Motorola Edge 50 Neo Review: A Balanced Budget Smartphone

In the competitive budget smartphone market, it's rare to find a device that ticks all the boxes. However, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo comes impressively close. With its eye-catching design, solid performance, versatile cameras, and a great screen, this device stands out as a strong contender. But is it enough to earn a spot in your pocket? Let’s dive into the details.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Good screen quality
• Unique and interesting design
• Versatile camera setup

Cons

• Photo quality isn't top-tier
• Other smartphones offer better performance
• Side buttons are somewhat small

Key Features of the Motorola Edge 50 Neo

Telephoto Camera

The Edge 50 Neo features a 3X telephoto camera, which is a rare addition in this price range, enabling you to zoom in without losing too much detail.

One-Handed Design

Weighing just 171g and featuring a 6.4-inch display, the Edge 50 Neo is designed to be light and easy to handle, making it perfect for one-handed use.

Vibrant Color Options

Unlike many smartphones that stick to the usual black, white, or grey, the Edge 50 Neo comes in an array of vibrant colors like “Poinciana” red, “Grisaille” grey, “Latte” brown, and “Nautical Blue.”

Design: Bold and Practical

Motorola has always been known for taking design risks, and the Edge 50 Neo is no exception. The phone comes in a range of vibrant colors, with my review unit being the striking “Poinciana” red. The use of ‘pleather’ or ‘vegan leather’ on the back adds a soft, grippy texture, which is a refreshing change from the typical glass-and-metal designs.

At 6.4 inches, the display is large enough for immersive viewing, but the phone remains compact enough for one-handed use, thanks to its tall and thin aspect ratio. The device also boasts an IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water—a feature not commonly found in smartphones under $350.

Screen: Sharp and Colorful

The Edge 50 Neo sports a 6.4-inch OLED display with a 1080p+ resolution (1256 x 2760). It supports HDR and a 120Hz refresh rate, making for smooth scrolling and vibrant colors. With a peak brightness of 3000 nits, the screen performs well even in direct sunlight. The OLED panel ensures deep blacks and rich colors, making it great for watching videos or browsing photos.

Camera: Versatile but Not Perfect

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo features a triple-camera setup:

• 50MP main sensor (f/1.8)
• 13MP ultrawide sensor (f/2.2)
• 10MP telephoto sensor with 3X zoom

The 3X telephoto lens is a standout feature, especially at this price point. While the main camera performs well in good lighting, producing sharp and well-balanced images, it struggles a bit in low-light conditions. The telephoto and ultrawide sensors, too, are good but not exceptional, particularly in dim lighting.

The selfie camera, however, is a pleasant surprise, delivering warm and detailed images. Video performance is decent, though not groundbreaking, with some noise creeping in during low-light recording.

Performance: Solid for Everyday Use

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and backed by 8GB of RAM, the Edge 50 Neo handles daily tasks like browsing, messaging, and light gaming with ease. It scored a respectable 1052 in single-core and 3031 in multi-core on Geekbench 6, putting it on par with older flagship devices like the Snapdragon 870.

While it’s not a gaming powerhouse, it can handle heavier games like PUBG on higher settings, though prolonged gaming sessions may cause some heat buildup.

Software: Clean and Functional

The Edge 50 Neo runs on Android 14 with Motorola’s light customizations. Motorola keeps things simple, adding useful features like the always-on display, gesture controls (e.g., double wrist twist to open the camera), and a game mode. The software is intuitive and doesn’t bog down the user experience with unnecessary bloatware.

Motorola promises five years of Android updates, including security patches, making it a future-proof choice in the budget segment.

Battery Life: Lasts All Day

With a 4310mAh battery, the Edge 50 Neo comfortably lasts a full day with moderate use. In my testing, it still had about 32% battery left after a full day of browsing, messaging, and light gaming. The phone supports 68W fast charging, allowing you to get a 44% charge in just 15 minutes. It also supports 15W wireless charging, a rare feature in this price range.

Final Thoughts: A Well-Rounded Budget Smartphone

In the budget smartphone market, it’s hard to find a device that excels in every area. The Motorola Edge 50 Neo, however, comes closer than most. It offers a balanced mix of performance, design, and camera versatility, all wrapped in a compact and colorful package. While it doesn’t have the best camera or the fastest performance, its overall usability and thoughtful features make it a strong contender in its price range.

If you’re in the market for a budget smartphone that’s easy to use one-handed and offers solid all-around performance, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo is definitely worth considering.

Where to Buy

If you’re interested in purchasing the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, you can find it on Amazon at the following link:
Motorola Edge 50 Neo.

For accessories like wireless chargers, you can check out:
Qi Wireless Charger.

Looking for a fast charger? Consider:
68W Power Delivery Charger.

FAQs

Does the Motorola Edge 50 Neo come with a charger?

Yes, the phone comes with a 68W fast charger in the box.

Is the Motorola Edge 50 Neo water-resistant?

Yes, it has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

How many software updates will the Motorola Edge 50 Neo receive?

Motorola has promised up to five years of Android updates, including security patches.