to iPhone
- Shorter software support lifespan
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Exceptional performance with the A15 Bionic chip
- Superior camera system with advanced features
- Long-term software support and ecosystem integration
- Higher price tag
- Slower wired charging compared to Motorola (though still fast)
- Less customization options compared to Android
Display Comparison
The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1050 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021). While the Motorola’s display specs aren’t detailed, the iPhone’s infinite contrast ratio (typical of OLED panels) ensures deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The iPhone 13 Pro Max also benefits from ProMotion, Apple’s adaptive refresh rate technology (LTPO), which dynamically adjusts up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations – a feature absent on the Motorola. This makes the iPhone’s display more responsive and visually pleasing, particularly for gaming and video consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s camera system is renowned for its computational photography and consistent image quality across all lenses. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, Apple’s image processing pipeline prioritizes natural-looking images with excellent dynamic range. The Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) likely relies more on software enhancements to compensate for potentially smaller sensors. The iPhone’s video capabilities are also superior, offering ProRes recording and cinematic mode – features unavailable on the Motorola. The iPhone’s focus on a holistic camera *system* gives it an edge.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Apple A15 Bionic, fabricated on a 5nm process, features a hexa-core CPU with two high-performance Avalanche cores clocked at 3.23 GHz and four efficiency Blizzard cores. This architecture consistently outperforms the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) found in the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021). The Snapdragon 778G’s octa-core configuration, while capable, cannot match the A15’s single-core and multi-core performance. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience on the iPhone. While the Motorola is adequate for everyday tasks, the iPhone handles demanding applications and games with greater ease.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an impressive endurance rating of 121 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Motorola). However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers significantly faster charging with 30W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes) and 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2). The Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) is limited to 30W wired charging, potentially resulting in longer full charge times. The convenience of MagSafe and the broader wireless charging compatibility of the iPhone add to its appeal.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) if you need a capable 5G phone on a budget, value fast charging, and prefer the flexibility of Android. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if you prioritize a top-tier camera system, long-term software updates, and a tightly integrated ecosystem, and are willing to pay a premium for it.