The Hidden Gem: Unveiling the Underrated $350 Motorola Phone of 2023

The Motorola Edge from ZDNet’s perspective

The Motorola Edge, released in 2023, may not be as advanced as the Edge Plus model, but it still delivers a commendable smartphone experience. At under $600, this phone boasts an impressive OLED panel, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 1,200 nits of brightness. While the cameras and performance may not be top-notch, its current sale price of $349 makes it worth considering for basic smartphone users. The design of the Edge is sleek and lightweight, and it features a vegan leather exterior, an IP68 certification, and dual stereo speakers.

The 6.6 inch P-OLED display is bright and vibrant, offering a Full HD+ resolution and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. This display is paired with the MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, providing adequate power for everyday tasks, although it may struggle with gaming. The device’s 50MP main shooter and 13MP ultra-wide camera have room for improvement in terms of image quality.

Battery life is generally good, lasting through full 16-hour days with its 4,400mAh cell and offering fast wired charging at 68W, as well as 15W wireless charging. The device runs on vanilla Android, with three years of OS upgrades and four years of security patches. Despite average cameras and performance, the Motorola Edge is a strong contender for smartphones under $600, especially with its holiday sale price of $349.