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 |