The Motorola Edge (2022) is an impressive smartphone that balances specs with a reasonable price tag, but how does it compare to the Pixel 6a? The Motorola Edge (2022) is a cheaper alternative to the Motorola Edge+ (2022) flagship that launched earlier this year. It is also the third-generation Edge series smartphone, which is Motorola’s premium mid-range line.
On the other hand, the Pixel 6a is a more affordable version of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, arriving as a successor to the Pixel 5a. Unlike previous Pixel A smartphones, the Pixel 6a has the same flagship processor as its more expensive siblings. However, there are still some tradeoffs that have been made to arrive at its low price.
The Pixel 6a and the Motorola Edge (2022) look like their pricier siblings. The former has a flat display with a centered punch hole, a horizontal camera bar that runs across the plastic back, Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and a metal frame. In addition, it has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating and is available to buy in Chalk, Charcoal and Sage. On the other hand, the Edge (2022) also has a flat display with a centered punch hole, vertically stacked rear cameras, Gorilla Glass 3 protected display and an IP54 rating. However, it is available in a single colorway – Blue.
The Motorola Edge Has Wireless Charging
The Motorola Edge (2022) is the larger smartphone of the two with its 6.6-inch FHD+ OLED display. The 10-bit screen refreshes at 144Hz and has HDR10+. In contrast, the Pixel 6a’s screen is 6.1 inches in size. It is an OLED panel with an FHD+ resolution and HDR support, but it refreshes at 60Hz. Their differences extend to their processors. Motorola’s smartphone is the first to be powered by the Dimensity 1050, a MediaTek chip with mmWave support. However, it isn’t as powerful as the Google Tensor chipset inside the Pixel 6a.
The Motorola Edge (2022) comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. In contrast, the Pixel 6a is only available in a single configuration with 6GB of RAM and 128GB. Neither of the two phones has a MicroSD card slot. Motorola ships its phone with a 50MP primary rear camera with OIS, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide angle camera that can take macro photos and a 2MP depth sensor. It also has a 32MP front-facing camera. Google’s Pixel 6a has one less camera on the back, but the primary camera is a 12MP sensor with OIS paired with a 12MP 114-degree ultrawide angle camera. Its front-facing camera is a modest 8MP sensor.
Both phones have an under-display fingerprint scanner, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6. However, the Pixel 6a has dual SIM support (nano + eSIM), while the Motorola Edge (2022) has single SIM support (nano or eSIM). They both skip the audio jack but have stereo speakers. In terms of battery, the Pixel 6a has a 4410mAh battery capacity with support for 18W charging. In contrast, the Motorola Edge (2022) has a larger 5000mAh battery, supports 30W fast wired charging, and even adds 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging. Unfortunately, neither of the two phones ships with a charger. The Pixel 6a ships with Android 12, like the Motorola Edge (2022). However, while Google promises 3 OS upgrades and five years of security updates for its phone, Motorola promises three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
Finally, the Pixel 6a retails for $449 ($499 for the mmWave version sold by Verizon), which is cheaper than the $498 starting price of the Motorola Edge (2022). The Pixel 6a is the better device for those who want a small phone, flagship performance, and long-term software support. And thanks to Google’s camera optimizations, those who want a phone that can click great shots practically every time will make a great choice. On the other hand, the Motorola Edge (2022) has a fantastic display with a high refresh rate, faster charging and even support for wireless charging. It also has more RAM and storage options.
