Motorola Edge 20 review
The Motorola Edge 20 is a mid-ranger that diverges from its predecessor in both design and features. Unlike the original Moto Edge's curved display, this new model boasts a flat and thin design with aluminum frame and plastic back panel. The triple camera setup, however, still maintains its premium appeal. The phone also features a high-quality 6.7-inch OLED display with 144Hz refresh rate, fast charging capabilities, and Android 11 operating system. With its unique design, advanced display, and feature-rich camera setup, the Motorola Edge 20 is poised to make a statement in the mid-range market.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Edge 20 boasts a mid-range design that differs significantly from its predecessor, the original Moto Edge. Gone is the curved display, replaced by a flat and thin profile that still manages to exude a sense of sleekness. The frosted gray matte finish gives it a subtle yet premium look. One notable aspect of the build quality is the aluminum frame, which provides a sturdy foundation for the phone's plastic back panel. The flat, squared-off edges offer excellent grip, making it easy to hold and maneuver. At 4,000mAh, the battery is relatively compact, but the phone itself is super light and easy to handle. Unfortunately, the camera housing on the rear can be quite wobbly, making it prone to movement when holding the phone at odd angles. This might not be a major concern for most users, but it's worth noting nonetheless. The design of the Edge 20 has an edgy feel to it, with clean lines and minimal ornamentation. It's clear that Motorola aimed for a more premium look without going overboard on unnecessary features or embellishments. The result is a phone that looks and feels like a high-end device, even if it doesn't quite have the same level of craftsmanship as some flagships. While not perfect, the build quality and design of the Motorola Edge 20 are certainly commendable for a mid-range device. It's a great example of how to create a solid, well-rounded smartphone without breaking the bank on unnecessary features or materials. Overall, I'd give the Edge 20's build quality and design a solid 8 out of 10 – it's a great effort that shows Motorola is still committed to creating quality phones, even at more affordable price points.
Battery Life
Battery Life: A Mixed Bag in Motorola Edge 20 The Motorola Edge 20 boasts a relatively small 4,000mAh battery, which is somewhat disappointing considering the mid-range device's expectations. In our testing, it scored an endurance rating of 86 hours, placing it firmly in the "just okay" category for its class. While not exceptional, charging speed was respectable with the bundled 30W adapter, reaching 68% capacity from zero in just half an hour. However, this did little to offset the phone's mediocre battery life. Everyday tasks and gaming were manageable, but extended usage or power-hungry apps took their toll on the battery. In terms of actual performance, the Edge 20 delivered around a day and a half to two days of moderate use before requiring a recharge. This is not terrible by any means, but it's a far cry from what we've come to expect from devices in this price range. Ultimately, while the Motorola Edge 20's battery life may not be its strongest suit, it still manages to get the job done without being overly taxing on users. However, those with heavy power consumption habits or prolonged usage patterns might want to consider alternative options that offer better battery endurance.
Display
The Motorola Edge 20 boasts an impressive display that sets it apart from its mid-range counterparts. The phone's 6.7-inch OLED screen offers a crisp and clear visual experience, with a 1080p resolution that is perfectly suited for everyday use. One of the standout features of the Edge 20's display is its refresh rate. With a whopping 144Hz, it provides an incredibly smooth and responsive experience when interacting with the screen. This level of refresh rate is more commonly seen in gaming phones, making the Edge 20 a great option for those who enjoy mobile gaming. Additionally, the phone's display supports HDR 10+ and 10-bit color, resulting in vibrant and lifelike visuals. The display also features a fast touch sampling rate, which further enhances the overall user experience. In terms of brightness and viewing angles, the Edge 20's display excels. It is capable of producing plenty of lumens, making it easy to use outdoors or in brightly lit environments. When viewed from various angles, the screen remains crystal clear, with minimal distortion or color shift. While some may be disappointed by the lack of a higher resolution (such as QHD), the 1080p display on the Edge 20 is more than sufficient for most users. The phone's screen is also protected by Gorilla Glass, providing an added layer of protection against scratches and other forms of damage. Overall, the Motorola Edge 20's display is a major highlight of the phone. Its fast refresh rate, vibrant colors, and crisp resolution make it a joy to use, even in demanding environments.
Camera
The Motorola Edge 20 boasts an upgraded camera setup compared to its predecessor, with a triple-camera configuration that includes a 108-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel telephoto cam, and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens. The main camera is capable of capturing excellent photos for the class, with plenty of resolved detail, good-looking foliage, and low noise. The dynamic range is also wide but not over-the-top. However, the heavy-handed sharpening in auto mode can be off-putting, especially when compared to the more balanced results achieved by shooting in 108-megapixel mode and downscaling to 12 megapixels. Portraits from the main camera are nice, with good detail and exposure, and subject separation is good if the background isn't too complex. The photos from the 8-megapixel telephoto cam, on the other hand, are upscaled to 12 megapixels by default, resulting in a loss of detail. The ultra-wide lens produces photos that are just alright, with decent distortion correction and high contrast and dynamic range, but mediocre resolved detail and colors. The camera's autofocus feature allows it to shoot macro close-ups at full 16-megapixel resolution, although the detail level is not what you'd expect from this resolution. Low-light shots from the main camera are great, with plenty of detail and low noise, as well as good contrast and likable colors. Night vision mode only available on the main camera provides an even brighter exposure and restores blown highlights, but introduces more noise to some scenes. The telephoto cam is a reliable shooter at night, producing sharp photos with decent amount of detail and lively colors. However, the images are darker and noisier than those from the main camera. The ultra-wide cam's low-light photos are not very usable, being soft and out of focus despite good exposure, nice colors, and low noise. The 32-megapixel quad Bayer front-facing camera takes decent selfies if there's plenty of light, producing sharp and detailed images with accurate colors and good contrast.
Price and Value
The Motorola Edge 20 is a mid-ranger that offers a unique blend of features and design. Priced around $500-$600, the phone presents an interesting value proposition. Compared to its predecessor, the original Moto Edge, the new model has undergone significant changes in terms of design and feature-set. The flat and thin profile of the Edge 20 makes it easy to handle, while the triple camera setup is thick but provides some nice grip. The phone's display is a highlight, featuring a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and a fast 144Hz refresh rate. The touch sampling rate of up to 576Hz ensures an incredibly smooth experience when interacting with the phone. However, the Edge 20 falls short in some areas. Battery life is mediocre for its class, which may be a concern for users who rely on their phone for extended periods. Additionally, the lack of stereo speakers and a headphone jack may be seen as drawbacks by some. Despite these limitations, the Motorola Edge 20 offers great value for its price point. The camera setup, while not perfect, is an upgrade over last year's model, and the display is top-notch. If screen and camera experience are your top priorities, the Edge 20 is worth considering. Ultimately, whether or not the Edge 20 represents good value depends on individual needs and preferences. However, for those who want a solid mid-range phone with a great display and decent cameras, the Motorola Edge 20 is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The Motorola Edge 20's performance is a mixed bag, but generally speaking, it holds its own against other mid-range smartphones. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, built on a 6-nanometer process, which provides solid CPU and GPU performance. In our testing, everyday tasks like browsing and social media ran smoothly, and gaming was also enjoyable without any significant lag. However, when compared to flagship killers that pack top-tier silicon, the Edge 20's performance doesn't quite match up. It's still respectable for a mid-range phone, but you might notice some differences in demanding scenarios or with more complex games. One area where the Edge 20 excels is thermal management. The phone stays relatively cool even during extended gaming sessions, which is a pleasant surprise considering its mid-range price point. Battery life is another story altogether. While it's not terrible, it's merely average for the class, and you might find yourself needing to top up the battery more often than you'd like. If you're heavily invested in gaming or other resource-intensive activities, this might be a concern for you. Camera performance aside (which we'll get to shortly), the Edge 20 is a solid choice for those seeking a dependable mid-range smartphone with good performance. It's not going to blow anyone away, but it gets the job done without breaking a sweat. If you value speed and don't mind sacrificing some premium features, the Edge 20 might be worth considering – especially if you prioritize its excellent display or camera capabilities.
Pros
1. A flagship-grade OLED display with a super fast refresh rate (144Hz) and touch sampling rate (576Hz)
2. The design is edgy and unique, with a flat and thin appearance that fits well in the hand
3. A versatile triple-camera setup with a high-quality 108-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel telephoto camera, and 16-megapixel ultrawide camera
4. Fast charging capabilities for quickly topping up the battery
5. A clean and fast Android UI that provides a seamless user experience
6. The chipset is powerful enough to handle heavy gaming, making it suitable for gamers
Cons
1. No stereo speakers, which may be a disappointment for some users who value good sound quality
2. No headphone jack, which means users will need to rely on wireless earbuds or adapters
3. Mediocre battery life for the class, which may require more frequent recharging
4. Heavy-handed sharpening in auto mode, which can lead to over-processing of photos
5. Loss of detail in telephoto camera shots due to upsampling from 8 megapixels to 12 megapixels
6. Poor performance of ultrawide camera in low light conditions