Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) vs. Motorola Edge+ (2020): A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola Edge+ (2020) generally wins due to its superior Snapdragon 865 chipset, better camera capabilities, and wireless charging. However, the Edge 5G UW (2021) offers a more modern chipset and faster wired charging, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) | Motorola Edge+ (2020) |
| 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 - Global |
| 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, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66, 71 - Global |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Verizon, USA | 5, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 66, 260, 261 mmWave/Sub6 - Verizon | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 14 | 2020, April 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 14 | Available. Released 2020, May 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169 x 75.6 x 9 mm (6.65 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm (6.34 x 2.81 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| Water-repellent design | Water-repellent coating | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~95.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| 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 | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120ps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 6K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm | 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30/120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| 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/6, 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 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Nebula Blue | Smokey Sangria, Thunder Grey, Baltic Gray |
| Models | - | XT2061-3 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 670 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 100h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 574155 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021)
- Faster wired charging (30W)
- More modern chipset (Snapdragon 778G)
- Generally more affordable
- 5G UW support
- Less powerful chipset than Edge+ (2020)
- Likely LCD display
- No wireless charging
- Camera not as versatile
Motorola Edge+ (2020)
- More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 865)
- Superior camera system
- Wireless charging (15W)
- Reverse wireless charging (5W)
- Excellent battery life
- Slower wired charging (18W)
- Older model
- Potentially higher price (depending on retailer)
- No 5G UW support
Display Comparison
The Edge+ (2020) boasts a stunning display with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (likely OLED), offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Edge 5G UW (2021) likely uses an LCD panel, which will be good but not as visually impressive. Both phones feature a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling.
Camera Comparison
The Edge+ (2020) generally has a more versatile camera system, likely including a telephoto lens for optical zoom. While both phones offer capable main cameras, the Edge+’s image processing and overall quality are expected to be superior. The Edge 5G UW (2021) will still capture good photos, but may lack the detail and dynamic range of the Edge+.
Performance
Here's where the Edge+ (2020) truly shines. The Snapdragon 865 is significantly more powerful than the Snapdragon 778G in the Edge 5G UW (2021). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Edge+.
Battery Life
The Edge+ (2020) has a substantial endurance rating of 100h, suggesting excellent battery life. The Edge 5G UW (2021) will also provide a full day of use, but likely won't match the longevity of the Edge+.
Buying Guide
The Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) is ideal for users seeking a solid 5G experience, good performance for everyday tasks, and a more affordable price point. The Motorola Edge+ (2020) is best suited for those prioritizing top-tier performance, a versatile camera system, and the convenience of wireless charging, even if it's a slightly older model.