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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated February 13, 2024·
If you prioritize a more flexible budget, the Motorola Edge (2021) is a solid choice with a significantly lower price than the OnePlus 12. The tradeoff comes with performance and camera quality, where the Motorola falls short, offering a simpler setup and lower photo and video quality. In contrast, the OnePlus 12, while more expensive, boasts better camera capabilities and overall performance, making it ideal for photography enthusiasts and power users. Both phones have large screens and substantial battery capacities to last through the day, but the OnePlus 12 has a slightly better battery and screen quality. 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 (2021)
- The Motorola Edge (2021) has no clear advantages over the OnePlus 12.
Advantages of the OnePlus 12
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.2
7.8
The OnePlus 12 has good overall camera quality, while the Motorola Edge (2021) has poor overall camera quality.
The Motorola Edge (2021) has a lower selfie quality, resulting in poor overall selfie performance, while its other camera features like low light performance and dynamic range are also rated poorly. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 12, although superior in selfie quality, still fails to deliver across camera features like dynamic range and low light ability, which are critical for a robust camera experience.
Photo Quality
5.3
7.8
The OnePlus 12 takes good photos, while the Motorola Edge (2021) takes poor photos.
The Motorola Edge (2021) suffers from a poor selfie camera performance, which may disappoint users who place a very high importance on front-facing camera quality. In comparison, while the OnePlus 12 also has shortcomings in its selfie camera, its overall camera experience, including selfie shots, is considered better, offering a more versatile photographic experience.
Video Quality
4.7
7.0
The OnePlus 12 takes good videos, while the Motorola Edge (2021) takes poor videos.
The Motorola Edge (2021) produces poor videos due to its fair video resolution/framerate capabilities and particularly poor video software experience, video stabilization, video dynamic range, and video low light performance; despite fair microphone quality, this combination leads to subpar video output. Conversely, while the OnePlus 12 also has poor video performance, more detailed assessments are not available in the provided document to clearly outline the contributing factors for its video quality.
Cost
$165
$800
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Motorola Edge (2021) has a price of $165 and the OnePlus 12 costs $800.
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Key similarities
Battery
8.7 Hours
8.2 Hours
The Motorola Edge (2021) has 8.7 hours of battery life. The OnePlus 12 has 8.2 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Motorola Edge (2021) has a screen size of 6.8 inches and the OnePlus 12 is 6.82 inches.
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How the Motorola Edge (2021) and the OnePlus 12 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Motorola Edge (2021) | OnePlus 12 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$165 | $800 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Motorola | OnePlus | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 2, 2021 | February 6, 2024 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.8" | 6.82" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2460 x 1080 | 3168 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 395 | 510 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | LCD | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD778G | SD8G3 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 5.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 4.7/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 108 megapixels | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.7 Hours | 8.2 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5400 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | No | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 0 W | 50 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (10 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.65" x 2.98" | 6.47" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.05 oz | 7.76 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 7 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | Yes | |
Color | |||
Color | Nebula Blue | Silky Black, Flowy Emerald | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
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 Motorola Edge (2021) or the OnePlus 12
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 OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
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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
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
152,400
Recommendations made
86,360
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
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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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