Motorola Edge+ (2020) vs Sony Xperia 1 III: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Androids
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value, the Motorola Edge+ (2020) remains a compelling option, offering excellent battery life and a capable camera at a lower price point. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III delivers a noticeable performance boost with the Snapdragon 888 and faster charging, making it the better choice for power users and content creators.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge+ (2020) | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 5, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 22. Released 2020, May 14 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm (6.34 x 2.81 x 0.38 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~95.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| 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) | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 6K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Smokey Sangria, Thunder Grey, Baltic Gray | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | XT2061-3 | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 670 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Edge+ (2020)
- Exceptional battery life (100h endurance)
- More affordable price point
- Capable all-around performance
- Slower charging speeds (18W)
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 865)
- Lacks wireless charging
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Faster Snapdragon 888 processor
- Faster 30W wired charging with PD
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Shorter battery life (82h endurance)
- Higher price tag
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays capable of reaching over 600 nits of brightness, with the Xperia 1 III marginally edging out the Edge+ at 620 nits versus 607 nits. While the difference is subtle, it could be noticeable in direct sunlight. Both displays offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. However, Sony’s focus on color accuracy and professional video editing workflows suggests a more calibrated display experience, though without specific color gamut data, it’s difficult to quantify. The Edge+ lacks any mention of advanced features like LTPO, suggesting a standard 60Hz refresh rate, while the Xperia 1 III’s display tech is not specified, but Sony historically prioritizes display quality.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are equipped with capable camera systems, but details are limited to 'Photo / Video' for both. However, Sony’s brand reputation and focus on imaging technology suggest a more sophisticated camera experience on the Xperia 1 III. While sensor sizes and apertures aren’t specified, Sony typically employs larger sensors and advanced image processing algorithms. The Xperia 1 III likely benefits from Sony’s Real-time Tracking and Eye AF technologies, enhancing autofocus performance. The Edge+’s camera is likely competent, but lacks the specialized features and tuning found in Sony’s flagship.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Motorola Edge+ (2020) utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, built on a 7nm+ process, while the Sony Xperia 1 III boasts the Snapdragon 888, fabricated on a more efficient 5nm node. This process shrink translates to improved thermal efficiency and performance. The Xperia 1 III’s CPU features a Cortex-X1 prime core, a significant upgrade over the Edge+’s Cortex-A77. While both share the same Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, the Xperia 1 III’s A78 performance cores are also a step up. This means faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better sustained performance during demanding games. The 5nm process also helps mitigate throttling under sustained load, a potential issue with the 865 in the Edge+.
Battery Life
The Motorola Edge+ (2020) boasts a 100-hour endurance rating, significantly higher than the Xperia 1 III’s 82 hours. This suggests superior battery life despite a potentially larger battery capacity in the Xperia 1 III (not specified). However, the Xperia 1 III compensates with significantly faster charging: 30W wired with PD support and 50% charge in 30 minutes, compared to the Edge+’s slower 18W wired charging. The Xperia 1 III also includes wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Edge+.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2020) if you need exceptional battery endurance and a solid all-around experience without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for users who prioritize longevity and don’t demand the absolute latest processing power. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a more refined multimedia experience, faster performance for demanding tasks, and benefit from quicker charging speeds, even if it means sacrificing some battery life and paying a premium.