Hey, Let‘s Compare the Motorola Edge vs Galaxy Fold Phones

I‘m sure you have been hearing a lot about foldable phones lately, especially the Galaxy Fold which kickstarted this exciting new trend of phones that transform into tablets. Now, Samsung wasn‘t first the company to conceptualize a foldable phone. But they were the first brand to make it commercially available to everyday users like you and me!

Meanwhile, Lenovo-owned Motorola took a more conservative approach, focusing on refining features of traditional candybar-style smartphones. The result were phones like the Motorola Edge – with the aim of packing innovations into an affordable phone.

Now you might be wondering, which one is better? Should you jump on the futuristic foldable bandwagon with the Galaxy Fold? Or is the Motorola Edge the smarter buy? Well, let me try and break it down for you!

First, let‘s quickly see how some of the main specs compare, shall we?

It‘s quite evident that the Galaxy Fold easily wins on specs due to it being a super premium phone. But let‘s delve deeper into the real world implications of these numbers to gauge how each device actually performs.

Flaunt-worthy Foldable Design vs Svelte Candybar Form

As someone who likes attention from owning flashy gadgets, I‘d be lying if I said I didn‘t find the Galaxy Fold‘s foldable design attractive! The engineering is just mind-blowing. But is it practical, you ask? Well…yes and no.

Unfolded, the Galaxy Fold offers a positively immersive 7.3" display real estate – ideal for movies on my next flight, video calls with my long-distance girlfriend or running multiple apps simultaneously. However in the folded state, usability does take a hit thanks to the tall 4.6" cover display with big bezels. Typing quickly with both hands feels kinda cramped.

I also fear that ultra thin folding glass screen getting scratched inside my jeans pocket or backpack. And not having any dust and water protection is a bummer when I inevitably – okay, frequently – spill coffee on my phones.

This is where the Motorola Edge shines for me. It retains the classic candybar silhouette that just fits better in pockets. One hand usage is easier too thanks to a shorter 20:9 aspect ratio. The aluminum and plastic built body keeps weight down substantially without feeling cheap. Unlike the complicated Galaxy Fold hinge, there is also minimal risk of mechanical failures down the road. Oh and IP52 rating puts my mind at ease!

Verdict: The Galaxy Fold wins this round with its pathbreaking foldable tablet-phone hybrid design and killer visual appeal. But I wish it offered better durability considering the price I‘m paying.

Brilliant OLED Displays Perfect for Binge-watching

A phone‘s display is where I spend most of my time, whether it is reading, creating spreadsheets or just watching YouTube videos during lunch break.

So how good are the screens on the Motorola Edge and Galaxy Fold? Well, both leverage OLED technology nicely to enable inky blacks and vivid image quality. The Edge boasts an extremely fluid 144Hz refresh rate that makes interactions and scrolling silky smooth – easily the best I‘ve ever used. Its 2400 x 1080 FHD+ resolution is plenty sharp too on the 6.7" diagonal.

But the Galaxy Fold is no slouch either. That wide 7.3" unfolded Dynamic AMOLED screen combined with 1768 x 2208 resolution means digital content looks marvelously immersive and true-to-life. Little details in videos really pop out, especially with HDR10+ support. Just be aware of the visible crease down the middle when opened fully. It can get slightly distracting.

Interestingly, Motorola Edge has around 6.35% higher pixel density at roughly 385 ppi vs 362 ppi on Galaxy Fold. So technically, you get a sharper picture on the Edge when watching stuff full screen.

Either way, I believe both phones will keep you captivated for hours thanks to their rich, colorful OLED panels and silky refresh rates exceeding 60Hz.

Verdict: Very hard to pick a winner here! The Galaxy Fold offers a more cinematic viewing with its tablet-sized folded screen. But Motorola Edge isn‘t far behind for everyday usage and packs higher pixel density. I guess this one‘s a tie!

Shoot Stunning Photos Under the Sun…Not So Much After Dark

Now I know a phone‘s camera capabilities are make-or-break for many people these days. After all, memories of good food, breathtaking vacations and fun moments with friends happen through photos.

So how do the triple camera setup on the Motorola Edge and quad camera system on Samsung Galaxy Fold compare for photography?

Well, in daytime and under plenty of light, both capture highly detailed shots with excellent dynamic range. The dedicated depth and macro lenses allow you to really get creative with portraits and extreme closeups respectively.

However, low light photos is where you notice the difference between an average mid-range camera system like on the Edge versus a top-tier flagship shooter like on the Fold. Nighttime cityscapes and dimly-lit restaurant shots end up looking disappointingly dark, grainy and lacking vividness with the former compared to the latter which leverages a larger sensor, OIS and multi-frame processing to deliver brighter and sharper images after sundown.

Selfies wise too, the dual front cameras on the Galaxy Fold capture more flattering pictures compared to what the Motorola Edge can muster. Beauty mode helps reduce imperfections and smoothing out my skin.

So all in all, while the Motorola Edge allows you to take great shareworthy photos when the sun‘s out, I‘d only whip out my Galaxy Fold to snap memorable moments in any lighting scenario.

Verdict: If photography prowess is vital to you, the Galaxy Fold is the undisputed winner with its versatile quad cameras, superior low light abilities and flattering selfie snappers.

All Day Battery + Convenient Charging on Motorola Edge

I don‘t know about you, but after owning numerous phones that couldn‘t last a full day without triggering anxiety-inducing low battery warnings by 6 PM, I have battery life fatigue!

Thankfully, Motorola delivers excellently here with the Edge. That 5000mAh battery keeps going and going for 1.5-2 days depending on your usage. I easily get 8+ hours of screen-on time even with heavy usage. And the 30W wired fast charging juices up from 0 to about 50% in just 30 minutes – perfect for a quick top-up during lunch break.

There is also the convenience of wireless charging which I use overnight. Turning the phone into a wireless charging pad via 5W reverse charging is clever too. I often use this nifty feature to charge my smartwatch or earbuds while traveling. However, you gotta keep an eye since battery drain is substantial in this mode.

The Galaxy Fold with its dual battery adding up to 4380mAh performs admirably too – lasting over a day of careful use. However, the smaller individual capacities do mean charging times are a bit slower at 50% in 40 minutes. Reverse charging is handy nonetheless.

Verdict: With a ginormous cell that delivers fantastic longevity and quick charging, the Motorola Edge is my battery life savior on busy days!

Lean and Mean Software with Promising Updates

Time for talking about software – arguably more important than hardware these days thanks to advanced features enabled by machine learning and robust app ecosystems.

I‘m quite happy that Motorola doesn‘t tamper with stock Android too much. I get a clean, bloatware-free experience. Nifty touches like twisting motions to launch camera or chop chop for flashlight improve one-handed use. I‘m also stoked that Motorola now promises 3 years of Android OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches with the Edge. This is huge because previously update support was poor.

Samsung‘s OneUI custom skin on top of Android takes more getting used to. But offers personalization and optimizations exclusive to Galaxy phones not found in stock Android. For example, App Continuity is genius for transitioning apps seamlessly between the front and inner screens on the Fold. One handed mode, secure folder, Bixby Routines and more prove very handy in my experience too.

Unfortunately though, Samsung only guarantees 2 OS updates and 3 years of patches for the Fold series. Not enough if you ask me considering how expensive these phones are.

Verdict: Love Motorola‘s clean software and newly improved updates policy. Samsung offers more features but really needs to step it up upgrade support wise.

Pretty Capable Processors Power Smooth Performance

Now I don‘t game much or edit 8K videos on my phone (that‘s what my snazzy laptop is for, duh!). But I still want a brisk interface when hopping between apps and scrolling feeds. How do the brains behind the Edge and Fold measure up?

Well, on benchmarks, the MediaTek Dimensity 1050 chip inside Motorola Edge and Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip inside Galaxy Fold trade blows quite evenly. But thanks to crazy 12GB RAM onboard, the Fold does pull ahead when juggling between many apps simultaneously – vital for that large tablet display.

Storage won‘t be an issue with generous 256GB internally on Edge and 512GB on Fold. Lack of a microSD slot on the latter is mildly annoying though. I can live with it, but some may miss having expandable memory.

All in all, both deliver smooth software experiences majority of the time. But Galaxy Fold can handle more strenuous loads better to leverage that snazzy folding screen real estate for smartphone-class multitasking.

Verdict: For everyday usage, Dimensity 1050 gets the job done well on Edge. But future-proof power users who intend to push their phones will benefit from Snapdragon 855 plus enormous 12GB RAM on Fold.

And The Best Phone Is…

At the end of this detailed comparison focusing real-world usage across various parameters, I think the Motorola Edge makes most sense for average consumers wanting a reliable phone with great display, good cameras and robust battery life – all for under $500. Performance is snappy, software clean and updates are now a priority for Motorola.

However, early adopters who demand excellence in power, performance, photography and screen real estate will find the Samsung Galaxy Fold – despite being a first gen product – worth the investment because of its engineering marvel status and versatility. Sure, the nearly $2000 price stings. But you get unmatched tablet-sized multitasking, versatile cameras and bleeding edge novelty no other phone provides. And flaws regarding durability and ergonomics are expected to improve in successors.

So which phone would you pick? Let me know in the comments! I sincerely hope this comparison of the Motorola Edge vs Galaxy Fold phones has clarified their capabilities so you can determine which one meets your needs and budget better.