Motorola Edge 20, Lite and Pro in test: Which device is the best?

With the Motorola Edge 20 series, the Chinese manufacturer "Motorola" would like to build on the Edge series from 2020, but without the "Edge". TechnikNews has tested the devices.
All Edge 20 devices come with a 30 watt charger and a TPU case.
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Design and workmanship
The differences between the 20 and the Pro are minimal, the Lite has bigger differences. The Edge 20 Pro and the Edge 20 both have a glass back and the same display. The back of the Lite model is only made of "plastic". You notice this and it makes a big difference in use. In terms of design, the devices themselves are very similar. The front camera is in the middle of the display, the volume up/down rocker is on the top right side, and the on/off button is below it. The fingerprint sensor is directly on the button itself, on the Lite model it is in a small "hollow". The display edges of the Lite are a lot larger than those of the two "better models".

The Motorola Edge 20 series fits together well in terms of design, only the workmanship is not on the "flagship" level (picture: TechnikNews)
The normal Edge 20 has a special feature: the model is the lightest and thinnest (163 mm) at 7 grams. The cameras of the Edge 20/Pro are positioned vertically in a small hump, the Lite model follows the strategy of the Xiaomi Mi 11. I actually like the design a lot, but the devices are really huge. Even with large hands it is difficult to get to the on / off switch, without changing my grip there is no way I can reach the volume up / down rocker switch. The Google Assistant button can only be reached by changing your grip, so it is pointless in everyday life.
The workmanship is just okay. Compared to other devices in the same price range (Edge 20 Lite vs Redmi Note 10 Pro or OnePlus Nord CE, Edge 20 vs Nord 2, 20 Pro vs Galaxy S21), the Edge 20 series feels relatively cheap. The frame is only made of plastic and the backs are not made of Gorilla Glass. The fronts are, but during my time with the Edge 20 Pro, a scratch appeared from an "everyday fall". The manufacturer does not use tempered glass like other companies, which is a shame. Here you have to pay attention when buying.promissed, these can otherwise be solved by the case and bulletproof glass.
Displays
On paper, Motorola is focusing on uniformity in the Edge 20 series. All devices have a 6,7-inch Full HD+ OLED display with 90 Hz for the Lite and 144 Hz for the Edge 20 and Pro. The displays are good, but not "on par", as the data sheet says they should be. The display of the Lite model is a lot darker, but the displays of the 20 and Pro models are surprisingly good. Beautiful colors, easy to read even in sunlight, and the fast refresh rate ensures a very smooth experience. The difference between 90 and 144 Hertz is clearly noticeable, but is unlikely to be an "absolute selling point" for many.

The displays of the Edge 20 series are all the same size, only the display edges are larger on the Lite (picture: TechnikNews)
Hardware
The hardware of the devices is different in many aspects, especially the processor. While the Lite model has a MediaTek, the company has installed a Qualcomm SoC in the 20 and Pro models. The MediaTek only delivers mediocre results in Geekbench with a multi-core score of 1.655. In terms of performance, it is on a par with the Little X3 NFC from last year, but this only costs around 200 euros instead of the 349 euros RRP of the Edge 20 Lite. Noticeably better than with the Poco X3 NFC, however, is the coordination with the software. With a few "additional functions" and no bloatware, Android 11 runs very smoothly on the device. This is also due to the 8 gigabytes of RAM memory, of the 128 or 256 gigabytes of mass storage, 20 GB is already occupied.

The benchmark results of the Edge 20 series are okay, but other manufacturers are on par / better (picture: TechnikNews)
The Edge 20 is probably the best model in the series in terms of price-performance in terms of hardware. The Snapdragon 788G shows few performance problems in games like PUBG or Asphalt 9. The Motorola Edge 20 Pro does not use the "best processor" on the market like the Edge from 2020 (currently that would be the Snapdragon 888), but the "second best", the Snapdragon 870. That was absolutely the right decision by Lenovo - why? Because the Snapdragon 888 has problems with the heat and thus the battery life with a 144 Hertz screen would have been very poor. The best examples of this are the My 11, My 11 Ultra or Realme gtThe performance of the 20 Pro with 12 GB RAM is excellent. No problems with the software and the device is also suitable for gaming. The memory can only be expanded on the Lite model, so the choice between 128 or 256 on the "normal" Edge 20 and Pro is final. 5G is supported on all models, as is WiFi 6 - on all models except the Lite.
But hardware is not just about performance, but also everything around it. The biggest hardware problem for me is the somewhat cheap vibration motor. The competition is already installing much better motors, and Motorola definitely needs to improve this. Stereo speakers are also missing from all models, and the mono speaker can easily be covered. Only the Lite model has a 3,5 mm jack connector, all models lack wireless charging, but they are waterproof to IP52.
camera
The entire Edge 20 series has a 108 megapixel main camera and a 32 megapixel front camera. The Lite model is also equipped with an 8 megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 2 megapixel camera for depth information. The Edge 20 (Pro) is equipped with 16 megapixels of ultra-wide angle, the 8 megapixel telephoto lens has a small difference. While the Edge 20 can only zoom 3x optically, the Pro model "only" has 5x. In addition, both models also have a microphone on the camera.
How do the cameras perform in everyday life?
The Motorola Edge 20 and Edge 20 Pro take good photos. In daylight, the images are sharp enough for the price, and the colors are okay. Personally, I prefer photos that are a little more saturated, but that's a matter of taste and can be quickly adjusted using apps like "Snapseed." The ultra-wide-angle camera on the Edge 20 and the Edge 20 Pro also take good pictures in daylight. For such a large field of view (119 degrees), many details are still captured.
- The main camera of the Edge 20 series (Image: TechnikNews)
- The front camera of the Edge 20 series makes good selfies (Image: TechnikNews)
- A few pictures with the "macro camera" (picture: TechnikNews)
- The zoom of the Edge 20 series varies depending on the model (Image: TechnikNews)
The ultra-wide-angle camera can also be used for macro images, but this requires patience and focus. The telephoto camera also does its job; if you want to get a little more out of the camera, you can go for the Pro. The 5x optical zoom doesn't make a huge difference. The images aren't as sharp as competing devices because they have "only" 8 megapixels, but they're not bad. Photos with the front camera also look good. Not because of me, but because of the good camera AI, which optimizes selfies well. The bokeh is a bit too strong, but that's the case with most "cheaper" flagships.
The main camera of the Edge 20 Lite still looks good, but many details are lost, especially with the ultra-wide-angle camera. Pictures with the selfie camera also look rather blurry, you shouldn't expect too much here. The colors are well coordinated with the cameras, sometimes even better than with the two better models. This could also be due to a lack of updates; we used the images with beta software before the market launch. Unfortunately, the performance of the camera app is sometimes slow, it takes 1 to 2 seconds to take a photo.
Motorola Edge 20 series battery
The battery of the devices varies from 4.000 for the Edge 20, to 4.500 for the Pro model, to 5000 mAh for the Lite device. How good are the batteries? With the Pro device, I got through the day without any problems, usually with 40 to 50 percent when I got home. This was with about three hours of "screen on" time. With intensive use, the value was around 20 to 30 percent, with four to five hours of "screen on". The refresh rate was set to automatic. If you force it to 144 Hertz, you can just about get through the day, and with 60 Hertz you'll probably get through two days.

The battery life of the Edge 20 series varies depending on the frame rate and device (picture: TechnikNews)
The normal Edge 20 manages around 10 hours of video playback in the battery test, which works out to around three to four hours of screen time in normal use. Most users should easily get through a day with that. The Lite model even manages 15 hours in the battery test, which could mean 1 days for many customers. All models charge at 1 watts, which is good for the Lite model, but only OK for the Edge 2o and Edge 30 Pro. Many other manufacturers such as OPPO, OnePlus and Xiaomi already offer 2 watts and more. There are still companies like Samsung, Apple and Google that can't keep up with that at the moment.
Smartphones software
Android 11 runs on all devices without major changes. This also enables smooth performance, since little is running in the background. Solely the Moto app is pre-installed, which offers some adjustments in the software and the "Motorola gestures". I only realized how much I missed this when I used a Motorola device for the first time. Are they a "killer feature"? no But are they a very nice help? Yes. Gestures such as "tap twice to activate flashlight" are very useful in everyday life, as is "twist to launch camera". Motorola also advertises its "Ready for Platform" with the devices, which is a mixture of desktop mode and entertainment system. during that pro If the device supports both wired and wireless, the Edge 20 can only do it wirelessly. The Lite model can only be "mirrored" to a Windows device.
Conclusion on the series
The Motorola Edge 20 series is good, but in my opinion only the Edge 20 is worth it. For 350 euros you get a good device with the Edge 20 Lite, but the competition from OnePlus (Nord 2), Xiaomi (Mi 11 Lite 5G) or (POCO F/X 3 Pro) is also strong. Here you have to see where your priorities lie, but the Edge 20 Lite is definitely a good device. For 500 euros you get the Edge 20, which is the best device in the series in terms of price-performance. Good processor, excellent display and lightweight device with a good battery. Only the mono speaker and vibration motor need to be improved. The Pro model only offers a little more, but for 700 euros you can already have a Galaxy S21, iPhone 12 or Xiaomi Mi 11.
"With Samsung, Apple or Google, there are still companies that are currently not able to keep up.”
But I ask myself why is that? Don't the manufacturers mentioned offer updates for 4 to 6 years? Didn't Samsung say that more is not good for the battery? If you look at Xiaomi, there have been no more than 2 years. Can't you charge it very quickly and think that the battery has survived for 2 years? I already understand that others are playing it safe. I'm also sure that named manufacturers could if they wanted to. I am also sure that Samsung has learned from the disaster with the Note 9 and the battery.
Isn't it still the case that slow charging saves a battery and you should only charge it to about 80% and let it run almost empty?
And sorry, I don't care if a battery can be charged with 65 watts or not. It is important to me that it lasts for a long time. What good is it if the battery runs out quickly, as with the Mi11, and I then have to lug around the right power supply unit and have to look for a socket in order to get it sufficiently charged in 15 minutes?
Manufacturers should rather work on efficiency.
But you're right, at this price point the Apple or the Samsung is a better choice. The update time alone wins. The Mi11 is not better, however. The Motorola should receive 2 updates, Xiaomi does not look any better. From my own experience with both manufacturers, I can also say that Xiaomi is neither better nor worse than Motorola in terms of update distribution.
But I would also be interested in whether you could go into the functions of the camera app a little more?
Xiaomi misses some functions directly in the app. E.g. spot color. There is no such thing with Xiaomi. Sometimes you can improve something in the gallery.
I would also be interested in more sample pictures and further information. Is there an optical stabilization of the camera? How do pictures look like at dusk? You repeatedly emphasize in daylight. And otherwise?
I would also find more pictures with zoom interesting.
After all, that is the point where none of the alternatives mentioned are offered. Doesn't this only exist with the S21 Plus / Ultra and the Mi11 Ultra, which has now risen in price to 1500 €?
I would bet, like their predecessors, these Motorola devices will drop in price by up to 50% in their first year. It was the same with the others and even in the Motorola shop.
If that's the case and the price of the Pro on Black Friday is 450-500€ or even less, then I would naively say that it's a good choice.