Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) arrived as a late contender in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 space, aiming to deliver top-tier performance at a competitive price. It directly challenges established players like the OnePlus 9 Pro, which launched with the Snapdragon 888 and a reputation for a refined Android experience. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone offers the best value in today’s market.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) emerges as the stronger choice. Its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides a noticeable performance uplift, and its faster 68W charging significantly reduces downtime. While the OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a slightly brighter display, the Edge+’s overall package delivers more for the money.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) OnePlus 9 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 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, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU
5G bands2, 5, 7, 12, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Verizon, USA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2022, January 242021, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 24Available. Released 2021, March 30
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.1 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196 g (6.91 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 660
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome)
Single-16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
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 lens-
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
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, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging68W wired, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4800 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsCosmos Blue, Stardust WhiteMorning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black
Models-LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127
PriceAbout 850 EUR€ 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 86h
Camera- Photo / Video
Loudspeaker- -24.1 LUFS (Very good)

Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022)

  • Faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
  • Significantly faster wired charging (68W)
  • Potentially better thermal management due to 4nm process

  • Limited display specifications
  • Camera details are currently unknown

OnePlus 9 Pro

  • Brighter display (859 nits)
  • Hasselblad-tuned camera for natural colors
  • Refined software experience

  • Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Slower wired charging (65W)
  • Wireless charging is slower (50W)

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 9 Pro features a display capable of reaching 859 nits of peak brightness, making it highly visible outdoors. However, the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) specifications lack detailed display information, so we must assume a comparable, if not slightly lower, peak brightness. Both phones likely utilize AMOLED panels for vibrant colors, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s display is known for its color accuracy. The absence of LTPO technology in either phone means variable refresh rates are less efficient than newer implementations, but both likely offer a 120Hz experience. Bezels are similarly minimal on both devices, contributing to an immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but details beyond 'Photo / Video' are limited for the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022). The OnePlus 9 Pro, developed in partnership with Hasselblad, focuses on natural color reproduction and improved dynamic range. Sensor size and aperture details are crucial here, and without specifics for the Motorola, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s image processing is geared towards a more realistic look, while Motorola typically leans towards more saturated colors. The presence of OIS on both is expected, but the effectiveness will depend on the specific implementation.

Performance

The Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) leverages the Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm), a significant upgrade over the OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm). The 4nm process node of the Gen 1 offers improved thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. The Edge+’s CPU configuration – 1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510 – provides a performance advantage over the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55. While both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the Edge+’s newer chipset will benefit from faster memory speeds and improved AI processing capabilities.

Battery Life

Both the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) and the OnePlus 9 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (not specified for the Motorola). However, the charging speeds are where the Edge+ truly shines. Its 68W wired charging can reach 50% in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, significantly faster than the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W charging (100% in 29 minutes). Wireless charging is also faster on the Motorola (15W vs 50W), though both offer 5W reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) if you prioritize raw processing power for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value faster charging speeds. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prefer a more polished software experience with Hasselblad-tuned camera processing and a display that excels in direct sunlight, and are willing to accept slightly older hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) suffer from overheating issues?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 was known to have thermal throttling issues in some devices. However, the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022)'s 4nm manufacturing process and potential cooling solutions aim to mitigate these problems. Real-world testing is needed to confirm its thermal performance under sustained load, but it's likely better managed than some early Gen 1 implementations.
❓ How does the OnePlus 9 Pro's Hasselblad color calibration affect photo quality?
The OnePlus 9 Pro's collaboration with Hasselblad focuses on achieving more natural and accurate color reproduction in photos. This means less over-saturation and a more realistic look, appealing to users who prefer a less processed aesthetic. It also improves dynamic range and detail in challenging lighting conditions.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the OnePlus 9 Pro significantly faster than the 15W on the Motorola Edge+?
Yes, the OnePlus 9 Pro's 50W wireless charging is considerably faster than the Motorola Edge+'s 15W. While both offer wireless charging, the OnePlus 9 Pro can fully charge wirelessly in approximately 43 minutes, while the Motorola Edge+ will take significantly longer.