Moto Edge 50 Neo Review

Motorola has introduced a refreshingly compact addition to its lineup with the Moto Edge 50 Neo, a mid-range smartphone that doesn’t just shrink in size but packs an impressive array of features. In a market where small, affordable smartphones are increasingly rare, Motorola’s latest device aims to attract users who want a powerful yet portable device. Let’s dive into what makes the Moto Edge 50 Neo an exciting option for 2024.

Design and Build Quality

The Moto Edge 50 Neo immediately catches attention with its 6.4-inch OLED display and a remarkably lightweight build at 171g. Unlike its predecessor, the Edge 40 Neo, the Edge 50 Neo is actually smaller, giving it a distinct edge in terms of portability. The Pantone-approved orange colorway, coupled with a vegan leather back, not only elevates its style but also provides a comfortable grip, which is a welcome bonus for users looking for a phone that feels premium without being bulky.

Motorola has gone above and beyond in terms of durability. The Edge 50 Neo is IP68-rated, providing reliable water and dust resistance. Additionally, it comes with military-grade protection to withstand extreme temperatures and challenging conditions—something rarely seen at this price point. This robust design makes the device appealing for users looking for a phone that can handle daily wear and tear as well as some rougher handling.

Display

Despite being scaled down to 6.4 inches, the OLED display doesn’t compromise on quality. The screen sports a high resolution with 474 PPI and can hit a peak brightness of up to 1,400 nits in auto mode, making it highly visible even under direct sunlight. With support for HDR10+ and 10-bit color, visuals are rich and vibrant, appealing to users who enjoy streaming or browsing on their devices.

The 120Hz refresh rate is a slight step down from last year’s 144Hz, but with LTPO technology, the display can automatically adjust the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz to conserve battery life. The experience remains smooth for everyday scrolling and swiping, balancing visual fluidity with power efficiency.

Audio

The Moto Edge 50 Neo includes stereo speakers that deliver clear audio, though the bass is somewhat lacking. While the sound quality holds up for casual listening, users with high audio expectations may find it a bit underwhelming. Nevertheless, the speakers are adequately loud and serve well for media consumption, gaming, and calls.

Performance

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, the Edge 50 Neo is a solid mid-tier performer. Compared to the Dimensity 7030 in its predecessor, this chipset provides an upgrade in speed and efficiency, ensuring a generally smooth experience for browsing, multitasking, and light gaming. In benchmark tests, the Edge 50 Neo showed clear improvements over its predecessor, but it still lags slightly behind some competing mid-range phones with higher-end chipsets.

The only hiccup is a noticeable lag in the camera app, which can be bothersome when quickly switching between camera modes or capturing moments on the fly. However, during stress tests, the device demonstrated reliable sustained performance with minimal throttling, a promising sign for users who require consistency in performance.

Battery Life and Charging

Though the battery capacity has decreased from 5,000mAh to 4,310mAh, the Edge 50 Neo manages to deliver impressive battery life, thanks to its efficient design and the LTPO display’s adaptive refresh rate. The device scored 13 hours and 29 minutes of active use in tests, which is a substantial improvement over last year’s model and should comfortably last a full day for most users.

Motorola has omitted a charger from the box, but the device supports 68W power delivery fast charging. It charges quickly, reaching 80% in about 30 minutes and achieving a full charge in around 40 minutes. Additionally, the Edge 50 Neo includes 15W wireless charging support, a feature that’s often missing in this price range.

Software

Running Android 14 with Motorola’s new Hello UI interface, the Edge 50 Neo offers a near-stock Android experience with a few Moto-exclusive features. The Hello UI is clean, easy to navigate, and integrates helpful customization options, gestures, and security features under the Moto app.

One of the most promising changes Motorola has made is in its software support policy. The Edge 50 Neo will receive five OS updates and five years of security patches. This level of commitment from Motorola is a significant advantage, ensuring the phone remains up-to-date and secure for an extended period.

Camera Performance

Equipped with a 50MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide lens with autofocus, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, the Edge 50 Neo offers versatile photography options. During daylight, the main camera captures sharp and detailed photos with vibrant colors. However, some images displayed inconsistencies in processing, ranging from natural-looking to overly contrasty, with deep shadows and grainy details.

In low-light settings, the main camera’s automatic night mode delivers decent results, though focusing becomes a challenge. Users might notice a higher rate of out-of-focus shots, particularly in darker environments. The telephoto camera generally provides good quality in well-lit conditions, though it struggles in lower lighting, yielding softer images with more noise.

The ultrawide camera holds up well during the day, and its autofocus capability allows it to double as a macro camera for close-up shots, producing decent detail. Nighttime ultrawide shots are serviceable, though softer and prone to clipping highlights. The 32MP front camera captures detailed selfies with good exposure and dynamic range, although HDR processing occasionally produces a slight reddish tone to skin.

The device supports 4K video recording across all cameras, delivering decent quality from the main and telephoto lenses. Low-light video capture is acceptable but suffers from limited dynamic range and sharpness, especially in darker conditions.

Final Verdict

The Moto Edge 50 Neo fills a niche for users seeking a compact, budget-friendly smartphone without compromising on features. With its rugged build, bright and adaptive display, decent performance, and extended software support, the Edge 50 Neo is a strong contender in the mid-range market. While the camera experience could use some refinement, particularly in terms of speed and consistency, the device still offers ample photography versatility.

For those who value portability, durability, and Motorola’s refined user experience, the Moto Edge 50 Neo stands out as an attractive option. It’s one of the few compact phones in its class that also includes features like a 3x telephoto camera, wireless charging, and a prolonged update commitment, making it a compelling choice for users who want a long-lasting and compact daily driver.