Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) vs Google Pixel 6a: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 6a emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior camera, smoother performance powered by the Tensor chip, and clean Android experience. While the Edge 5G UW offers faster charging and a slightly larger screen, the Pixel 6a's strengths outweigh its weaknesses for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 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, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 14 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 14 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 169 x 75.6 x 9 mm (6.65 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| Water-repellent design | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| 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 | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120ps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Nebula Blue | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | - | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | About 550 EUR | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 94h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021)
- Faster charging (30W)
- Larger display (6.8 inches)
- More affordable price
- Weaker performance than Pixel 6a
- Less impressive camera
- Slower software updates
Google Pixel 6a
- Superior camera performance
- Faster and smoother performance (Google Tensor)
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Brighter display
- Slower charging (18W)
- Smaller display (6.1 inches)
- Higher price
Display Comparison
The Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) features a 6.8-inch OLED display, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Pixel 6a has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a measured peak brightness of 876 nits, making it noticeably brighter in direct sunlight. While both are OLED, the Pixel 6a's brightness gives it an edge for outdoor visibility. The Pixel 6a also boasts an infinite contrast ratio (nominal), indicating excellent black levels.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6a's camera is a standout feature. Its 12.2MP main sensor and 12MP ultrawide lens, combined with Google's computational photography prowess, consistently produce excellent photos with accurate colors, impressive dynamic range, and exceptional low-light performance. The Edge 5G UW's camera is decent, but it doesn't match the Pixel 6a's image quality or software optimization.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6a's Google Tensor chip provides a significant performance advantage over the Snapdragon 778G in the Edge 5G UW. The Tensor chip's Cortex-X1 core delivers faster processing speeds, resulting in smoother multitasking, quicker app loading, and a more responsive overall experience. While the Edge 5G UW is capable, the Pixel 6a feels noticeably snappier.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 94 hours. However, the Motorola Edge 5G UW has a slight advantage in charging speed with 30W wired charging compared to the Pixel 6a's 18W wired charging and PD3.0 support.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021)? Users prioritizing fast charging, a larger display, and a more budget-friendly price point. Who should buy the Google Pixel 6a? Those seeking a top-tier camera, a smooth and responsive experience, and the latest Android features with guaranteed updates.