At a glanceExpert’s Rating
ProsAppealing designStrong digital camera systemRapid chargingClean softwareConsAverage battery lifeBloatware beginning to encroachPerformance could possibly be betterOur VerdictMotorola has produced a aggressive flagship cellphone with a stellar design, sturdy digital camera, fast charging, and superbly clear software program. There are some slight drawbacks with efficiency and battery life, and it’s technically dearer than its predecessor, however that is in any other case a robust various to the same old flagship crowd.
Brick by stylishly curved brick, Motorola has rebuilt its repute for making top quality and fascinating flagship telephones.
2023’s Motorola Edge 40 Pro may not have been one of many best possible telephones in its class, but it surely nonetheless made an impression with its interesting design, fast show, and powerful efficiency.
This yr brings the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, which faces raised expectations due to a extra formidable identify (Ultra > Pro, proper?) and a £50 worth bump within the UK. Motorola hopes to justify this escalation with a sharper show, a extra superior digital camera, and a fair sleeker design.
With this type of spec and price ticket, it’s taking up some formidable opposition. Perhaps essentially the most direct rival is the OnePlus 12, however you might additionally throw the iPhone 15 Plus into the combination. That’s some stiff opposition.
(*50*) & Build
Vegan leather-based or wood end
Gorilla Glass Victus
IP68 rated
In a considerably staid smartphone discipline, Motorola no less than appears to be keen to strive one thing totally different. While its curvaceous design language is nothing significantly new, the availability of an precise wood end possibility (known as Nordic Wood) is one thing you don’t see daily.
Sadly this wasn’t the mannequin I acquired to check, so I can’t touch upon the way it seems to be or feels. The mannequin I did obtain has its personal stealthy allure, with a Forest Grey vegan leather-based end that lends texture and grip. The brighter Peach Fuzz possibility additionally comes on this identical materials.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Combined with a sandblasted aluminium body and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the entrance, it additionally implies that the Edge 50 Ultra is a deceptively powerful cellphone. An unintentional drop from about 1.5 metres onto a wood ground didn’t a lot as depart a dint on the gadget.
This robustness comes regardless of the truth that the Ultra nonetheless packs a dual-curved show, which is inherently extra uncovered and susceptible. IP68 certification means it’s as waterproof as they arrive, too.
The Edge 50 Ultra is a deceptively powerful cellphone
At 8.6mm, the Ultra isn’t as skinny because the Edge 50 Pro, and it’s additionally heavier at 197g. Even so, it stays the fitting aspect of cumbersome, and I discovered it completely nice to wield daily.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Display
Sharp ‘1.5K’ 144Hz pOLED
6.7-inch
Clear stereo audio system
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra’s show packs broadly related specs to the Edge 50 Pro, in that it’s a 6.7in LTPS pOLED with a refresh charge that goes as much as 144Hz.
It’s the latter that makes it stand out from its rivals on paper, which are inclined to high out at 120Hz, but it surely truly falls a little bit in need of the Edge 40 Pro‘s 165Hz show. Not that it actually issues – 120Hz is lots, and any uptick past that’s difficult to select up on.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Like the Edge 50 Pro, you get an enhanced 2712 x 1220 or 1.5K decision, which is a little bit sharper than your typical FHD+ panels with out scaling the heights of the OnePlus 12‘s QHD+. For me, the show is the candy spot for me between decision, color accuracy and refresh charge, however others will understandably really feel that the sharper the higher.
The key distinction between the Pro and Ultra fashions is certainly one of brightness, with the Edge 50 Ultra attending to 2500 nits (vs 2000 nits) in peak circumstances. That may be so, however turning auto-brightness off yielded a measurement of simply 332 nits, which is manner dimmer than the Pro mannequin, and most different flagship telephones for that matter. With auto-brightness lively, nonetheless, I noticed a high brightness of round 1250 nits when positioned below shiny lights.
For me, the show is the candy spot for me between decision, color accuracy and refresh charge
HDR10+ is supported, and that is additionally described because the world’s first smartphone with a ‘Pantone Validated’ show. This manifests itself in strong color accuracy, with an sRGB gamut protection of 97.5% and a mean Delta E of 1.29 when converted to the Natural color mode. Somewhat awkwardly, that is truly inferior to the outcomes I obtained with the Edge 50 Pro, and it falls in need of the perfect in the marketplace. It’s nonetheless sturdy on this regard, nonetheless.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
I’m happy to notice that I didn’t expertise the identical false press points with the Ultra’s curved show as I did with the Pro, probably due to that barely thicker body. It meant that my holding hand didn’t contact the edges of the display screen a lot whereas working the cellphone one-handed.
In normal phrases, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra display screen is nice, but it surely falls in need of the OnePlus 12 display screen in dimension, brightness, sharpness, and color accuracy.
When it involves audio, Motorola has equipped a pair of Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo audio system that may produce pleasingly clear and nuanced stereo sound.
Specs & Performance
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
15GB LPDDR5X RAM
1TB storage
Motorola has made an fascinating selection with the Edge 50 Ultra’s processor. While it has moved to the most recent era of Qualcomm’s chip household, it has opted for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 fairly than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
This chip presents a broadly related stage of efficiency, but it surely’s undoubtedly a step down, with a barely decrease clock pace for its quick core and an inferior configuration for the remainder of its cores.
Even extra notable is the truth that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3’s GPU is a slight step down from final yr’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, not to mention the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This implies that the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is technically inferior to the Motorola Edge 40 Pro with regards to graphical efficiency.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Sure sufficient, the Edge 50 Ultra pulls up in need of the Edge 40 Pro in our GPU benchmark exams – although it needs to be famous that the Ultra is working a sharper and thus extra resource-intensive show. Indeed, it broadly ties with the OnePlus 12 in a number of of our GPU benchmarks, which is a rival cellphone that has its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offset by a fair sharper QHD+ display screen.
Comparisons apart, the precise sensible expertise of utilizing the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is great. I didn’t decide up on any trace of lag or stutter while multitasking, the digital camera app boots up shortly, and 3D video games run fluidly on maxed out settings. I did discover that cellphone heated up fairly shortly when taking part in such superior video games, nonetheless.
The cellphone’s efficiency is aided by a vastly beneficiant 16GB of speedy LPDDR5X RAM, which is a reasonably notable inclusion even in an £850 cellphone. Talking of unusually capacious reminiscence, Motorola has laid on 1TB of inside storage as normal.,
Cameras
Main 50Mp f/1.6 sensor
50Mp ultra-wide
64Mp 3x telephoto
50Mp selfie cam
Motorola seems to have place numerous assets into bettering its digital camera system – the triple rear cameras on the Edge 50 Ultra genuinely impressed me. The foremost sensor is a big 1/1.3″ OmniVision OV50H, which is similar sensor that wowed us within the Honor Magic 6 Pro.
Here, aided by speedy multi-directional PDAF and OIS, it’s able to capturing wealthy photographs with ample readability and depth. Its f/1.6 aperture may not be as giant because the Honor’s f/1.4, but it surely nonetheless lets loads of mild in and creates a pleasant pure depth of discipline impact on close-up topics.
Like the remainder of the Edge 50 household, there are two foremost capturing modes straight out of the gate. The default mode is Natural, which shoots in a daily vogue, whereas Auto-enhance (AE) applies Google-like picture processing.
The latter leads to bolder, brighter photographs, and there’s little discernible lag by the use of a commerce off both. It can come in useful whenever you’re capturing in significantly difficult eventualities, corresponding to in low-lit indoors environments with shiny daylight within the background, through which case AE will enhance the lighting of your topic on the expense of a barely overexposed background.
The triple rear cameras on the Edge 50 Ultra genuinely impressed me
However, AE photographs undoubtedly tackle a barely synthetic look in comparison with the default Natural mode, with notably boosted colors. It’s largely a matter of choice, although I did recognize the enhance it gave to the marginally extra restricted ultra-wide and selfie cameras. AE is lively within the left-hand selfie beneath.
There’s good and unhealthy information with regards to night time photographs. Shooting aspect by aspect with the iPhone 15 Pro and the Pixel 8, it broadly held its personal with the Pixel and wasn’t disgraced by the iPhone. In truth, in a single specific shot, it was the one one of many three to correctly seize the ‘Texaco’ signal on a storage.
One factor that lets the Motorola’s low mild prowess down, nonetheless, is its tendency to seize a distracting quantity of sunshine flare from brighter components. I used to be typically capable of reframe barely to compensate, however that’s not one thing you’re at all times going to be keen or capable of do.
The different cameras don’t let the aspect down right here, with the 64Mp 3x particularly capturing respectable zoomed photographs. Even at 6x, I used to be left impressed with the extent of element and dynamic vary, and the color tone was broadly per the principle sensor.
A 50Mp ultra-wide completes the rear set-up, and it’s the weakest of the three, however nonetheless manages to keep up a constant color tone.
Motorola seems to be utilizing the identical sensor for the selfie digital camera, which produces sturdy, detailed photographs in a large or barely zoomed in capability – the latter by cropping. Autofocus is a welcome provision right here, locking onto the topic and serving to them/you to pop towards the background.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Battery Life & Charging
4500mAh battery a little bit small
Super-fast 125W charger included
50W wi-fi charging
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a considerably undersized 4500mAh battery working the present. That’s the identical dimension because the Edge 50 Pro, however a little bit smaller than its predecessor.
With a PCMark Work 3.0 battery take a look at rating of 10 hours 5 minutes, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra lasted round half an hour longer than the Edge 50 Pro, however falls about 50 minutes in need of final yr’s Edge 40 Pro. In phrases of latest flagships, it’s positively in the direction of the underside of the pack, albeit nonetheless forward of the Pixel 8 Pro by round half-hour.
In normal phrases, I discovered that I used to be capable of get by a 16 hour day of average utilization, with the show ramped as much as both a set 144Hz or 120Hz, and be left with round 40 to 45%. On a few extra intensive days with a few hour of Slay the Spire being performed, that will drop to 30 to 35%.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
That’s a strong consequence fairly than a spectacular one, as the most effective full-sized flagships are typically good for 50% or extra on the finish of a daily day.
While battery life is nothing to write down dwelling about right here, Motorola’s charging provision most actually is. It bundles in a 125W charger which – with quick charging switched on within the Settings menu – bought me from empty to 91% in simply quarter-hour. A full cost took me simply 18 minutes.
While battery life is nothing to write down dwelling about right here, Motorola’s charging provision most actually is
You additionally get assist for 50W wi-fi charging, supplied you’ve got the suitable accent, in addition to 10W reverse wi-fi charging – although given the cellphone’s unspectacular stamina, I wouldn’t suggest doing way more than a fast high up of some earphones.
Software
Clean Android 14 UI
Clever Motorola enhancements
3 OS updates, 4 years safety updates
Motorola doesn’t mess with Android 14 an excessive amount of, which is why it’s probably the greatest variations within the enterprise. The menus, icons, and notification screens are all very a lot as Google supposed them to be.
Where Motorola goes off script, it does so with sound judgement. Most of its enhancements are neatly rounded up within the Moto app, which presents normal suggestions and entry to customized wallpapers.
Motorola’s Gestures system will also be discovered right here, which helps you to do issues like opening the digital camera app with a double twist of the handset, or the torch with a double chop movement.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
You may also handle the Edge 50 Pro’s Edge lights system, which sees these curved display screen edges put to make use of with notifications if you happen to’re a screen-down form of particular person. Media settings will also be discovered right here.
I’m unsure why Motorola hasn’t featured an Always-on show possibility right here, but it surely may need one thing to do with that smaller battery mixed with the elevated refresh charge. As somebody who makes use of both a Pixel 8 or an iPhone 15 Pro – each of which have even smaller batteries than the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra – in between opinions, it’s a function that was sorely missed.
Motorola doesn’t mess with Android 14 an excessive amount of, which is why it’s probably the greatest variations within the enterprise
Unfortunately, the Edge 50 Ultra hasn’t been exempted from the bloatware that has began to encroach on the sequence. The Opera browser is pre-installed and prominently positioned, regardless of the presence of Chrome. TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Booking.com are 4 extra unwelcome third-party app inclusions.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Did I ask for the Bingo Blitz, Block Blast, and Woodoku video games to be preinstalled? I can’t say I’d even heard of them earlier than booting up a Motorola Edge 50 cellphone, however right here they’re nonetheless.
Motorola has improved its software program assist promise from the Edge 40 vary, providing the assure of three main OS upgrades and 4 years of safety patches. That falls nicely in need of Samsung and Google’s seven-year flagship promise, but it surely’s about par for the course in 2024.
Price & Availability
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra prices £849.99 whenever you purchase it direct from the Motorola web site. The firm is providing a free set of Moto Buds+ (value £129.99) on the time of writing.
Amazon isn’t providing up any free earphones with the Ultra, however it’s at present promoting the cellphone at a barely discounted £829.
The Edge 50 Ultra isn’t accessible on contract within the UK, so that you’ll have to purchase it outright and pair with a SIM-only deal. Use the widget beneath to search out an possibility that fits you:
That RRP positions the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra instantly towards some fairly sizzling opposition, together with the OnePlus 12 (£849) and the iPhone 15 Plus (£899).
Those are the 2 apparent full-sized flagship rivals occupying the same space of the market. Otherwise you’re taking a look at compact flagships just like the Samsung Galaxy S24 (from £859) and the Xiaomi 14 (£849).
Perhaps extra problematic than any of these is the Google Pixel 8 Pro. While it has a £999 RRP, it has been in the marketplace a little bit longer than a few of the different telephones on this round-up, so can routinely be had for a whole bunch much less.
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra doesn’t look like heading for the US, the place the Motorola Edge 2024 appears to be nearer to the mid-range Motorola Edge 50 Pro. It’s a disgrace, as it could have been a welcome various to the same old Samsung, Apple, and Google crowd.
Should you purchase the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra?
The Motorola Edge 50 is one other achieved flagship cellphone from the resurgent model, although it’s not an enormous improve over the Motorola Edge 40 Pro earlier than it, regardless of costing £50 extra.
Its design is glossy but strong, whereas its 1.5K 144Hz pOLED show is interesting, if not best-in-class. The option to go along with a contemporary however barely lower than high tier processor is an fascinating one, providing a silky expertise however barely inferior graphical efficiency.
The selection of a smaller battery looks as if an even bigger mistake right here, and you will get higher stamina from rival handsets. With that stated, Motorola’s provision of a speedy 125W charger and 50W wi-fi charging is without doubt one of the greatest round.
This can be the most effective digital camera system that Motorola has ever put collectively, with a triple set-up that may take nice photographs in all lighting circumstances – albeit with some troublesome mild flare in Night mode. Meanwhile, Motorola’s software program continues to be probably the greatest within the enterprise.
Specs
Android 14
6.7in, 1.5K, pOLED, 144Hz, flat show
In-display fingerprint sensor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
16GB LPDDR5X RAM
1TB storage
50Mp, f/1.6 foremost digital camera
50Mp ultra-wide macro digital camera
64Mp telephoto digital camera
Up to 4K @ 60fps rear video
50Mp front-facing digital camera
Dolby Atmos stereo audio system
Dual-SIM
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
Bluetooth 5.4
4500mAh battery
125W charging
50W wi-fi charging
161.09x 72.38 x 8.59 mm
197g
Launch colors: Forest Grey, Nordic Wood, Peach Fuzz
https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2367041/motorola-edge-50-ultra-review.html
