Survey results from earlier this year showed that the first three models in Motorola’s Edge 50 series are promising but expensive. Since then, the company has added a few new models, including the relatively compact Neo model.
Motorola Edge 50 Neo
THE Motorola Edge 50 Neo It’s not small, but with a 6.4” screen, it’s smaller than most Androids available on the market. Compared to a Pixel 9 ProIt’s 1.3mm taller, but 0.8mm narrower and 0.4mm thinner, not to mention 28g lighter. All while offering a bit more screen real estate. The Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Pro are smaller than the Neo, but they’re pretty much the only mainstream flagships that are.
Not that the Edge 50 Neo is a flagship – the Dimension 7300 The chipset is the same one used in the €200 CMF Phone 1. However, the Neo stands out with several premium features. For one, the 6.4-inch display is an LTPO OLED with a resolution higher than FHD+ (the pixel density is higher than that of the iPhone 15 Pro). And it’s a flat screen, unlike most Edge 50 models.
Gorilla Glass 3 is certainly outdated (why not 7i?), but the vegan leather and suede back looks chic. And this is a pretty rugged phone with an IP68 rating and MIL-STD-810H compliance.
What really caught our eye, though, was the triple camera setup – there’s a 10MP 3x telephoto module (73mm lens) on the back, in addition to the 50MP main (1/1.5”) and 13MP ultrawide. The Asus Zenfone 10 and Sony Xperia 5 V don’t have telephoto lenses (or 2024 sequels, for that matter).
15W wireless charging is usually omitted from these smaller phones too, but not here. The 4,310mAh battery capacity sits between the batteries in the S24 (4,000mAh) and the Pixel 9 Pro (4,700mAh), but the 68W wired charging is faster than both.
We spent some time practical time with the Motorola Edge 50 Neo and we are working on a complete review as well, so expect more details soon. For now, there’s only one thing left to mention – the price.
At €500 for an 8/256GB model (UFS storage, but no expansion), the Neo isn’t a cheap phone, but we wouldn’t expect it to be given the premium elements of its hardware. Still, we have to check out some competitors.
The Pixel 8a will have to hold down the fort until the 9a arrives. It starts at just over €500 for an 8/256GB device, and while it lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, camera quality is quite high overall. However, the 6.1-inch 120Hz FHD+ display isn’t a 10-bit LTPO panel like the Neo. The 4,492mAh battery is a comparable capacity, but the inefficient Tensor G3 chipset delivers average battery life, and the 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging is quite slow.
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion costs €400 for a 12/256GB unit and feels cheaper too. The 6.7” 144Hz OLED display may look fancy with its curved sides, but it has a lower FHD+ resolution and isn’t an LTPO panel (the GG5 glass is also old). The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is only marginally faster than the Dimensity 7300. Also, the 50+13MP camera doesn’t have a telephoto lens. Finally, the 5,000mAh battery does just 68W wired charging with no wireless charging.
Google Pixel 8a • Motorola Edge 50 Fusion • OnePlus 12R • Realme GT 6
The OnePlus 12R can be found for €550 in a 16/256 GB configuration. It has a proper flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and a high-res LTPO display – a rather large 6.78” panel. However, it lacks a telephoto camera (it has a 50+8+2 MP setup). Also, the 5,500 mAh battery could be large and fast to charge via USB-C (100 W), there is no wireless charging. Even the water resistance rating is only IP64.
The Realme GT 6 is another big one with a high-res 6.78” LTPO display. €550 buys you a 12/256GB phone with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and a decent telephoto camera – the short 47mm focal length is compensated by the high-res 50MP sensor. Water resistance is still not up to par (IP65) and the 5,500mAh battery only supports wired charging (120W).
Motorola Edge 50 Neo colors
Maybe the arrival of the Pixel 9a will shake things up. Maybe the Xperia 5 VI will too, but it will cost twice as much as the Neo. It will be up against the Xiaomi 15, at least in terms of cost. Asus may or may not launch a small Zenfone 11.
This puts the Motorola Edge 50 Neo in a unique position – no other phone offers the same hardware package at a comparable price. Has the Neo risen to the top of your “next phone” list, or do you find fault with it?