The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Oppo F21 Pro and Motorola Edge 30 Neo represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. The F21 Pro leans heavily on endurance and a proven chipset, while the Edge 30 Neo aims to deliver a more modern experience with 5G connectivity and faster charging. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing all-day battery life and a stable, if less flashy, experience, the Oppo F21 Pro is the better choice. However, the Motorola Edge 30 Neo’s 5G capabilities and significantly faster 68W charging make it ideal for those who value speed and future-proofing, despite its shorter battery endurance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 12 | 2022, September 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 15 | Available. Released 2022, October 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm (6.30 x 2.88 x 0.30 in) | 152.9 x 71.2 x 7.8 mm (6.02 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
| | IPX4 water resistant
RGB ring light around the camera (notifications, charging progress) | Splash and dust resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM), 800 nits (peak) | P-OLED, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, ColorOS 14 | Android 12, planned upgrade to Android 15 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | - |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF
2 MP, f/3.3, (microscope)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 100% in 60 min
Reverse wired | 68W wired
5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4020 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Cosmic Black, Sunset Orange, Dawnlight Gold, Starlight Black | Very Peri, Black Onyx, Ice Palace, Aqua Foam |
| Models | CPH2363, CPH2461 | XT2245-1 |
| Price | About 280 EUR | € 156.44 / $ 185.00 / £ 229.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 127h
|
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-29.7 LUFS (Average)
|
-26.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 289250 (v9)
GeekBench: 1653 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 380818 (v9)
GeekBench: 1964 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Oppo F21 Pro
- Exceptional battery life (127h endurance)
- Reliable Snapdragon 680 chipset
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Lacks 5G connectivity
- Slower charging speed (33W)
Motorola Edge 30 Neo
- Faster 68W wired and 5W wireless charging
- 5G connectivity with Snapdragon 695
- Brighter display (1004 nits)
- Shorter battery life (104h endurance)
- Potentially more thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
Both phones feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks, but the Motorola Edge 30 Neo pulls ahead with a measured peak brightness of 1004 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize OLED panels (implied by the contrast ratio), the lack of specific panel technology details prevents a deeper analysis. The F21 Pro lacks any brightness specification, suggesting it will struggle in bright environments. Bezels are not specified, making it difficult to assess the overall immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering minimal insight. Without sensor size or aperture details, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the market positioning suggests the Edge 30 Neo likely features a more advanced camera system. The F21 Pro, being a more budget-focused device, likely relies on software processing to enhance image quality. The absence of details regarding Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either phone suggests it’s unlikely to be present, potentially impacting low-light performance. We can assume both phones will include a standard set of lenses, but the quality will likely differ significantly.
Performance
The Motorola Edge 30 Neo’s Snapdragon 695 5G chipset represents a generational leap over the Oppo F21 Pro’s Snapdragon 680. While both are 6nm chips, the 695 features Kryo 660 cores (2x2.2 GHz Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Silver) compared to the F21 Pro’s Kryo 265 cores (4x2.4 GHz Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Silver). This translates to a noticeable performance advantage for the Edge 30 Neo in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. Crucially, the 695 supports 5G, a feature absent in the F21 Pro. The F21 Pro’s higher clocked Gold cores might offer a slight edge in single-core performance, but the Edge 30 Neo’s overall architecture is more efficient and capable.
Battery Life
The Oppo F21 Pro boasts an impressive endurance rating of 127 hours, significantly exceeding the Motorola Edge 30 Neo’s 104 hours. This suggests the F21 Pro’s battery optimization and the efficiency of the Snapdragon 680 contribute to longer runtimes. However, the Edge 30 Neo compensates with a much faster 68W wired charging, capable of reaching 100% in an estimated time significantly less than the F21 Pro’s 60 minutes. The Edge 30 Neo also adds 5W wireless charging, a feature absent on the F21 Pro. This trade-off – longer runtime versus faster charging – is a key differentiator.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo F21 Pro if you need exceptional battery life and a reliable, established chipset for everyday tasks. It’s perfect for users who don’t heavily rely on 5G or demand the fastest charging speeds. Buy the Motorola Edge 30 Neo if you prefer faster 5G connectivity, quicker charging, and a more modern feature set, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance. This phone is geared towards users who are always on the go and need a phone that can keep up.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 695 in the Motorola Edge 30 Neo get hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 695 is a capable chipset, it's not a flagship processor. Prolonged gaming at high settings may lead to some thermal throttling, reducing performance slightly. However, the 6nm process and Motorola’s thermal management should prevent overheating to the point of instability.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Oppo F21 Pro slow compared to other phones in this price range?
Yes, 33W charging is relatively slow compared to the 68W charging offered by the Motorola Edge 30 Neo and increasingly common in the mid-range segment. While it will still charge the phone overnight, it won't provide the quick top-ups that faster charging technologies offer.
❓ How much does the lack of 5G on the Oppo F21 Pro impact the user experience in 2024?
The impact depends on your location and carrier. If 5G coverage is limited in your area, the lack of 5G on the F21 Pro won't be a significant drawback. However, if you live in a 5G-dense area and frequently stream high-bandwidth content, you'll notice a difference in speeds compared to the Edge 30 Neo.
❓ What kind of display technology does the Motorola Edge 30 Neo use, and does it support a high refresh rate?
While the exact display technology isn't specified, the 1004 nits peak brightness strongly suggests an OLED panel. Refresh rate information is also missing from the provided data, but it's common for phones in this segment to offer at least a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations.
