Motorola Edge 50 Neo Initial Review: Is It the Best in Its Class?

From the budget-friendly Motorola Edge 50 Fusion to the premium Motorola Edge 50 Pro, Motorola has been active in the smartphone market over the last few months. Now, they’ve introduced the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, which is available for just Rs 1,000 more than the Edge 50 Fusion.

The smartphone market under Rs 25,000 is highly competitive. So, how does the new Motorola Edge 50 Neo fit in? After spending some time with the device, here are my initial thoughts!

Motorola Edge 50 Neo Specifications

What’s in the Box

As always, Motorola ensures that you receive a comprehensive set of accessories in the box. Here’s what you can expect:

• Color-matched case
• 68W Turbo Charger
• Type-C to Type-C cable
• SIM Ejector Tool
• Documentation

Additionally, you’ll notice Motorola’s signature fragrance, adding a touch of sophistication. But is the device worth the hype? Let’s find out!

Design and Build

I tested the Nautical Blue variant of the smartphone, although I personally prefer the Poinciana (orange) variant. Other options include Latte (cream) and Grisaille (gray). One notable change this time is the flat display, which I appreciate.

As a user of the OnePlus 11R, I understand the importance of display protection, and Motorola’s choice of a flat design avoids the issues of cracked screens. Although this makes the device feel less curvy compared to previous models, it’s a welcome ergonomic change alongside a more compact form factor.

The dimensions have decreased from the Edge 40 Neo’s 159.63 x 71.99mm to 154.1 x 71.2mm. The Edge 50 Neo is slightly thicker at 8.1mm compared to its predecessor’s 7.89mm, but it feels comfortable to hold.

In terms of feel, it’s similar to the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE but less boxy. It fits comfortably in hand, and it’s surprisingly lightweight, enhancing portability. The device’s vegan leather back also adds a premium touch in a market flooded with plastic alternatives.

Durability is ensured with an IP68 rating and MIL-810H certification, making this phone sturdy overall.

Display and Speakers

The 6.4-inch display may not be compact, yet it remains the most manageable device in its category. The screen boasts a 1.5K resolution on a pOLED panel with a rapid 120Hz refresh rate utilizing LTPO technology, a significant advantage. LTPO allows the device to switch between high and low refresh rates efficiently, improving battery life.

The bezels are nicely trimmed, with only the top and chin being slightly thicker. This is the first device in the Motorola Edge series to feature LTPO. Additional features like Smart Water Touch 2.0 ensure smooth functioning even in humid conditions. The display also includes Always On functionality!

The screen is incredibly sharp, vibrant, and exceptionally bright. Our measurements indicated a peak brightness of 3,500 nits in HDR content, exceeding the brand’s advertised maximum of 3000 nits. In High Brightness Mode (HBM), it achieved about 900 nits, which is still impressive. Watching HDR content was stunning, especially with deep blacks and well-balanced colors.

Complementing the visuals are dual stereo speakers supported by Dolby Atmos, providing an immersive audio experience. The sound balance is adequate, with commendable bass and clear mids and highs.

The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, enhancing its scratch resistance, although you should still handle it with care.

Performance

Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo offers solid performance. This chipset, also found in the pricier Motorola Razr 50, holds its own against competitors, though it’s less powerful compared to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in the OnePlus Nord CE 4.

With up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, the configuration could be better; Motorola should upgrade to UFS 3.1 like other manufacturers. Nevertheless, RAM management is decent, allowing multiple apps to remain accessible in the background.

Benchmark performance isn’t groundbreaking, but the phone remains cool during use. Even after prolonged gaming sessions, temperatures remained below 35 degrees Celsius.

Here’s how some popular games perform:

Cameras

While I couldn’t conduct a complete camera test, my brief usage highlighted the strengths of the 50MP Sony Lytia 700C primary sensor and the 13MP ultra-wide. However, the standout feature is undoubtedly the 10MP telephoto sensor, offering 3x optical zoom, making it one of the most affordable devices with this capability.

Daylight photography is impressive with good dynamic range and natural color representation, unlike the oversaturation seen in some competitors’ models.

The ultra-wide camera is also impressive, capturing details far beyond typical 8MP alternatives. Night photography is competent, with effective management of shadows and light sources, although colors can be less true to life.

Portraits are particularly strong, featuring excellent skin texture and hair detail while maintaining decent edge detection.

On the video front, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo can shoot up to 4K at 30FPS, with stable performance aided by OIS. Unfortunately, switching sensors while recording in 4K isn’t supported, limiting flexibility to 1080p recording.

Software Experience

I’ve become quite impressed with Motorola’s Hello UI, which features smoother animations and improved haptics compared to previous Android skins.

Though some inconsistency exists across devices, Hello UI on the Edge 50 Neo runs exceptionally smoothly, without any noticeable issues or glitches. It’s among the cleanest Android skins, following closely behind Nothing OS, while also being feature-rich.

The Smart Connect feature allows compatibility with other Android devices, which adds versatility. While there is some pre-installed bloatware like Facebook and LinkedIn, it’s manageable with uninstallation options.

Importantly, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo is set to receive 5 years of major OS updates and security patches. With Android 14 as the foundation, users can expect updates through to Android 19, provided Motorola maintains its commitments.

Battery Life and Charging

Though the Motorola Edge 50 Neo houses a modest 4,310mAh battery, my testing during everyday usage yielded about 5 hours of screen time. While this could improve, particularly given the presence of LTPO technology, it still offers reasonable performance.

My casual use includes social media and light gaming, which could stretch battery life to around 6 hours under lower demands. Notably, idle battery drain overnight measured around 4%.

Charging performance is satisfactory; the phone reaches full charge in about 40 minutes from a 24% starting point.

Is the Motorola Edge 50 Neo Worth Your Money?

After reviewing numerous budget smartphones like the Nothing Phone 2a and OnePlus Nord CE 4, many failed to inspire me as daily drivers. The Motorola Edge 50 Neo, however, stands out significantly.

I appreciate that Motorola refrained from compromising on key features, even if the plastic build and slightly underwhelming processor may be drawbacks. The device still boasts an IP68 rating and Military-Grade durability, which is exceptional in this price range.

The impressive 6.4-inch 1.5K 120Hz pOLED display paired with high-quality speakers, alongside a powerful camera system featuring a stellar telephoto lens, solidifies its value. However, enhancing battery optimization would elevate its appeal even further.

Five years of software support is commendable, particularly in a market where most competitors offer fewer than three years, with Motorola’s price tag of Rs 23,999 (excluding bank offers) making it even more attractive.

In summary, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo is undoubtedly the best value smartphone in its segment this year. Kudos to Motorola!

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