Motorola Edge 40 Pro review
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is a premium smartphone that offers several impressive features. The device boasts a sleek design with curved glass on both the front and back, along with IP68 water and dust resistance. The display is a highlight, featuring a 6.67-inch OLED screen with a 1080p resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth scrolling and swiping. Under the hood, the phone runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, delivering excellent performance and efficiency. The battery life is also impressive, with a rating of 117 hours in endurance tests, making it suitable for heavy users. Fast charging capabilities are provided through a 125W charger, which can fully charge the device in just 23 minutes. The camera setup includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x zoom. While image quality is generally good, there are some issues, such as greenish tinted white balance, over-processed shadows, and lackluster fine details in foliage. Video recording capabilities range from decent to excellent, depending on the resolution and camera used. The phone's software offers a near-stock Android 13 experience with some customizations, including support for modOS Ready 4, which enables desktop-like functionality when connected to a TV or monitor. With three years of OS upgrades and four years of security patches, users can be confident in receiving timely updates. Overall, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro is a strong contender in the premium smartphone market, with its impressive display, fast charging capabilities, and robust performance. However, camera quality falls short of expectations, making it less suitable for those prioritizing photography.
Build Quality and Design
The Moto Edge 40 Pro boasts an impressive build quality that elevates it to the top tier of smartphones. The design is sleeker than ever before, with curved glass both on the front and back of the phone. This curvature creates a seamless visual flow, making the device look like a precision-crafted piece of art. The use of Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and back panels adds an extra layer of protection against scratches and drops. The frosted finish on the rear panel sparkles in the light without picking up fingerprints, creating a unique aesthetic that sets it apart from other flagships. A thin aluminum frame holds everything together, providing a sturdy foundation for the phone's high-end components. This attention to detail is evident throughout the design process, resulting in a phone that feels premium and well-crafted in the hand. The 6.67-inch OLED display is curved and boasts an impressive 1080p resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. The display looks great, with sharp colors, good contrast, and high brightness levels (up to 1050 nits). It's also capable of producing HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision content, further enhancing the viewing experience. The IP68 rating for water and dust resistance is a welcome addition, ensuring that the phone can withstand everyday wear and tear. The under-display fingerprint reader works seamlessly, but its placement could be improved. Overall, the Moto Edge 40 Pro's build quality and design are top-notch, making it a serious contender in the flagship smartphone market.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Motorola Edge 40 Pro is its impressive battery life. With a capacity of 4600mAh, this phone has been optimized to deliver all-day performance and then some. In our tests, the Edge 40 Pro consistently lasted for over 117 hours on a single charge, surpassing even the already impressive endurance rating of last year's Edge 30 Pro. This is thanks in part to the phone's power-efficient design and the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. But what really sets the Edge 40 Pro apart is its support for 125W fast charging. This means that users can go from zero to full battery in just 23 minutes, making it perfect for those with busy lives or who frequently find themselves running low on power. In our tests, we found that the Edge 40 Pro's battery life was consistently excellent, even when pushed to its limits. Whether you're streaming music and videos all day, gaming extensively, or simply using your phone as a reliable companion, this phone is sure to keep up with your demands. With three years of OS upgrades and four years of security patches, the Edge 40 Pro's battery life is not only impressive but also backed by long-term software support. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a premium phone that won't slow down over time.
Display
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro boasts an impressive display that sets a new standard for premium smartphones. This stunning 6.67-inch OLED panel offers a crisp resolution of 1080p, making text and visuals look sharp and vibrant. However, it's the refresh rate that truly takes center stage – a blistering 165Hz, even higher than some previous Moto phones. This high refresh rate ensures seamless swiping and scrolling experiences, making it ideal for gamers and multitaskers alike. While it's worth noting that the display won't dynamically adjust its refresh rate based on usage, the added smoothness is palpable. In terms of brightness, the Edge 40 Pro delivers. With a manual slider offering up to 520 nits, it's more than sufficient for everyday use. In auto mode, this can boost to an impressive 1050 nits – perfect for tackling sunny days. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support ensure that your visual experience is rich in color and contrast. The display also features a fingerprint reader embedded under the screen, which responds promptly when needed. Stereo speakers provide excellent sound quality, with a noticeable emphasis on vocals and mids. Motorola's focus on providing an exceptional display is evident throughout the Edge 40 Pro. This premium feature, paired with a sleek design and impressive performance, makes for an alluring package that may just tempt you to take the plunge. While some might find the price tag steep, the added benefits of this outstanding display make it well worth considering.
Camera
The camera system on the Motorola Edge 40 Pro is an interesting mix of good and bad features. The main 50-megapixel sensor produces decent photos with plenty of detail, high contrast, and saturated colors. However, there are some issues to note. White balance often results in a greenish tint, shadows can be too dark, and the rendition of fine details like foliage is somewhat artificial looking up close. Portraits taken with either the main camera or the 12-megapixel telephoto lens have decent subject separation but lack detail in the subject's features regardless of the zoom level. Two-time zoomed photos from the telephoto lens are just okay, lacking sharpness and appearing heavily processed. The ultrawide camera's performance is also underwhelming, with a heavy emphasis on contrast and plenty of sharpening applied to maintain detail levels. Noise is visible in areas like the skies, and colors can be off sometimes in low-light conditions. The ultrawide lens does have autofocus, which allows for decent macro close-ups through cropping and upscaling from the normal field of view. The Edge 40 Pro's camera system shines in certain situations, though. In good light, photos from the main camera are great, with good color saturation, plenty of detail, and minimal sharpening. The dynamic range is wide, with well-developed shadows and contained highlights. Disabling night mode results in darker shadows and heavy noise reduction, which significantly diminishes detail. The 12-megapixel telephoto lens does a commendable job during night mode processing, delivering high detail levels, good colors, and an excellent dynamic range. The ultrawide camera also produces decent photos when night mode is enabled, with a reasonable level of detail and a wide dynamic range. Selfies taken with the 60-megapixel front-facing camera are excellent, boasting detailed images with pleasant colors and a wide dynamic range. However, white balance can be off in some scenes. Overall, while the Edge 40 Pro's camera system has its strengths, it also falls short of expectations for a flagship device. Despite this, the phone may still be worth considering if cameras aren't your top priority.
Price and Value
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is a premium smartphone that brings some impressive features to the table. With a price tag to match its high-end status, the question remains: does it offer enough value for its cost? One of the standout features of this phone is its 165Hz OLED display, which provides smooth and seamless scrolling experiences. The addition of IP68 waterproofing, telephoto zoom, and 125W fast charging also make it a formidable contender in its class. However, the true test of value lies in how well these features align with the price point. At first glance, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro seems to offer a robust set of specs that justifies its premium pricing. But scratch beneath the surface, and you may find some discrepancies. For instance, while the phone's camera capabilities are decent, they don't quite live up to the standards set by flagship devices in their respective price brackets. Similarly, the battery capacity has taken a hit compared to last year's model, despite the improved endurance rating. In terms of value for money, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro falls somewhere in between. On one hand, it delivers on its promise of seamless performance and fast charging, making it an attractive option for those who prioritize these features. On the other hand, the compromises made in camera quality and battery capacity might make some users question whether this phone truly warrants its price tag. Ultimately, the decision to invest in the Motorola Edge 40 Pro will depend on individual priorities and preferences. If you're willing to overlook some minor trade-offs for a premium set of specs, then this phone might be worth considering. However, if camera quality or battery life are top-of-mind concerns, there may be more suitable alternatives available at lower price points.
Performance
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro boasts an impressive performance profile, thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This powerful processor provides better performance and efficiency compared to its predecessor, along with support for advanced memory technologies like LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. In benchmarks, the Edge 40 Pro performs on par with other top-tier devices, demonstrating exceptional CPU and graphics capabilities. Heavy gaming and multitasking are effortless, making it an ideal choice for those who demand a seamless user experience. One of the standout features of the Edge 40 Pro is its thermal management system, which ensures stable performance even during prolonged stress tests. This means that users can enjoy uninterrupted gaming sessions or productivity without worrying about overheating issues. The battery capacity may have been reduced to 4600mAh compared to last year's model, but the Edge 40 Pro makes up for it with an impressive endurance rating of 117 hours. Furthermore, the phone supports 125W fast charging, which can replenish the battery from zero to full in just 23 minutes. Overall, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro's performance is a major selling point, offering users a hassle-free and efficient mobile experience. Whether you're a gamer, content creator, or simply someone who demands top-notch performance, this phone delivers.
Pros
1. The Motorola Edge 40 Pro boasts a sleek design with curved glass on both the front and back, making it a premium-looking phone.
2. The device features a stunning 6.67-inch OLED display with a 1080p resolution and a whopping 165Hz refresh rate, providing a seamless user experience.
3. The Edge 40 Pro packs a robust Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering top-notch performance and efficiency.
4. The battery life is excellent, lasting up to 117 hours on a single charge, making it perfect for heavy users.
5. The phone supports fast charging at up to 125 watts, which can charge the device from zero to full in just 23 minutes.
Cons
1. The camera quality is a letdown, with some aspects not living up to the flagship price tag. Photos taken with the main cam and ultrawide lens often have greenish tinted white balance, and shadows can be too dark.
2. Regular two-time zoomed photos from the telephoto cam are just okay, lacking sharpness and detail.
3. The ultrawide camera's photos also have noise visible in areas like the skies, and the contrast is dialed pretty high.
4. Selfies taken with the 60-megapixel front-facing cam come out at a lower resolution of 15 megapixels due to pixel binning.
5. While the video recording capabilities are decent, the main cam's 8K clips have some noise and muddy detail in low light conditions.