Motorola Edge vs. Sony Xperia 5 V: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

The Motorola Edge and Sony Xperia 5 V represent distinct approaches to the Android smartphone market. The Edge, a more budget-conscious option, aims to deliver solid performance at a competitive price. The Xperia 5 V, on the other hand, packs flagship-level hardware into a remarkably compact form factor, targeting users who prioritize power and portability. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Sony Xperia 5 V is the superior device. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers significantly faster performance and improved efficiency, justifying the higher price. However, the Motorola Edge remains a compelling option for budget-minded consumers who don't require top-tier processing power.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge Sony Xperia 5 V
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 78 Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1000/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2020, April 22. Released 2020, May 292023, September 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, September 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions161.6 x 71.1 x 9.3 mm (6.36 x 2.80 x 0.37 in)154 x 68 x 8.6 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g (6.63 oz)182 g (6.42 oz)
 Water-repellent coating-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~95.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 90Hz, HDR10OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Adreno 740
OSAndroid 10Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1-
Main Camera
Dual-48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single3.15 MP, AF-
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1.12µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm TOF 3D, (depth)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack Yes-
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
BrowserHTML, Adobe Flash-
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximityFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 950 h-
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSolar Black, Midnight MagentaBlack, Blue, Platinum Silver
ModelsXT2063-2, XT2063-3XQ-DE54
PriceAbout 250 EUR€ 999.99 / $ 1,444.00
SAR EU0.18 W/kg (head)     -
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 102h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -30.4 LUFS (Below average) -
Performance AnTuTu: 305989 (v8) GeekBench: 1862 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Motorola Edge

  • Excellent battery endurance (102h rating)
  • More affordable price point
  • Solid performance for everyday tasks

  • Older Snapdragon 765G chipset
  • Slower charging speed (18W)
  • Display brightness likely lower than competitors

Sony Xperia 5 V

  • Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Brighter and likely higher-quality display (746 nits)
  • Faster charging (30W with PD3.0/PPS) and wireless charging

  • Higher price tag
  • Battery life, while good, may not be dramatically better in all scenarios
  • Compact size may not appeal to all users

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 5 V boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 746 nits, compared to the Motorola Edge’s ‘Infinite’ (nominal) contrast ratio which doesn’t specify peak brightness. This brightness advantage translates to better visibility outdoors. While the Edge’s contrast ratio suggests deep blacks, the lack of specific brightness data leaves it at a disadvantage. The Xperia 5 V’s panel likely benefits from a more advanced backlight system, contributing to its superior viewing experience. The absence of refresh rate information for the Motorola Edge makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Xperia 5 V’s likely higher refresh rate would provide smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited. Without sensor size or aperture details for either phone, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the Xperia 5 V’s flagship chipset likely provides more advanced image signal processing (ISP) capabilities, resulting in better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. Sony’s expertise in camera technology, stemming from their Alpha camera division, suggests a more refined and feature-rich camera experience on the Xperia 5 V. The Motorola Edge’s camera system is likely more focused on providing adequate performance for casual photography.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Motorola Edge utilizes the Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G (7nm), while the Sony Xperia 5 V is powered by the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). This represents a substantial leap in performance. The 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, significantly outperforms the Edge’s Kryo 475 Prime core at 2.4 GHz. The 4nm process node of the 8 Gen 2 also offers superior power efficiency, reducing thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The Xperia 5 V will handle demanding games and applications with ease, while the Edge may struggle with more intensive tasks. The Xperia 5 V’s likely use of faster LPDDR5x RAM further enhances its performance advantage.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 5 V’s active use score of 16:19h and endurance rating of 130h suggest superior battery life compared to the Motorola Edge’s 102h endurance rating. While the Edge’s endurance rating is respectable, the Xperia 5 V’s more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and optimized software contribute to longer runtimes. Furthermore, the Xperia 5 V supports 30W wired charging with PD3.0 and PPS, enabling a 50% charge in just 30 minutes, alongside wireless and reverse wireless charging. The Motorola Edge is limited to 18W wired charging, resulting in significantly slower charging speeds.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge if you need a reliable smartphone for everyday tasks, prioritize long battery endurance (102h rating), and are looking for the best value for your money. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 V if you demand flagship-level performance for demanding applications like gaming and video editing, appreciate a compact and premium design, and value faster charging capabilities and a brighter display.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xperia 5 V get noticeably warmer during extended gaming sessions compared to the Snapdragon 765G in the Motorola Edge?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful, its 4nm process and Sony’s thermal management system are designed to mitigate heat. The Motorola Edge’s 765G will likely remain cooler under load, but at the cost of performance. The Xperia 5 V may experience some warming, but it should not result in significant throttling, allowing for sustained high frame rates.
❓ How does the charging speed difference (18W vs 30W) translate to real-world usage for the Motorola Edge and Sony Xperia 5 V?
The Xperia 5 V’s 30W charging will significantly reduce charging times. Expect a full charge in approximately 70-80 minutes, compared to over 100 minutes for the Motorola Edge’s 18W charging. The Xperia 5 V’s support for PD3.0 and PPS also ensures optimized charging efficiency.
❓ Given the compact size of the Xperia 5 V, is it comfortable for users with larger hands?
The Xperia 5 V’s compact design is a key selling point, but it may not be ideal for users with larger hands. Reaching all corners of the screen can be challenging, and some may find it difficult to type comfortably. Consider trying the device in person before purchasing if hand size is a concern.