The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is the budget option in the Edge 40 series, offering a similar experience to its more expensive siblings at a lower price point. It features a 6.55-inch OLED display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ video support, and decent color accuracy. The phone also boasts a stereo speaker setup with Adobe Atmos support, although the speakers could benefit from a bit more bass. The Edge 40 Neo runs on Android 13 with some extra Motorola features, including customization options, gestures, and peak display. It supports Moto's Ready 4, which connects the phone to a TV or monitor for a bigger screen experience. The phone also gets two OS upgrades and three years of security updates. In terms of performance, the Edge 40 Neo uses a mid-tier Mediatek Dimensity 7030 chipset, which delivers solid mid-range numbers in benchmarks. However, the phone's battery life is a weak point, earning an overall endurance rating of 80 hours due to mediocre screen-on time. The camera setup on the Edge 40 Neo features a 50-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens with autofocus. While the cameras produce good photos, they can be contrasty, and colors are muted. The phone also supports 4K video recording, although low-light videos can be a bit gloomy. Overall, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo provides value for money, punching above its weight class and delivering features expected from more expensive models. However, it's not perfect, with some nitpicks and mediocre battery life being the biggest downsides.
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a budget-friendly option in the Edge 40 series, but it still packs many of the same features as its more expensive siblings. One of the standout aspects of this phone's design is its build quality. The Edge 40 Neo has a sleek and sturdy construction that feels premium to hold. The back and front curves into a thin plastic frame, making it easy to grip and maneuver with one hand. The phone's weight is surprisingly light, considering its 6.55-inch OLED display. While not as light as the previous Edge 30 Neo, it still feels balanced and comfortable in your palm. The color options available for the Edge 40 Neo are particularly impressive. Collaborating with Pantone, Motorola has created a range of colors that are both visually appealing and durable. The "Soothing C" model features a vegan leather backing that is not only stylish but also grippy to touch. Alternatively, you can opt for an acrylic back if you prefer. The phone's IP68 rating ensures protection against dust and water ingress, providing peace of mind in case you accidentally drop it in a puddle or sink it into the ocean (though we wouldn't recommend that). While not as flashy as some other smartphones on the market, the Edge 40 Neo's design exudes a sense of understated sophistication. It's clear that Motorola has focused on creating a phone that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. In terms of build quality, the Edge 40 Neo feels like a solid investment. Its sturdy construction and premium materials make it feel more expensive than its price tag would suggest. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option or simply want a reliable phone with great performance, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo's build quality is definitely worth considering.
While the Motorola Edge 40 Neo offers impressive features at an affordable price, its battery life falls short of expectations. Despite having a large 5,000mAh power cell, this phone didn't perform well in screen-on tests, earning an overall endurance rating of 80 hours. This is far behind other mid-range competitors. To make matters worse, the Edge 40 Neo's charging speed is not disappointing, thanks to its included 68W adapter. With it, the phone can be charged from 0 to 82% in just half an hour, and a full charge takes only 51 minutes. However, this doesn't compensate for the phone's poor battery life. In a world where phones are expected to last all day without needing a boost, the Edge 40 Neo's mediocre battery life is a letdown. If you're someone who uses your phone extensively throughout the day, you might find yourself reaching for a charger more often than you'd like. While not deal-breakers, other aspects of the phone, such as its cameras and display, are notable highlights in an otherwise underwhelming experience. However, if battery life is a top priority for you, the Edge 40 Neo might not be the best choice.
The display on the Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a 6.55-inch OLED panel that boasts a fast 144Hz refresh rate and 1080p resolution. The screen's curved edges provide a slightly different experience than a flat screen, which some users may or may not prefer. In terms of color accuracy, the display can be decent depending on your color settings. HDR10+ video support is also available, making for an immersive viewing experience. The brightness levels are impressive, with a maximum of around 520 nits under manual mode and over 1,000 nits in auto mode. However, it's worth noting that the high refresh rate is only available when locked in the settings. If you opt for an adaptive refresh rate, it will dial down to 120Hz to save energy and switch to 60Hz when idling. Audio-wise, the Edge 40 Neo features a stereo speaker setup with Adobe Atmos support. The speakers have good loudness and balanced output, but could benefit from slightly more bass. The under-display fingerprint reader is responsive, although its placement feels slightly off, making it less comfortable to use. Overall, the display on the Motorola Edge 40 Neo offers a solid experience for users who value high refresh rates and HDR video support. While not perfect, it's a decent showing for a mid-range device. With some minor tweaks, it could have rivaled the displays found in more premium devices. Despite its flaws, the Edge 40 Neo's display is an attractive feature that helps to justify its competitive pricing. It's a solid choice for users who want a feature-rich phone without breaking the bank. In terms of competition, phones like the Samsung Galaxy A54 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro have similar displays with their own strengths and weaknesses. However, the Edge 40 Neo holds its own in this regard, making it an appealing option for those seeking a solid display experience at a mid-range price point.
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo's camera system is a mixed bag, offering some impressive features while falling short in others. The primary camera boasts a 50-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 aperture lens, which produces images with plenty of detail and a wide dynamic range. However, the photos often have a contrasty look that makes shadows appear darker than they should be. One of the standout features of the Edge 40 Neo's camera is its ability to capture excellent portraits with subject detection that's almost flawless. The main camera can also apply its night vision processing automatically, producing shots with excellent dynamic range and well-preserved highlights. However, if you disable the night mode, photos taken in low light conditions have more limited dynamic range, especially in shadows. The 13-megapixel ultrawide camera is another strong point of the Edge 40 Neo's camera system. It produces images with a similar overall look to the main camera, complete with good detail and plenty of contrast. The ultrawide also has autofocus, allowing you to use it to shoot close-up subjects and even has a digital zoom added in macro mode. In video mode, both the main camera and ultrawide produce footage with excellent detail and well-controlled noise. However, low light videos from the main camera can be hit-or-miss, with good sharpness and detail but limited dynamic range and blown-out light sources. The 32-megapixel selfie camera is a highlight of the Edge 40 Neo's camera system, producing images with an excellent amount of detail, natural-looking skin tones, and wide dynamic range. The default 8-megapixel output from this camera is more than satisfactory for everyday use. Overall, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo's camera performance is a mixed bag. While it excels in certain areas, such as portrait mode and selfie shots, it falls short in others, like low light video recording. Despite these limitations, the Edge 40 Neo still manages to punch above its weight class, delivering features that are normally reserved for more expensive devices.
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is the latest addition to the company's Edge series, and it's positioned as a budget-friendly option that still packs a punch. Priced lower than its more expensive siblings, this phone offers an impressive array of features that make it an attractive choice for those looking for a reliable mid-range device. One of the standout aspects of the Edge 40 Neo is its price-to-performance ratio. With a starting price point that's significantly lower than other devices in its class, this phone delivers excellent value for money. You get basically the same cameras as the vanilla Edge 40, along with the same charging and a stunning 144Hz OLED display. While it may not be the lightest phone out there, the Edge 40 Neo still feels comfortable to hold and use. The curved design gives it a sleek look, and the vegan leather backing is both grippy and premium-feeling. IP68-rated protection against dust and water adds an extra layer of reassurance, making this phone perfect for those who value durability. In terms of performance, the Edge 40 Neo doesn't disappoint. Powered by Mediatek's mid-tier Dimensity 7030 chipset, it delivers solid mid-range numbers in benchmarks, performing similarly to phones running chips like the Dimensity 1080. Battery life is a slight letdown, with an overall endurance rating of 80 hours, but fast charging makes up for this to some extent. When considering value, the Edge 40 Neo shines. It may not be perfect, but its feature-packed mid-range design and impressive performance make it hard to ignore. If you're looking for a reliable device that won't break the bank, the Edge 40 Neo is definitely worth considering. Its price point makes it an excellent option for those who want a good phone without sacrificing too much. Overall, this budget-friendly option punches above its weight class and delivers features you'd expect from more expensive devices.
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a mid-range smartphone that punches above its weight class in terms of performance. At the heart of the phone is a new MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chipset, which provides solid mid-range numbers and benchmarks. In our tests, the Edge 40 Neo performed similarly to phones running chips like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, putting it on par with other mid-range competitors. The phone also excelled in graphics tests, giving the Samsung Galaxy A54 a run for its money. Additionally, sustained performance was rather good, with minimal throttling during our prolonged stress test. The battery life, however, is a different story. Despite having a large 5,000mAh power battery, the Edge 40 Neo struggled in screen-on tests and earned an overall endurance rating of 80 hours, which is behind other mid-range competitors. Charging speed was no disappointment, though, with the included 68W adapter quickly topping up the battery. One of the standout features of the Edge 40 Neo is its support for a fast 144Hz refresh rate on its 6.55-inch OLED display. This provides an immersive viewing experience and smooth scrolling. The display itself also boasts HDR10+ video support, although color accuracy can be decent depending on your settings. The phone's performance is further enhanced by its stereo speaker setup with Adobe Atmos support, which produces good loudness and balanced output. However, the speakers could benefit from a bit more bass. Overall, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo delivers solid mid-range performance, making it a great option for those looking for value without sacrificing too much in terms of features.
1. Similar experience to vanilla Edge 40
2. Good cameras with night mode
3. Fast charging support
4. 144Hz OLED display
5. Stereo speakers with Adobe Atmos support
6. Near-stock Android experience
7. Good battery life in gaming tests
8. Good value for money
1. Mediocre battery life
2. Limited dynamic range in photos and videos
3. Occasional focus hunting in low light videos
4. No telephoto lens