The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is new flagship for 2024, and it's USP is its wooden back panel. It offers many cool features, including a 125-watt charging speed, which is not yet in a Galaxy or an iPhone.
However, Motorola has tried hard to make the Edge 50 Ultra a great deal for those who seek a cheaper flagship phone. It features slightly less substantial processor, and the camera might be slightly worse than what other brands offer.
Thus, the price of £850 in the UK can be considered rather affordable, especially considering that the model that may be compared to this one, Galaxy S24 Plus or iPhone 15 Pro, for instance has a starting price of £1,000 and more. Yet, this particular model comes with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of non-volatile memory built-in.
Regarding Motorola Edge 50 Ultra review availability in US, for now, we know nothing. For the past years, Motorola used to launch its Edge series in the US, meaning that this phone could also take a future release slot.
To make sure we get an understanding of this phone, let’s also address a fact about its name first. So last year , the company came up with the Edge 40 Pro as its flagship model, but this year , the Edge 50 Pro is its mid-range phone. Also, in 2024, Edge 50 Ultra seems to be its flagship cell-phone. The possibility is the Ultra is the new chic word Motorola is using for this year.
With the release of the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, there is a 6. 7 inches phone, which gives it an impression of being slightly less than your average big flagship due to its rounded edges. In terms of size, the new devices are not that much smaller than the Edge 40 Pro model that Samsung released a year earlier, measuring 161. 1 x 72. 4 x 8. 6 mm.
It is certainly not as heavy as some of the rivals, and has a weight of 197g, which, for comparison, is around 35g lighter than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, among others.
Looking at the design of the picture, it is not quite traditional. Actually we have now for Motorola Edge 50 Ultra review The Edge 50 Ultra with the light wooden back, you also have a black model with the faux leather at the back, while the third bronze colored model with glass on the back is available in some markets only.
We appreciate that more options in terms of both colors and materials are available, and we would love to see more flagships provided with the same number of choices.
Speaking of the back, we have noted that the company has changed the camera housing which appeared to be a little awkward on the previous generations of the phone. Now it is more organized as if it is a sheet that hides some of the regions where the camera island is located.
The frame of the phone is of aluminum, and not even some special substance such as titanium.
As always typical with Motorola and particularly so when it comes to their typical high end phones the unboxing experience is quite impressive. It is bundled with a 125W charger and a USB-C cable for initial use and a case to protect it from impact right out the box. One drawback worth mentioning here is that the phone does not come with a screen protector preinstalled.
Yes, the Edge 50 Ultra (as well as other devices in the Edge 50 series) has a curved screen, which differs it from many other premium smartphones as the majority of them have flat screens. Of course, this is somewhat subjective, but an edge display does seem appropriate for phones with the word ‘edge’ in their name.
On the front, you enjoy a 1220 x 2712 pixels OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. You’ll also get coverage for HDR10+ content (no Dolby Vision support). All forms of content that went on this display were enjoyable and we especially liked the fact that we could use it in places where the weather was warm because it was bright.
While the Motorola is equipped with three cameras on the back, as well as one on the front for taking selfies, it remains to be seen how this hardware translates to real-life use.
We tested the Edge 50 Ultra on our extensive PhoneArena Camera Score, and while the photo quality of the device was excellent, the same could not be said about the videos the device captured.
The main camera on the Edge 50 Ultra is a definite strength. However, it is a small leap forward from the last one. The quality of the image shows satisfying colors, overage dynamic range, and rather appreciable detail.
Those drawbacks of the main camera are slight over sharpening, which one could easily see on the bigger screen, and lack of HDR preview through the camera screen, which means what you see on the screen is actually not going to get in the picture.
When it comes to zooming, the native 3X zoom periscope lens is adequate, which is also nice to have a f/2. 4 apertures so that the image sensor can gather more light, and the phone is also capable of being used in low light.
But strictly for detail this zoom camera is still pretty high at the top of the pile and is even ahead of Galaxy and Google compatriots.
Sadly, the ultra-wide camera doesn’t deliver what is expected of it.
I am a bit disappointed in detail, which is not as good compared to other phones, and you have some pretty major concerns with oversharpening. The quality of the corners is also significantly worse than in the middle of the square, where the first and second tiles are located.
Their self – portrait mode is good, but we gained results that are slightly lower quality than on rivals with similar price tags, and there is a certain degree of oversharpening in images.
It also supports high-definition video recording of 4K up to 60 frames per second and 1080P up to a frame rate of 960fps for slow motion. There is also the ability to record in 10-bit HDR10+, but that would be in high definition and thus consume a lot of space.
After that, we get Auto Focus Tracking, which assists in maintaining the subject fast in motion within a selected frame to assist notice while shooting videos. The second video feature worth mentioning is the Adaptive Stabilization, which introduces the variable stabilization according to the way you grip the phone or move your hands.
This section is solely dedicated to the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra's high performance.
Motorola has taken a hit or two in performance. Inside the Edge 50 Ultra, you get the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is a slightly lower-end version compared to the 8 Gen 3 commonly used on most 2024 Android flagship phones.
On the other hand, this chipset could be more efficient, and it might do fine with some users rather than the extra power.
In the Geekbench 6 test for overall chip performance, we can notice that the Motorola is just a little slower than the Galaxy S24 series, but it is way faster than the Pixel 8 series based on the Google Tensor 3 chipset.
There is a more significant difference in gaming, where a Galaxy performs much better.
Interestingly, there are even more losses; for example, last year’s Motorola Edge 40 Pro performs better in gaming than this Edge 50 Ultra!
Nor is it all bad. It compensates this shortcoming with a whooping 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM on board – the largest any flagships have ever come close to offering. The version that is available in the United States and Canada does not come with 1TB of onboard storage like that which is available in the UK and Europe.
Software on the other hand is the single facet of Motorola that I believe could easily be overhauled and should be.
Android 14 is the operating system it comes with, and there is Motorola’s Hello UI overlay on top of it. Features that are already known like twist to unlock the camera when the phone’s screen is off or, the chop to turn on the flashlight.
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is powered by a 5000mAh battery which is non-removable. Charging is never a concerning feature on Motorola phones, and the Edge 50 Ultra likely has 125W of wired charge, 50W of wireless charge, and 10W of reverse wireless charging.
But let’s first look at battery life because battery size is 4,500 mAh here, and the battery is smaller compared to most Android phones.
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra review shows the phone as as an attractive choice for those looking for an affordable flagship phone in 2024. Its standout features include a distinctive wooden back, fast charging at 125W, and a reasonable price tag of £850, making it a strong contender against pricier options like the Galaxy S24 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro.
Although it has a slightly weaker processor and camera compared to others, its 16GB RAM and 1TB storage ensure it delivers solid performance and storage space. Despite these minor issues, the Edge 50 Ultra's combination of modern design, quick charging, and budget-friendly price point positions it as a promising option in the market for flagship smartphones.
The price range of the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra varies depending on the region, but it generally falls within the flagship smartphone category, offering premium features at a competitive price point.
Differences between Edge 50 Ultra models in various regions may include variations in available storage options, RAM configurations, and potentially network compatibility for specific regions.
Performance-wise, the Edge 50 Ultra competes well with other smartphones in its price range, offering a balance of power, efficiency, and innovative features, making it a strong contender among flagship devices.
What is the charging speed of the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra?
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra boasts a rapid charging speed of 125 watts, allowing users to quickly recharge their device and minimize downtime.
With its substantial battery capacity and efficient hardware, the Edge 50 Ultra offers sufficient battery life for daily use, ensuring users can rely on their device throughout the day without frequent recharging.