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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option with a headphone jack, the Motorola Edge (2020) would serve you well. It has a plastic body which might be less premium than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra's glass design, but it's a practical choice. On the other hand, if you prioritize top-notch camera quality and performance, and don't mind spending more, the Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a superior camera system with a 10x optical zoom capability and a larger battery capacity, which may translate to longer battery life. Both phones have OLED screens, but the Galaxy S21 Ultra's display is larger and has a higher resolution, providing a crisper viewing experience. The S21 Ultra also has higher refresh rates for smoother scrolling. Choose the Edge if you want to save money and value a headphone jack, or opt for the S21 Ultra if you're willing to invest in advanced features, especially regarding the camera and display. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Motorola Edge (2020)
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
4.7
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality, while the Motorola Edge (2020) has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra provides a better overall camera experience with good scores for software, dynamic range, low light performance, camera versatility, and, importantly, selfie quality, as opposed to the Motorola Edge (2020) which has poor performance across these significant factors. If you prioritize camera quality, especially for selfies, the S21 Ultra is a great choice, though you may have to spend more compared to the cheaper Motorola Edge that trails in camera capability.
Photo Quality
4.8
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos, while the Motorola Edge (2020) takes poor photos.
The Motorola Edge (2020) has a poor camera because its selfies are considered poor across different lighting conditions. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos, with a very good selfie score and superior performance in resolution, software experience, dynamic range, and low light situations.
Video Quality
4.2
7.1
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos, while the Motorola Edge (2020) takes poor videos.
The Motorola Edge (2020) struggles with video due to poor video resolution/framerate, stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, while its microphone quality is just average. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra excels in video resolution/framerate, software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, with a good microphone quality, making it superior for video recording.
Battery
7.8 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Motorola Edge (2020) has 7.8 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$120
$423
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Motorola Edge (2020) has a price of $120 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Motorola Edge (2020) has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the Motorola Edge (2020) and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Motorola Edge (2020) | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$120 | $423 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Motorola | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 29, 2020 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 385 | 515 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD765G | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 4.8/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 4.9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 4.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 64 megapixels | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.8 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | No | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 0 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.36" x 2.8" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.63 oz | 8.01 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 5 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Solar Black | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | Yes | No | |
Shopping
Motorola Edge (2020)
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Tom Bedford | July 2020
"The Motorola Edge has a battery that won’t leave you wanting, whether you just want to take some pictures, or play games and record videos for much of the day, so if you don’t want to worry about having to top up your device all the time, the Edge might be a good choice. Leaving aside its impressive specs and features, the Motorola Edge just looks pretty good, and it feels great in the hand too, so if ‘style’ is a factor in your phone-buying decisions the Edge is well worth a look."
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
David Imel | January 2023
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."
Get a great deal on the Motorola Edge (2020) or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
About Motorola
Motorola, a well-known name in the smartphone world, has a long-standing legacy in the industry, with a history dating back to the early days of mobile phones. The brand is mostly known for striking a balance between affordability and functionality, as well as providing a clean and straightforward interface with their software skin on top of Android. While they have traditionally been prominent in the budget and midrange categories, Motorola has also occasionally ventured into the high-end category for smartphones.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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