1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 163 × 76 × 7 mm | The Edge 20 is thinner and slightly shorter, making it more pocketable and comfortable to hold. The One 5G Ace is noticeably bulkier. |
| Weight | 212g | 163g | The Edge 20 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and carrying around. The One 5G Ace feels more substantial in hand. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both phones have the same screen size, offering an identical viewing area for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same sharpness; text and images appear equally detailed on both devices. |
| Pixel Density | 393 PPI | 385 PPI | Both have a similar pixel density, making the difference in sharpness negligible to the naked eye. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | The Edge 20’s OLED panel offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the One 5G Ace's IPS LCD, leading to a much better viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | The Edge 20's 144Hz refresh rate results in much smoother animations and scrolling, especially noticeable in games and fast-paced UI interactions, the One 5G Ace feels less fluid |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Brightness is identical, but the actual peak brightness is unknown, making a practical comparison of real-world screen visibility not possible. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | The Edge 20’s Snapdragon 778G offers a notable performance advantage, resulting in faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 589,200 | The Edge 20's higher score demonstrates significantly improved performance, translating to a snappier experience overall. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 642L | The Edge 20’s GPU provides better graphics performance, resulting in smoother gameplay and better image processing. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4020mAh | The One 5G Ace has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life for users who prioritize extended usage, with a near 20% larger capacity. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 30W Fast Charging | The Edge 20 charges much faster, resulting in less time tethered to an outlet. |
| Features | 10W Rapid charger in-box, Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | The One 5G Ace includes a charger in box, the Edge 20 has reverse charging, allowing it to act as a power bank. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.80µm | 108MP, f/1.9, 0.70µm | The Edge 20 has a much higher resolution primary camera, resulting in more detailed photos, with its larger sensor size and the One 5G Ace has a wider aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32MP, f/2.3, 0.70µm | The Edge 20 has a higher resolution selfie camera, leading to better quality selfies, though with a slightly narrower aperture. The One 5G Ace has a wider aperture |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP, f/2.4 | The Edge 20 offers a dedicated telephoto lens, enabling optical zoom for better photos at a distance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | The One 5G Ace has a dedicated wide-angle lens, allowing for expansive shots. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | None | The One 5G Ace can capture detailed close-up shots using its dedicated macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | None | 16MP, f/2.2 | The Edge 20 has a dedicated wide-angle and macro lens combination allowing for ultrawide shots and detailed macro. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps, 1080@240fps, 720@960fps | The Edge 20 offers superior slow-motion video capabilities and higher frame rate options at 1080p, creating more creative options for video recording. |
| Camera Features | PDAF, LAF, RAW, Night mode | Optical zoom, Manual Focus, 4k Video | Each phone has specific camera feature advantages: The Motorola One 5G Ace comes with Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), RAW, Night Mode; while Motorola Edge 20 has 4K Video, Optical zoom, Manual focus. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | The Edge 20 has a newer operating system and is eligible for future updates (Android 12), offering the latest features and security enhancements. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | The Edge 20 supports the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard for faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | The Edge 20 has the newer Bluetooth version offering potentially improved connection stability and audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | The Edge 20 supports more satellite systems, likely leading to more accurate location tracking, while the One 5G Ace uses SUPL. |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM | The Edge 20 supports two SIM cards, suitable for users who need to manage multiple phone numbers, while the One 5G Ace only has one SIM slot. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64GB or 128GB | 128GB or 256GB | The Edge 20 offers more storage, allowing users to store more files and media, the One 5G Ace has less storage options. |
| RAM | 4GB or 6GB | 6GB or 8GB | The Edge 20 has more RAM, contributing to smoother multitasking and better overall performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | 2 microphones | Basic audio | The One 5G Ace offers an advantage with its dual microphones for improved call quality. The Edge 20 has basic audio features. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | The Edge 20's side-mounted fingerprint sensor is more convenient to use and a more modern design, especially on a slimmer phone, it also might be faster. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Gorilla Glass 3 | The Edge 20 screen has Gorilla Glass 3, offering more protection against scratches and damage, while the screen protection for One 5G Ace is unknown. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity, Proximity, Fingerprint | The Motorola Edge 20 has one more sensor with 'Gravity', offering a more complete sensor set than the One 5G Ace. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery offers potentially longer battery life, appealing to users who prioritize endurance.
- Wider Aperture on Main Camera: The f/1.7 aperture on main camera allows for better low-light performance on main camera compared to the f/1.9 on the Motorola Edge 20, meaning more light can reach the sensor.
- Dedicated Macro and Wide-Angle Lenses: Offers the ability to take macro and wide-angle shots, where the Motorola Edge 20 uses one combined sensor.
- 2 Microphones: Provides clear audio for phone calls and other voice recording applications, making this a potentially more viable option for video calls.
Motorola Edge 20 Advantages:
- Superior Display: The OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate provides a much more vibrant and smoother visual experience.
- Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 778G chipset and higher RAM translate to significantly better performance for gaming, multitasking, and overall responsiveness.
- Faster Charging: 30W charging is much faster than 15W, reducing downtime.
- Better Cameras: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras, and also features a telephoto lens for better zoom capabilities, along with wide-angle capabilities with a combined sensor.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, offering faster speeds and better connection stability.
- Dual SIM Support: Suitable for users managing multiple phone numbers.
- More Storage: More internal storage options are available to the user.
- Newer Software: Runs on Android 11 and is eligible for an upgrade to Android 12, while the One 5G Ace is stuck on Android 10.
- Thinner and Lighter Design: More comfortable to hold and carry around with a noticeably smaller physical size.
- Optical Zoom: Optical zoom is available for better quality when zooming, while the One 5G Ace is limited to digital zoom.
- Reverse Charging: Option to use the phone as a portable power bank.
- Gorilla Glass Protection: More durable screen protection compared to unknown protection of the One 5G Ace.
Trade-offs:
- The One 5G Ace prioritizes battery life at the expense of performance and display quality.
- The Edge 20 prioritizes performance and display quality at the expense of battery life.
- The Motorola One 5G Ace has a lower resolution screen with a 60Hz refresh rate compared to the Motorola Edge 20's OLED 144Hz display.
- The Motorola One 5G Ace has PDAF and LAF for autofocusing, RAW support for photography and also a dedicated night mode; whereas the Motorola Edge 20 does not have these capabilities.
- The Motorola Edge 20 has better video capabilities overall, offering higher frames per second options, along with higher slow-motion resolution options; compared to the One 5G Ace.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users: Those looking for a long-lasting phone with 5G capabilities.
- Users with limited mobility or concerns about battery life: The larger battery can give peace of mind for those with low battery anxiety.
- Users who prioritize Macro and Wide Angle photo and video: The One 5G Ace offers dedicated sensors for these functions.
- Users who don't need premium performance: Everyday tasks, social media, and light gaming.
- Users who use their phone to record videos often: The dual microphone gives the user a viable option for better quality voice recordings in calls or vlogs.
Use Cases:
- Long days of work or travel where access to charging might be limited.
- Casual social media browsing and multimedia consumption.
- Users who often record videos of their surroundings in day-to-day life.
Motorola Edge 20 Ideal Users:
- Performance-oriented users: Those who demand smooth, fast, and fluid smartphone experience, for instance gamers or those with multiple apps in use.
- Users who value display quality: Those who watch a lot of videos or play graphically demanding games.
- Users who prioritize camera quality for zoom and selfie captures.
- Users who need fast charging capabilities.
- Users who need dual SIM functionality.
- Those who want a more premium, modern design.
Use Cases:
- Heavy gaming and demanding apps.
- Enjoying high-quality movies and TV shows.
- Capturing professional-looking photos and videos with excellent detail.
- Users who travel often and need a travel-friendly phone with dual SIM capability.
- Users who use their phone as a portable power bank, giving them the option to charge their other devices.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Motorola One 5G Ace offers good value for its battery life and 5G connectivity for users on a budget and who have limited use-cases.
- The Motorola Edge 20 provides a much better overall experience at a higher price point, with superior display, performance, and camera quality, making it worth the extra cost for more demanding users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
What is more important: Battery Life or Performance?
- If battery life is a priority, the One 5G Ace is better. If performance and a smooth display are more important, the Edge 20 is better.
How important is the display quality?
- If you prioritize a vibrant and smooth display experience, the OLED 144Hz display on the Edge 20 is much better. If you are content with a standard LCD display, the One 5G Ace will suffice.
How important is the camera and video quality?
- If you want more versatile camera features and higher quality images and video, the Edge 20 has a better feature set. If macro and wide-angle shots with better low-light on the main sensor are more important, the One 5G Ace is a better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User on a Budget
- If you're on a budget and just need a reliable phone for basic tasks with long battery life, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a good choice.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer or Media Enthusiast
- If you play mobile games or watch a lot of videos, the Motorola Edge 20 is the clear winner due to its better display and performance.
- Scenario 3: Photo Enthusiast
- The Motorola Edge 20 has better image quality overall with its higher resolution sensors and zoom capabilities and advanced recording options, but if you need Macro and Wide angle capability with better low light photos, the Motorola One 5G Ace would be a better fit.
- Scenario 4: Professional Requiring a Dual-SIM phone
- The Motorola Edge 20 is the only option for you, as the One 5G Ace is only single SIM compatible.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would pick the Motorola Edge 20. While the One 5G Ace has a larger battery, the Edge 20 offers a superior overall experience in almost every other aspect that is more important to me. The combination of the vibrant 144Hz OLED display, the significantly faster Snapdragon 778G processor, and the much faster 30W charging make it a more compelling choice for my use case, which includes mobile gaming, watching videos and taking high quality photos in my everyday life. The additional benefits of dual SIM and more storage also tip the scale in favor of the Edge 20. The slightly reduced battery size is a trade-off I am willing to make for the vastly improved performance and user experience, and the reverse charging gives it better versatility.
