From the affordable Motorola Edge 50 Fusion to the top-of-the-line Motorola Edge 50 Pro in the series, the brand has been quite busy these past few months. However, they’re not done yet and have just launched the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, which costs just Rs 1,000 more than the Edge 50 Fusion.
The smartphone segment under Rs 25,000 is quite crowded at this point. So, where does that leave Motorola’s latest addition? I’ve been able to spend a brief time with the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, and here are my first impressions!
Motorola Edge 50 Neo Specifications
| Specs | Motorola Edge 50 Neo |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 154.1 x 71.2 x 8.1mm |
| Weight | 171 grams |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 |
| RAM + Storage | 8GB LPDDR4X + 256GB UFS 2.2 |
| Display | 6.4-inch 120Hz pOLED, 1.5K (2670 x 1220 pixels), LTPO, 3000 nits, Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Primary + 13MP Ultra-Wide + 10MP Telephoto with 3x Optical Zoom |
| Front Camera | 32MP |
| Video | Up to 4K at 30FPS |
| Dual SIM | Yes; No eSIM |
| Connectivity | 16 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC |
| Port | USB Type C |
| Battery | 4,310mAh |
| Charging | 68W fast charging, 15W wireless charging |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Software | Android 14, Hello UI (5 Years of Major OS Updates and Security Patches) |
| Price | Rs 23,999 |
What’s in the Box
As usual, Motorola includes all the riches and keeps you heavily sorted when it comes to box contents. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Color-matched case
- Compatible 68W Turbo Charger
- Type-C to Type-C cable
- SIM Ejector Tool
- Paperwork
And, finally, you also get that Motorola fragrance sprinkled on top to add to the sophistication of it all. But, is the device worth all this build-up? Read on!
Design and Build
I have with me the Nautical Blue color variant of the smartphone, but it’s not my favorite shade. I’d pick the Poinciana (orangish) color variant instead. However, there are the Latte (cream) and Grisaille (greyish) color variants as well. Right off the bat, I noticed that something was different this time around. Well, Motorola has gone with a flat display this time around, and I’m glad.
As someone who owns a OnePlus 11R and has already bumped and cracked its display due to the absence of tempered glasses (I don’t want to take the UV route), I respect Motorola’s decision. However, due to this, the phone doesn’t feel as curvy as the brand’s other offerings. But, that’s okay, since Motorola has also cut down on the size this time around.
The height and width have gone down from the Edge 40 Neo’s 159.63 x 71.99mm to 154.1 x 71.2mm. However, the Edge 50 Neo is slightly thicker at 8.1mm as compared to its predecessor’s 7.89mm sleekness.
The in-hand feel of the device can be compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, but less boxy. Neither is it as prickly and instantly settles into your palms. Moreover, it’s super lightweight, and that makes it all the more delightful to carry around. Ah, the in-hand feel of a smartphone like this is an absolute chef’s kiss!
Motorola’s obsession with vegan leather rear panels extends to this device as well, and it gives off quite a premium feel in a sea of plastic phones. Due to the incredible form factor, the plastic frame didn’t bother me one bit. The buttons are plastic too, although very tactile.
You also get an IP68 rating and MIL-810H (Military Grade) certification, so this is a pretty durable device overall.
Display and Speakers
At 6.4 inches, the display is not as compact as I’d have liked it to be. Strangely, it’s still the most compact phone in the segment. Also, the fact that this is a 1.5K resolutionpOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate backed by LTPO tech makes it a big win in my books. For the unaware, LTPO allows quick switching between high and low refresh rates on display without needing additional hardware for it. This translates to power efficiency and improved battery life.
Bezels are also narrow, with just the top and chin being slightly broader. This is also the very first Motorola Edge series device to arrive with LTPO. You also get Smart Water Touch 2.0, which lets all of you sweaty folks out there use it without any hassle. Neither will those rain droplets interfere, so that’s very handy in this weather. Also, this display supports Always On!
The display is quite sharp, vibrant, and exceptionally bright. Our LuxMeter recorded it hitting 3,500 nits in HDR content, which is well beyond the brand’s claimed 3000 nits cap. In HBM (High Brightness Mode) though, it hits around 900 nits of its claimed 1,400 nits, which is great too. But, yes, HDR content is stellar and I loved the deep blacks and balanced color tones all around when watching the dragon chase scene in Damsel on Netflix.
What makes the multimedia experience all the more amazing are the dual stereo speakers backed by Dolby Atmos. The sound separation is around 40:60 and the surround effect when you turn Dolby on kicks in very well. There’s slight bass too, blended well with punchy mids and clear highs.
Oh, there’s also Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top, which makes it quite scratch-resistant. However, you may not want to drop it too much.
Performance
Motorola’s latest Edge 50 Neo packs in a decent amount of power, thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 7300. This is also the same chipset (the 7300X variant for foldable) that the way costlier Motorola Razr 50 went official with recently. While it’s not as powerful as the OnePlus Nord
