Motorola Edge+ (2020) vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into 2020 Flagship Performance

Released within months of each other in 2020, the Motorola Edge+ and OnePlus 8 Pro represented the pinnacle of Android flagship design. Now, with prices significantly reduced, these phones offer compelling value. This comparison dissects their similarities and differences, helping you determine which device best suits your needs in today's market.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a potentially brighter display, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 30W wired and wireless charging capabilities significantly outperform the Motorola Edge+'s slower speeds. However, the Edge+ remains a viable option for those seeking a more affordable Snapdragon 865 experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge+ (2020) OnePlus 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - GlobalHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66, 71 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands5, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DLHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2020, April 22. Released 2020, May 142020, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm (6.34 x 2.81 x 0.38 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight203 g (7.16 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~95.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Triple108 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)-
Video6K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30/120fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsSmokey Sangria, Thunder Grey, Baltic GrayGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsXT2061-3IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 670 EURAbout 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge+ (2020)

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Capable Snapdragon 865 performance
  • Decent battery endurance

  • Slow charging speeds (18W wired)
  • Limited camera information
  • Less RAM/Storage configuration options

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Significantly faster charging (30W wired/wireless)
  • Potentially brighter and higher contrast display
  • More RAM/Storage configuration options

  • Higher price than the Motorola Edge+
  • Similar processor performance to the Edge+
  • Software bloat (historically a OnePlus concern)

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays capable of excellent image quality, but key differences exist. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel, likely offering deeper blacks. The Motorola Edge+ reaches 607 nits of peak brightness, a respectable figure, but the OnePlus 8 Pro likely surpasses this, though specific measurements are unavailable. While both offer smooth experiences, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s display technology likely provides a more visually immersive experience, particularly in HDR content. Bezels are comparable, with both aiming for a modern, edge-to-edge aesthetic.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but detailed specifications beyond 'Photo/Video' are lacking. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s wider range of available configurations (128GB/8GB RAM and 256GB/12GB RAM) suggests a greater emphasis on photography and videography features, potentially including more advanced software processing. Without sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, OnePlus’s history suggests a more refined image processing pipeline, potentially resulting in more consistently pleasing photos. The lack of detail regarding the Motorola Edge+'s camera system makes a direct comparison challenging.

Performance

Both the Motorola Edge+ and OnePlus 8 Pro are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, utilizing the same Octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power is virtually identical. However, OnePlus is known for its software optimizations, potentially leading to slightly smoother day-to-day performance and more efficient thermal management. Both devices utilize LPDDR5 RAM, ensuring fast application loading and multitasking. The real-world performance difference will likely be minimal for most users, with software and sustained performance under load being the differentiating factors.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts a slightly higher endurance rating of 103 hours compared to the Motorola Edge+'s 100 hours. This difference, while not massive, is coupled with significantly faster charging capabilities. The OnePlus 8 Pro supports 30W wired charging (50% in 23 minutes) and 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes), while the Motorola Edge+ is limited to 18W wired, 15W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless. This means the OnePlus 8 Pro can be topped up much more quickly, a significant advantage for users who frequently need to recharge their devices. The 3W reverse wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro is also slightly more useful than the Edge+'s 5W offering.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2020) if you need a capable Snapdragon 865 phone at the lowest possible price and aren't heavily reliant on ultra-fast charging. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prioritize faster charging speeds, a potentially brighter display, and are willing to spend a bit more for those features. The OnePlus 8 Pro also offers more RAM/storage configuration options.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in either phone struggle with sustained performance during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 865 is a powerful chipset, it can experience thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding tasks like gaming. Both phones likely implement thermal management solutions, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s software optimizations may provide slightly better sustained performance. Expect some frame rate drops after 30-60 minutes of intense gaming on either device.
❓ How does the charging speed difference impact daily use between the Motorola Edge+ and OnePlus 8 Pro?
The OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W charging is a game-changer. A quick 20-30 minute charge can add a significant amount of battery life, making it ideal for users who frequently find themselves needing to top up. The Motorola Edge+'s 18W charging is considerably slower, requiring much longer to achieve a similar charge level.
❓ Are there any known software update issues or long-term support concerns for either device?
Both phones are several years old, so long-term software support is limited. Motorola’s update track record has historically been less consistent than OnePlus. While the OnePlus 8 Pro received updates for a reasonable period, it’s unlikely to receive major Android version updates at this point. The Edge+ may have even fewer updates available.