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Motorola announced a trio of Edge 20 phones for international markets a few weeks ago, and promised that an Edge phone would arrive in the United States soon. Well, there it is. The United States will get a phone known simply as the Motorola Edge. This device has the most in common with the middle kid of the Edge 20 family, but it does have a few tweaks for the US. However, it’s not a flagship phone on par with the 2020 Edge +. The $ 700 Edge sports a Snapdragon 778G and a 1080p LCD display that doesn’t curve like last year’s OLED Edge phones. However, it has a large 5000mAh battery and a 108MP camera. It’s also $ 200 off if you order it now.
The new Motorola Edge is the only one Moto is releasing in the US and, sadly, it’s not quite a flagship phone. Moto basically took the middle of the Edge 20 phones it just launched overseas and made a handful of changes, for example, the 5000mAh battery. Combined with an efficient processor, I’m sure this device will last a long time on a charge. Maybe not as long as he should have, though. This phone has an LCD screen instead of OLED (hence the big chin), which is baffling considering the price. It’s at 144Hz, and yes the screen looks very smooth, but that doesn’t make up for the change in screen technology.
The 2020 Edge (left) vs the new Edge (right)
It’s still an “Edge” phone, but the name doesn’t mean as much as it did last year. The screen is flat without the curves on the sides, which makes sense for an LCD. The sides and back are plastic, and they want it. It’s not Samsung-style “glast”, which could easily be mistaken for glass. It is shiny and immediately picks up fingerprints. The reflection patterns on the surface are really pretty and the phone won’t bend or squeak. Moto says there’s a metal frame inside (but that’s true for most phones).
There is a big camera module on the back which is both impressive and disappointing. I’m happy to see that Moto was able to fit a 108MP sensor there, but there is no OIS. The Ultrawide stuck at 8MP is also a letdown. And adding a depth sensor to this phone seems odd to me. This is what I expect to see on a much cheaper device that just wants to look cool with three sensors on the back. Moto will be talking about some of its new camera features, however. The Edge has spot colors in the video and improved dual capture that lets you use two sensors on the phone at the same time.
This phone launches with Android 11, and you’ll get at least two OS updates. However, security updates are also limited to two years. It’s not long enough as Samsung pushes to four years. Fortunately, it’s still the same solid Android skin that we know and love. There are a plethora of gestures, a clean UI, no bloatware to speak of, and even premium features like Ready For, which is Moto’s version on Samsung DeX. You can use a cable or a Wi-Fi connection to project a desktop-like user interface onto a larger screen. In addition, there is a PC client that allows you to run your applications and access phone data on your computer.
The fingerprint sensor has moved to the side (in the power button) because LCD displays do not work with sub-display sensors.
At the right price, a phone like this could be a viable option for the right buyer. $ 700 isn’t that price, however. Motorola is going to offer $ 200 off the Edge at launch, but that price won’t last. At $ 500, the Edge is at least competitive with phones like the Pixel 5a and Samsung Galaxy A52. Not so much at the regular price. The Edge will be available unlocked and from select carriers, including Verizon. These phones will start at 6/128 GB, but the unlocked phone will be 8/256 GB at the aforementioned price. Motorola will also provide you with a 30W charger with the phone, but the carriers will probably back you up.
Some features of Moto’s Edge remain active.
Pre-orders are live today (August 23) on the Motorola website, and the devices will ship on September 2. In the coming weeks, the price will hit full MSRP, but I strongly suspect that Moto will end up dropping it again in the future. Having said that, we don’t know when it’ll be this cheap again. If you’re a Moto fan and this sounds like the phone to you, now is the time to pick it up. That $ 200 off won’t last forever, and you don’t want to wait to buy the Edge until it’s already halfway through its lifecycle.
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