Motorola Edge 50 Pro review

Introduction

This year, Motorola is focusing on sensory experiences and shifting focus from specs to lifestyle, or at least that’s the idea they’re trying to sell us with the Edge 50 Pro. The colors, materials, experiences and AI are the focus of marketing, but we will try to be pragmatic and not get too entangled in the esoteric.

You can’t miss the Pantone collaboration on the outside: as with the company’s previous models, the Edge 50 Pro comes in at least one unusual shade that has been approved by color matching specialists; It’s Luxe Lavender in this case. But that’s been done before, and now there’s more Pantone: the display and camera are also Pantone validated, both of which are industry firsts (for what it’s worth).

More to our liking are the overall numbers, and the 6.7-inch OLED is sharp (1220p) and fast (144 Hz), not to mention the brightness (2,000 nits, Motorola says). There are also specifications worth appreciating in the camera field: first of all, the f/1.4 aperture of the main camera. It’s also good to see a proper three-camera setup, including telephoto, and the fact that the ultra-wide has autofocus deserves praise right off the bat.

We’re less excited about the heart of the Edge 50 Pro, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3. You may remember that the Edge 40 Pro had the flagship Snapdragon last year, but this year’s Pro is different: a shakeup of the lineup in 2024 means There’s an Ultra on top, like there was a previous generation, and that one gets the top-tier chipset. Meanwhile, the Pro drops to upper midrange status; We’ll see where it stands on the value meter as we go.

However, charging capacity is about as flagship as they come: at 125W and 18 minutes from empty to full, the specs are more than promising, albeit with a few caveats. The 50W wireless charging rating is also a welcome improvement over the previous generation’s 15W, even if the 4,500mAh capacity isn’t overly generous. We like the relatively compact size and pocket-friendly weight, and the IP68 rating is also very welcome (also, befitting the ‘Pro’ moniker).

Motorola Edge 50 Pro specifications at a glance:

• Body: 161.2×72.4×8.2mm, 186g; Glass front, silicone polymer (eco-leather) or acetate back, aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5 m for 30 min).
• Show: 6.7″ P-OLED, 1B color, 144 Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (peak), 1220 x 2712 px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 446 ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4nm): Octa-core (1×2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3×1.8 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 720.
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS 2.2.
• OS/Software: Android 14, Hello UI.
• Rear camera: Width (main): 50 MP, f/1.4, 25 mm, 1/1.55″, 1.0 µm, multi-directional PDAF, laser AF, OIS; Telephoto: 10 MP, f/2.0, 67 mm, 1.0 µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; ultra wide angle: 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16 mm, 1.12 µm, AF.
• Frontal camera: 50 MP, f/1.9, 21 mm, 0.64 µm, autofocus.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 30/60/120/240 fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro EIS; Frontal camera: 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 30/60 fps.
• Battery: 4500mAh; 125W wired, 100% in 18 min (advertised), 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless.
• Connectivity: 5G; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 6e; BT 5.4; NFC.
• Several: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers; Ready for 6 stand.

Unboxing of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro

Motorola unboxings have become something of a treat in recent years, thanks to the company’s practice of using fragrances on the inside of the box, which is surely “a unique sensory experience” that you won’t get from other brands. . We’ll be quick to admit that there are few practical benefits to this, but that doesn’t mean we like it any less. That’s in addition to the fact that the packaging is plastic-free and made from 80% recycled materials, which is always a good thing.

Inside, in addition to the phone, you will receive a TurboPower adapter. Its maximum output will vary depending on the region and/or version of the phone. Our 12GB/512GB European spec includes the 125W charger, and that’s what the 12GB/256GB option will also receive, but the 8GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB variants will be included with a 68W unit (at least as best we can tell). (worth checking with your supplier). A USB-C cable is also included.

Also part of the package is a snap-on back cover with a semi-transparent frosted effect. The color of this accessory will match the color scheme of the phone, and for our Luxe Lavender review unit, the shade is called Blue Heron (in Pantone, again).