Motorola Edge 50 review
The Motorola Edge 50 is a mid-range device that sits below the Edge Pro and Ultra models in terms of specs. It's more premium than the Fusion and Neo variants, with a snazzy vegan leather design, known as suede on this model. The phone features a curved 6.7-inch OLED display with a 1220p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. In terms of performance, the Edge 50 is powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 AE chipset, which provides an adequate user experience but lags behind competitors in the same price range. The phone has a 5000mAh battery, which charges quickly via 68W fast charging, but disappoints with a moderate 9 hours and 56 minutes of active use time. The camera setup is similar to the Edge Neo, with a 50MP main cam, 10MP telephoto cam, and 13MP ultra-wide cam. Image quality is decent in daylight conditions, but struggles in low light. The phone also features stereo speakers, an under-display fingerprint reader, and a near-stock Android experience with custom Motorola features. Overall, the Edge 50 is a solid mid-range device with a durable design and reliable cameras. However, its performance and battery life fall short of expectations, making it tough to recommend over competitors with more powerful chipsets and better battery life.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Edge 50 boasts a mid-range device that doesn't skimp on premium features. The phone's build quality is impressive, with a snazzy vegan leather design that Moto calls "suede." This textured finish is smooth to the touch and wraps around the camera bump, creating a seamless look. The back and front of the phone curve into a thin aluminum frame, making it feel lightweight and sturdy. One notable aspect of the Edge 50's build quality is its exceptional durability. With an IP68 rating against water and dust, as well as military-grade resistance to extreme temperatures and drops from up to 1.5 meters, this phone can withstand the rigors of daily use. The attention to detail in design is also evident in the curved 6.7-inch OLED display, which provides a immersive viewing experience. The Edge 50's design language is sleek and modern, making it a stylish addition to any smartphone collection. The vegan leather finish adds a touch of sophistication, while the aluminum frame provides a solid foundation for the phone's components. Overall, the build quality and design of the Motorola Edge 50 are impressive, making it a compelling option for those seeking a premium mid-range device. In terms of aesthetics, the koala gray colorway is particularly striking, but other colors are also available. The phone's design is cohesive and well-executed, with no visible seams or gaps. While some may prefer more flashy designs, the Edge 50's understated approach will appeal to those who value substance over style. Overall, the Motorola Edge 50's build quality and design make it a solid choice for anyone seeking a reliable and feature-packed mid-range device.
Battery Life
While the Moto Edge 50 impresses with its durable design, sleek aesthetics, and dependable cameras, one aspect that falls short is its battery life. Unfortunately, our tests revealed that the phone's energy efficiency is not up to par. With an active use score of 9 hours and 56 minutes, the Moto Edge 50 lags behind other mid-range devices in terms of battery life. This is particularly concerning considering the phone's large 5,000mAh battery. In contrast, its predecessor, the Moto Edge 50 Neo, performed significantly better with a more efficient energy consumption. The lackluster battery life is further compounded by the fact that the phone supports fast charging at up to 68W. While this allows for quick top-ups, it's not enough to offset the shortcomings in power management. Charging from 0-77% took just half an hour, but a full charge was reached in 45 minutes - still, not impressive considering the device's size. Wireless charging is also supported, which might be a consolation for some users. However, this feature alone cannot redeem the phone's subpar battery life. Overall, our testing suggests that those who rely heavily on their phone throughout the day may need to consider alternative options, even if they're willing to compromise on other features. The Moto Edge 50 is an otherwise solid device, but its battery life needs significant improvement to make it a truly standout mid-ranger in this market.
Display
The display on the Motorola Edge 50 is a highlight of the device. A curved 6.7-inch OLED screen boasts a 1220p resolution and is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The refresh rate is a smooth 120Hz, making it ideal for gaming and scrolling through content. However, unlike some other models in the series, the Edge 50 does not have LTPo (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology, which means that the display can only dial down to 60Hz when idling. In terms of brightness, the screen is capable of producing a maximum of around 550 nits with a manual slider. However, in auto mode, it can boost up to over 1,400 nits, making it suitable for comfortable outdoor use. The display also supports HDR10+ video, ensuring that colors and contrast are accurate. The resolution of 446 PPI is plenty sharp, and the screen's curvature provides a visually appealing experience. While some may find the lack of LTPo technology to be a drawback, the Edge 50's display still manages to deliver a good overall performance. The OLED panel ensures vibrant colors and deep blacks, making it suitable for both gaming and media consumption. Overall, the display on the Motorola Edge 50 is a significant improvement over some other models in the series. While it may not be the most cutting-edge screen available, its smooth refresh rate, high brightness, and HDR10+ support make it an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable mid-range device.
Camera
The Motorola Edge 50's camera setup is impressive, featuring a 50MP main camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera with autofocus. While the camera hardware is identical to that of the Edge 50 Neo, it appears that the processing on the Edge 50 has been improved. During the day, the main camera takes excellent photos with good detail and sharpness, wide dynamic range, and natural-looking colors. Shots of people look particularly solid, with plenty of detail and well-balanced exposure. In low light, the system automatically applies night mode, resulting in plenty of detail, acceptable sharpness, and minimal noise. The 3x telephoto lens produces decent daylight photos that match the main camera's processing in terms of colors, contrast, and dynamic range. However, at night, the zoomed shots are clean with a balanced exposure, but slightly less sharp and detailed than those taken by the main camera. One notable area where the Edge 50 excels is in its ultra-wide-angle camera, which produces decent images despite being less sharp and having limited dynamic range. The colors are also less saturated, but it's still a respectable effort for an ultra-wide camera at this price point. Notably, this camera has autofocus, making it possible to take close-up macro shots with it. The 32MP front-facing camera takes nice selfies with plenty of detail, wide dynamic range, and decent sharpness. While the colors could be more lively, these selfies are still a strong feature of the Edge 50. When it comes to video recording, all cameras on the Edge 50 can shoot in 4K at 30 FPS. The main camera produces likable clips with nice colors and good dynamic range. However, there's room for improvement when it comes to sharpness, while three times zoomed videos are slightly brighter but less lively, with softer footage. Videos from the ultra-wide-angle camera are noticeably softer, with narrower dynamic range, but still have good colors and contrast. Electronic stabilization is always on, which helps in low light, producing clean and sharp enough footage. Overall, the Motorola Edge 50's cameras deliver dependable results across various scenarios, making them a strong feature of this mid-range device. However, it's worth considering that competitors may offer more powerful chipsets or better battery life, so the Edge 50 may not be the only option for those seeking an upgrade in these areas.
Price and Value
The Moto Edge 50 is a mid-range device that finds itself in a crowded market with many competitors vying for attention. Priced around the same bracket as its predecessors, the Edge 50's value proposition needs to be carefully examined. On one hand, the phone's design is undeniably sleek and premium, with a vegan leather back panel that adds a touch of sophistication. The IP68 rating against water and dust, along with military-grade resistance to extreme temperatures and drops, makes it a durable companion for those who value ruggedness. The 6.7-inch curved OLED display is a highlight, offering vibrant colors and decent brightness. However, the performance aspect of the phone falls short of expectations. Powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (AE), the Edge 50's performance is merely adequate, struggling to keep up with its peers in terms of sheer power. This, coupled with an underwhelming battery life score of 9 hours and 56 minutes in active use, makes it difficult to justify the price tag. Camera-wise, the phone's quad-camera setup delivers decent results, but not spectacular ones. The main camera excels in bright conditions, but struggles in low-light situations. While the ultra-wide camera produces decent images, its dynamic range is limited, and the colors are less saturated. Ultimately, the Moto Edge 50 feels like a product that fails to stand out from the crowd. It's not significantly cheaper than other mid-range offerings with superior specs, nor does it offer enough value to make up for its shortcomings. Unless you're particularly drawn to Motorola's software experience or have specific needs that align with this phone's strengths, there are better options available in this price range. The Moto Edge 50 is an average device that fails to justify its premium pricing. While it has some redeeming qualities, such as a sleek design and decent cameras, its performance and battery life leave much to be desired. Those looking for a reliable mid-range phone may want to explore other options before committing to this one.
Performance
The Motorola Edge 50's performance is adequate for a mid-range device but falls short in comparison to its competitors. The phone is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (AE) processor, which is essentially a faster version of the standard Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. While it handles everyday tasks and basic gaming with ease, it's not enough to make it stand out in its price range. In benchmarks, the performance is unremarkable, but not entirely disappointing either. It's capable of providing a mostly smooth user experience, but demanding apps and games might encounter some lag or stuttering. The phone's 5,000mAh battery life, although larger than that of the Edge 50 Neo, was underwhelming in our tests, with an active use score of just 9 hours and 56 minutes. The charging speeds are somewhat redeeming, as the Edge 50 supports 68W fast charging and can charge from 0 to 77% in just half an hour. However, it's worth noting that a charger is not included in the box with a proper adapter. The phone also supports wireless charging, which is convenient but doesn't make up for its subpar performance. In conclusion, while the Edge 50's performance is serviceable, it's not impressive enough to justify recommending it over other mid-range devices with more powerful processors and better battery life. Those looking for a reliable daily driver might find the Edge 50 adequate, but others may want to consider alternatives that offer more substantial upgrades in this department.
Pros
1. The Moto Edge 50 has a durable and sleek design with vegan leather that's smooth to the touch
2. The phone features a curved 6.7-inch OLED display with a 1220p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support
3. The device has stereo speakers with good loudness and sound quality, making it suitable for watching videos or listening to music
4. The Moto Edge 50 comes with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging (although no charger is included in the box)
5. The camera system on the Moto Edge 50 is reliable and produces good-quality photos during the day and at night
6. The phone runs on near-stock Android experience with some custom Motorola features and promises timely software updates
Cons
1. The Moto Edge 50's performance is nothing to write home about, especially when compared to competitors in the same price range
2. Battery life is a letdown, with an active use score of only 9 hours and 56 minutes
3. There's no microSD card slot for expandable storage, which might be a drawback for some users