Once a pioneer in cellphones with its iconic "Hello Moto" jingle, Motorola's dominance waned as Samsung and Apple revolutionized the smartphone market.
With the launch of the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy series, Motorola struggled to keep up with the shift towards smartphones since 2007.
Despite these challenges, Motorola continued to adapt, introducing models like the Moto G and Moto Z series, and the recent Motorola Edge 50 Pro, which offers cutting-edge features and performance.
While no longer at the forefront, Motorola remains a resilient player, consistently delivering reliable devices to a loyal customer base.
With a sleek design, powerful performance, and a robust camera system, the Edge 50 pro aims to set a new standard in its category.
Design and build quality
The Edge 50 pro exudes a premium feel with its silicone vegan leather finish and sandblasted aluminium frame.
Three colours are available: luxe lavender, black beauty, moonlight pearl (special edition).
This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also provides a durable and comfortable grip. Available in a striking Luxe Lavender color, the device is designed to catch the eye.
Display features
One of the standout features of the Edge 50 pro is its 6.7-inch P-OLED display (92% screen-to-body ratio) and corning gorilla glass 5 protection.
Boasting a resolution of 2712 x 1220 pixels, the Super HD 1.5K display supports HDR10+ and 10-bit color depth, allowing it to display over a billion shades of color.
The 144Hz refresh rate ensures ultra-smooth scrolling and responsiveness, particularly beneficial for gaming and high-speed video playback. With a peak brightness of 2000 nits, the display remains vivid and clear even under direct sunlight.
While the Edge 50 pro impresses with its features, it also includes an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, adding an extra layer of durability. This means the device can withstand submersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, making it resilient to everyday accidents.
The handset measures 8.19mm in thickness and weighs 186g.
Storage and performance
At the heart of the Edge 50 pro is the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor.
This octa-core chipset, coupled with up to 8/12GB LPDDR4X of RAM, delivers excellent performance for multitasking, gaming, and running demanding applications.
The device includes 256GB of internal storage with UFS2.2, providing ample space for apps, media, and files.
Software
The Edge 50 pro operates on Android 14 with Motorola's custom Hello UI, also known as "Hello, Moto!" This setup delivers a clean and intuitive user experience.
Motorola guarantees three OS updates and four years of security patches, providing users with the latest features and security enhancements for an extended duration.
The customizations live in the usual Moto app “hub,” which has been restyled for this iteration. Things are now more neatly organized, with the categories that have a lot of entries, like Gestures, fitting things on a single page, no scrolling required.
Camera system
The Edge 50 pro’s camera setup is designed for versatility and high performance.
The rear camera array includes a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) for sharp, clear photos.
Accompanying this is a 13MP ultra-wide lens that doubles as a macro camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
This combination allows for a wide range of photographic possibilities, from detailed close-ups to expansive landscapes.
The front camera is a powerful 50MP sensor, perfect for high-resolution selfies and clear video calls.
The camera system supports various shooting modes, including portrait, night vision, and 4K video recording, making it a versatile tool for both casual and professional photography.
Charging and battery life
The Motorola Edge 50 Pro is backed by a 4,500mAh battery with support for up to 125W wired and 50W wireless Turbo charging.
The 125W charger is available with the 12GB RAM variant, whereas the 8GB RAM option gets a 68W charger in the box, which can recharge the battery to full in approximately 18-23 minutes.
Additionally, it offers 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, providing flexibility and convenience for users on the go.
Speakers
Audio quality is another highlight, with dual stereo speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos, delivering rich and immersive sound.
This makes the Edge 50 pro a great choice for media consumption, whether it's watching movies, listening to music, or gaming.
Verdict
The Motorola Edge 50 Pro is a compelling choice for anyone in the market for a mid-range smartphone.
With its premium design, stunning display, powerful performance, and versatile camera system, it offers exceptional value for its price.
Despite a few limitations, such as the duration of software updates, the Edge 50 pro stands out as a robust and feature-rich option.
Motorola continues to demonstrate its ability to blend innovation with affordability, making the Edge 50 pro a noteworthy addition to its lineup.
