Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) vs Xiaomi 12 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

Both the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) and the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) represent compelling flagship options, but cater to slightly different priorities. The Motorola prioritizes US carrier compatibility and a robust 5G experience, while the Xiaomi 12 Pro focuses on raw processing power with the Dimensity 9000+ and a globally appealing feature set. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) emerges as the stronger contender. Its Dimensity 9000+ chipset offers a slight edge in CPU and GPU performance, coupled with comparable fast charging. While the Motorola excels in 5G UW compatibility, the Xiaomi’s broader feature set and potentially better thermal management make it the more well-rounded flagship.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only)GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands2, 5, 7, 12, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Verizon, USA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, January 242022, July 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 24Available. Released 2022, July 13
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame-
Dimensions163.1 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIMSingle SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196 g (6.91 oz)201 g (7.09 oz)
 Water-repellent design-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.20 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G710 MC10
OSAndroid 12, planned upgrade to Android 13Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jack-No
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Ready For support-
Battery
Charging68W wired, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min (advertised) 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeLi-Po 4800 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsCosmos Blue, Stardust WhiteGray, Blue
Models-2207122MC
PriceAbout 850 EURAbout 570 EUR

Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022)

  • Excellent 5G UW (mmWave) compatibility for US carriers
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities
  • Potentially more natural image processing

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 prone to thermal throttling
  • Limited information on display and camera specs
  • Software support may be less consistent than Xiaomi

Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)

  • More powerful Dimensity 9000+ chipset
  • Potentially better sustained performance
  • Faster CPU and GPU clock speeds

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Image processing may be overly saturated for some users
  • Less focused on US carrier-specific features

Display Comparison

Neither device specifies display technology beyond standard OLED, but the focus here is on performance. While both are likely to offer excellent color accuracy, the Xiaomi 12 Pro benefits from the more powerful Dimensity 9000+ driving the display, potentially resulting in smoother animations. The Motorola Edge+’s display specs are not detailed enough to compare brightness or refresh rate, but the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s chipset is more capable of handling advanced display features like variable refresh rate for power efficiency.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs are missing for both devices, making a direct comparison difficult. However, the Motorola Edge+’s brand history suggests a focus on computational photography, while Xiaomi often emphasizes hardware. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is a significant omission. The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s image processing is likely to lean towards more vibrant, saturated colors, while Motorola typically aims for a more natural look. The lack of information on video recording capabilities also hinders a thorough comparison.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4nm) boasts a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed (3.20 GHz Cortex-X2) compared to the Motorola Edge+’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (3.00 GHz Cortex-X2). This, combined with the 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 cores versus the Motorola’s 3x2.50 GHz, translates to a measurable performance advantage for the Xiaomi in CPU-intensive tasks. Both utilize the same Cortex-A510 efficiency cores. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to run hotter under sustained load, potentially leading to throttling, while the Dimensity 9000+’s 4nm process and improved thermal design may offer better sustained performance. Both devices utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Xiaomi’s chipset is better optimized for memory bandwidth.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) offers 68W wired charging, claiming 50% charge in 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The Xiaomi 12 Pro matches this with 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC4 standards. While the advertised times are similar, real-world charging speeds can vary. The Motorola also includes 15W wireless and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Xiaomi 12 Pro. Battery capacity is not specified for either device, making it difficult to assess overall battery life. The faster charging speeds on both devices mitigate concerns about smaller battery capacities, but the Motorola’s wireless charging options provide added convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) if you absolutely require compatibility with US carrier mmWave 5G networks (Ultra Wideband) and prioritize a phone designed specifically for that ecosystem. Buy the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) if you prioritize raw performance, a more globally available software experience, and potentially better sustained performance during demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to generate significant heat under sustained load, which can lead to thermal throttling and reduced performance during prolonged gaming. While Motorola likely implemented cooling solutions, the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s Dimensity 9000+ generally exhibits better thermal efficiency, potentially offering a smoother gaming experience over longer periods.
❓ How does the 5G UW (Ultra Wideband) support on the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) impact real-world speeds compared to the Xiaomi 12 Pro?
The Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) is specifically optimized for mmWave 5G networks deployed by US carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile. In areas with mmWave coverage, this can translate to significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to the Xiaomi 12 Pro, which primarily supports sub-6GHz 5G. However, mmWave coverage is limited, so the benefit is only realized in specific locations.
❓ Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on either phone a significant drawback?
The absence of a dedicated telephoto lens on both devices means digital zoom will be relied upon for distant subjects. While software processing can improve digital zoom quality, it won't match the clarity and detail of a dedicated telephoto lens. Users who frequently photograph distant objects may find this limitation noticeable.