Emir BardakçıAccording to leaked information by Evan Blass, Motorola is gearing up for a new flagship smartphone that can give some serious competition to the forthcoming Xiaomi 17 series. Codenamed “Urus,” the device is likely to arrive as the Motorola Edge 70 Ultra and boasts Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 platform. Of course, the Xiaomi 17 lineup is backed by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; still, Motorola’s clean and near-stock Android experience will make this new model stand out in the premium segment.
Snapdragon 8 Generation 5 From Qualcomm Joins a New Competitor
Qualcomm announced its fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite back in September, which was followed by the non-Elite Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 that arrived on November 26. The non-Elite version of this chip will first appear in the OnePlus Ace 6T launching on December 3. But according to the latest leaks and rumors, Motorola too is using the same Gen 5 chip, which means its new device will be a high-end but non-foldable flagship that will be pitted in the same cycle.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is built on a 3nm process with Qualcomm’s third-generation Oryon CPU architecture. It comes with two prime cores at 3.8GHz and six performance cores at 3.32GHz-a powerful and efficient configuration that puts it close to Elite-tier performance. Therefore, the Motorola Edge 70 Ultra can be thought of as a good competitor to Snapdragon 8 Elite devices like the Xiaomi 17 series for users who prefer a minimal software environment.
Motorola Edge 70 Ultra: Expected Hardware Improvements
Motorola’s lineup currently involves the standard Edge 70 that came out last month. That one uses a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset and packs a 6.7-inch 1220p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, coupled with a 4800mAh battery.
The next version, Edge 70 Ultra, is set to include significant enhancements:
- More powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor
- Imaging system upgraded beyond its triple 50MP camera setup Larger battery capacity and faster charging solutions
Enhanced cooling and performance management
These upgrades will enable Motorola to expand its high-end portfolio and position the Edge 70 Ultra as a strong contender in the performance flagship segment.
A New Competitor for Xiaomi 17 Series Users
While the Xiaomi 17 series has the better chipset in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the utilization of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 by Motorola still keeps the Edge 70 Ultra in close proximity regarding raw performance. This, together with Motorola’s close-to-stock Android interface, could make this new model appealing to those who want a lightweight software experience.
However, Xiaomi still edges them out with superior camera systems, HyperOS optimizations, and broader ecosystem features, from Xiaomi HyperConnect to AI-powered imaging. The competition between the devices will most probably play to the benefit of consumers as both brands keep refining their flagship strategies.
