OnePlus 8 5G (T-Mobile) vs Motorola Edge+ (2023): A Generational Leap in Performance?

The OnePlus 8 5G (T-Mobile), released in 2020, represented a peak in the compact flagship era. Now, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) arrives with a significantly newer chipset and faster charging. This comparison dissects whether the Edge+’s advancements justify an upgrade or if the OnePlus 8 5G remains a viable option, especially given its likely lower price point.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers substantially improved performance and efficiency compared to the OnePlus 8 5G’s Snapdragon 865. The 68W charging is a game-changer, offsetting the potential battery capacity differences. However, the OnePlus 8 5G remains a capable device for everyday tasks.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus 8 5G (T-Mobile) Motorola Edge+ (2023)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 41, 46, 48, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands2, 5, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 41, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DLHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2020, April 142023, May 02
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, April 29Available. Released 2023, May 19
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.2 x 72.9 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.87 x 0.31 in)161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight180 g (6.35 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (not for use underwater, liquid damage is not covered under warranty)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 740
OSAndroid 10, OxygenOS 10.0Android 13, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0, 2-LANEUFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/1.6, (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ready For 3.5 support
Battery
Charging30W wired, 50% in 22 min68W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wired 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Po 5100 mAh
Misc
ColorsOnyx Black, Interstellar GlowInterstellar Black
PriceAbout 650 EUR$ 298.99
SAR1.10 W/kg (head)     1.10 W/kg (body)-

OnePlus 8 5G (T-Mobile)

  • More compact form factor.
  • Potentially lower price point.
  • Reliable 5G connectivity.

  • Older Snapdragon 865 chipset.
  • Slower 30W charging.
  • Lacks wireless charging.

Motorola Edge+ (2023)

  • Significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
  • Ultra-fast 68W wired charging.
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging.

  • Likely larger and heavier.
  • Potentially higher price.
  • May not appeal to those prioritizing a compact phone.

Display Comparison

While both phones likely feature high-quality OLED panels (data not provided), the core difference lies in the processing power driving them. The OnePlus 8 5G’s display performance is tied to the Snapdragon 865’s image signal processor, while the Edge+ benefits from the 8 Gen 2’s enhanced capabilities. The Edge+’s newer chipset will likely result in smoother animations and faster response times. Without specific display specs, it's difficult to compare brightness or color accuracy, but the newer processor provides a foundation for superior visual processing.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s improved image signal processor (ISP) in the Motorola Edge+ (2023) will undoubtedly deliver superior image processing capabilities. This translates to better dynamic range, noise reduction, and overall image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The OnePlus 8 5G’s camera performance is good for its time, but the Edge+ benefits from advancements in computational photography enabled by its newer chipset. The Edge+ is likely to offer more advanced video recording features as well.

Performance

The Motorola Edge+ (2023) boasts the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), a massive leap over the OnePlus 8 5G’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The 4nm process node of the 8 Gen 2 offers significantly improved power efficiency, translating to less heat generation and sustained performance during intensive tasks. The CPU architecture is also vastly different: the Edge+ utilizes a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2GHz, alongside Cortex-A715 and A710 performance cores, versus the OnePlus 8 5G’s Cortex-A77 based configuration. This results in a substantial performance advantage for the Edge+ in both single-core and multi-core benchmarks, benefiting gamers and power users.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 5G offers 30W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in 22 minutes. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) dramatically improves upon this with 68W wired charging, significantly reducing charging times. Furthermore, the Edge+ adds 15W wireless and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the OnePlus 8 5G. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Edge+’s faster charging and added wireless options provide a more convenient and versatile charging experience. The improved power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also contributes to potentially longer battery life despite any capacity differences.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus 8 5G (T-Mobile) if you prioritize a more compact form factor and are on a tight budget, needing a reliable 5G phone for basic tasks. Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2023) if you demand the latest performance for demanding apps, gaming, and benefit from significantly faster charging speeds and a more future-proofed processor.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Motorola Edge+ (2023) get significantly hotter than the OnePlus 8 5G during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process is much more thermally efficient than the Snapdragon 865’s 7nm+ process. This means the Edge+ will generate less heat under load, resulting in less throttling and more sustained performance during gaming, even with similar cooling solutions.
❓ Is the performance difference between the Snapdragon 865 and 8 Gen 2 noticeable in everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
While both chips are capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Motorola Edge+ (2023) provides a noticeably snappier and more responsive experience. App launch times will be faster, animations will be smoother, and multitasking will be more fluid.
❓ Does the Motorola Edge+ (2023) support faster RAM than the OnePlus 8 5G, and how does that impact performance?
While not explicitly stated, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) almost certainly utilizes LPDDR5X RAM, a faster standard than the LPDDR5 likely found in the OnePlus 8 5G. This faster RAM improves data transfer rates, benefiting multitasking, gaming, and overall system responsiveness.