Motorola Edge 50 Neo Review: Strong Contender in Mid-range Segment

Dhaka
November 12, 2024, 08:50 AM
by Md. Mehedi Hasan

UNB News
Dhaka
Publish- November 12, 2024, 08:50 AM
Md. Mehedi Hasan
Update- November 12, 2024, 09:15 AM

Motorola Edge 50 Neo Review: Strong Contender in Mid-range Segment

Motorola builds its Edge Neo series smartphones to offer the best deals in the budget-friendly to mid-range price segments. Several models like the 30 Neo and 40 Neo gained popularity. Motorola launched the Edge 50 Neo on August 29, 2024. The phone is currently available in Bangladesh. Let’s look at the features, pros, cons, and price of Motorola Edge Neo 50.

Key Specs and Features of Motorola Edge 50 Neo

Design

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo’s dimension measures 154.1 mm by 71.2 mm by 8.1 mm, which is more compact than that of its other Edge 50 siblings. However, the design, look, and feel of the phone don’t deviate from the series norm. The immediate competitor, the OnePlus Nord CE4, has a bigger and heavier body but falls short of the look and feel.

Instead of using a full flat edgy plastic body, as used in the Nord CE4, the Edge 50 Neo’s back uses a good griper vegan leather. The leather smoothly curves around the edge and blends into the plastic side frame. It ensures a firmer and more comfortable grip.

The phone is lighter than the other phones of the Edge 50 series and weighs 171 g. When held into the hands, it feels unexpectedly leaner, even with a thicker camera mount rooming three lenses and a flashlight on the back. The Edge 50 Neo introduces three color variations– Pantone Nautical Blue, Poinciana, Latte, and Grisaille.

The overall build of the phone is sturdy, and certified with IP68 and military-grade durability standards. Though sturdiness is great, ruggedness or use in extreme conditions is not guaranteed by the manufacturing company.

Display

A 6.4-inch P-OLED display may seem like a shortage in front of the similarly priced competitor OnePlus Nord CE 4’s 6.7-inch fluid AMOLED panel. However, the Edge 50 Neo overcomes this point by featuring a 3000 nits peak brightness level, much higher than the Nord CE 4’s 1100 nits. 50 Neo’s display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Furthermore, implementing an LTPO panel 50 Neo offers a fair deal.

The 120 Hz refresh rate streamlines the overall touch response by saving energy while scrolling or tapping on the 1256 by 2760 pixels display. The visuals seem crispier for the combined contribution of an HDR10+ system, 1B color projection capacity, and around 474 ppi density.

Performance and Software

Motorola Edge 50 Neo’s functionalities are run by a 4 nm Mediatek Dimensity 7300 octa-core processor. In terms of the model and capacity, the processor is worth the price, as the Nord CE 4 also uses a 4 nm processor of similar performance.

The RAM capacity of 50 Neo ranges from 8 to 12 GB. Starting from 256GB, the internal storage capacity of this phone reaches up to 512 GB supported by UFS mechanism. Unlike the Nord CE, it has no option for enhancing memory with an external memory card.

However, the overall capacity of the Edge 50 Neo falls short due to its weaker GPU, Mali-G615 MC2. Consequently, the Nord CE 4 tops the Edge 50 Neo in almost every performance test.

High-end games like Pubg and Call of Duty can be played in 50 Neo without lag; the phone still loses to the broader screen size and better graphics of the Nord CE 4 while playing video games.

50 Neo uses the latest Android 14 with Motorola’s Hello UI skin. Close to the stack skin, but more polished, Hello UI is easier to navigate through. However, unlike ancestor phones, Motorola provides 5 OS upgrades and 7 years of security maintenance for the Edge 50 Neo.

Cameras

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo features a versatile triple-camera setup. The 50 MP (f/1.8) main camera captures detailed shots, while the 13 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide lens offers a wide field of view with minimal distortion, perfect for group shots or scenery.

The 10 MP (f/2.0) telephoto lens provides clear 3x zoom without losing detail. In low light situations, its camera holds up well, with noise reduction and improved quality through night mode.

The 32 MP (f/2.4) front camera delivers sharp, vibrant selfies in good lighting. Overall, the Edge 50 Neo offers great performance for everyday photography and portrait shots.

Both front and rear sensors can capture maximum of 4k footage at 30fps.

In camera section 50 Neo surmounts Nord CE4, as the latter comes with a less powerful ultra-wide and front shooter. And CE4 does not offer a telephoto lens and captures 1080p videos on the front shooter.

Battery and Charging

50 Neo’s 4,310 mAh battery is despairing, and once more falls below the market standard. But it’s highly indicative of the phone’s gaming-unfriendly vision. The compact battery, however, contributes to the leaner and lighter design. A TurboPower 68W charger is given for instant battery charging. It complements the power storage capacity. Furthermore, the 15W wireless charging is a bonus for the users.

Though the Nord CE4 comes with a stronger battery (5500 mAh) and faster charging (100W) support, it lacks a wireless charging option.

Pros and Cons of the Motorola Edge 50 Neo

Pros

- 68W wired & 15W wireless charging
- NFC & 5G support
- 120Hz FHD+ LTPO P-OLED display
- 3000 nits brightness
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- MIL-STD-810H compliant
- IP68 dust & water-resistant
- Android 14 support
- Under-display fingerprint scanner
- 4K video recording with gyro-EIS
- Ultrawide & optical zoom cameras.

Cons

- No reverse charging
- No secondary card slot
- No headphone jack
- Low battery life
- No custom UI support.

Price of Motorola Edge 50 Neo in Bangladesh

Motorola is unofficially available in Bangladesh. The 8/256GB version of the phone is priced at BDT 34,000. However, the official price of Motorola Enge 50 Neo in Bangladesh may vary due to tax and other issues.

Conclusion

Motorola Edge 50 Neo stands out in the mid-range segment with its 68W wired charging, P-OLED display, and IP68 water resistance. Powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 chipset, it offers solid performance but falls short in gaming due to its weaker GPU. The 50 MP main camera and 32 MP front camera deliver impressive photos, while the 4,310 mAh battery may feel limiting. Overall, the Edge 50 Neo is a great choice for users seeking a premium feel and reliable performance without stretching their budget. But gamers should opt for other alternatives like the OnePlus Nord CE 4.