Motorola Edge 2024 assessment: Good cellphone, terrible pricing

Motorola has short-circuited my mind with a smartphone for the second 12 months. Final 12 months’s Moto Edge was a weird mixture of compromises and premium options that by no means actually felt at residence in any worth vary, and this 12 months’s Edge is extra of the identical. It’s completely not well worth the $550 Motorola fees: there’s simply an excessive amount of competitors from Google, OnePlus, and others with units providing greater than the Edge at that worth.

However whenever you have a look at what the Moto Edge delivers — a stunning show, respectable efficiency, and a serviceable digital camera — it’s onerous to assert it’s solely value $400 — the value most individuals can pay because of Motorola’s aggressive gross sales. So, whereas I nonetheless don’t absolutely comprehend Motorola’s technique with the Edge, let’s see if we will’t discover a residence for Moto’s mystifying midranger as a result of it’s not a foul cellphone, only a misunderstood one.

Value and availability

The Motorola Edge is offered by Motorola and Amazon for $550. It’s offered in a single configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Motorola gives just one coloration for the Edge this 12 months, so I hope you want Midnight Blue (which appears extra black than something). Pricing is at all times a rollercoaster with Moto telephones, however particularly the Edge. If you happen to’re inclined to buy however can wait, I extremely advocate holding out for the inevitable gross sales that can push the Edge to round $400. It’s a extra palatable worth and a major low cost from MSRP.

What I like in regards to the Moto Edge

Slim and light-weight

Motorola continues to shock me with wonderful shows. The 2024 Moto G Stylus includes a beautiful panel, and final 12 months’s Moto Edge was no slouch — however the firm took it one step additional with the show for this 12 months’s Edge. It’s nonetheless a incredible 6.6-inch P-OLED show refreshing at 144Hz, however Motorola elevated the utmost brightness for 2024. It’s extremely readable open air, and the colours pop off the show for video games and films. It’s a premium panel and the one a part of the 2024 Edge that lives as much as a $550 price ticket.

The Moto Edge for 2024 is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, complicating the dialog. Final 12 months’s cellphone featured a MediaTek Dimensity 7030, so the SD7sG2 seems like a lateral transfer. Furthermore, the Edge doesn’t exist in a vacuum. For $500, you possibly can select a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the OnePlus 12R or a Tensor G3 with the Pixel 8a — both one offering higher uncooked efficiency than the Moto Edge.

I stored returning to this theme in final 12 months’s assessment: it’s not that the Edge is unhealthy; there are merely higher choices for a similar (or much less) cash. I used to be truly happy with the cellphone’s efficiency. I by no means observed any important slowdowns or lag, even with multitasking. Genshin Affect ran easily on decrease settings, and I by no means had an issue snagging a Pikachu in Pokemon Go. The SD7sG2 is complemented with 8GB of RAM, serving to to maintain the Edge snappy.

Like final 12 months’s Edge, the 2024 model appears like a time traveler from 2019. It includes a tapered, curved show with a skinny aluminum body, which feels wonderful within the hand. It’s additionally mild, tipping the scales at a mere 174g, a featherweight in comparison with 2024’s flagships. The Edge is a welcome throwback to when telephones may very well be highly effective and premium with out weighing as a lot as a ‘90s ThinkPad. The Moto Edge is IP68-rated mud and water resistant for added peace of thoughts, so seaside days aren’t out of the query.

I’ve slowly grow to be a fan of eco-leather backs on telephones. I really like the texture; the added texture makes me extra assured carrying the Edge with no case. As well as, an eco-leather again means no glass, so I can preserve options like wi-fi charging with out the added weight. I nonetheless suppose a frosted matte glass again appears beautiful, however eco-leather is the best way for midrange and price range units.

Fortunately, Motorola doesn’t share the phobia of different Android producers that launch units within the US. The Moto Edge sports activities 68W wired charging with TurboPower, decreasing the time it takes to prime off your cellphone. Motorola claims the Edge can recharge to 50% in quarter-hour, which checks out in testing. It’s spectacular, and I want Samsung and Google would comply with Motorola and OnePlus’ lead with sooner charging speeds. The 2024 Edge additionally consists of 15W wi-fi charging.

Battery efficiency was middling. I usually received round 6 hours of screen-on time on a single cost. Battery-saving measures would possibly enhance that determine, however I wouldn’t think about the Moto Edge a battery beast.

I’m not naive; I perceive that true safety is close to not possible on smartphones, however I like Motorola’s efforts to assist us regain management. Moto Safe is incredible software program, permitting customers granular management over safety permissions. However what’s extra, it lets you see which apps have accessed info. So, if a random app is accessing your calendar, you’ll see a log entry and might take motion if it feels misplaced.

Sensible Join (previously Prepared For) can be incredible. It provides customers desktop performance by your cellphone. You need to use your Edge as a webcam or entry apps and software program out of your pc. It’s additionally an effective way to switch information backwards and forwards.

The Moto Edge’s cameras may’ve gone in both part. I do like the photographs from its 50MP main sensor. The pictures show good distinction and element, albeit oversaturated like final 12 months’s mannequin. If you happen to’re a fan of Samsung’s outdated computational images, you’ll love the photographs coming from the Edge. It additionally features a 13MP ultrawide lens, however the high quality drops off from the first sensor, as anticipated. Low-light photographs get tender and grainy, however I’m blissful sufficient with the general efficiency to incorporate the cameras as a constructive.

What I don’t like in regards to the Moto Edge

Pricing wants work

I don’t perceive Motorola’s pricing technique. As of writing this text, the 2023 Moto Edge is promoting for extra on the corporate’s web site than this 12 months’s Edge. However regardless of how I attempt to justify it, the 2024 Moto Edge shouldn’t be value $550. However I’m torn as a result of I do know it would shortly be on sale for a gorgeous worth.

I want Motorola didn’t act like a Temu vendor, pricing its units excessive to point out a extra spectacular share off MSRP later. The candy spot for the Moto Edge is $430. Certain, it’s nonetheless a aggressive panorama at that worth, and the Edge wouldn’t be a slam-dunk choice, however a minimum of it could be a part of the dialog.

The Moto Edge ships with Android 14, and Motorola guarantees two years of Android upgrades and three years of safety updates. Let’s momentarily put aside my apparent disappointment on the promised assist as a result of my higher concern is when these updates will arrive.

Moto is infamous for gradual updates, making customers wait 90 days or longer for bi-monthly safety patches. With Motorola’s new Howdy UI being extra closely skinned, I don’t see the corporate enhancing its replace effectivity anytime quickly. And, sure, solely two years of Android upgrades is downright unhappy for $550.

Must you purchase it?

I want I may give the Moto Edge two scores as a result of it’s a story of two telephones. If you happen to’re compelled to pay $550, I’m giving the Edge a 7 out of 10, however when you’re fortunate sufficient to get it on sale for round $400, it’s an 8 out of 10. Other than its show, the Moto Edge hasn’t stood out to me once more this 12 months. Fortunately, Motorola units make for excellent service offers, so it is respectable worth for $3 a month by your cell supplier. In any other case, I’d look in the direction of one of many many spectacular smartphone choices obtainable for $550.