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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Motorola Edge is on sale right now for $550.
- As another solid midrange phone, the Edge delivers an impressive pOLED screen and has a long-lasting battery.
- Don’t expect too much from its mid-tier hardware, and the borderless display can cause wrong inputs.
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Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. I’ve spent a good chunk of the year going through Motorola’s 2025 catalog. I assumed the Motorola Razr would be the end, but one more has recently been released: the Motorola Edge<!–>.
Also: 6 hidden Android features every user should know – and how they make life easier
Upon first look, it isn’t as flashy as some of its siblings – like the Razr – as it only comes in one Deep Forest gray color. What it lacks in pizzazz, however, the Motorola Edge makes up for with a long-lasting battery and immersive multimedia capabilities.
Mini Cinematics
The 2025 Edge looks similar to last year’s model, sporting a curved pOLED display, although its output is improved. It runs at Super HD resolution (2,712 x 1200 pixels) and has a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. For comparison, the older device had a FullHD Plus (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) screen with 1,300 nits of peak brightness, so it is a significant change. Also, it’s a little bit bigger at 6.7 inches.
There is one downside — if you could even call it that. The 2025 Motorola Edge has a lower refresh rate of 120Hz instead of 144Hz. The difference wasn’t that big of an issue. 120Hz still allows for smooth web page scrolling and on-screen content.
Also: This $200 Motorola phone has no business being this good for the price
Speaking of content, the smartphone houses a pair of Dolby Atmos stereo speakers that deliver beefy audio. I even felt the bass hitting my fingers as I held the phone. Movie dialogue was free of all noise or distortion. Together, the display and speakers enable a theater-like experience in the palm of your hands.
I do have one nitpick. The curved glass can cause you to make accidental inputs. Sometimes, while holding the phone in one hand, I would unintentionally select a different video on YouTube.
Sleek design
The word “Edge” in the device’s name doesn’t just refer to the curved glass, but its form factor, too. It measures 6.35 x 2.88 x .0.31 inches, the slimmest model in its series. Like last year’s model, the smartphone has an extra button on the left; however, it has a different function.
Also: I replaced my slab phone with Motorola’s $1,300 Razr Ultra for a week – and it’s very convincing
Instead of providing access to Google’s platforms, it launches Moto AI, the company’s own generative AI. You can ask the AI model your burning questions, much like ChatGPT, or activate one of its five features. Image Studio, for example, has the phone generate an image for you, and Catch Me Up summarizes all of your notifications.
I’m not super interested in generative AI, so it would’ve been nice if I could remap the button to another function. Sadly, you can’t. The best you can do is customize what action is performed within the Moto AI app.
Mid-range performance
Under the hood is the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 alongside 8GB of memory. This configuration allows the Motorola Edge to perform better than the 2025 Moto G Power. I enjoyed graphically demanding mobile games like Honkai Star Rail in high resolution, although there is some stuttering.
The phone handled Star Rail just fine for most of my playtime. However, once the graphical effects started to go crazy in-game, the 2025 Edge had a tough time keeping up. Do note that this is a very specific scenario; I didn’t encounter any problems using the mobile device while browsing the internet.
If you’re a numbers person, below is a list comparing the Motorola Edge’s mobile benchmark results to those of the 2025 Motorola Razr. You’ll notice that the two perform at a similar level, although the Motorola Edge has (pardon the pun) a slight edge over its sibling.
Geekbench 6 CPU – Multi-Core | Geekbench 6 GPU | 3DMark Wild Life | |
Motorola Edge | 3,052 | 3,183 | 3,613 |
Motorola Razr | 2,995 | 3,179 | 3,606 |
Triple-threat camera
What really impressed me is the three-lens camera system. It consists of a 50MP main lens, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto option. Each one performed very well in my tests, delivering highly detailed photographs and videos. Below is a photograph I took of flowers when out one day. The file transfer processor has compressed the image a bit. However, you can still clearly note the vibrant colors and details.
My favorite of the trio was definitely the telephoto lens. The camera let me clearly record a pod of dolphins from about 200 feet or so away, zoomed in. I can’t give all the credit to the lens, as optical image stabilization kept the shot rock steady.
Also: I replaced my OnePlus with this $700 Motorola flip phone, and it’s spoiled me big time
That said, I was not a fan of the image saturation. Each photo taken by the cameras had its color artificially enhanced to be bolder than in real life. This was particularly egregious with the Macro tool, which turned a light blue flower into an unnatural purple.
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Battery life: no complaints
Motorola claims the Edge can last up to two days straight on a single charge. With casual usage, that may be the case, but I ran a different test where I played a YouTube livestream until the battery gave out. In my experience, the phone lasted about 20 hours before calling it quits.
The company states that its mobile device supports fast charging and can achieve a 12-hour battery life in about six minutes. However, you will need Motorola’s 68W TurboPower charger, which is a separate purchase. I used an old 33W OnePlus charger, and it took about an hour to reach 50%.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The Motorola Edge<!–> is currently retailing for $550 on the company’s official website and Best Buy. It arrives unlocked, so you can connect the device to your preferred carrier. I would recommend this smartphone to anyone looking for a mobile device with solid performance, a long-lasting battery, and a lush OLED screen.
If you want a phone with some flexibility, I suggest looking into the Motorola Razr. The Moto G Stylus is also noteworthy for its top-notch output courtesy of its Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset.
The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.
CNET: Tariff Pricing Tracker: We’re Watching 11 Products You Might Need to Buy
Smartphones are among the most affected by the new US tariffs, with devices imported from China and Vietnam facing steep duties that could raise retail prices by 20% or more. Brands like Apple and Google, which rely heavily on Asian manufacturing, may either pass these costs on to consumers or absorb them at the expense of profit margins.
The tariffs could also lead to delays in product launches or shifts in where and how phones are made, forcing companies to diversify production to countries with more favorable trade conditions.
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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
