Motorola Edge S vs Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+: Which Snapdragon Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Motorola Edge S and Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ represent a fascinating crossroads in the smartphone market. Both devices aimed to deliver flagship-level performance without the flagship price tag, but they took different approaches. The Edge S leverages the efficient Snapdragon 870, while the K40 Pro+ opts for the more powerful, yet potentially more thermally challenged, Snapdragon 888. This comparison dissects these choices to determine which phone offers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and efficient power management, the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ is the stronger choice. While the Snapdragon 888 can run hotter, its superior processing power and faster 33W charging outweigh the Edge S’s efficiency, especially for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge S Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2021, January 262021, February 25
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, February 03Available. Released 2021, March 04
Body
Dimensions168.4 x 74 x 9.7 mm (6.63 x 2.91 x 0.38 in)163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 Water repellent designIP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10, 560 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12Android 11, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, ring flash (macro mode), panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 121˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D Auxiliary lens108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (macro), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
Video6K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm 8 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYes-
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum, barometer
 Ready For support-
Battery
Charging20W wired33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min (advertised)
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4520 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlue, SilverBlack, White, Aurora
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 470 EUR

Motorola Edge S

  • Excellent Snapdragon 870 efficiency
  • Lower operating temperatures
  • Potentially more affordable

  • Less raw processing power than the Snapdragon 888
  • Slower 20W charging

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

  • More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Faster 33W charging with PD3.0/QC3
  • Likely superior camera system

  • Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Higher power consumption

Display Comparison

Neither device’s display specifications are provided, so we must infer. Given the K40 Pro+'s positioning, it likely features a higher-resolution AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Edge S, being more budget-focused, likely uses a 90Hz or 120Hz AMOLED. The K40 Pro+ likely benefits from a more sophisticated display calibration and potentially higher peak brightness. The absence of LTPO technology on either device suggests both will rely on adaptive refresh rate switching to conserve battery, but the K40 Pro+’s panel is likely more advanced.

Camera Comparison

Without specific camera specs, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the K40 Pro+’s flagship positioning suggests a more sophisticated camera system, potentially including a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. The Edge S likely offers a competent camera experience, but the K40 Pro+ is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is probable on the K40 Pro+, further enhancing its photographic capabilities. We can assume both phones will have a standard wide, ultrawide, and macro setup, but the K40 Pro+'s sensors will likely be larger and more capable.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) boasts a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84GHz, offering a significant performance uplift over the Motorola Edge S’s Snapdragon 870 (7nm). While the 870’s Kryo 585 cores are capable, the 888’s architecture is fundamentally more powerful. However, the 5nm process of the 888 is crucial; it aims to mitigate the increased power draw of the more potent cores. The Edge S benefits from the 870’s excellent efficiency, reducing the likelihood of sustained throttling. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the K40 Pro+’s faster chipset will still provide a noticeable advantage in memory bandwidth-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

Battery capacity is not specified for either device. However, the Redmi K40 Pro+’s 33W charging with PD3.0 and QC3 support is a clear advantage over the Edge S’s 20W charging. This translates to a significantly faster 0-100% charge time (advertised at 52 minutes for the K40 Pro+). While the Edge S’s Snapdragon 870 is more power-efficient, the K40 Pro+’s faster charging mitigates any potential battery life disadvantage. The K40 Pro+'s charging standard compatibility also offers greater flexibility with chargers.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge S if you prioritize long-term sustained performance under load and value a more consistently cool operating temperature. It’s ideal for users who engage in extended gaming sessions or heavy multitasking without wanting to worry about thermal throttling. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ if you prefer raw processing power for tasks like video editing, demanding mobile games at maximum settings, and appreciate significantly faster charging speeds, even if it means potentially experiencing some thermal throttling during peak usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 888 in the Redmi K40 Pro+ overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than the 870. While Xiaomi likely implemented thermal management solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings *could* lead to throttling, reducing sustained performance. However, the 33W fast charging allows for quick top-ups, mitigating the impact of any throttling.
❓ Is the difference in performance between the Snapdragon 870 and 888 noticeable in everyday tasks?
For typical daily use – browsing, social media, video streaming – the difference will be minimal. Both chipsets are more than capable of handling these tasks smoothly. The performance gap becomes more apparent in demanding applications like video editing, graphically intensive games, and multitasking with numerous apps open.
❓ Does the Redmi K40 Pro+ support high refresh rate gaming?
While not explicitly stated, given the K40 Pro+'s positioning and the Snapdragon 888's capabilities, it's highly probable that it supports high refresh rate gaming (90Hz or 120Hz) in compatible titles. However, achieving consistently high frame rates will depend on the game's optimization and the device's thermal management.
❓ How does the charging speed difference impact daily use?
The Redmi K40 Pro+'s 33W charging is a significant convenience. A quick 30-minute charge can provide a substantial boost in battery life, whereas the Edge S’s 20W charging will take considerably longer to achieve the same result. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently find themselves needing to top up their battery throughout the day.