Motorola Edge 50 Long-Term Review: Performance and Durability

In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, Motorola has carved out a niche for itself by delivering devices that offer a blend of performance, durability, and value for money. The Motorola Edge 50 is the latest addition to their impressive lineup, positioned between the Fusion and Pro variants. Priced at ₹25,999, this smartphone promises to deliver a near-perfect user experience. Let’s dive deep into what makes the Motorola Edge 50 a compelling choice in the crowded mid-range segment.

Unboxing Experience

The unboxing of the Motorola Edge 50 is a testament to the brand’s attention to detail. The phone comes in a sleek brown box, with minimalistic yet elegant packaging. Inside, you’ll find:

• 68W fast charger
• USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable
• SIM card ejector tool
• Documentation
• High-quality hard case

The inclusion of a powerful charger and a robust case is a welcome addition, enhancing the overall value proposition.

Design and Build Quality

One of the standout features of the Motorola Edge 50 is its design and build quality. The phone boasts a military-grade MIL-STD-810H certification, ensuring it can withstand extreme conditions. This certification is not just a marketing gimmick; the Edge 50 has passed 16 rigorous tests, including extreme temperature variations and drop tests, making it one of the most durable phones in its class.

Design Highlights:

• Metal frame with a curved design
• Available in three colors: Dark Green, Peach Fuzz, Gray
• Lightweight at 180 grams

The Dark Green variant, in particular, stands out with its unique and sophisticated look. Despite its rugged build, the phone is surprisingly lightweight, making it comfortable to hold and use.

Display and Multimedia

The Motorola Edge 50 sports a 6.67-inch P-OLED display with a resolution of 1.5K (2400 x 1080 pixels). The display is one of the brightest and most vibrant in this price range, offering an excellent multimedia experience. With a 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling and animations are incredibly smooth, enhancing the overall user experience.

Display Features:

• 6.67-inch P-OLED display
• 1.5K resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels)
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Curved edges for immersive viewing
• Minimal bezels and thin chin

The stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos further enhance the multimedia experience, delivering rich and immersive sound quality. Watching videos, playing games, and browsing the web are a delight on this device.

Performance and Specifications

Under the hood, the Motorola Edge 50 is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor. This chipset balances performance and efficiency, making it suitable for a wide range of tasks. Whether gaming, streaming, or multitasking, the Edge 50 handles everything easily.

Performance Specs:

• Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor
• 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 256GB UFS 2.1 storage (no SD card slot)

Regarding software, the Edge 50 runs on Motorola’s near-stock Android experience. This means you get a clean, bloatware-free interface with a few useful additions like Moto Actions and Moto Display. Motorola promises two years of major Android updates and three years of security patches, ensuring your device remains up-to-date and secure.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is a crucial aspect of any smartphone, and the Motorola Edge 50 does not disappoint. It packs a 5000mAh battery, which provides all-day battery life even with heavy usage. Whether you’re streaming videos, playing games, or browsing the web, you can rely on the Edge 50 to keep up with your demands.

Battery and Charging:

• 5000mAh battery
• 68W wired charging
• 15W wireless charging

The convenience of wireless charging adds to the overall appeal of the device, making it a well-rounded package. With the 68W wired charger, you can quickly top up the battery, minimizing downtime.

Camera Capabilities

The camera setup on the Motorola Edge 50 is versatile and capable. It features a 50MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom. This combination allows you to capture a wide range of shots, from expansive landscapes to detailed close-ups.

Camera Specs:

• 50MP primary sensor
• 13MP ultra-wide lens (doubles as a macro camera)
• 10MP telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom

The primary camera performs admirably in various lighting conditions, delivering sharp and vibrant photos. The ultra-wide lens adds versatility, and the telephoto lens is perfect for zoom shots. The camera app includes several modes and features, such as slow-motion video, night vision, panorama, and time-lapse, giving you plenty of creative options.

Camera Samples:

AI and Software Features

Motorola has integrated several AI-powered features into the Edge 50, enhancing both performance and user experience. The AI-powered RAM boost dynamically allocates memory based on your usage patterns, ensuring smooth multitasking. The AI also plays a role in the camera app, optimizing settings for the best possible results.

Key AI and Software Features:

• Moto Connect for seamless device integration
• Magic Canvas for AI-generated wallpapers
• Motorola’s signature gestures (e.g., chop twice for flashlight, twist wrist for camera)

These features add a personalized touch to your device, allowing you to create unique and visually appealing wallpapers, and perform tasks quickly with intuitive gestures.

Connectivity and Sensors

The Motorola Edge 50 is well-equipped in terms of connectivity options. It includes a USB Type-C port, a SIM card tray, and multiple microphones for noise cancellation. The in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock work seamlessly, providing quick and secure access to your device.

Connectivity and Sensors:

• USB Type-C port
• Dual SIM support
• NFC for contactless payments and file transfers
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Face unlock
• Essential sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor)

This comprehensive set of features ensures you have everything you need for a modern smartphone experience.

Gaming and Performance Benchmarks

While the Motorola Edge 50 is not marketed as a gaming phone, it holds its own when it comes to gaming performance. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, combined with 8GB of RAM, delivers smooth gameplay even in demanding titles like Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile. The curved display enhances the gaming experience, providing an immersive feel.

Benchmark Scores:

These scores reflect the phone’s capability to handle a wide range of tasks, from intensive gaming to multitasking. The device maintains consistent performance even under prolonged usage, thanks to its efficient cooling system.

Value for Money

At ₹25,999, the Motorola Edge 50 offers exceptional value for money. It combines a premium design, robust build quality, versatile camera setup, and impressive performance into a single package. The inclusion of features like MIL-STD-810H certification, wireless charging, and a high-refresh-rate display further enhances its appeal.

Comparative Value:

When compared to other devices in this price range, the Edge 50 stands out with its unique combination of features. It caters to a wide audience, from casual users to power users, offering something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a reliable daily driver, a multimedia powerhouse, or a durable companion, the Edge 50 ticks all the boxes.

Motorola Edge 50 Pro: A 120-Day Long-Term Review

After 120 days of daily use, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro continues to impress, proving that it’s more than just another mid-range contender. When it was first launched, the Edge 50 Pro redefined what a phone under ₹30,000 could offer, bringing flagship-level features like IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, and a stunning Pantone-validated display to this price bracket. But how has it fared over time? Let’s dive into the long-term review and see if the initial excitement holds up.

Build Quality and Durability: A Lasting Impression

The Motorola Edge 50 Pro has endured multiple accidental drops, yet it shows only a few minor scratches—testament to its robust build. The metal frame does a commendable job protecting the curved display, which, despite having more impact points, remains unscathed. The vegan leather back is another highlight; it resists dirt and smudges much better than other phones with similar materials, maintaining its premium look even after extensive use. However, the color-matched plastic case bundled with the phone hasn’t held up as well, showing visible signs of wear.

Display Excellence: Bright, Curved, and Color Accurate

Even after months of use, the Edge 50 Pro’s curved display remains one of the best in its class. Its brightness, color accuracy, and HDR video playback on YouTube continue to impress, although it’s worth noting that Netflix HDR support is still missing—a feature unlikely to be added post-launch. The lack of an always-on display feature is a surprising omission, especially given the quality of the panel. Additionally, while the curved display looks beautiful, it does suffer from occasional ghost touches, a common issue with curved screens.

Performance: Smooth Sailing, But Not Without Flaws

Powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, the Edge 50 Pro maintains smooth performance, with slick animations and quick app loading times, even after 120 days. Motorola’s software optimization ensures that most apps stay in memory, making multitasking a breeze. However, the camera app remains a weak spot—buggy, prone to crashes, and with inconsistent performance during 4K video recording in warm conditions. While the phone handles casual gaming well, those looking for a dedicated gaming device might find better options elsewhere.

Camera Quality: Stellar, With Room for Improvement

The camera system on the Motorola Edge 50 Pro continues to deliver excellent results, with great detail and dynamic range across all lenses—the primary, ultra-wide, and telephoto. Portraits are particularly impressive, and the selfie camera stands out as one of the best in this price range. However, some issues persist, such as yellowish skin tones and a halo effect in brightly backlit scenes. Despite these quirks, the overall camera performance is still one of the best in this segment, especially with the added Pantone collaboration.

Battery Life and Charging: Fast but Hot

The 4,500 mAh battery in the Edge 50 Pro has been consistent, delivering around 7 hours of screen-on time, which is impressive for a phone with such a powerful display. The 125W charger included in the box is a standout feature, fully charging the phone in just 18-20 minutes. However, the rapid charging does cause the device to heat up significantly, which could lead to faster battery degradation over time—a point worth considering for long-term use.

Conclusion

The Motorola Edge 50 is a testament to Motorola’s commitment to delivering quality devices that offer a well-rounded user experience. With its robust build, vibrant display, versatile camera, and smooth performance, it positions itself as a strong contender in the mid-range segment. The added benefits of wireless charging, AI-powered features, and seamless connectivity make it a compelling choice for anyone looking to upgrade their smartphone.

In a market filled with options, the Motorola Edge 50 manages to carve out a niche for itself, offering a near-perfect blend of performance and durability. If you’re in the market for a smartphone that offers excellent value for money without compromising on quality, the Motorola Edge 50 should be at the top of your list.