Motorola Edge review 

 

Determined to put a lid on the ever-increasing 5G phone prices, Motorola opted for the next best alternative to Snapdragon 865 with its new Edge phone, and equipped it with the more cost-efficient Snapdragon 765 instead, Qualcomm's first integrated 5G chipset. It also added a huge battery, 64MP camera, and... a headphone jack, for one of the most complete $700 packages you can find on a 5G-capable phone.

Snapdragon 765 is the only integrated, shovel-ready 5G solution that can be used on US carriers right now, and we took the Motorola Edge for a spin to determine if this chipset delivers in speed and frugality as well. It does, as the Edge performs well, and lasts a ton under our grueling array of battery tests, so much so that it could serve you up to two days with normal usage.

The OnePlus 8 that costs about as much, though, comes with a faster chipset, also lasts long on a charge, tops up quicker, and delivers a more polished and consistent interface. It lacks a bit in the zoom camera department compared to the Motorola, though, so it'd be curious to follow how these two direct competitors fare in the scarce midrange 5G marketplace. Hey, the Edge's got the jack, after all!

Motorola Edge design and display

Available in Midnight Magenta and Solar Black, the Motorola Edge looks pretty and feels solid but not too heavy in the palm. Love it or leave it, Motorola is going all-in with the display curves, too, which aid in keeping the phone narrower than the screen diagonal number suggests. 

The 6.7-inch OLED display slopes sharply on both sides, enhancing the aesthetics of the phone, and making the back interface gesture a breeze. The tall 21:9 aspect ratio of the display makes the large phone rather comfortable to hold and operate with one hand. The ridged power/lock key helps you feel it without looking, and, overall, the Moto Edge design, while not winning any contests in originality, is rather ergonomic.