Asus ROG Phone 3 vs. Motorola Edge+: A Deep Dive into Performance and Features
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience, the Motorola Edge+ (2020) offers a compelling package. However, the Asus ROG Phone 3 is the clear winner for dedicated mobile gamers, thanks to its superior battery life, faster charging, and slightly enhanced processor.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge+ (2020) | Asus ROG Phone 3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66, 71 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version |
| 5G bands | 5, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 22. Released 2020, May 14 | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm (6.34 x 2.81 x 0.38 in) | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~95.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+ | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 6K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Smokey Sangria, Thunder Grey, Baltic Gray | Black Glare |
| Models | XT2061-3 | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 670 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 120h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Edge+ (2020)
- Bright and vibrant display
- Well-rounded performance for everyday tasks
- Sleek and premium design
- Slower charging speed
- Lower battery endurance compared to ROG Phone 3
- May throttle under sustained heavy load
Asus ROG Phone 3
- Exceptional battery life
- Faster charging with advanced standards (PD3.0, QC4)
- Enhanced cooling system for sustained performance
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to everyone
- Camera may not be as refined as the Edge+
- Larger and heavier form factor
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 3 boasts a significantly brighter display at 719 nits compared to the Motorola Edge+'s 607 nits, making it more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While both utilize AMOLED technology, the ROG Phone 3’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and a more vibrant image. The Edge+ lacks the ROG Phone 3’s higher refresh rate (120Hz vs. assumed 60Hz), impacting smoothness in fast-paced games and scrolling. The ROG Phone 3’s larger screen size also contributes to a more immersive gaming experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable photo and video cameras, but detailed sensor information is lacking in the provided data. Given the ROG Phone 3’s gaming focus, its camera system likely prioritizes speed and convenience over outright image quality. The Edge+ likely offers a more refined camera experience, potentially with better dynamic range and color accuracy, though this is speculative without further details. The absence of specific sensor details makes a definitive comparison impossible, but the Edge+’s marketing historically emphasized camera capabilities more strongly.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G, but the ROG Phone 3 features the slightly upgraded Snapdragon 865+ 5G. This translates to a marginally higher CPU clock speed – 3.10 GHz on the ROG Phone 3 versus 2.84 GHz on the Edge+ – offering a small performance boost in demanding applications. Both share the same CPU core configuration (Octa-core: 1x2.84/3.10 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). However, the ROG Phone 3’s advanced cooling system, a hallmark of the ROG line, allows it to sustain peak performance for longer periods, mitigating thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Edge+ may experience more performance degradation under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 3 clearly wins in battery endurance with a rating of 120 hours, compared to the Motorola Edge+'s 100 hours. This 20% advantage is crucial for gamers who demand all-day battery life. Furthermore, the ROG Phone 3’s 30W wired charging (with PD3.0 and QC4 support) is significantly faster than the Edge+'s 18W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups. The ROG Phone 3 also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Edge+, and the Edge+ only offers 5W reverse wireless charging. This faster charging and larger battery capacity make the ROG Phone 3 the superior choice for power users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2020) if you need a versatile flagship with a bright display and solid all-around performance for everyday tasks, photography, and moderate gaming. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you prioritize extended gaming sessions, rapid charging, and a feature set specifically tailored to mobile esports, even if it means sacrificing some camera refinement.