Motorola Edge S30 vs. Edge 5G UW (2021): A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola Edge S30 is the clear winner for performance enthusiasts thanks to its Snapdragon 888+ chipset. However, the Edge 5G UW (2021) offers a more refined overall experience with potentially better software support and a more compact design, making it a strong contender for everyday users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge S30 | Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Verizon, USA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 12 | 2021, October 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 21 | Available. Released 2021, October 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 168.1 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.62 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 169 x 75.6 x 9 mm (6.65 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 202 g (7.13 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Water-repellent design | Water-repellent design | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 11, MYUI 2.0 | Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120ps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Ready For support | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Glacier Blue, Phantom Black | Nebula Blue |
| Models | XT2175-2 | - |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 550 EUR |
Motorola Edge S30
- Flagship Snapdragon 888+ performance
- 144Hz OLED display
- Fast charging (33W)
- Generally more affordable
- Potentially shorter battery life
- Software support may be less extensive
- Larger size
Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021)
- Good balance of features
- Potentially better software support
- More compact design
- 108MP main camera
- Less powerful processor
- Standard 60Hz display
- Slower charging (30W)
Display Comparison
The Edge S30 typically features a 144Hz OLED display, offering smoother scrolling and visuals. The Edge 5G UW (2021) usually has a 6.8-inch OLED display, but with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. While both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, the S30's higher refresh rate provides a noticeably more fluid experience.
Camera Comparison
The Edge S30 generally features a 50MP main camera, often with OIS, alongside ultrawide and macro lenses. The Edge 5G UW (2021) typically has a 108MP main camera, also with OIS, along with ultrawide and depth sensors. While megapixel count isn't everything, the Edge 5G UW's larger sensor and potentially better image processing could result in slightly better image quality in certain conditions. Both offer decent video recording capabilities.
Performance
Here's where the S30 truly shines. The Snapdragon 888+ is significantly faster than the Snapdragon 778G in the Edge 5G UW. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance on the S30. The 778G is still capable, but it's in a different performance tier.
Battery Life
Both phones offer similar battery capacities, around 4500mAh. However, the Edge S30's more power-hungry processor might result in slightly shorter battery life under heavy use. The Edge 5G UW (2021) benefits from a more efficient chipset, potentially offering slightly better longevity.
Buying Guide
The Motorola Edge S30 is ideal for gamers, power users, and anyone prioritizing raw performance. The Edge 5G UW (2021) is a better choice for those seeking a well-rounded phone with a good balance of features, a more manageable size, and potentially longer software support.