The Motorola Edge and the iPhone 14 represent two of the best smartphones available today in the mid-high end segment. With powerful hardware, excellent cameras and long battery life, both phones have a lot going for them. But when compared head-to-head, which one comes out on top? Let‘s find out with an in-depth look at how they stack up against each other.
Display
The display is one of the most important aspects of any smartphone and an area where there are some key differences between the Motorola Edge and iPhone 14:
Screen Size:
- Motorola Edge: 6.6" OLED
- iPhone 14: 6.1" OLED
The Motorola Edge has a noticeably larger display, making it better suited for content consumption and gaming.
Resolution & Pixel Density:
- Motorola Edge: 1080 x 2400 pixels, ~395 ppi
- iPhone 14: 1170 x 2532 pixels, 460 ppi
The iPhone 14 packs in more pixels and higher pixel density, which results in sharper images and text.
Refresh Rate:
- Motorola Edge: 144Hz
- iPhone 14: 60Hz
The standout feature for the Motorola Edge is its blistering fast 144Hz display. This makes scrolling and animations extremely smooth. The iPhone 14 is stuck at 60Hz.
Brightness:
- Motorola Edge: 500 nits
- iPhone 14: 800 nits (typical); 1200 nits peak (HDR)
While the Motorola Edge has decent peak brightness, the iPhone 14 can sustain higher brightness levels and truly shine when viewing HDR content.
Verdict: The Motorola Edge‘s bigger and faster screen is a joy for gaming and videos. But the iPhone 14 offers better pixel density, sharpness and brightness for everyday usage. For most users though, 144Hz refresh makes the Edge display more exciting.
Design & Build
Here‘s how the two phones stack up when it comes to design, dimensions and weight:
Dimensions:
- Motorola Edge: 163.1 x 74.6 x 8.8mm
- iPhone 14: 147 x 72 x 7.8mm
The Motorola Edge is noticeably taller and wider than the iPhone 14. For those with smaller hands, the iPhone 14 will be easier to use one-handed.
Weight:
- Motorola Edge: 170g
- iPhone 14: 172g
Despite its larger size, the Motorola Edge is marginally lighter than the iPhone 14. However, the 2g difference is negligible.
Frame and Back:
- Motorola Edge: Plastic frame, Glass back
- iPhone 14: Aluminum frame, Glass back
The iPhone 14 uses premium materials with an aluminum metal frame compared to the plastic frame on the Motorola Edge. However, both phones sport Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the back.
Colors:
- Motorola Edge: Gray, Blue, Pink
- iPhone 14: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Red
There‘s more variety with the different colors available for the iPhone 14.
Water and Dust Resistance:
- Motorola Edge: IP52
- iPhone 14: IP68
The iPhone 14‘s IP68 rating means it can withstand submersion in 1.5 meters of water for 30 mins without damage while the Motorola Edge does not have good water resistance.
Verdict: With a smaller and lighter stainless steel & glass chassis, the iPhone 14 has a more premium look and feel compared to the Motorola Edge. And it easily wins in terms of durability with much better water and dust resistance.
Hardware & Performance
The Motorola Edge and iPhone 14 pack two of the most powerful mobile chipsets currently available:
Chipset:
- Motorola Edge: Snapdragon 778 Plus 5G
- iPhone 14: A15 Bionic
Apple‘s custom designed A15 Bionic beats the Snapdragon 778G+ across most benchmarks and performance metrics.
CPU:
- Motorola Edge: Octa-core
- iPhone 14: Hexa-core
While the Motorola Edge boasts an Octa-core CPU, real world performance is faster on the iPhone 14 with Apple‘s efficient 6-core CPU architecture on A15 Bionic.
GPU:
- Motorola Edge: Adreno 642L
- iPhone 14: Apple designed 4 core GPU
Graphics performance is excellent on both smartphones but faster and more power efficient on the iPhone 14.
RAM:
- Motorola Edge: 8GB
- iPhone 14: 6GB
The Motorola Edge offers more RAM but even with 2GB less RAM, iPhone 14 manages memory much better through superior software optimization in iOS.
Storage:
- Motorola Edge: 128GB/256GB
- iPhone 14: 128GB/256GB/512GB
The iPhone 14 comes in more storage options up to 512GB while both phones lack external storage support.
Biometrics Security:
- Motorola Edge: Under display fingerprint sensor
- iPhone 14: Face ID
While both devices offer robust security, Face ID on the iPhone 14 provides faster and more convenient biometric authentication. There‘s just no touch required.
5G:
- Motorola Edge: Yes
- iPhone 14: Yes
Both devices support 5G networks globally so you get ultra fast cellular data speeds where available.
Verdict: Apple‘s A15 Bionic once again proves itself as the best mobile application processor combining powerful performance and great power efficiency. And iOS ensures consistent smoothness despite lesser RAM. While the Motorola Edge is fast, the iPhone 14 is faster.
Cameras
The camera performance on both the Motorola Edge and iPhone 14 are excellent for their class but which one is better? Let‘s dive into the camera specs:
Rear Cameras:
Main:
- Motorola Edge: 50MP f/1.8, PDAF, OIS
- iPhone 14: 12MP, f/1.5, Sensor-shift OIS
A 50MP sensor sounds great on paper but it uses pixel binning to produce 12MP shots that compete with the primary camera on the iPhone 14. Apple‘s cutting edge sensor technology with sensor shift OIS gives it the advantage here.
Ultrawide:
- Motorola Edge 13MP, f/2.2
- iPhone 14: 12MP f/2.4, 120-degree FOV
Very similar ultrawide lenses allowing sweeping landscape or architectural photography. Quality should be on par.
Depth:
- Motorola Edge 2MP
- iPhone 14: No dedicated depth sensor but can emulate via software algorithms.
Depth data allows portrait shots with blurred background that look stunning on both phones. The iPhone AI is excellent at edge detection too despite relying on software depth mapping only.
Front Camera:
- Motorola Edge: 32MP, f/2.4
- iPhone 14: 12MP, f/1.9 with Autofocus
For selfie lovers, the 32MP front camera on the Motorola Edge seems hard to beat. You get plenty of resolution to play with. However the lens is not as bright. The iPhone 14 has a lower 12MP front camera resolution but the brighter f/1.9 lens and auto focusing capability help capture fantastic self-portraits.
Video Recording:
- Motorola Edge: 8K @ 24 fps; 4K @ 30 fps
- iPhone 14: 4K @ 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode 4K @24 fps
The Motorola Edge can shoot in 8K resolution which makes footage extremely crisp when viewed on large screens. However, high frame rate 4K recording is smoother on iPhone 14 shooting at up to 60 fps.
Verdict: Still photo quality is superior on the iPhone 14 with a brighter and sharper primary lens backed by intelligent software enhancements. But Motorola Edge‘s 32MP selfie camera and 8K main camera open up creative possibilities. For amateur photographers and content creators, both have fantastic but slightly different imaging capabilities.
Software & Special Features
Here is a high level software and features comparison between the two phones:
Operating System:
- Motorola Edge: Android 12
- iPhone 14: iOS 16
Being able to choose from Android and iOS platforms is a big differentiator here catering to user preference. Both OS versions are slick and packed with features.
Battery & Charging:
- Motorola Edge: 4020 mAh; 68W fast charging
- iPhone 14: Up to 20 hours video playback; 20W fast charging
While not officially disclosed, benchmarks indicate the iPhone 14 battery capacity at around 3200 mAh which is lower than the Motorola Edge. However Apple is the master of battery optimization allowing the iPhone 14 to still last an entire day of heavy use easily. While the Motorola Edge charges faster, the iPhone 14 delivers reliable battery life. Advantage Motorola Edge when it comes to raw battery capacity and charging speed.
Wireless Charging:
- Motorola Edge: No
- iPhone 14: Yes, up to 15W
You can conveniently charge the iPhone 14 by just placing it on a supported wireless charging pad. No need to fiddle for cables.
IP Rating:
- Motorola Edge: IP52
- iPhone 14: IP68
The iPhone 14 is certified to survive complete water submersion without damage giving you excellent peace of mind against spills and accidents. With IP52, the Motorola Edge only offers protection from dust and light sprays of water.
Satellite Connectivity:
- Motorola Edge: No
- iPhone 14: Emergency SOS via satellite
A potentially life saving feature, iPhone 14 owners can send emergency messages and share their location via satellite when in remote areas without cellular coverage.
Verdict: At their core, both phones offer the standard set of connectivity and productivity features you expect from a premium smartphone. iPhone pulls ahead with key additions like wireless charging, IP68 rating and satellite emergency messaging in iOS 16. But hardcore Android fans get more UI customization options with the Motorola Edge.
Price & Value Analysis
Being competitively specced devices for their class, both the Motorola Edge and iPhone 14 retail at similar manufacturer recommended pricing:
- Motorola Edge 128GB – $499
- iPhone 14 128GB – $799
However, the iPhone 14 effectively costs $300 more for the base 128GB model. Does it provide $300 more value? The answer largely depends on user preference, brand affinity and where you live. Carrier deals in the US can drop iPhone 14 prices closer to $700 range, somewhat reducing the gap from the Motorola Edge.
If price is your main criterion, the Motorola Edge undoubtedly brings flagship grade specs like a brilliant OLED display and versatile camera setup without breaking the bank. You simply can‘t go wrong with it if you have a $500 smartphone budget.
However the iPhone 14 exceeds expectations in terms of real world performance, imaging quality, premium design, battery life optimization, iOS ecosystem and extended software support. These advantages along with Apple brand appeal justify the iPhone 14‘s premium pricing for many buyers. And average users will appreciate iOS being simpler to grasp than Android too.
So in summary, while the iPhone 14 offers a more rounded package, the Motorola Edge cuts no corners given its affordable price. Choose as per your budget flexibility and OS preference.
Verdict: Which Phone Wins This Battle?
Summarizing the comparison after looking at them both in exacting detail:
- The Motorola Edge clearly provides better value for money with a gorgeous 144Hz OLED screen, competitive primary camera, generous RAM and storage. Performance and software is also respectable despite the lower pricing.
- But as an overall product, the iPhone 14 is simply more well rounded offering best in class performance, premium design, ceramic shield durability, longer software updates and excellent imaging quality aided by intelligent algorithms.
Hardcore Android fans who want lots of customization or those on relatively tight budgets will love the Motorola Edge. From immersive content streaming to photography, it won‘t disappoint.
But if you seek a phone with status symbol cachet, super fast internals, iconic design or plan to use it several years, look no further than the iPhone 14. You can expect buttery smooth operation despite heavy multitasking and superior sustainability.
Overall from an impartial perspective, while the Motorola Edge excels in some areas like screen refresh rate and selfie camera, the iPhone 14‘s winning blend of cutting edge hardware, innovative camera capabilities, durable chassis, productivity focused software experience and brand trust makes it our recommended choice for 2023.
