Apple iPhone 16 vs Motorola Edge 70

Our Verdict: Apple iPhone 16 and Motorola Edge 70 suit different priorities. The Motorola is stronger for display quality, helped by a larger 6.7-inch screen, its P-OLED panel, and a higher-resolution 50MP front camera, while the iPhone is better suited to its Super Retina XDR OLED panel. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. Software may decide it too: the iPhone keeps you in Apple's iOS ecosystem, while the Motorola is the Android choice. Choose the Motorola for display quality; choose the iPhone if simplicity matters more.

The iPhone 16 is the cheaper one to own: around £639 over a typical contract, £39 less than the Edge 5G 70.

Expert Rating
4.2
12 reviews
3.9
11 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.7"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED P-OLED
Resolution
2556 x 1179 1220 x 2712
Pixels Per Inch
461 444
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM7750-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4 nm)
Battery
3,561 mAh 4,800 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm 159.9 x 74 x 6 mm
Weight
170 grams 159 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
£23.50/mo (£20.00 upfront) £14.99/mo (£289.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£484.99 £499.00
Apple iPhone 16 Apple iPhone 16 Motorola Edge 70 Motorola Edge 70
Expert Rating 4.2
12 reviews
3.9
11 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.7"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED P-OLED
Resolution 2556 x 1179 1220 x 2712
Pixels Per Inch 461 444
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM7750-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4 nm)
Battery 3,561 mAh 4,800 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm 159.9 x 74 x 6 mm
Weight 170 grams 159 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts £23.50/mo
£20.00 upfront
£14.99/mo
£289.00 upfront
SIM-free £484.99 £499.00
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16
Apple iPhone 16

24 Months

128GB

Black

Refurbished

1GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£23.50 a month, £20 upfront.

Motorola Edge 70
Motorola Edge 70

24 Months

512GB

Gadget Grey

200GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£14.99 a month, £289 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10 off)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 or Motorola Edge 70 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 16 is cheaper on contract at £639.00 over the life of the deal from £23.50 per month with £20.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 or Motorola Edge 70?

The Motorola Edge 70 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 16's 6.1", the Apple iPhone 16 has the sharper display at 461 pixels per inch versus 444, and the Apple iPhone 16 uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Motorola Edge 70 has a P-OLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 or Motorola Edge 70?

The Apple iPhone 16 features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Motorola Edge 70 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 16 or Motorola Edge 70?

The Apple iPhone 16 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £484.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 and Motorola Edge 70?

The Apple iPhone 16 is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Motorola Edge 70 comes in 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 and Motorola Edge 70 use?

The Apple iPhone 16 is powered by the Apple A18 (3 nm), while the Motorola Edge 70 uses the Qualcomm SM7750-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 16 or Motorola Edge 70?

It's a trade-off: the Motorola Edge 70 is lighter but the Apple iPhone 16 is more compact. It's 11g lighter at 159 grams, though the Apple iPhone 16 is actually the more compact phone at 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm, the Motorola Edge 70 is slimmer at 6mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 or Motorola Edge 70?

The Apple iPhone 16 is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Motorola Edge 70 is rated IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 16 and Motorola Edge 70 run?

The Apple iPhone 16 runs Apple iOS and the Motorola Edge 70 runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.