Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Head-to-Head Comparison

The Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) arrived as a performance-focused Android contender, boasting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Now, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max seeing price drops, the question arises: can Motorola’s raw power challenge Apple’s refined ecosystem and established camera prowess? This comparison dives deep into the key differences, helping you decide which flagship best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a seamless experience, exceptional camera consistency, and long-term software support, the iPhone 13 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) delivers impressive performance and significantly faster charging at a potentially lower price point, appealing to power users and Android enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2643, A2644, A2645
5G bands2, 5, 7, 12, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Verizon, USA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2641
Launch
Announced2022, January 242021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 24Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions163.1 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196 g (6.91 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF Auxiliary lens12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging68W wired, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 4800 mAhLi-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh)
Misc
ColorsCosmos Blue, Stardust WhiteGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green
Models-A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3
PriceAbout 850 EUR€ 423.38 / $ 394.86 / £ 355.00
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     1.20 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022)

  • Significantly faster wired charging (68W)
  • Potentially lower price point
  • Android OS flexibility and customization

  • Less refined software experience
  • Potentially shorter software support lifespan
  • Camera consistency may not match iPhone

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Exceptional camera quality and consistency
  • Polished and intuitive iOS ecosystem
  • Long-term software support and updates

  • Slower wired charging (compared to Motorola)
  • Higher price point
  • Less customization options

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a display capable of reaching 1050 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) specifications aren’t provided, it’s likely lower. Apple’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. Both devices utilize OLED technology, but Apple’s ProMotion adaptive refresh rate (not specified for the Motorola) contributes to smoother scrolling and animations. The iPhone’s color accuracy is renowned, making it ideal for content creation, while the Motorola’s display performance is less documented.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is known for its consistent image processing and cinematic mode for video. While specific sensor details for the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) are missing, the iPhone’s larger sensors and advanced computational photography algorithms provide a wider dynamic range and better low-light performance. Apple’s ProRAW format offers greater editing flexibility for professional photographers. The Motorola likely relies more heavily on software processing to compensate for potential sensor limitations. The iPhone’s video stabilization is industry-leading, while the Motorola’s video capabilities are less documented.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) in the Motorola versus Apple’s A15 Bionic (5nm) in the iPhone. Despite the Snapdragon’s higher clock speeds (3.00 GHz Cortex-X2), the A15 Bionic’s architectural efficiency and software optimization consistently deliver superior real-world performance. The A15’s hexa-core design, with its Avalanche and Blizzard cores, is optimized for both peak performance and power efficiency. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers improvements over previous generations, but the A15’s 5nm node provides a thermal advantage, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. The Motorola’s LPDDR5 RAM is standard for flagships, but Apple’s memory bandwidth optimization further enhances performance.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an impressive endurance rating of 121 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Motorola). However, the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) significantly outperforms the iPhone 13 Pro Max in charging speed. Its 68W wired charging can deliver a 50% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 35 minutes, compared to the iPhone’s 30 minutes for 50%. The Motorola also offers 15W wireless and 5W reverse wireless charging, features the iPhone matches with 15W MagSafe and Qi2 (with iOS 17.2 update).

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) if you need blazing-fast performance for demanding tasks, prioritize rapid 68W charging, and prefer the flexibility of the Android operating system. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if you value a polished user experience, a consistently excellent camera system, and guaranteed software updates for years to come, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to generate more heat than some of its competitors. While the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) incorporates cooling solutions, extended gaming at maximum settings may lead to thermal throttling, reducing sustained performance. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s A15 Bionic, with its 5nm process, generally exhibits better thermal management.
❓ How does the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s MagSafe charging compare to the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022)'s wireless charging?
MagSafe offers a more secure and efficient wireless charging experience due to its magnetic alignment and dedicated charging coil. While both phones support 15W wireless charging, MagSafe ensures optimal power transfer. The Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) also offers 5W reverse wireless charging, allowing it to charge other devices, a feature not natively available on the iPhone.
❓ Is the difference in chipset performance (A15 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1) noticeable in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing, social media, and email, the difference is minimal. However, when performing demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, or running complex applications, the A15 Bionic’s superior efficiency and optimization become more apparent, resulting in smoother performance and faster processing times.