There’s no denying that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is currently one of the best — if not the best — mobile processors in the market today. So if you want to own a proper flagship device, look for a smartphone that has this chipset.
However, not all Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered phones are built the same. They vary in terms of design, battery, camera, and more importantly, value for money. We’ll be comparing two of your best options in this segment.
First, we have the Motorola Edge 30 Pro, the latest in Motorola’s line-up carrying the said chipset and other top-notch specs.
We’ll be comparing that with the Xiaomi 12, one of the Chinese tech giant’s fastest smartphones that aim to offer the complete package.
Today, in our Motorola Edge 30 Pro versus Xiaomi 12 specifications and features comparison, we’ll see which of these hard-hitters is better and offers the most value for money. Let’s begin.
| Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Xiaomi 12 | |
| Operating System | Android 12 | Android 12 MIUI 13 |
| Display | 6.7-inch FHD+ OLED 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 392ppi 144Hz refresh rate 360Hz touch sampling rate 10-bit color DCI-P3 HDR-10+ 20:9 aspect ratio Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | 6.28-inch FHD+ OLED 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 419ppi 120Hz refresh rate 480Hz touch sampling Corning Gorilla Victus HDR10+ Dolby Vision 360-degree ambient light sensor |
| Processor | 3.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 octa-core | 3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 octa-core processor Liquid Cool Technology |
| RAM | 12GB LPDDR5 | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| Storage | 256GB UFS 3.1 non-expandable | 256GB UFS 3.1 non-expandable |
| Front Camera | 60-megapixel | 32-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 50-megapixel ( f/1.8, omni-directional PDAF, OIS) 50-megapixel (ultra-wide/macro, f/2.2) 2-megapixel (depth sensor) LED flash | 50-megapixel (IMX766, f/1.9, PDAF, OIS) 13-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.4) 5-megapixel (telephoto/macro) dual-LED flash |
| Audio | Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos No headphone jack | Stereo speakers Harman Kardon Dolby Atmos No headphone jack X-axis linear vibration motor |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G sub-6GHz WiFi 6E, dual-band Bluetooth 5.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, LTEPP, SUPL NFC USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 6E, dual-band Bluetooth 5.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC, BDS NFC IR blaster USB Type-C |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock ThinkShield for mobile | Under-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Others | IP52 splash and spill-resistant | – |
| Colors | Cosmos Blue Stardust White | Gray Purple Blue |
| Dimensions and Weight | 163.06 x 75.95 x 8.79mm 196g | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2mm 179g |
| Battery and Charging | 4,800mAh 68W TurboPower wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless charging | 4,500mAh 67W wired charging 50W wireless charging 10W wireless reverse charging |
| Price | Php34,995 | Php39,999 |
Design and Build Quality
We always say that design is subjective. As to whether a phone looks good or not, it depends on personal preference. However, in the case of these two devices, it’s quite clear that the Xiaomi 12 takes the crown.
This one brags thinner bezels with the screen even slightly curved on the sides for a more premium feel.
The unique camera island also adds some character to the device, adding to the pastel color options. What’s more, it uses boasts a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better protection.
Meanwhile, Motorola played it safe when designing the Edge 30 Pro. It looks like a lot of other Motorola phones we’ve already seen before. It’s bulkier, too, and is only available in two colors.
On the upside, the Moto device officially comes with water protection, while the competition doesn’t.
Display and Audio
The winner of this category will depend on your preference. If you want a large display with a high refresh rate for multitasking and gaming, go with the Edge 30 Pro.
But if you want a smaller screen that’s easy to operate with one hand, not a lot of 6.28-inch phones are as powerful as the Xiaomi 12.
For audio, the Xiaomi device clearly gets a one-up thanks to Harman Kardon. Although, we have to test both devices to see which between these stereo speakers actually sounds better.
Performance
As stated earlier, both models are powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. However, you may expect a slightly better performance on the Xiaomi 12 since it’s smaller and has Liquid Cool Technology.
To Motorola’s credit, the Edge 30 Pro does come with 12GB while the Xiaomi 12 only has 8GB. You’d barely notice the difference in performance, but it’s still when you need it.
Camera
An easy win for the Motorola device. As you can see, it has not one but two 50-megapixel cameras. On the other hand, the Xiaomi 12 settles for a 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens.
To Xiaomi‘s credit, it does have a more usable tertiary camera, albeit I doubt anyone would actually use it.
Still, we gotta hand the win to the Edge 30 Pro on this one, especially due to its ultra-sharp 60-megapixel front-facing camera.
Battery
While the Moto Edge 30 Pro has a bigger 4,800mAh battery, we’re actually surprised that Motorola didn’t go with a 5,000mAh capacity, considering its size.
On the other hand, although it’s smaller, having a 4,500mAh battery on the Xiaomi 12 is actually appropriate considering its small size. What’s more, it comes with 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging — which is faster than what the Edge 30 Pro offers.
Bottom line is, that Xiaomi 12 wins this round.
Others
Being 2022 flagships, both models ship with the latest Android 12 operating system. There’s the MIUI 13 on the Xiaomi 12 if you’re into that, while the Edge 30 Pro runs on stock Android for a cleaner look. You choose which one you like better, but personally, we want a clean Android interface.
Like its cousins, you’re getting more extra features on the Xiaomi 12 than the competition. For one, it has a 360-degree ambient light sensor for better brightness adjustment. It also has an IR blaster that lets you control non-smart devices.
Conclusion
If the overall value for money is what you’re after, then go with the Motorola Edge 30 Pro. Despite being Php5,000 cheaper than the Xiaomi 12, the Moto device managed to offer a larger and faster screen, more RAM, better cameras, and even water protection for Php34,995.
But if you miss smaller and more compact smartphones, and you don’t mind spending more (~Php39,999), then going with the Xiaomi 12 is not such a bad idea either, since not a lot of 6.28-inch phones today are as powerful as this.