Weekly ballot: is the Motorola Edge 50 Neo the small telephone to get?

Ballot outcomes from earlier this 12 months confirmed that the primary three fashions in Motorola’s Edge 50 sequence are promising however expensive. Since then the corporate has added a number of new fashions, together with the comparatively compact Neo mannequin.

Motorola Edge 50 Neo

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo isn’t small, however with a 6.4” show, it’s smaller than most Androids on the market. In comparison with a Pixel 9 Professional, it’s 1.3mm taller however 0.8mm narrower and 0.4mm thinner, to not point out 28g lighter. All this whereas providing a bit extra display screen actual property. The Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Professional are each smaller than the Neo, however they’re just about the one mainstream flagships which can be.

Not that the Edge 50 Neo is a flagship – the Dimensity 7300 chipset is identical one that’s used within the €200 CMF Telephone 1. Nevertheless, the Neo does stand out with a number of premium options. For one, that 6.4” show is an LTPO OLED with greater than FHD+ decision (the pixel density is greater than the iPhone 15 Professional). And it’s a flat show, in contrast to most Edge 50 fashions.

The Gorilla Glass 3 is definitely outdated (why not 7i?), however the vegan leather-based and suede backs do really feel fancy. And it is a pretty rugged telephone with an IP68 score and MIL-STD-810H compliance.

What actually caught our eye, although, was the triple digicam – there’s a 3x 10MP telephoto module (73mm lens) on the again, along with the 50MP predominant (1/1.5”) and 13MP extremely extensive. The Asus Zenfone 10 and the Sony Xperia 5 V don’t have telephoto lenses (or 2024 sequels, for that matter).

The 15W wi-fi charging usually will get omitted from these smaller telephones too, however not right here. The 4,310mAh battery capability falls between the S24 (4,000mAh) and Pixel 9 Professional (4,700mAh) batteries, however the 68W wired charging is quicker than each.

We spent some hands-on time with the Motorola Edge 50 Neo and we’re engaged on a full evaluate too, so count on extra particulars quickly. For now, there is just one factor left to say – the value.

At €500 for an 8/256GB mannequin (UFS storage, however no enlargement), the Neo isn’t an inexpensive telephone, however we wouldn’t count on it to be, given the premium components of its {hardware}. Nonetheless, we’ve got to take a look at some competitors.

The Pixel 8a should maintain the fort till the 9a arrives. It goes for a bit over €500 for an 8/256GB system and whereas it lacks a devoted tele lens, the digicam high quality is kind of excessive general. The 6.1” FHD+ 120Hz show is just not a 10-bit LTPO panel like on the Neo, nevertheless. The 4,492mAh battery has a comparable capability, however the inefficient Tensor G3 chipset makes for common battery life and the 18W wired, 7.5W wi-fi charging is kind of gradual.

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is €400 for a 12/256GB unit and it feels cheaper too. The 144Hz 6.7” OLED show could look fancy with its curved sides, nevertheless it has a decrease FHD+ decision and isn’t an LTPO panel (the GG5 glass is outdated too). The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is simply marginally quicker than the Dimensity 7300. Additionally, the 50+13MP digicam is lacking a tele lens. Lastly, the 5,000mAh battery does solely 68W wired and no wi-fi charging.

Google Pixel 8a • Motorola Edge 50 Fusion • OnePlus 12R • Realme GT 6

The OnePlus 12R will be discovered for €550 in a 16/256GB configuration. This one has a correct flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and a excessive decision LTPO show – a moderately giant 6.78” panel. Nevertheless, it lacks a tele digicam (it has a 50+8+2MP setup). Additionally, the 5,500mAh battery possibly giant and quick to cost over USB-C (100W), it doesn’t have wi-fi charging. Even the water resistance score is simply IP64.

The Realme GT 6 is one other giant one with a 6.78” excessive decision LTPO show. €550 buys you a 12/256GB telephone with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and a good tele digicam – the brief 47mm focal size is compensated by the excessive decision 50MP sensor. The water resistance nonetheless isn’t on the extent (IP65) and the 5,500mAh battery helps solely wired charging (120W).

Motorola Edge 50 Neo colorways

Possibly the arrival of the Pixel 9a will shake issues up. Possibly the Xperia 5 VI will too, however it is going to value double the value of the Neo. Will probably be up towards the Xiaomi 15 as an alternative, at the least when it comes to value. Asus could or could not launch a small Zenfone 11.

This locations the Motorola Edge 50 Neo in a singular place – no telephone provides fairly the identical {hardware} bundle at a comparable value. Has Neo climbed as much as the highest of the “my subsequent telephone” checklist or do you see flaws in it?