Motorola makes comeback to the smartphone big leagues

It is a trend among smartphone manufacturers to launch new smartphone series on the market which do not differ much from each other visually, but which show strong differences in hardware configuration. This is also the case with the new Motorola duo. Externally, the Motorola Edge and the Edge+ are like two peas in a pod. Only when you put the spec sheets next to each other do you realize that the Edge is a premium mid-range smartphone and the Edge+ is the true flagship.

The difference lies in the details

Let's start for now with the components that the Edge and Edge+ share and which, in my opinion, will probably be the highlight of both smartphones: the 6.67-inch display with a Super AMOLED panel, 90 Hz refresh rate and a power-saving resolution of 1,080 x 2,360 pixels including HDR10 certification. Doesn't really sound extraordinary, does it? True, the technical basis is actually not worth talking about, because after all, the top smartphones of 2020 are already refreshing at 120 frames per second, or even 144 frames per second.

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It gets interesting when it comes to the curved display edges of the two Edge devices from Motorola, because you can use them or not. In the new Motorola software, My UX, you will be able to actively control how you use the curved edges. As an example, Motorola gives string gestures to display notifications or for switching applications. If you love the Motorola Edge or Edge+, but you're tired of curved displays, you can disable them using the software. This way you will be able to get a flat display.

The big difference in the equipment between the Edge and Edge+ is the choice of processor and memory combination. The Edge uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765 with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage, while the Edge+ comes with the Snapdragon 865, a full 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. But both smartphones are already ready to dive into the 5G networks.

Fine differences in camera systems

Both the Motorola Edge and the Edge+ have a triple camera system that consists of a wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and a telephoto camera with a triple zoom. Here, too, there is only one subtle difference between the two Edge models: while the Edge+ has a 108-megapixel sensor in the wide-angle unit, the Edge has to make do with only 64 megapixels. We won't know whether this is really a big shortcoming until we get the Edge and maybe the Edge+ into our editorial office and are able to test both.

Apart from that, there are only minimal differences between the Motorola Edge and the Edge+ in terms of dimensions and also the built-in battery. The Edge+ has a battery with 4,500 mAh, while the Edge+ has a 5,000 mAh battery that supplies the smartphone with energy. All further details can be seen in the following table.

Motorola Edge vs. Motorola Edge+

	Motorola Edge	Motorola Edge+
Display	6.67-inch, Super AMOLED 90 Hz, FullHD+ (2,340 x 1,080)	6.67-inch, Super AMOLED 90 Hz, FullHD+ (2,340 x 1,080)
Size	161.64 x 71.2 x 9.29 mm	161.07 x 71.38 x 9.6 mm
Weight	190 grams	203 grams
OS	Android 10	Android 10
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
Memory	6GB RAM 128GB	12GB RAM 256GB
Battery	4,500 mAh	5,000 mAh
Camera	Back: 64 MP, f/1.8, wide-angle 8 MP, f/2.4, telephoto, 3x optical 16 MP, f/2.2, ultra-wide angle, Front: 25 MP, f/2.0	Rear: 108 MP, f/1.7, wide-angle 8 MP, f/2.4, telephoto, 3x optical 16 MP, f/2.2, ultra-wide angle, Front: 25 MP, f/2.0
Special features	5G: mmWave and Sub-6GHz My UX 15-watt wireless charging, 18-watt quick charge In-display fingerprint sensor	5G: mmWave and Sub-6GHz My UX 15-watt wireless charging, 18-watt quick charge In-display fingerprint sensor
Price	TBC (€599 in Europe)	$999

Availability and price

The Motorola Edge+ will be on sale on May 14, 2020 and will start with a recommended retail price of $999. It will be exclusive to Verizon, at least at first.

According to Motorola, the regular Motorola Edge will not be available in The USA for the time being but will be coming later in the summer. Interestingly, in Europe the situation is reversed, where the Motorola Edge will launch in May for €599, but there is no news on a European launch for the Motorola Edge+ yet.

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This article has been updated since the official launch of the Motorola Edge and Edge+, but older comments have not been removed.

Source: Motorola Blog