How does the more affordable Motorola Edge 70 compare to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge?
We’ve compared our hands-on experiences with both the Motorola Edge 70 and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge below, and highlighted the key differences (plus any noteworthy similarities).
Keep reading to see which phone will likely suit you best, and whether either have a chance at making it into our best smartphones or best Android phones guides.
Price and Availability
The Motorola Edge 70 is the more affordable Android here, with a starting price of £699 for the 512GB model. At the time of writing, the Edge 70 is not available to buy in the US.
In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is considerably more expensive and more in line with the iPhone Air. The 256GB handset will set you back £1099 / $1099 while the 512GB is an eye-watering £1199 / $1099.
Design
- Motorola Edge 70 is lighter but the Galaxy S25 Edge is thinner
- Motorola Edge 70 has both IP68 and IP69 ratings, while the S25 Edge makes do with just the former
- Galaxy S25 Edge has Gorilla Glass protection on both the front and back
Before we compare, it’s worth mentioning that both the Motorola Edge 70 and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge feel almost unbelievable in hand. Not only are both impossibly thin but they’re so lightweight that sometimes we’d forget either handset was even in our pocket.
Even so, we should still point out the differences between the two. While the Edge 70 weighs slightly less than the S25 Edge, at 159g compared to 163g, it’s actually 0.19mm thicker. Neither are as thin as the iPhone Air, which measures in at an impressive 5.6mm.
The differences here, of course, are negligible, and we doubt you’ll notice them in everyday use.
As both phones are delightfully thin, you might worry that they’ll be fragile and too delicate to survive every use. Fortunately, both Motorola and Samsung have made sure to equip their handsets correctly.
Firstly, although both have an IP68 rating, the Edge 70 is also equipped with an IP69 rating, which means the phone can withstand exposure to high temperature and pressure water jets. It also benefits from Gorilla Glass 7i on the front which protects the screen from scratches too.
Speaking of screens, the Galaxy S25 Edge is the first smartphone with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 screen protection, which means its front is technically stronger than even the S25 Ultra. Not only that, but Samsung hasn’t left the back of the handset out as it’s fitted with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 too.
Choosing a winner here is difficult, as both undoubtedly boast an impressive design. The S25 Edge takes a slight lead however, purely as it has Gorilla Glass on both its front and back.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Screen
- Both displays are 6.7-inches
- Motorola Edge 70 has a “very nice” screen, but lacks some of the more premium technologies found on expensive counterparts
- The S25 Edge has the same panel as the S25 Plus
We concluded that the Galaxy S25 Edge has “one of the best displays you’ll find in a phone, let alone one this slim”, which instantly puts the Motorola Edge 70 at a disadvantage. Even so, considering its much more affordable price tag the Edge 70 still offers a pretty decent screen.
In fact, the 6.7-inch pOLED display is fitted with a crisp 1.5K resolution, HDR10+ support and a peak brightness of 4500nits too. While it isn’t LPTO-enabled, it does have a 120Hz refresh rate which means animations will look smooth.
In comparison, the S25 Edge’s display is stunning and packed with heaps of premium screen technologies from an LPTO-enabled 120Hz refresh rate, QHD+ resolution and Samsung’s upscaling technology that boosts the quality of any low-res content.
One caveat we found with the S25 Edge is that the screen does draw a lot of power, so you might be tempted to switch to its FHD+ mode instead. That aside, the S25 Edge’s display is really difficult to fault.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Camera
- Motorola Edge 70 is made up of a 50MP main and 50MP ultrawide
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a 200MP main and 12MP ultrawide
- Both handsets are confident snappers, although the S25 Edge does come out on top
At first glance you’d be forgiven for assuming the Edge 70 was equipped with four rear cameras. However, look a bit closer and you’ll see there’s actually just two rear lenses, while the other rings house a flash and the PDAF sensor.
That aside, the Edge 70’s dual 50MP setup is solid and able to confidently capture decent images across different lighting conditions. The main lens, naturally, is the stand-out of the two, as it delivers colourful and vibrant images in well-lit scenarios and copes well in darker environments. What’s more is that the 50MP ultrawide is a solid partner to the main lens, and was equally capable in low-light conditions too.
While we did conclude that the Edge 70 would suit the vast majority of people, we did find ourselves missing a dedicated telephoto lens. Although the Galaxy S25 Edge doesn’t have a telephoto lens, its 200MP main camera can act as a decent substitute.
Despite not being the same 200MP sensor found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is one of the best camera phones of 2025, we still found the S25 Edge’s results looked just as impressive as its pricier alternative – even when zooming. Sure, things start to falter at the 10x mark, but 2-4x looks brilliant.
Otherwise, while the 12MP ultrawide isn’t quite as remarkable as the 200MP, it still generally offers a decent image.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Performance
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- Although the Motorola Edge 70’s chip is more of a mid-ranger, it still performs well in everyday use
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is more powerful but it gets hotter than the Edge 70
Like the rest of the Galaxy S25 series, the S25 Edge runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy which means it has absolutely no trouble in day-to-day use. Everything from scrolling between apps to taking photos is seamless and speedy, without a hint of lag.
However, unlike the S25 Ultra, or even the entry-level Galaxy S25 for that matter, the S25 Edge’s slimline design combined with the mighty chip means it can heat up quite quickly. While this issue is most prevalent when gaming, we’ve also noticed this when dealing with average tasks like scrolling through social media.
In comparison, although the fact the Edge 70 is fitted with the mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 might put you off, we rarely noticed the handset warm up. Even during light gaming sessions, the Edge 70 remained cool to the touch.
While the Edge 70 may not be able to achieve the high benchmark scores of the Galaxy S25 Edge, in real-world use we found it to be as rapid and responsive as you could need in a handset. The biggest issue is that the chipset isn’t quite as mighty and futureproofed as the Snapdragon 8 Elite alternative.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Software
- Moto AI 2.0 vs Galaxy AI
- Motorola Edge 70 is promised four years of OS and six years of security patches
- Galaxy S25 Edge is promised an industry-leading seven years instead
We really like both Samsung and Motorola’s overall Android experience. While the Edge 70 is close to stock Android but with a few Motorola-themed tweaks, including more UI customisation options, Samsung’s OneUI equally feels polished and easy-to-use.
Otherwise, both the Edge 70 and Galaxy S25 Edge are equipped with their respective AI toolkits: Moto AI and Galaxy AI. The S25 Edge may the likes of Now Brief to its line-up, but generally both are arguably pretty similar in their AI offerings with tools such as image generation, audio recording transcriptions and photo retouching.
We would argue that such AI tools, although handy in certain situations, shouldn’t be reason enough to opt for a phone.
Otherwise, Samsung takes the lead with its support promise. While Motorola promises the Edge 70 will see four OS upgrades and six years of security patches, which will take the handset up to Android 20, the S25 Edge is promised seven years of each.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Battery
- Motorola embraces silicon carbon battery technology with the Edge 70
- Motorola Edge 70 has a much larger battery than the S25 Edge
- We struggled to get through the day on a single charge with the S25 Edge
One area where the Motorola Edge 70 is a clear winner is with its battery. Not only is it considerably bigger than the Galaxy S25 Edge’s at 4800mAh, but as it’s a silicon carbon battery cell, it’s more efficient too.
On average, we found the Edge 70 could get through an average day with around three to four hours of screen time without complaint. Plus, with support for 68W charging, you’ll benefit from a full charge in just 50 minutes. There’s also 15W wireless support, for slower but more convenient charging too.
In comparison, the Galaxy S25 Edge lets itself down. With a teeny 3900mAh cell, we struggled to make it to mid-afternoon without needing to top-up the handset. In fact, on one day we saw a day with just two and a half hours of screen time drain the phone from 100% down to 3%.
Don’t expect fast charging either, as the Galaxy S25 Edge only supports up to 25W speeds. That’s even less than the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra, which we weren’t particularly blown away with either.
Winner: Motorola Edge 70
Verdict
Although the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has come out on top throughout this versus, there’s a few things to keep in mind. Not only is the Galaxy S25 Edge considerably more expensive than the Motorola Edge 70, but its battery life is really quite a cause for concern.
Having said that, the Edge 70 is powered by a mid-range chipset, doesn’t offer as many years of support and isn’t quite as polished as the pricier S25 Edge.
Essentially, deciding between the two ultra-thin Androids will boil down to: your budget and needs in a handset. If you don’t want to splurge on your next phone, and are happy with a perfectly capable smartphone that can take a solid picture and even play the odd low-demand game or two, then the Motorola Edge 70 is an easy recommendation.
On the other hand, if you want more power, a better camera setup and seven years of support, and don’t mind spending for the privilege, then the S25 Edge is a good option. Just get in the habit of carrying a charger with you.
