It’s hard to believe how much I complicated my life a few months ago when I decided to compare the Motorola smartphone with my personal Redmi out of curiosity. This made my life more difficult and complicated the review of the Motorola Edge 50 Neo. Why?
Because for a long time, I limited my conscious choice of smartphones to interfaces that had specific features that were extremely convenient for me. And those features were only available on some problematic Chinese versions from Vivo and IQOO. Later, most of these features appeared on devices with the latest Android, which I discovered while comparing the Edge 50 Pro and Redmi Note 13 Pro.
Then I picked up the Motorola Edge 50 Neo and realized that Android 14 is almost perfect. And where it isn’t perfect, it’s compensated for by the hardware and the smartphone itself. So, I can no longer review this device by saying, “It’s cool; some might even find it awesome, but it doesn’t suit me.” Something terrible happened—my curiosity about the Motorola Edge 50 Neo became personal.
Technical characteristics
- Operating system: Android 14
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300
- RAM: 8/12 GB LPDDR4X
- Internal memory: 256/512 GB uMCP module
- Display: pOLED, 6.4 inches, Super HD (2670×1220), 120 Hz
- Dimensions: 154.1×71.2×8.1 mm
- Protection against immersion in water: IP68 / MIL-STD 810H
- Camera: 50MP on Sony – LYTIA 700C, 13MP ultra-wide module, 10MP telephoto, 32MP front-facing
- Connector: USB Type-C
- SIM card: two SIM cards (1 Nano SIM + eSIM)
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
- Operating system: Android 14
- Battery capacity: 4310 mAh
- Charging: 68 W TurboPower, 15 W wireless (Qi)
Motorola Edge 50 Neo video review
Market position and price
Вартість цієї моделі, в золотому кольорі Latte (або Peach в деяких магазинах), в версії 8/256, складає $400 або €360. Існують також версії в інших кольорах – Nautical Blue, сірому Grisaille та бордовому Poinciana. Так, це кольори Pantone, тому і назви “особливі”. Є також версія 12/512 ГБ, вона коштує $480.
Package contents
The box, made of noticeably recycled cardboard, includes only a case made of significantly recycled plastic and a quality black Type-C to Type-C cable.
The only thing I find lacking is a protective glass. It’s not pre-applied out of the box, and there isn’t one included in the packaging. The display features the relatively outdated Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Yes, it’s a cost-saving measure, and yes, it’s justified—particularly by the design.
External appearance
I was very fortunate to receive the Edge 50 Neo in the “gold” color. I’m not sure how the other colors look, but the Latte variant appears five times more expensive than it actually is. It looks like a piece of jewelry.
And not just because of the gold-colored metal on the rather flat edges, or the ultra-pleasant texture that mimics leather, which has become a standard for this series.
And not even because the Pantone tag is not a sticker but part of the body, and the camera modules have rounded edges.
The smartphone is almost symmetrical at the front. It would look great with an under-display camera because, with one, it wouldn’t resemble a typical smartphone at all—in a good way.
Motorola Edge 50 Neo display
The metal on the edges is nearly the same thickness as the black frame surrounding the display, and thanks to the quality of the 120Hz FHD+ P-OLED panel, the front of the smartphone looks exponentially more expensive than its price.
Add to that a compact 6.4-inch diagonal, and you get a feeling I’ve personally never noticed before. Even the ergonomics are quite reasonable, with the power and volume buttons placed on one side without unnecessary experiments. The only negative thing I can say about the design is the slight play in the buttons.
But it’s strange how noticeable and uniform the play is on both buttons. It feels like it was done intentionally. To paraphrase the philosophy of the father of modern computer design, Charles Harwood, “if you can’t eliminate something, make it a feature.”
Specifications
Next, I’ll briefly outline the most important technical specifications, and then we’ll discuss Android 14 with a touch of Moto. The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip, achieving 667,000 points in AnTuTu, ensuring that any game runs smoothly.
The RAM can be expanded up to 8 GB, with a default limitation for AI management. The memory is in the uMCP format, and the internal storage is UFS 3.1. Wi-Fi is version 6E, meaning it supports 6 GHz. I comfortably achieved download speeds of 40 MB/s for Genshin Impact through the ASUS RT-AXE7800 router. Bluetooth is at version 5.3, supporting the Hi-Res LDAC codec, but not LHDC. There are two microphones, two speakers, and Dolby Atmos stereo sound is present. The fingerprint scanner is under the display, and NFC support is included. The device’s protection features not only IP68 but also MIL-STD 810H standards.
Surprisingly, there is no support for microSD cards. Additionally, dual physical SIM card support is absent; the device only accommodates eSIM and nanoSIM.
Cameras
A special mention goes to the cameras, starting with the specified focal length in full-frame equivalent.
The camera quality is excellent, featuring three modules. The main 50-megapixel camera is equipped with an impressive Sony LYTIA LYT-700C sensor, which utilizes advanced pixel-binning technology.
FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO – CLICK HERE
Additionally, it features optical stabilization. There’s also a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and a 13 MP ultra-wide macro lens. The front camera has a resolution of 32 MP. Video recording is possible at 4K 30 fps across all modules, with a portrait mode and plenty of other options. The camera also includes several AI features—what would it be without them?
Battery life
The battery life is average. Given the smartphone’s compact size, it houses a 4310 mAh battery, which delivers around 9 hours in the PCMark Battery Test at half brightness—even though the display itself is bright, reaching up to 3000 nits in HDR mode. It also supports both wired charging up to 68W and wireless charging up to 15W, which is quite impressive.
Android (by Motorola)
Why is the software interface so important? Because when I took the smartphone out of the box and started setting it up, at one point the Edge 50 Neo asked me whether I preferred gestures or buttons at the bottom.
This shouldn’t be the case, as pure Android doesn’t accommodate buttons. In fact, it’s so limited that even Linus in his video about pure Android nearly lost his mind trying to use the latest Pixel. Over time, pure Android… degrades. It’s not just that—OneUI lost several important interface features after version 2.0, but that’s Samsung. This is Google.
Honestly, Android developers should be ashamed of this. But I understand that the absence of buttons by default (though they can be reintroduced with workarounds) is part of their philosophy. Google knows better and makes the decisions for you. I don’t agree with that, which is why Pixel isn’t for me. And then, entering the scene in a pink Rolls-Royce, comes Motorola, saying, “Don’t worry! Here are the buttons!”
And this is the detail that allows me not to be intimidated by Motorola’s “pure” Android 14. The philosophy of “we know better” is absent here. I don’t feel any trickery, like after Apple’s presentation when they added a pause button in iOS 18. That pause button didn’t exist before. And if it wasn’t there, then what else is still missing in iOS? A reboot function? Oh, wait.
In short, I’m starting to believe that I might not even need crutches to make Android functional. Because it can be excellent right out of the box. Unlike HyperOS, for example.
The final touch
The Edge 50 Neo may not be the most powerful, prestigious, or the best smartphone in the world that does everything at once. But it is comfortable. Using this smartphone is a pleasure. It feels nice in the hand, and swiping is enjoyable. The settings button is conveniently placed at the bottom, just where it belongs. There’s also support for Moto Now with a bunch of features.
And the smartphone is FAST. Not just in terms of hardware, but also software-wise. There are no animation delays, meaning you can activate the next action before the previous one finishes. This is one of the reasons why I absolutely hate HyperOS. Plus, there are gestures, a quick swipe for the flashlight, and quick access to the camera by twisting your wrist, along with customizable double-tap at the center on the back.
Yes, there’s still some leftover mess from Google. Why isn’t there a professional video recording mode in the camera app? Not for photos, but for video. I don’t know. Why is there still no decent desktop manager? Also unknown. I also noticed four pre-installed games.
You can delete them, but only one at a time because the smartphone lacks a proper desktop manager.
Conclusions
This is the best compact smartphone I’ve ever held. If I had the choice, I’d trade my current one for the 12/512 version right now. And this is not just due to the hardware. Motorola realized that Google’s philosophy was dragging it down and chose to go against it.
And I guarantee that because of this, many more people will happily say “Hello Moto” to their new smartphone. Perhaps even the Motorola Edge 50 Neo. I hope to be among them soon.
Read also:
- Xiaomi 14 Review: Compact Flagship
- CUBOT A20 Review: Inexpensive Phone with Two Screens
- Motorola Edge 50 Fusion Review: Beautiful and Successful