Motorola Edge 50 Neo Review: Is This the Best Budget Smartphone of 2024?

Motorola Edge 50 Neo Review: A Premium Mid-Range Smartphone with Flagship Features

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is the latest addition to Motorola’s Edge series, designed to bring flagship-level features to the mid-range market. With a sleek design, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and an impressive pOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, the Edge 50 Neo promises an exceptional user experience. In this review, we’ll dive into its design, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and more to help you decide if this smartphone is the right fit for you.

Design and Build Quality

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo features a sleek and modern design that feels premium in hand. The phone is built with a glass front protected by Gorilla Glass 5, a plastic back, and an aluminum frame. The device is available in two stunning colors: Aurora Green and Stellar Black. Its curved edges and thin profile, combined with an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, make it both stylish and durable.

The under-display optical fingerprint sensor is responsive and offers a secure unlocking experience. The triple-camera setup is neatly arranged in a rectangular module on the back, giving the phone a sophisticated look. At just 7.9mm thickness and 178 grams weight, the Edge 50 Neo is comfortable to hold and easy to carry.

Display: Stunning Visuals with 144Hz Refresh Rate

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo sports a 6.73-inch pOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (Full HD+). The display offers vivid colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles, thanks to the pOLED technology. The 144Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, seamless gaming, and an overall fluid user experience.

With HDR10+ support and up to 1000 nits of peak brightness, the display is perfect for media consumption, whether you’re watching your favorite shows or playing games. The always-on display feature is a nice touch, allowing users to check notifications, time, and other information without unlocking the phone.

Performance: Power-Packed Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, one of the most powerful processors available in the market. Paired with up to 12GB of RAM, the phone handles multitasking, gaming, and day-to-day tasks with ease. Whether you’re running graphic-intensive games like PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, or multitasking with multiple apps, the Edge 50 Neo delivers a smooth and responsive experience.

The Adreno 740 GPU ensures that games run smoothly at high settings, while the vapor chamber cooling system keeps the device from overheating during extended gaming sessions. Motorola’s near-stock Android 14 experience further enhances the performance, providing a clean and bloatware-free interface.

Camera Setup: Versatile Triple Camera

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 13MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 5MP macro/depth sensor. The 50MP main camera captures stunning photos with excellent detail and accurate colors, especially in daylight. The optical image stabilization (OIS) helps reduce blurriness, ensuring sharp and clear images even in challenging lighting conditions.

The 13MP ultra-wide camera is perfect for capturing landscapes and group shots, offering a 120-degree field of view. The 5MP macro/depth sensor allows you to get up close to your subjects, though its performance is average compared to the primary camera. On the front, the 32MP selfie camera takes vibrant selfies with good detail, and the HDR mode ensures balanced exposure in different lighting conditions.

The Edge 50 Neo also excels in video recording, supporting up to 8K video at 30fps and 4K at 60fps. The gyro-EIS ensures smooth and stable footage, making it ideal for content creators and vloggers.

Battery Life: All-Day Power with Fast Charging

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is equipped with a 4800mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day of heavy use. The combination of an efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and pOLED display ensures that the battery drains slowly, even during gaming or media streaming.

The phone supports 68W TurboPower fast charging, allowing you to charge up to 50% in just about 20 minutes. It also supports 15W wireless charging, which adds convenience for users who prefer a cable-free charging experience.

Software and User Experience

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo runs on Android 14 with a near-stock experience, which means there is minimal bloatware and a clean user interface. Motorola has added some useful features like Moto Actions, which allow you to perform specific actions with gestures, such as twisting the phone to open the camera or chopping twice to turn on the flashlight.

The software experience is smooth, intuitive, and free from unnecessary clutter, making it a joy to use. Regular software updates from Motorola ensure that the phone remains up-to-date with the latest features and security patches.

Connectivity and Extras

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo supports 5G connectivity, making it future-proof for the next generation of networks. It also comes with Bluetooth 5.4, dual-band Wi-Fi 6e, GPS, and NFC for contactless payments. The under-display fingerprint sensor works accurately, while the face unlock feature is also fast and reliable.

The phone features stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, providing an immersive audio experience whether you’re watching movies or playing games. However, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack, which means users will need to use USB Type-C or Bluetooth for audio.

Pros and Cons of Motorola Edge 50 Neo

Pros

• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor: Delivers excellent performance for gaming and multitasking.
• 144Hz pOLED Display: Smooth and vibrant visuals, perfect for media consumption.
• Versatile Camera Setup: 50MP main camera with OIS and 8K video recording.
• Fast Charging: 68W TurboPower charging and 15W wireless charging support.
• Near-Stock Android Experience: Clean, intuitive software with useful Moto Actions.
• IP68 Water and Dust Resistance: Durable design for everyday use.

Cons

• No 3.5mm Headphone Jack: Requires USB Type-C or Bluetooth for audio.
• Average Macro Camera: The macro/depth sensor performance is not as impressive as the primary camera.
• Plastic Back: While it feels solid, a glass back would have added a more premium feel.

Conclusion: Is the Motorola Edge 50 Neo Worth Buying?

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is a fantastic mid-range smartphone that brings many flagship-level features to a more affordable price point. Its sleek design, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, vibrant 144Hz pOLED display, and versatile camera setup make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a premium experience without breaking the bank.

While there are a few downsides, such as the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack and the average macro camera, these are minor trade-offs considering the overall package. If you’re looking for a smartphone that delivers powerful performance, a great display, and a clean software experience, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo is definitely worth considering.