Motorola Edge 40 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Motorola Edge 40 Pro delivers aggressive specifications at a compelling $200 price advantage, featuring a superior 165Hz display, faster 125W charging, and more versatile camera setup with higher megapixel ultrawide and telephoto sensors. Samsung Galaxy S23+ counters with refined build quality, brighter 1750-nit peak brightness, superior Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, and more optimized software through One UI 5.1. Performance differs minimally since both use Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processors. Camera quality favors Samsung's proven computational photography despite lower megapixel counts, while Motorola excels in raw versatility and charging speed. Battery capacity slightly favors Samsung at 4700mAh versus 4600mAh, though Motorola's aggressive charging compensates. Value consideration heavily favors Motorola for $799, delivering flagship specs at mid-premium pricing. However, Samsung's refined experience and proven longevity justify premium positioning. Choose Motorola for specification enthusiasts prioritizing value, Samsung for those wanting proven optimization and polish.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Motorola Edge 40 Pro if…
- →125W wired charging fills battery in ~30 minutes
- →165Hz display is among the smoothest available
- →60 MP front camera for excellent selfies
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
Pros
- 125W wired charging fills battery in ~30 minutes
- 165Hz display is among the smoothest available
- 60 MP front camera for excellent selfies
- Near-stock Android with minimal bloatware
- IP68 with stylish vegan leather finish
Cons
- Telephoto is only 2x (no periscope option)
- Software update support shorter than Google/Samsung
- Only one storage configuration
- Curved display prone to accidental touches
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, vegan leather back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 74.4 x 8.6 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 60 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/1.6, 2x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4600 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 125W TurboPower wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.67 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | pOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 165Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 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.
Explore more in phones, see all Motorola products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Motorola Edge 40 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S23+.