Motorola Edge 30 Neo review
The Motorola Edge 30 Neo is the most affordable and compact member of the new Moto Edge 30 series. This mid-ranger boasts a snazzy design, super fast charging, and a bright 120Hz OLED display on the front. The phone's lightweight body (just 155 grams) makes it easy to wield, and its unique purple hue is a nice touch. The Edge 30 Neo features a dual-tone accent on the camera bump and a frosted coating on the back panel for added grip. Another notable feature is the LED ring around the camera island, which acts as a notification light and charging indicator. The phone also has ingress protection against dust and water splashes. Under the hood, the Edge 30 Neo packs a Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, which while not flagship-grade, provides solid performance for a mid-ranger. The battery life is impressive, with an endurance rating of 104 hours in our tests. Fast charging is also a highlight, with the bundled 68W charger capable of reaching 92% charge in just half an hour. The camera setup includes a 64MP main cam with OIS and a 13MP ultra-wide cam with autofocus. Image quality is generally good, with sharpness and fine detail on par with other mid-rangers. However, the lack of HDR support and limited night mode capabilities hold it back. The ultra-wide cam struggles in low-light conditions, but performs decently during the day. Overall, the Motorola Edge 30 Neo offers a great compact form factor, attractive design, and solid features like fast charging and stereo speakers. While its chipset lags behind competitors, the phone's value proposition makes it worth recommending for those seeking a compact smartphone.
Build Quality and Design
The Moto Edge 30 Neo is the most affordable and compact member of the new Moto Edge 30 series. Compact mid-rangers are a rare breed, making this phone stand out in its segment. Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the Edge 30 Neo has some impressive features to offer. From a design standpoint, the phone's build quality is quite commendable. The device feels super lightweight and easy to wield, weighing in at just 155 grams. The plastic material used for the construction is impressive, offering a premium feel without breaking the bank. A dual-tone accent on the camera bump adds visual interest, while the frosted coating on the back panel provides some much-needed grip. One of the most eye-catching aspects of the Edge 30 Neo's design is its unique purple hue, dubbed "Very Peri" by Pantone. This color scheme has been officially recognized as Pantone's 2022 Color of the Year, making the phone stand out in a crowded market. The inclusion of a small plaque on the back proudly proclaiming Motorola's partnership with Pantone adds an extra touch of personality to this otherwise understated design. Another notable feature is the LED ring surrounding the camera island, which serves as both a notification light and charging indicator. This thoughtful detail demonstrates Motorola's attention to detail and commitment to delivering a well-rounded user experience. Overall, the Moto Edge 30 Neo's build quality and design are major strengths in its segment. The phone's compact form factor, attractive design language, and thoughtful details make it an appealing option for those seeking a high-quality mid-ranger. While there may be some compromises to be made elsewhere, the Edge 30 Neo's build and design ensure that this phone is firmly on the radar of any potential buyer in search of a reliable and feature-packed compact smartphone.
Battery Life
In our testing, the Moto Edge 30 Neo's battery life proved to be a pleasant surprise. Despite its compact size, the phone managed an impressive endurance rating of 104 hours in our proprietary tests. This is a testament to the phone's efficient hardware and software. One of the standout features of the Edge 30 Neo's battery performance is its charging speed. With the bundled 68W fast charger, the phone can charge from 0 to 92 percent in just half an hour. This rapid refueling capability makes it ideal for users who need a quick top-up throughout the day. Furthermore, the phone also supports wireless charging, which adds another layer of convenience to its battery life experience. In terms of actual usage, our review unit easily lasted a full day with moderate use, including browsing, social media, and some gaming. Even heavy users may find that they can get through a busy day without needing to recharge. While the phone's battery life is certainly impressive, it's worth noting that the Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, while solid for a mid-ranger, may not be as power-efficient as some of its competitors. Nevertheless, the Edge 30 Neo's battery performance remains one of its strongest selling points, making it an attractive option for anyone seeking a compact phone with reliable battery life.
Display
The Motorola Edge 30 Neo boasts a 6.28-inch OLED display with a 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. This combination delivers a snappy and smooth user experience, making it ideal for daily use. The fast refresh rate also ensures that the interface feels responsive and fluid when swiping through menus or scrolling through content. One of the standout features of this display is its max brightness, which we measured at an impressive 490 nits with the manual slider. This can boost to a maximum of 1000 nits in auto mode when exposed to direct sunlight. The panel itself is contrasty and sharp, with great color accuracy that brings out vibrant hues. The only drawback to this display is its lack of HDR support. However, given its price point, this omission is not surprising. Still, the Edge 30 Neo's display holds its own against more expensive devices, making it a compelling option for those seeking a compact phone with a high-quality screen. In our tests, we found the display to be quite responsive and efficient, even when pushed to its limits. The LED ring around the camera island doubles as a notification light and charging indicator, adding a touch of flair to the overall design. Overall, the Motorola Edge 30 Neo's display is a strong selling point for this device. Its combination of fast refresh rate, high brightness, and great color accuracy make it an excellent choice for those who value a premium viewing experience in their smartphone. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive devices, the Edge 30 Neo's display more than holds its own against its peers.
Camera
The camera setup on the Motorola Edge 30 Neo is a dual-camera arrangement consisting of a 64-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. The main camera delivers consistently good photos, with great sharpness and plenty of fine detail. Colors are punchy, and the dynamic range is pretty good, making for nice and contrasty portrait shots when there's enough light. The 64-megapixel primary sensor performs well in bright conditions, capturing detailed images with a high level of resolution. However, its performance drops significantly in low-light conditions, where the lack of HDR (High Dynamic Range) support becomes noticeable. Despite this, the camera still manages to produce decent results, but with less fine detail and often darker shadows. Night mode is available on the main camera, but it produces mixed results. While the photos are well-exposed and have good color saturation, zooming in reveals a lack of fine detail, and shadows can be quite dark. However, turning night mode on improves sharpness and rendition of fine detail, but at the cost of unnatural colors and washed-out tones. The ultra-wide-angle camera has its strengths and weaknesses. While it produces colorful images with nice exposure when viewed on the phone's screen, any magnification reveals a soft image with smeared fine detail. This camera struggles to deliver usable photos in low-light conditions, producing images that are colorful but lacking in sharpness and detail. Selfies from the 32-megapixel front-facing camera come out at 8 megapixels and are colorful with decent sharpness and dynamic range. However, they lack a significant amount of fine detail. Overall, the Motorola Edge 30 Neo's camera performance is average for its price segment. While it has some nice features, such as a high-resolution primary sensor and an ultra-wide-angle camera with autofocus, its limitations in low-light conditions and lack of HDR support hold it back from delivering truly exceptional results.
Price and Value
The Moto Edge 30 Neo is the most affordable and compact option in the new Moto Edge 30 series. As a mid-ranger, it's not surprising that this phone doesn't pack all the bells and whistles of its more expensive siblings. However, it still manages to deliver some impressive features for its price. At just $400, the Edge 30 Neo is an excellent value proposition. Its compact size, weighing in at 155 grams, makes it easy to handle and wield. The dual-tone accent on the camera bump and frosted coating on the back panel add a touch of elegance to this otherwise plastic phone. One of the standout features of the Edge 30 Neo is its bright OLED display. With a 6.28-inch screen and 120Hz refresh rate, it's smooth and snappy when swiping through menus or scrolling through web pages. The display also achieves impressive brightness levels, peaking at 490 nits with manual slider mode. While it may not be the most powerful phone in its class, the Edge 30 Neo still manages to deliver decent performance for everyday use. Its battery life is also commendable, with an endurance rating of 104 hours. In terms of value, the Moto Edge 30 Neo is an excellent choice for those looking for a compact mid-ranger on a budget. While it may not have all the features of its more expensive counterparts, it still manages to deliver in key areas like display quality and battery life. Overall, we'd highly recommend the Edge 30 Neo to anyone looking for a reliable and feature-packed phone without breaking the bank.
Performance
The Moto Edge 30 Neo is a compact mid-ranger that punches above its weight in terms of performance. Despite being the most affordable and compact member of the Edge 30 series, this phone still manages to deliver some impressive features. Under the hood, you'll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, which may not be flagship-grade but is solid enough for a mid-ranger. The processor handles everyday tasks with ease, and the 4,000mAh battery life is also commendable. In our tests, the Edge 30 Neo achieved an endurance rating of 104 hours, which is impressive considering its compact size. One area where the Edge 30 Neo truly shines is in its charging speed. With the bundled 68W fast charger, this phone can charge from 0 to 92% in just half an hour. Additionally, you get support for wireless charging, making it a convenient option for users who value ease of use. However, it's worth noting that the Edge 30 Neo's chipset is not the most powerful in its price range. As such, it may struggle with demanding tasks and might not be able to keep up with flagship devices. Despite this, the Moto Edge 30 Neo remains a great option for those seeking a compact phone with a balance of performance and affordability. Overall, the Moto Edge 30 Neo's performance is respectable considering its price point and compact form factor. While it may not be the most powerful device out there, it still manages to deliver smooth performance and long battery life, making it a great value-packed mid-ranger for those who prioritize practicality over raw power.
Pros
1. A compact and lightweight design, weighing just 155 grams
2. Super fast charging with a bundled 68W fast charger, reaching 0-92% in half an hour
3. Bright and sharp OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, achieving 490 nits of maximum brightness
4. Stereo speakers with good overall loudness and decent quality
5. Decent battery life, earning an endurance rating of 104 hours
6. Dust and water ingress protection (IP68)
7. Dual-tone accent on the camera bump and a frosted coating on the back panel for extra grip
8. Support for wireless charging
Cons
1. The Snapdragon 695 5G chipset is not flagship-grade, underwhelming in comparison to competitors
2. Limited camera capabilities, particularly with night mode processing speed and lack of 4K video recording
3. No HDR support on the display
4. Ultra-wide camera struggles to deliver usable photos at night, and has no night mode available
5. Selfies from the front-facing cam have limited fine detail
6. Video recording limited to 1080p due to chipset constraints