2023 could be the year that Motorola is back thanks to the stellar Razr+/40 Ultra that we reviewed earlier in the year and the brand new Edge 40 Neo which packs in a high level of hardware with a sleek vegan leather finish. Powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7030 chipset, the Edge 40 Neo has a 144Hz AMOLED display, a 50MP main camera with OIS, and boasts IP68 protection against water and dust. All that at the rather affordable price of just £299 (~$370).
In a Nutshell:
- Software: Android 13
- Display: Curved 6.56-Inch AMOLED, 144Hz Refresh Rate, FHD+ Resolution
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7030
- Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Rear Cameras: 50MP Main Sensor with OIS; 13MP Ultra-wide lens
- Front Camera: 32MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Charging: 68W TurboPower (50% in 15 mins)
- Audio: Dual Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos
- Security: Under-display Fingerprint Reader
- Networking: Dual-SIM, 5G
- Device Protection: IP68 water and dust-resistance
As you can see from the gallery above, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo is available in bright, vibrant colorways such as Caneel Bay (Minty Green), and Soothing Sea (Petrol-Blue) as well as the more common Black Beauty (Black), all of which are the result of the brand’s collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute. Besides the eye-catching colors, the Edge 40 Neo also sports a vegan leather finish which as well as feeling great to hold means that the phone won’t be slipping off a table without provocation – unlike some glass-backed smartphones.
At £299/$370, the Edge 40 Neo is an affordable phone with a good mix of hardware and appealing aesthetics, with enough power and charge to get through the day doing anything from gaming to the usual social media and browsing usage. And when the battery does run flat, the 68W TurboPower fast charging offers a 50% charge in just 15 minutes.
The Edge 40 Neo is capable of extending the mobile experience to a monitor or TV, with PC users able to access phone apps and files on the same screen as well as answering calls or messages directly from the PC screen. Running Android 13 out of the box, the phone also comes with a number of Motorola’s Moto Secure features such as Security Scan which scans the device for threats and reports on firmware integrity plus Phishing Detection which warns about potential threats associated with suspicious links or website.
The 50MP Ultra Pixel rear camera includes OIS which, combined with the improved Auto Night Vision mode, allows the user to capture sharper, more vivid phones at night up to 16 times faster than before. The 50MP sensor lets in more light which results in improved image quality and colors.
You can pick up the Edge 40 Neo in Europe and the UK for €399/£299 and at first glance it could well be the new champion of affordable mid-rangers in 2023 – undercutting the likes of the pricey OnePlus Nord 3. For the moment, Motorola hasn’t announced availability of the Edge 40 Neo for North America, but once they do we’ll update the article accordingly.
