ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Motorola Edge is on sale proper now for $550.
- As one other stable midrange cellphone, the Edge delivers a formidable pOLED display and has a long-lasting battery.
- Do not anticipate an excessive amount of from its mid-tier {hardware}, and the borderless show may cause fallacious inputs.
Simply after I thought I used to be out, they pulled me again in. I’ve spent a great chunk of the 12 months going by way of Motorola’s 2025 catalog. I assumed the Motorola Razr could be the tip, however yet one more has not too long ago been launched: the Motorola Edge.
Additionally: 6 hidden Android options each consumer ought to know – and the way they make life simpler
Upon first look, it is not as flashy as a few of its siblings — like the Razr — because it solely is available in one Deep Forest grey coloration. What it lacks in pizzazz, nevertheless, the Motorola Edge makes up for with a long-lasting battery and immersive multimedia capabilities.
Mini Cinematics
The 2025 Edge seems much like final 12 months’s mannequin, sporting a curved pOLED show, though its output is improved. It runs at Tremendous HD decision (2,712 x 1200 pixels) and has a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. For comparability, the older gadget had a FullHD Plus (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) display with 1,300 nits of peak brightness, so it’s a important change. Additionally, it is a little bit bit greater at 6.7 inches.
There may be one draw back — for those who might even name it that. The 2025 Motorola Edge has a decrease refresh price of 120Hz as an alternative of 144Hz. The distinction wasn’t that massive of a difficulty. 120Hz nonetheless permits for clean net web page scrolling and on-screen content material.
Additionally: This $200 Motorola cellphone has no enterprise being this good for the worth
Talking of content material, the smartphone homes a pair of Dolby Atmos stereo audio system that ship beefy audio. I even felt the bass hitting my fingers as I held the cellphone. Film dialogue was freed from all noise or distortion. Collectively, the show and audio system allow a theater-like expertise within the palm of your fingers.
I do have one nitpick. The curved glass may cause you to make unintended inputs. Typically, whereas holding the cellphone in a single hand, I’d unintentionally choose a unique video on YouTube.
Modern design
The phrase “Edge” within the gadget’s identify would not simply discuss with the curved glass, however its type issue, too. It measures 6.35 x 2.88 x .0.31 inches, the slimmest mannequin in its sequence. Like final 12 months’s mannequin, the smartphone has an additional button on the left; nevertheless, it has a unique operate.
Additionally: I changed my slab cellphone with Motorola’s $1,300 Razr Extremely for per week – and it is very convincing
As an alternative of offering entry to Google’s platforms, it launches Moto AI, the corporate’s personal generative AI. You’ll be able to ask the AI mannequin your burning questions, very similar to ChatGPT, or activate one among its 5 options. Picture Studio, for instance, has the cellphone generate a picture for you, and Catch Me Up summarizes your entire notifications.
I am not tremendous fascinated with generative AI, so it could’ve been good if I might remap the button to a different operate. Sadly, you possibly can’t. One of the best you are able to do is customise what motion is carried out inside the Moto AI app.
Mid-range efficiency
Beneath the hood is the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 alongside 8GB of reminiscence. This configuration permits the Motorola Edge to carry out higher than the 2025 Moto G Energy. I loved graphically demanding cell video games like Honkai Star Rail in excessive decision, though there’s some stuttering.
The cellphone dealt with Star Rail simply high quality for many of my playtime. Nonetheless, as soon as the graphical results began to go loopy in-game, the 2025 Edge had a troublesome time maintaining. Do observe that it is a very particular situation; I did not encounter any issues utilizing the cell gadget whereas shopping the web.
When you’re a numbers individual, under is an inventory evaluating the Motorola Edge’s cell benchmark outcomes to these of the 2025 Motorola Razr. You may discover that the 2 carry out at an identical stage, though the Motorola Edge has (pardon the pun) a slight edge over its sibling.
|
Geekbench 6 CPU – Multi-Core |
Geekbench 6 GPU |
3DMark Wild Life |
|
|
Motorola Edge |
3,052 |
3,183 |
3,613 |
|
Motorola Razr |
2,995 |
3,179 |
3,606 |
Triple-threat digicam
What actually impressed me is the three-lens digicam system. It consists of a 50MP foremost lens, a 50MP ultrawide digicam, and a 10MP telephoto possibility. Every one carried out very effectively in my assessments, delivering extremely detailed pictures and movies. Under is {a photograph} I took of flowers when out someday. The file switch processor has compressed the picture a bit. Nonetheless, you possibly can nonetheless clearly observe the colourful colours and particulars.
My favourite of the trio was undoubtedly the telephoto lens. The digicam let me clearly document a pod of dolphins from about 200 ft or so away, zoomed in. I can not give all of the credit score to the lens, as optical picture stabilization stored the shot rock regular.
Additionally: I changed my OnePlus with this $700 Motorola flip cellphone, and it is spoiled me massive time
That stated, I used to be not a fan of the picture saturation. Every photograph taken by the cameras had its coloration artificially enhanced to be bolder than in actual life. This was significantly egregious with the Macro instrument, which turned a light-weight blue flower into an unnatural purple.
Battery life: no complaints
Motorola claims the Edge can last as long as two days straight on a single cost. With informal utilization, which may be the case, however I ran a unique take a look at the place I performed a YouTube livestream till the battery gave out. In my expertise, the cellphone lasted about 20 hours earlier than calling it quits.
The corporate states that its cell gadget helps quick charging and might obtain a 12-hour battery life in about six minutes. Nonetheless, you will have Motorola’s 68W TurboPower charger, which is a separate buy. I used an previous 33W OnePlus charger, and it took about an hour to achieve 50%.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Motorola Edge is at the moment retailing for $550 on the corporate’s official web site and Greatest Purchase. It arrives unlocked, so you possibly can join the gadget to your most well-liked service. I’d advocate this smartphone to anybody searching for a cell gadget with stable efficiency, a long-lasting battery, and a lush OLED display.
If you would like a cellphone with some flexibility, I recommend trying into the Motorola Razr. The Moto G Stylus can also be noteworthy for its top-notch output courtesy of its Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset.
The latest US tariffs on imports from international locations like China, Vietnam, and India goal to spice up home manufacturing however are prone to drive up costs on client electronics. Merchandise like smartphones, laptops, and TVs might develop into costlier as firms rethink world provide chains and weigh the price of shifting manufacturing.
CNET: Tariff Pricing Tracker: We’re Watching 11 Merchandise You May Have to Purchase
Smartphones are among the many most affected by the brand new US tariffs, with units imported from China and Vietnam dealing with steep duties that would elevate retail costs by 20% or extra. Manufacturers like Apple and Google, which rely closely on Asian manufacturing, might both cross these prices on to shoppers or take in them on the expense of revenue margins.
The tariffs might additionally result in delays in product launches or shifts in the place and the way telephones are made, forcing firms to diversify manufacturing to international locations with extra favorable commerce circumstances.
