Motorola Moto S30 Pro vs. Edge 30 Pro: A Detailed Showdown

Motorola continues to deliver compelling smartphones, but choosing between models can be tricky. Today, we're diving deep into a comparison of the Moto S30 Pro and the Edge 30 Pro, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right decision. Both offer premium features, but cater to slightly different needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Edge 30 Pro generally edges out the S30 Pro thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, faster charging, and wireless charging capabilities. However, the S30 Pro might offer better value depending on pricing and regional availability. Ultimately, the Edge 30 Pro provides a more future-proof and feature-rich experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Moto S30 Pro Motorola Edge 30 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 / 1900 2, 5, 7, 12, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, August 112022, January 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, August 11Available. Released 2022, March 04
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5)Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions158.5 x 71.2 x 7.5 mm or 7.7 mm163.1 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight172 g / 167 g (5.89 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantWater-repellent design
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MYUI 4.0Android 12, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm Auxiliary lens50 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps, gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", AF60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Ready For 3.5 supportReady For support
Battery
Charging68W wired, 50% in 10 min68W wired, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 4800 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, BlackCosmos Blue, Stardust White
ModelsXT2243-2XT2201-1
PriceAbout 330 EUR€ 475.45
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 80h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 941895 (v9) GeekBench: 3658 (v5.1) GFXBench: 78fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Moto S30 Pro

  • Powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset
  • Fast 68W wired charging
  • Potentially more affordable

  • Older chipset compared to Edge 30 Pro
  • No wireless charging
  • Potentially slightly lower camera quality

Motorola Edge 30 Pro

  • Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • Faster charging (wired & wireless)
  • Wireless charging capabilities
  • Excellent battery life

  • Potentially higher price
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can experience thermal throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, but the Edge 30 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 685 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. The Edge 30 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent blacks and vibrant colors, though real-world performance can vary. The S30 Pro's display is still excellent, but likely not as bright.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a key area. While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Edge 30 Pro's newer image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensors (details are often not fully disclosed) likely result in slightly better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Video recording capabilities are also likely superior on the Edge 30 Pro.

Performance

The Edge 30 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) offers a noticeable performance advantage over the S30 Pro's Snapdragon 888+ (5nm). While both are capable of handling demanding tasks, the 8 Gen 1 provides smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and improved gaming performance. The CPU architecture differences also contribute to the Edge 30 Pro's edge.

Battery Life

The Edge 30 Pro boasts an impressive endurance rating of 80 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. While the S30 Pro's battery capacity is likely similar, the Edge 30 Pro's more efficient chipset contributes to its longer runtime. The Edge 30 Pro also offers 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the S30 Pro.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Moto S30 Pro? Users seeking a powerful phone with a focus on performance and a potentially lower price point. Who should buy the Motorola Edge 30 Pro? Those prioritizing the latest Snapdragon chipset, faster charging speeds, wireless charging, and a slightly more premium overall experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Edge 30 Pro worth the extra cost?
Yes, if you prioritize performance, future-proofing, and faster charging. The 8 Gen 1 offers a noticeable upgrade over the 888+.
❓ Does the Moto S30 Pro have 5G?
Yes, both the Moto S30 Pro and the Edge 30 Pro support 5G connectivity.