Motorola Edge 50 Neo Specifications and Review
Motorola Edge 50 Neo Specifications and Review.
The Motorola Edge series continues to evolve, with the Edge 50 Neo being the latest addition to this family of smartphones. While the sheer number of Edge 50 models might leave you scratching your head, the Neo stands out by offering a compact design with plenty of performance packed inside. But is it worth the extra £50 over the Edge 50 Fusion? Let’s dive in and see what makes this model worth considering.
Unboxing: What’s Inside the Box?
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo comes in a rather stylish box—if you can get past the overpowering perfume. Upon opening, you’ll find the device itself, a USB charging cable, some quick start guides, and a SIM ejector pin. Interestingly, the phone includes an eco-friendly case made by Swedish company “A Good Company,” crafted from Swedish plants. Think of it as an environmentally conscious touch to your new gadget..
The Design: Compact, Sleek, and Practical
Motorola has stepped away from the traditional Edge design with the 50 Neo. Unlike its siblings, the Neo has a flat display, which I personally prefer for usability. This flat design also gives the phone a more minimalist and sleek look. It’s a pocket-sized marvel, boasting a 6.4-inch screen, making it one of the most compact phones of 2024. At just 171g, the Neo is lightweight and feels pleasant in hand despite its plastic frame, which may not feel as premium as glass, but keeps the device light and functional.
The rear is adorned with a faux leather finish, adding a touch of elegance and softness to the device. Motorola offers four color options: Latte (creamy brown), Nautical Blue, Pana Poana (red), and Gili (bluey-gray). While the latter isn’t my first choice, the colors are refreshing, and the camera bump blends nicely into the back.
Durability and Build Quality
Despite its lightweight feel, the Moto Edge 50 Neo is tough. It passes military standard 810H testing, meaning it can withstand temperatures as extreme as -20°C to 60°C. It also boasts an IP68 rating, ensuring it’s resistant to dust, dirt, and even water—perfect for accidental drops into a sink or the bathtub.
Display: A Vibrant OLED Panel
The Edge 50 Neo’s 6.4-inch OLED display offers a sharp 2670 x 1220 pixel resolution. With a pixel density of 460 PPI, the screen delivers crisp visuals, and HDR10+ support ensures rich colors and contrast, especially when watching content. The natural color setting is a bit muted, but you can tweak it to make the colors more vibrant to your liking.
The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals, while the refresh rate can also drop to just 1Hz, helping save battery when the always-on display is active.
Performance: Surprising Power for Its Size
Under the hood, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300 chipset, the same one found in the Nothing Phone 1. Paired with 8GB of RAM, the Neo offers solid performance for everyday tasks. Gaming, in particular, was a pleasant surprise. Titles like “Waves” ran smoothly even at higher graphic settings, with very few frame rate dips. The phone also stayed relatively cool, even during extended gaming sessions, which is impressive for a device at this price point.
Battery Life and Charging
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is equipped with a 4,310mAh battery. While it’s smaller than the one found in its siblings, the combination of an energy-efficient chipset and stock Android means the battery should comfortably last a full day with moderate usage. If you do run low, the device supports 68W fast charging, which can give you hours of power with just 10 minutes of charging. Plus, it supports wireless charging, which is a nice touch at this price range.
Camera Setup: Impressive for the Price
The Edge 50 Neo shares a similar camera setup to the Edge 50 Fusion, featuring a 50MP Sony IMX700C sensor, which delivers excellent photos in various conditions. In low-light settings, the camera produces bright, detailed shots with minimal noise. The HDR feature helps in high-contrast situations, brightening shadows and enhancing highlights.
The 13MP ultra-wide camera lets you capture a wider scene, while the 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom adds more versatility. While zooming beyond 3x can result in some quality loss, it’s still a solid option for close-up shots.
Video recording is also impressive, with the ability to shoot in 4K at 30fps. Even when zooming during a recording, the footage remains stable and clear, a great feature for vloggers and content creators.
Software and Features: A Clean Experience
Motorola’s stock Android is always a treat, and the Edge 50 Neo is no exception. It offers a clean, minimal interface with helpful features like the Moto app for customization, gestures, and security settings. You can personalize the UI colors, icon shapes, and fonts, while the phone also includes nifty gestures like “flip for do not disturb” and “three-finger screenshot.”
For security, the Neo offers both a fingerprint sensor and face unlock, which is handy if your fingers are wet or dirty. Additionally, the Neo promises five years of Android OS and security updates, ensuring longevity.
