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Updated January 10, 2024·
If a high-quality camera is essential to you, the Apple iPhone 15 would be a better choice as it offers superior photo and video quality, with strong overall camera performance. However, if battery life is more important to you, the Motorola Edge (2021) has slightly longer battery life. The iPhone 15 has a higher-quality OLED screen, which generally provides better color and contrast than the LCD screen on the Motorola Edge, but the Motorola does offer a larger screen size and a higher refresh rate, making it potentially smoother for gaming and scrolling. For the operating system, the iPhone 15 runs on iOS, which is known for its seamless ecosystem, while the Motorola Edge uses Android, which provides more customization options. The iPhone 15 is a premium-priced phone compared to the midrange Motorola Edge, so if budget is a constraint, the Motorola Edge may offer better value for money. 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 Apple iPhone 15
- Very good for taking photos
- Excellent for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Motorola Edge (2021)
- The Motorola Edge (2021) has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.6
5.2
The Apple iPhone 15 has very good overall camera quality, while the Motorola Edge (2021) has poor overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 boasts a very good selfie camera, which is valuable for those who frequently take self-portraits or do video calls, while the Motorola Edge (2021) has a poor selfie camera, reflecting less emphasis on front-facing camera quality. Additionally, the iPhone wins out on overall photo and video experiences, with very good ratings in dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, whereas the Motorola struggles with these aspects, rated as poor, suggesting less capable image processing and camera features.
Photo Quality
8.5
5.3
The Apple iPhone 15 takes very good photos, while the Motorola Edge (2021) takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 delivers superior photo quality than the Motorola Edge (2021) primarily because of its better photos software experience and higher selfie quality. Additionally, the iPhone 15 also outperforms in dynamic range and low light performance, factors important for capturing detailed and balanced images in various lighting conditions.
Video Quality
9.1
4.7
The Apple iPhone 15 takes excellent videos, while the Motorola Edge (2021) takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 captures superior videos mainly due to its advanced stabilization, higher dynamic range, and enhanced low-light performance, along with top-rated video software experience and mic quality. In contrast, the Motorola Edge (2021) performs poorly in video capture with weaker stabilization, limited dynamic range, mediocre low-light capabilities, a less refined video software experience, and lower mic quality.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 has 8 hours of battery life. The Motorola Edge (2021) has 8.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Motorola Edge (2021) is 6.8 inches.
Cost
$729
$165
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone 15 has a price of $729 and the Motorola Edge (2021) costs $165.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 and the Motorola Edge (2021) compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 | Motorola Edge (2021) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$729 | $165 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Motorola | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | September 2, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 2460 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 461 | 395 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | LCD | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A16 | SD778G | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.2/10 | 4.7/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3349 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.81" x 2.82" | 6.65" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.03 oz | 7.05 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green, Black | Nebula Blue | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Lance Ulanoff | September 2023
"Apple finally waves goodbye to the notch in favor of the Dynamic Island on all phones in its new lineup, and on the iPhone 15 that versatile screen technology is paired with new materials, lovely contoured edges, a powerful A16 Bionic CPU, and, yes, the new USB-C port. Even the photography has been leveled up, with a 48MP camera and new portrait processing capabilities."
Motorola Edge (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Philip Michaels | October 2021
"If you've overlooked Motorola's higher-end phones in the past, the Motorola Edge 5G UW does a very good job at trying to regain your attention. Improvements to the main camera impress. I'm also impressed by how quickly the phone recharges. It's the affordability that ultimately wins the day for the Motorola Edge. this phone offers enough premium features to put it at the forefront of midrange options."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 or the Motorola Edge (2021)
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
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.
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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
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
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8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
152,100
Recommendations made
86,190
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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