The Motorola Edge 2025 features notable enhancements, but does it deliver good value compared to the Pixel 9a?
Historically, Motorola’s Edge series has had certain aspects that appeared insufficient for its price. The 2025 Edge introduces significant upgrades to the cameras, design, and waterproofing, yet it still lags behind in areas such as software updates, SoC performance, and some display specifications.
Pros:
– Sleek and lightweight
– Substantially improved cameras
– Integrated AI capabilities and Moto AI key
– IP68/IP69 certification
– Outstanding battery life with rapid 68W charging
Cons:
– Limited to two years of software updates
– Reduced screen refresh rate
– Processor doesn’t justify the price
The Pixel 9a at $499 stands out as one of the finest phones available in the U.S., making it a challenging competitor. It may lack the ultra-fast charging and high peak brightness of the Edge 2025, but compensates with a more compact design, seven years of updates, and impressive AI features.
Pros:
– Excellent battery performance
– Vibrant and bright 6.3-inch display
– Minimal performance drop in Tensor G4 compared to 9 and 9 Pro
– Most of the beloved Gemini AI capabilities
– Seven years of software updates
– Exceptional macro focus photos
Cons:
– Limited on-device AI functionality
– Slightly reduced low-light photography performance
– Slower charging speed
Motorola’s Edge series is intended to represent the company’s flagship lineup, but has been losing its prominence (pun intended) in recent generations, particularly in North America. The Edge 2025 was launched in May with enhancements to the camera, battery, processor, and display. It also features a dedicated AI Key, akin to what we observed on the Motorola Razr Ultra. The single variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at $550 in the U.S., which initially seems reasonable, but faces significant competition.
The Google Pixel 9a is currently regarded as one of the best budget phones in this segment, directly competing with the Motorola Edge 2025. The Pixel provides excellent AI features, years of software updates, impressive battery life, and a more compact form factor. Choosing between these two devices can be challenging if you’re not well-versed in their specifications, but this comparison between the Motorola Edge 2025 and the Pixel 9a may assist.
Motorola Edge 2025 vs. Google Pixel 9a: Design & Display
The Motorola Edge 2025 adheres to a design aesthetic similar to the overall Moto G series released in 2025. This results in a vegan leather back panel, a four-lens camera cutout, and tapered edges for a slender feel. In the U.S., the Edge 2025 is available in just one color, Deep Forest, and one variant featuring 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The limited color and storage options suggest that Motorola lacks complete confidence in this device.
The Edge 2025 offers a satisfying grip and user experience owing to its vegan leather back. At under 8mm in thickness and weighing only 181g, it is impressively slim. Motorola has improved ingress protection, raising it to an IP69 rating, matching pricier models like the OnePlus 13.
The brightness level of the 6.7-inch pOLED display has been increased to 4,500 nits, while maintaining a solid resolution that equates to a pixel density of around 444 ppi. Scratch resistance has also seen enhancements thanks to Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. However, Motorola has decreased the refresh rate to 120Hz, down from 144Hz seen in the 2024 version. In practical terms, this lower refresh rate isn’t a significant issue as the display performs well in sunlight and is highly responsive for activities like gaming.
The Pixel 9a offers a variety of color options and, like the Edge 2025, utilizes a non-glass back panel, making it less susceptible to damage from drops. Nevertheless, Google has adopted a different design philosophy, featuring flat sides and a subtle rear camera bump. The device is much more compact and easily fits in pockets due to its smaller display.
Speaking of the display, it features a 6.3-inch pOLED screen with comparable pixel density to the Motorola and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The scratch protection is limited to Gorilla Glass 3, which is less robust than what Motorola employs. The peak brightness is also substantially lower at just 1,800 nits. While no major issues were encountered while using the Pixel 9a outdoors, Google still utilizes
