Motorola Edge 50 Fusion review
The Moto Edge 50 Fusion is a mid-range smartphone that deviates from its premium siblings in terms of features and price. It boasts a high refresh rate display, nice speakers, and a clean software experience, all while being positioned as a more affordable option. The phone's design is curved with a vegan leather back, adding grip and texture to the device. It also has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The 6.7-inch OLED display features a 1080p resolution and a high 144Hz refresh rate, making it smooth for swiping and scrolling. The Edge 50 Fusion is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, which provides enough power for a smooth user experience and light gaming. It has a large 5,000mAh battery capacity with respectable battery life, but no support for wireless charging or super-fast charging. The camera setup includes a 50MP main camera with dual pixel autofocus and OIS, as well as a 13MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus. The main camera takes solid photos with plenty of detail, while the ultra-wide camera produces decent results in good light conditions but struggles in low-light situations. Overall, the Moto Edge 50 Fusion is a unique and solid choice for the mid-range class, offering attractive features such as a high refresh rate display, great speakers, and solid cameras. While it may not be perfect, it's definitely worth considering for those looking for an affordable smartphone with impressive specs.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a unique offering in the mid-range segment, with its sleek design and premium features. The first thing that catches the eye is the phone's build quality, which feels solid and sturdy in hand. The vegan leather back panel provides a soft texture and adds some extra grip to the device. The phone's curves are seamlessly integrated into the bump that houses the cameras, giving it a smooth and streamlined look. The IP68 rating ensures that the phone is protected against dust and water ingress, making it suitable for everyday use. The phone's edges curve into a thin plastic frame, providing a comfortable fit in the hand. The weight distribution is evenly balanced, making it easy to handle and maneuver. The Marshmallow colorway gives the phone a distinctive look, with a subtle sheen that catches the light. The design language used by Motorola is consistent across their lineup, but the Edge 50 Fusion feels like a standalone device, rather than just another variant in a series. One of the standout features of the phone's design is its display. A 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 1080p resolution and a high 144Hz refresh rate is a rarity at this price point. The panel is sharp and vibrant, making it perfect for gaming or watching videos. However, there's no support for HDR video playback. The phone's dimensions are manageable, making it easy to fit into a pocket or purse. Overall, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion has a design language that feels premium and modern, with a focus on creating a solid user experience. The build quality is top-notch, and the attention to detail is evident in every aspect of its construction.
Battery Life
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion boasts an impressive battery life, making it a standout feature in its mid-range class. The phone is equipped with a large 5,000mAh capacity battery that effortlessly lasts for a whole day and even some extra hours to spare. In our extensive testing, the device achieved an active use score of 12 hours and 40 minutes, showcasing its remarkable endurance. This means you can enjoy using your phone without worrying about it dying on you, even with moderate to heavy usage. One notable aspect is that the Edge 50 Fusion's battery life is not solely dependent on its hardware capabilities. The device has a well-optimized software experience, which helps in conserving power and prolonging battery life. Additionally, the phone's efficient processor and minimal bloatware contribute to its impressive battery life. While charging times may not be lightning-fast, the Edge 50 Fusion still charges relatively quickly, taking around an hour to reach full capacity using the included 68W charger. This makes it convenient for users who need a quick top-up during the day. Overall, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion's exceptional battery life is one of its most compelling features, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and long-lasting smartphone experience.
Display
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080p and a refresh rate of 144Hz. This is a notable upgrade compared to last year's mid-rangers, making it one of the best displays in its class. The panel is sharp, with a pixel density of around 393 PPI, although it falls short of the 1220p resolution found on more expensive Moto Edge models. One of the standout features of the display is its high refresh rate, which makes for smooth swiping and scrolling experiences. However, unlocking the full potential of this feature requires selecting the specific mode in settings; otherwise, it defaults to 120Hz. The display can also dial down to 60Hz when idling to save energy. In terms of brightness, the Edge 50 Fusion performs well, reaching a maximum of around 520 nits with a manual slider and boosting up to over 1,300 nits in auto mode. This makes it suitable for use on sunny days. It's worth noting that there is a variant of the Edge 50 Fusion sold in Latin America that comes with a 120Hz refresh rate instead of the standard 144Hz. Overall, the display on the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is one of its strongest features, offering a vibrant and responsive viewing experience that makes it well-suited for general use, gaming, and media consumption.
Camera
The camera setup on the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a notable aspect of this mid-range device. The phone boasts a 50-megapixel primary sensor with dual-pixel autofocus and optical image stabilization (OIS), which is claimed to be the most advanced sensor in its class. While the main camera's photos are solid, they don't quite match the quality of more expensive Motorola Edge models. In good lighting conditions, the main camera captures 12.5-megapixel images with plenty of detail and minimal noise. The colors look nice, and contrast is good, but there's some oversharpening that can make images look a bit unnatural. However, the camera still manages to pull off some impressive results in low light, capturing competent photos with decent detail, balanced colors, and minimal noise. One notable omission from the Edge 50 Fusion's camera setup is a telephoto lens. Despite this, the main camera can still achieve some nice two-time digital zooms, although these are limited by the lack of optical zoom. The ultra-wide-angle camera, on the other hand, produces decent photos with good detail and contrast, but it struggles in low light conditions. When capturing 4K videos, the main camera delivers impressive results, with plenty of detail, minimal noise, and a decent dynamic range. Electronic image stabilization (EIS) helps to smooth out bumps and shakes, but this can sometimes introduce focus hunting issues. In low-light conditions, 4K video quality suffers slightly, with more noticeable noise in the frame. The ultra-wide-angle camera also takes some nice close-up shots using its autofocus feature. However, these occasionally miss their mark or appear soft. Low-light performance is similar to the main camera, although there's a bit more detail captured. If you turn off electronic stabilization and shoot at 22 frames per second, video quality takes a hit, with choppy footage. Selfies from the 32-megapixel front-facing camera are respectable, capturing decent detail and skin textures. Skin tones look good, but might be slightly too saturated in some cases. Overall, while the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion's cameras don't blow the competition out of the water, they still deliver solid performance, especially considering this is a mid-range device.
Price and Value
In a market dominated by flagships, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a refreshing mid-ranger that punches above its weight class. Priced lower than half of its premium sibling, the Edge 50 Pro, this device offers an impressive set of features at an affordable price point. At $400-$500, depending on the storage variant, the Edge 50 Fusion provides incredible value for money. The phone's sleek design, complete with vegan leather backing and curved edges, exudes a sense of premium-ness that belies its budget-friendly price tag. The display, a 6.7-inch OLED panel with a 1080P resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, is one of the standout features of this device. It's crisp, vibrant, and perfect for gaming or media consumption. The speakers, too, are top-notch, offering rich sound quality with decent bass. The camera setup, comprising a 50MP primary sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens, delivers respectable results, especially considering the price point. Photos taken in good lighting conditions are sharp and detailed, while videos capture plenty of detail without excessive noise or oversharping. While the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset may not be the most powerful processor out there, it still provides a smooth user experience, even with some light gaming. The 5,000mAh battery life is also respectable, lasting around 12 hours and 40 minutes in our tests. In summary, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is an excellent mid-range option that offers tremendous value for its price. With its impressive display, great speakers, solid cameras, and robust performance, this device is a compelling choice for those on a budget. If you're looking for alternatives, be sure to check out our reviews of the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro, but rest assured that the Edge 50 Fusion is a standout in its own right.
Performance
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a mid-range smartphone that deviates from the premium siblings in the series. While it may not offer the same level of performance, it still packs some attractive features, including a high refresh rate display and a clean software experience. In terms of performance, the Edge 50 Fusion is equipped with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, which falls into the mid-range category. In benchmarks, the phone delivers a solid performance, landing in the middle of the pack for its price range. It's enough power to ensure a smooth user experience and light gaming. One notable aspect of the Edge 50 Fusion is its thermal management. During our prolonged stress tests, the device handled heat relatively well, with minimal throttling observed. This suggests that the phone can maintain its performance levels even during intense usage sessions. Battery life on the Edge 50 Fusion is respectable, with an active use score of 12 hours and 40 minutes in our battery life tests. While it's not exceptional, it should be sufficient for most users' needs. Charging speeds are also decent, reaching 0 to 60% in half an hour using the provided charger. The camera performance on the Edge 50 Fusion is another aspect worth mentioning. The main camera has a 50-megapixel sensor with dual pixel autofocus and OIS, which Motorola claims is one of the most advanced sensors in its class. Photos taken with the main camera are solid, with plenty of detail and minimal noise. In conclusion, while the Edge 50 Fusion's performance may not be exceptional, it still offers a capable mid-range experience. With a balance of power, battery life, and charging speeds, this phone is a good choice for those seeking a reliable smartphone at an affordable price.
Pros
1. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion has a high refresh rate display, making swiping and scrolling extremely smooth.
2. It comes with great speakers that are loud and produce rich sound with decent bass and balanced mids and highs.
3. The phone's design is unique and premium-looking, with a vegan leather back that adds some extra grip.
4. It has a large 5,000 mAh battery capacity that delivers respectable battery life, lasting up to 12 hours and 40 minutes in active use.
Cons
1. The phone packs a mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, which is not particularly impressive for its price range.
2. It lacks wireless charging support, unlike the higher-end Edge models.
3. The ultra-wide camera struggles with noise and dynamic range in low light conditions.
4. There's no telephoto camera, which might be a drawback for some users.