Apple iPhone XS vs Motorola Edge 40
The Verdict
Both phones deliver solid flagship experiences but serve different user priorities. Apple's iPhone XS presents a compact 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display with 725 nits brightness and the powerful A12 Bionic processor, offering exceptional performance and iOS ecosystem integration. However, its 2658 mAh battery and 60Hz refresh rate feel dated compared to modern standards. Motorola Edge 40 counters with a larger 6.55-inch pOLED screen at 144Hz refresh rate and impressive 1200 nits brightness, plus a substantially larger 4400 mAh battery supporting 68W fast charging. The Edge 40 includes 5G connectivity, USB-C, and superior camera hardware with a 50 MP main sensor versus iPhone's dual 12 MP setup. At half the price ($499 vs $999), the Motorola Edge 40 provides significantly better value with more modern specifications. iPhone XS remains capable but feels premium-priced for aging internals. Motorola Edge 40 is the clear winner for practical performance and value.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XS if…
- →First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- →eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- →Excellent Super Retina OLED display
Buy the Motorola Edge 40 if…
- →Ultra-slim at 7.49 mm and light at 167 g with IP68 protection
- →144Hz pOLED display is exceptionally smooth
- →f/1.4 main camera aperture captures excellent low-light photos
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XS
Pros
- First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- Excellent Super Retina OLED display
- Improved Face ID speed over iPhone X
- Premium stainless steel build
Cons
- Small battery at 2658 mAh
- No ultrawide camera
- 5W charger in the box
- Minimal upgrade over iPhone X
- No Night mode for camera
Motorola Edge 40
Pros
- Ultra-slim at 7.49 mm and light at 167 g with IP68 protection
- 144Hz pOLED display is exceptionally smooth
- f/1.4 main camera aperture captures excellent low-light photos
- 68W fast charging with wireless charging at this price
- Vegan leather option provides a unique, grippy texture
Cons
- Dimensity 8020 is a mid-range chip — not flagship performance
- Only one OS update promised by Motorola
- 4400 mAh battery is modest for heavy users
- No telephoto camera for zoom shots
- 256 GB single storage option with no expansion
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone XS | Motorola Edge 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 177 g | 167 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, vegan leather or glass back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm | 158.4 x 72 x 7.49 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.4, OIS, PDAF |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | — | 13 MP, f/2.2, macro mode |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2658 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 68W wired (TurboPower) |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 6.55 inches |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | pOLED |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 144Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 725 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.6 GHz + 4x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | MediaTek Dimensity 8020 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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