Motorola Edge 70 vs. Google Pixel 7a: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Champions

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Motorola Edge 70 and Google Pixel 7a represent compelling options. The Edge 70 prioritizes sleek design and rapid charging, while the Pixel 7a leverages Google’s Tensor G2 chip for AI-powered features and computational photography. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera versatility and software experience, the Google Pixel 7a is the stronger choice. However, the Motorola Edge 70 excels in charging speed and offers a more efficient chipset, making it ideal for those who value battery longevity and quick top-ups.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Edge 70	Google Pixel 7a

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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8

Launch
Announced	2025, October 29	2023, May 10
Status	Available. Released 2025, October 29	Available. Released 2023, May 10

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions	159.9 x 74 x 6 mm (6.30 x 2.91 x 0.24 in)	152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM - International· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - China	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	159 g (5.61 oz)	193.5 g (6.84 oz)
	-	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 4	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	P-OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, PWM, HDR10+, 4500 nits (peak)	OLED, HDR, 90Hz
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-720 & 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-720 & 3x1.8 GHz Cortex-520)	Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7750-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4 nm)	Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 722	Mali-G710 MP7
OS	Android 16, up to 4 major Android upgrades	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Dual	50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF	64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.64µm	13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	-	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos)	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.4, A2DP, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band or tri-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	68W wired 15W wireless	18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
Type	Si/C Li-Ion 4800 mAh	Li-Po 4385 mAh

Misc
Colors	Pantone: Gadget Gray, Lily Pad, Bronze Green	Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
Models	XT2601-2, XT2603-2	GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
Price	£ 799.00	€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980

EU LABEL
Battery	50:14h endurance, 1000 cycles	-
Energy	Class A	-
Free fall	Class A (270 falls)	-
Repairability	Class B	-

Motorola Edge 70

Significantly faster 68W wired charging
More efficient Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset
Potentially longer battery lifespan (1000 cycles)

Camera performance likely trails the Pixel 7a
Software updates may be less frequent than Pixel

Google Pixel 7a

Superior camera quality and computational photography
Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
Brighter display for outdoor visibility

Slower 18W wired charging
Tensor G2 may throttle under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1070 nits, which translates to better visibility under direct sunlight compared to the Edge 70 (brightness data unavailable). While the Edge 70’s panel specifics are unknown, the Pixel 7a’s OLED panel delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Pixel 7a’s 90Hz refresh rate, while not specified for the Edge 70, is standard for this price point and contributes to smoother scrolling and animations. Bezels appear comparable, but the Pixel 7a’s flat display may offer a slightly more immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 7a’s camera system is its standout feature, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the Pixel 7a’s image processing algorithms consistently deliver excellent dynamic range and detail. The Edge 70’s camera capabilities are less emphasized in the provided data, suggesting a more conventional approach. The Pixel 7a’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from the Tensor G2’s image signal processor. Ignoring the likely present but unimportant 2MP macro sensors on both devices, the Pixel 7a’s focus on software optimization gives it a clear edge.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 (5nm) prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, excelling in features like voice recognition and image processing. However, the Motorola Edge 70’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4nm) offers a more balanced approach, with a Cortex-720 based CPU configuration designed for sustained performance and efficiency. The Snapdragon’s 4nm process node provides a thermal advantage, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Pixel 7a’s CPU, featuring Cortex-X1 cores, offers peak performance advantages, but the Edge 70’s architecture may provide more consistent performance over time. Both utilize octa-core CPUs, but the core arrangement and clock speeds differ significantly.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 70 claims a 50:14h endurance rating and 13:36h of active use, while the Pixel 7a’s older 76h endurance rating is less directly comparable. The Edge 70’s 68W wired charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 7a’s 18W charging, allowing for a full charge in under an hour. The Edge 70 also supports 15W wireless charging, while the Pixel 7a offers 7.5W wireless charging. The Edge 70’s 1000 cycle battery claim suggests a longer lifespan, but real-world battery life will depend on usage patterns. The faster charging of the Edge 70 mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 70 if you need exceptional charging speeds (68W) and prioritize battery endurance with its efficient Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. It’s the phone for power users who frequently top up throughout the day and demand long-lasting performance. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you prefer a superior camera experience powered by Google’s computational photography, a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates, and seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 in the Motorola Edge 70 handle demanding games like Genshin Impact?

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is a capable chipset, and should handle Genshin Impact at medium settings with stable frame rates. However, the Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7a may offer slightly higher peak performance for graphically intensive games, though potentially at the cost of increased thermal throttling.

❓ How does the Pixel 7a's image processing compare to the Motorola Edge 70 in low-light conditions?

The Pixel 7a excels in low-light photography thanks to Google’s Night Sight mode and the Tensor G2’s image processing capabilities. It consistently produces brighter, more detailed images with reduced noise. The Motorola Edge 70’s low-light performance is likely good, but won’t match the Pixel 7a’s computational photography prowess.

❓ What kind of wireless charging speeds can I expect on each phone?

The Motorola Edge 70 supports 15W wireless charging, offering a moderate charging speed. The Google Pixel 7a is limited to 7.5W wireless charging, which is considerably slower. If wireless charging is a priority, the Edge 70 is the clear winner.

❓ How long will software updates be supported on each device?

Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 7a. Motorola’s update commitment is typically shorter, usually around 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches. This makes the Pixel 7a a better choice for users who prioritize long-term software support.