Sony Xperia 5 vs. Motorola Edge+ (2023): A Generational Leap in Performance?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers significantly faster performance and improved efficiency, while 68W charging drastically reduces downtime. However, the Xperia 5 remains a compelling option for those prioritizing a compact form factor and long battery endurance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia 5 | Motorola Edge+ (2023) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | 1, 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 bands | - | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05 | 2023, May 02 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, May 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in) | 161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 164 g (5.78 oz) | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm | 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 |
| Video | 4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ready For 3.5 support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 68W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wired 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5100 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Red, Black, Grey | Interstellar Black |
| Models | J8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M | - |
| Price | About 500 EUR | $ 298.99 |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | $ 409.99 | - |
| RENEWED | $ 674.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 96h | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -27.1 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Sony Xperia 5
- Exceptional battery endurance (96h rating)
- Compact and ergonomic design
- Lower price point ($409.99)
- Outdated Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Slower charging speeds (18W)
- Lower display brightness
Motorola Edge+ (2023)
- Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
- Ultra-fast 68W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Likely superior display technology
- Higher price (unspecified)
- Potentially larger and less ergonomic design
- May not offer the same level of battery endurance as the Xperia 5
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 5 features a 630-nit display, a respectable brightness for indoor use, but noticeably lower than what's expected from a modern flagship. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) display specifications are not provided, but given its flagship status, it likely surpasses the Xperia 5 in peak brightness and potentially incorporates features like LTPO for adaptive refresh rates, improving efficiency. The Xperia 5's 'Infinite' contrast ratio is a nominal specification; real-world contrast performance will depend on the panel technology. The Xperia 5's smaller screen size (unspecified, but implied to be compact) will appeal to users who prefer a more manageable device.
Camera Comparison
Camera details for the Xperia 5 are missing, but its brand reputation suggests a focus on image quality and color science. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) camera specifications are also unavailable, but a modern flagship typically features a larger main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture information, it's difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the Edge+'s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will likely offer superior noise reduction and dynamic range.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xperia 5's Snapdragon 855 (7nm) is a capable processor, but the Motorola Edge+ (2023)'s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) represents a massive leap forward. The 4nm process node offers significantly improved power efficiency, translating to less heat generation and sustained performance during demanding tasks. The Edge+'s CPU, with its Cortex-X3 prime core, will outperform the Kryo 485 cores in the Xperia 5 in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Edge+ also benefits from faster RAM, likely LPDDR5x, compared to the Xperia 5's LPDDR4X, further enhancing responsiveness.
Battery Life
The Xperia 5 boasts an impressive 96-hour endurance rating, suggesting excellent battery life despite its older chipset. This is likely due to its efficient processor and smaller display. However, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) compensates for potentially higher power draw with significantly faster charging – 68W wired, 15W wireless, and even reverse wireless charging. While the Xperia 5 offers 18W wired charging with PD2.0, the Edge+ can replenish its battery much more quickly, minimizing downtime. The Edge+'s battery capacity is not specified, but the faster charging speeds suggest a focus on convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sony Xperia 5 if you absolutely need a phone that's easy to handle one-handed and value exceptional battery life over peak performance. It's ideal for users who prioritize media consumption and don't heavily rely on demanding mobile games. Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2023) if you demand the fastest possible performance for gaming, multitasking, and future-proofing, and appreciate the convenience of incredibly fast wired and wireless charging.