Which of the three Motorola Edge 20 5G is for you? (first look)

Which of the three Motorola Edge 20 5G is for you? (first look)

Motorola has decided to cover all bases with three Motorola Edge 20 5G models at $499, $699 and $899. While it is ‘good, better, and best,’ we are pleased to see so much value at all three levels.

It also lowered the 5G price bar with an excellent value Motorola g50 at $399 – that is a separate article (we will insert the link here soon).

The Motorola Edge 20 5G series includes

  • Edge 20 Pro: Qualcomm SD870; 12/256GB; 6.7” pOLED 10-bit adaptive 144Hz; 108+8+16/32MP, $899
  • Edge 20, Qualcomm SD778G; 8/128GB; 6.7” pOLED 10-bit adaptive 144Hz; 108+8+16/32MP, $699
  • Edge 20 Fusion (called the Lite in some markets), MediaTek Dimensity 800U; 6/128GB; 6.7″ OLED 10-bit 90Hz, 108+8+2/32MP, $499
  • More specs are in the comparison table at the end

5G

All three retail models support dual sim, Australian sub-6Ghz 5G and the new Australian 5G Low-band channels. They do not support mmWave – that is no issue. They have all 4G bands for world-phone use. If you are buying from Vodafone, check if it is carrier locked before you buy.

Don’t think for a moment that you need to increase your current 4G Boost/Woolies/Coles/Aldi mobile plan if you are happy with its cost and coverage. The cheapest pre-paid Telstra 5G plan is $60/40GB, and its geographical coverage is very limited – do not believe a carriers maps! All you need to do is pull your sim out of the existing phone and place it in the new one – easy.

Note: You must buy the genuine certified Australia models, or you cannot activate 5G services here. Motorola can only warranty genuine Australian product from the retailers shown later.

Motorola is ‘ready for’ the next-gen is smartphone use

ready for‘ is similar to Samsung DeX (desktop experience), and it means you can (depending on the Edge 20 series model) integrate your phone with a PC, monitor or TV (depending on combability). At this time, you need a Windows 10 or later PC, HDMI monitor or TV (1080p or higher, 16:9) or a smart TV supporting Miracast over home Wi-Fi wireless connection. It may require a ‘ready for’ app on the target device.

For example, the Edge 20 Pro has USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 5Gbps with ALT DP 1.4 (Display port) that can use a USB-C to HDMI cable to launch a full ‘ready for’ desktop experience. Phones with USB-C 2.0 ports (Edge 20 and Edge 20 Fusion) can only Miracast their screen to compatible TVs.

As a regular user of the evolving Samsung DeX, I welcome Motorola’s move. Moto will need to do a lot of work to convince Joe and Jane Average of its benefit.

That 108MP camera on Edge 20 Fusion, Edge 20 and Edge 20 Pro – and other sensors

We suspect it is a Samsung S5KHM2 sensor – 12000×9000 (108MP), 1/1.52″, .7um Nonapixel sensor with PDAF. It bins 4-1 to 12MP and an equivalent .21um large pixel. It is the same sensor in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the next S22 will have the later HM3 version. While you can shoot 108MP without AI (and hold it very still), its default as the primary camera is 12MP with lashings of AI. It has f/1.9 but lacks optical image stabilisation (OIS) – it has Qualcomm’s Electronic image stabilisation for video.

The Pro has an 8MP, 5X telephoto (periscope lens) with f/3.4 and 1um pixels. The 20 has an 8MP, 3X telephoto (not periscope) f/2.32 and 1um pixels. Both have OIS – kind of odd that it is not on the primary lens.

The 20 and Pro 20 has a 16MP Ultra-wide 119° FOV, f/2.2 and 1um pixel size that also acts as a macro lens.

The Fusion has an 8MP, ultra-wide 118° FOV, f/2,2 and 1.12um pixel size that also acts as a macro lens. It adds a 2MP depth camera, f/2.4 and 1.75um pixels. It needs the depth sensor because the lower levels of AI in the Dimensity Chip cannot select foreground and background as the Qualcomm chips can.

The 32MP front camera appears to be the same, and we suspect it is a Samsung JD1 that bins to 8MP and .14um pixel size.

GadgetGuy’s take

Motorola is serious about gaining market share. From what we see, the Motorola Edge 20 series are well made, well priced and have a solid feature/value equation.

Add to that genuine Australian network certified Motorola’s local support, and these should be on your shopping list. We will be reviewing all three soon, but my pick so far is the Edge 20 5G – smaller, lighter and only missing the 5X periscope camera.

Motorola Edge 20 5G base specifications

Note: Same means as per the left adjacent column

Item Fusion 20 Pro
Website Combination site Motorola AU   same
Price $499 $699 $899
Colour Electric Graphite
Cyber Teal
Frosted Onyx Midnight Sky
Indigo Vegan leather
Warranty 1-year inc battery and accessories same same
Screen – all flat 6.7″ Same as Edge 20 with 90Hz 2400 x 1800, 20:9 OLED
10-bit 1B colours
Adaptive 144Hz refresh and 480Hz touch480Hz touch
HDR10+
Add Gorilla Glass 5
100% DCI-P3
Amazon HDR
Processor MediaTek Dimensity 800U SD778G SD870G
Ram/Storage 6/128GB/microSD to 512GB 8/128GB
no microSD
12/256GB
same
Wi-Fi 5 AC 6E AX 6 AX
Comms USB-C 2.0
BT 5.0
NFC
GPS single channel
USB-C 2.0
BT 5.2
NFC
GPS dual-channel
USB-C 3.1 DP 1.4
BT 5.1
same
same
Security Side fingerprint reader and Face ID Optical under-display fingerprint reader and FaceID same
4G/5G Hybrid dual sim
Supports all Australian 4G and 5G sub-6Ghz and low band 5G.
Dual SIMM (4 or 5G) same same
same
Battery
Charger in the box
5000mAh
30W Turbo Charge
4000mAh
same
4500mAh
Same
Sound Mono bottom ported speaker
2 mics 3.5mm jack
Same
3 mics noise cancel
No 3.5mm jack
Same
Camera rear 108+8+2MP
Up to [email protected]
108+8+16MP
same
108+8+16MP
Up to [email protected]
Camera front 32MP, f/2.25, 07um
[email protected]
same same
Android 11/MY UX All Google apps and dedicated Google Assistant key.
2x Android updates via new MY UX releases
2x years bi-monthly patches
same same
Build 165.89×75.95×8.25mm
x 185g
Minimal IP52 rating
Plastic frame and back
163x76x6.99mm
x 163g
same
Alloy frame and PMMA back
163x76x7.99mm x 185/190g
same
Alloy frame and either PMMA or vegan leather back
Certified Australian retail model from JB Hi-Fi
Good Guys
Officeworks
Big W
Harvey Norman Motorola online Vodafone (locked)
JB Hi-Fi Officeworks Motorola online same

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