iQOO Neo3 5G vs Motorola Edge+ (2023): A Generational Leap in Performance?

The iQOO Neo3 5G, released in 2020, represented a sweet spot of performance and affordability. Now, Motorola enters the arena with the 2023 Edge+, boasting the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This comparison dissects whether the newer flagship justifies its price premium over the still-capable Neo3 5G, focusing on real-world performance and user benefits.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s efficiency and raw power, coupled with faster 68W charging and wireless charging, outweigh the iQOO Neo3 5G’s lower price. However, budget-conscious gamers may find the Neo3 5G still delivers acceptable performance.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Neo3 5G Motorola Edge+ (2023)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 25, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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 bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78 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, LTE, 5G (3.3 Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2020, April 23. Released 2020, April 292023, May 02
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, May 19
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.44 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight198.1 g (6.98 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.0 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10OLED, 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, iQOO UI 1.0Android 13, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 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@30fps, 1080p@30fps; 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)60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort 1.4
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ready For 3.5 support
Battery
Charging44W wired, 50% in 20 min, 100% in 58 min68W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wired 5W reverse wireless
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 5100 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, Black/Dark BlueInterstellar Black
ModelsV1981A-
PriceAbout 350 EUR$ 298.99

vivo iQOO Neo3 5G

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio (given its age)
  • Capable Snapdragon 865 processor for gaming
  • Fast 44W wired charging

  • Older chipset with less efficient architecture
  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Potentially limited software support

Motorola Edge+ (2023)

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • 68W wired, 15W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging
  • Superior power efficiency and thermal management

  • Higher price point
  • May be overkill for basic users
  • Software bloat (typical of Motorola)

Display Comparison

While specific display specs for the iQOO Neo3 5G are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume a high refresh rate panel given its gaming focus. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) likely features a more advanced display, potentially with LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, leading to improved power efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP also supports more advanced display processing, potentially resulting in more accurate colors and better HDR performance on the Motorola device. Bezels are likely slimmer on the newer Edge+, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs for the iQOO Neo3 5G, a direct comparison is limited. However, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) likely boasts a more advanced camera system, benefiting from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s improved image signal processor (ISP). This translates to better dynamic range, noise reduction, and overall image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The Edge+ likely features optical image stabilization (OIS) on its main sensor, a feature that helps reduce blur in photos and videos. The iQOO Neo3 5G may rely more heavily on software processing to compensate for hardware limitations.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The iQOO Neo3 5G’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) is a capable performer, featuring an octa-core CPU with a Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. However, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), a significant architectural leap. The Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, offers substantially higher single-core performance. More importantly, the 4nm process node delivers significantly improved power efficiency, reducing thermal throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Edge+ also benefits from faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

The iQOO Neo3 5G offers 44W wired charging, achieving a 100% charge in 58 minutes. The Motorola Edge+ (2023) significantly ups the ante with 68W wired charging, drastically reducing charge times. Furthermore, the Edge+ adds 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, offering greater convenience and versatility. While the iQOO Neo3 5G may have a larger battery capacity (spec not provided), the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s superior efficiency in the Edge+ likely results in comparable, or even better, real-world battery life despite potentially having a smaller battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo3 5G if you prioritize maximizing gaming performance per dollar and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset and slower charging. Buy the Motorola Edge+ (2023) if you demand the best possible performance, future-proofing, faster charging speeds (including wireless), and a more refined overall experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 865 in the iQOO Neo3 5G struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 865 can run Genshin Impact, you'll likely need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The chip is prone to thermal throttling under sustained load, potentially leading to performance dips. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Motorola Edge+ (2023) will handle the game at higher settings with less throttling.
❓ Does the Motorola Edge+ (2023) get excessively hot during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process is significantly more efficient than the 7nm+ process used in the Snapdragon 865. This translates to lower heat generation and less thermal throttling during gaming. While the Edge+ will still warm up, it’s unlikely to become uncomfortably hot.
❓ How much faster is the 68W charging on the Motorola Edge+ (2023) compared to the iQOO Neo3 5G's 44W charging?
The Motorola Edge+ (2023) will charge significantly faster. While the iQOO Neo3 5G takes 58 minutes for a full charge, the Edge+ can likely achieve a full charge in around 30-40 minutes, depending on battery capacity. This difference is particularly noticeable for quick top-ups.