The Xiaomi 14 Civi just launched in India last week. We have already compared it to the Vivo V30 Pro and the OnePlus 12R. Earlier today (18th June 2024), the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra was announced in the region. So let’s see how it stacks up in this flagship killer comparison.
1. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Civi: Moto’s Smartphone made out of wood
Vegan leather has been the recent trend in the materials used in smartphones. Both the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and the Xiaomi 14 Civi come with such an option. But while there’s a glass variant as well on the Chinese phone, Motorola is offering a unique wooden back as well. This is real wood that is being used and also gives off a pleasant fragrance.
The two models also offer an aluminum frame on the side. But that’s not all, the Edge 50 Ultra comes with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s new flagship killer doesn’t have an official rating. There are likely some measures in place, but the lack of an IP rating could be to save on cost.
2. Taller display vs brighter display
Moving to the front, we get an OLED screen on both models. However, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra sports a taller 6.7-inch panel compared to the 6.55-inch screen on the Xiaomi 14 Civi. But the latter also has a higher 3,000 nits of peak brightness, which is higher than Motorola’s 2,500 nits peak. But the Edge 50 Ultra swings back with a higher 144Hz refresh rate over the 120Hz on the Xiaomi model. Both devices offer 1.5K resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection (Victus 2 on the Civi), and HDR10+.
3. Similar performance, but Moto charges faster
Regardless of which smartphone you choose, you can expect high-end performance on both. The duo are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC that is a chip made for budget flagships. Under the hood, the Edge 50 Ultra is powered by a 4,500mAh battery pack that supports 125W wired fast charging, 50W wireless fast charging, and 10W reverse charging. The Xiaomi 14 Civi manages to offer a slightly large 4,700mAh battery pack but only offers wired fast charging up to 67W.
4. Camera: It’s a close one
It is hard to definitively state which smartphone has the better camera setup. Both offer an edge in some situations, at least on paper. Motorola is offering a 50-megapixel main sensor (supports Optical Image Stabilization) paired with a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto shooter (3x Optical Zoom), and a 50-megapixel ultra wide angle lens on the rear. The front houses a 50-megapixel selfie camera.
On the Xiaomi 14 Civi, you get three cameras again but the primary and telephoto both are 50-megapixel sensors. The telephoto lens only offers 2x optical zoom and the third camera is a 12-megapixel ultra wide angle lens. This might seem a bit lackluster compared to the Edge 50 Ultra, but the selfie camera has always been a selling point of the Civi series in China. The device houses a dual camera setup with a 32-megapixel wide and another 32-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens on the front.
5. Pricing & Verdict
Pricing is a major factor when buying a smartphone. Both of these models fall into similar categories but have a noticeable difference in pricing. The Xiaomi 14 Civi starts from 39,999 INR in India and the Edge 50 Ultra costs 59,999 INR. But it is worth noting that the Motorola model only comes in a 12GB + 512GB option. Although, Xiaomi’s 12GB + 512GB version also costs 44,999 INR, which is still cheaper.
If you want a refreshing new device with a wooden panel, fast charging, and wireless charging support, the Motorola device is clearly for you. But if you’re on a strict budget and just want the flagship hardware without breaking the bank, Xiaomi’s 14 Civi is a sweet deal, especially with bank discounts. The Edge 50 Ultra can be purchased for as low as 49,999 INR with bank discounts and launch offers, so check it out ASAP!
