Motorola Edge S vs. Google Pixel 6a: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

The Motorola Edge S and Google Pixel 6a represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, but cater to different priorities. The Edge S, leveraging the Snapdragon 870, prioritizes raw processing power, while the Pixel 6a focuses on Google’s AI-driven features and camera prowess with its in-house Tensor chip. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing sustained performance in demanding tasks and gaming, the Motorola Edge S emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 870 offers a noticeable edge in raw speed. However, the Pixel 6a’s superior camera processing and software experience make it a strong contender for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Edge S	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, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66	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	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA	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 Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1x	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, January 26	2022, May 11
Status	Available. Released 2021, February 03	Available. Released 2022, July 21

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions	168.4 x 74 x 9.7 mm (6.63 x 2.91 x 0.38 in)	152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	215 g (7.58 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
Resolution	1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10, 560 nits (HBM)	OLED, HDR
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Mali-G78 MP20
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 12	Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	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	Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, ring flash (macro mode), panorama, HDR	Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single	-	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Triple	64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 121˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D Auxiliary lens	-
Video	6K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS

Selfie camera
Dual	16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm 8 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm	-
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	-	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	Ready For support	-

Battery
Charging	20W wired	18W wired, PD3.0
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 4410 mAh

Misc
Colors	Blue, Silver	Chalk, Charcoal, Sage
Models	-	GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L
Price	About 250 EUR	$ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 94h
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)

Motorola Edge S

Stronger raw CPU performance for demanding tasks
Potentially better gaming performance due to Adreno 660 GPU
Faster wired charging (20W vs 18W)

Less refined software experience compared to Pixel
Camera likely lacks the computational photography prowess of the Pixel 6a

Google Pixel 6a

Superior camera image processing and computational photography
Clean and bloatware-free software experience with guaranteed updates
Google Tensor chip optimized for AI and machine learning

Slightly slower CPU performance in raw benchmarks
Lower peak brightness compared to the Pixel 6a

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6a boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 876 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Edge S. While the Edge S’s display specs are missing, the Pixel 6a’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior OLED panel. This brightness advantage translates to better visibility in direct sunlight for the Pixel 6a. The lack of refresh rate information for the Edge S is a drawback, as the Pixel 6a’s 60Hz panel, while standard, is at least known.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6a’s camera system benefits significantly from Google’s computational photography expertise. While specific sensor details are missing for both phones, the Pixel 6a’s image processing is renowned for its dynamic range, accurate colors, and excellent low-light performance. The Edge S likely relies more on hardware specifications, but without knowing sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to assess its capabilities. The Pixel 6a’s focus on software optimization gives it a distinct advantage in image quality, particularly for everyday snapshots. The absence of details regarding OIS on the Edge S is a concern, as the Pixel 6a likely incorporates it for sharper images and smoother video.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Motorola Edge S utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), an octa-core processor known for its strong performance and efficiency. The Google Pixel 6a, however, is powered by Google’s own Tensor chip (5nm). While the Tensor features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.80 GHz, exceeding the Snapdragon 870’s 3.2 GHz Kryo 585, the 5nm process node of the Tensor offers better power efficiency and thermal management. This means the Tensor can sustain peak performance for longer periods without throttling, despite the Snapdragon 870’s initial clock speed advantage. The Edge S’s Adreno 660 GPU is a proven performer, but the Tensor’s GPU architecture is optimized for Google’s AI and machine learning tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 94 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ. The Motorola Edge S supports 20W wired charging, while the Pixel 6a offers 18W charging with PD3.0 support. While the difference is marginal, PD3.0 allows for potentially faster charging with compatible chargers. The similar endurance ratings suggest that despite the different chipsets and charging speeds, both phones are optimized for efficient power consumption. The lack of battery capacity information for both devices makes a direct comparison difficult, but the endurance rating provides a useful benchmark.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge S if you need a phone capable of handling intensive gaming, video editing, or multitasking without significant slowdown. Its Snapdragon 870 provides a performance advantage for power users. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prioritize camera quality, clean software, and guaranteed updates, especially if you heavily rely on Google’s services and value computational photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 870 in the Motorola Edge S throttle under sustained load, like during extended gaming sessions?

While the Snapdragon 870 is a powerful chip, it can experience some throttling under prolonged heavy load. However, the 7nm process node and Motorola’s thermal management system mitigate this effect, allowing for reasonably sustained performance. The Google Tensor’s 5nm process generally offers better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling, but real-world performance will depend on the specific game and settings.

❓ How does Google’s Tensor chip handle on-device AI tasks compared to the Snapdragon 870 in the Motorola Edge S?

Google’s Tensor chip is specifically designed with a dedicated TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) for accelerating AI and machine learning tasks. This results in significantly faster and more efficient performance in areas like voice recognition, image processing, and translation. The Snapdragon 870’s AI capabilities are good, but they are not as specialized or optimized as those of the Tensor.

❓ What kind of software support can I expect from Motorola compared to Google with the Pixel 6a?

Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 6a, ensuring long-term software support. Motorola’s update policy is less consistent, typically offering 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches. This means the Pixel 6a will remain secure and up-to-date for a longer period.