Motorola introduces three new Edge series phones, bringing back a classic design feature first introduced a decade ago: the wood back panel. The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is the highest-spec device of the three, and the just one with an optional real wood back panel (though the peach-colored vegan leather looks awfully nice, too). Motorola will launch the first phones outside the US “in the coming weeks,” but says it intends to “expand the Edge family in North America this year.”
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra uses the new Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 chipset, which is a slight step down from the 8 Gen 3. There is a 6.7-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of as much as 144Hz, which is “Pantone approved”. Say what? Motorola says this designation applies to the display and camera, and that “each Pantone-approved device has met Pantone’s grading and grading criteria by authentically simulating the full range of actual Pantone colors.” All right.
The Ultra is IP68 rated, so it may possibly withstand full immersion in water, and supports wireless charging – two things a flagship phone really needs in 2024. It has a 50-megapixel stabilized principal camera and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera – each with optical stabilization – in addition to a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera that can be used as a macro.
The Edge 50 Pro is available in a “special edition pearl polymer finish, handcrafted in Italy.” Photo: Motorola
The Motorola Edge 50 Pro sits slightly below the Ultra and uses the midrange Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, while the Edge 50 Fusion completes the trio with the 6 Gen 1. Both of those devices are IP68 rated, but only the 50 Pro has wireless charging connectivity. By selecting the Pro version, you gain a further camera: a 10-megapixel stabilized telephoto lens with 3x zoom. Motorola touts the use of artificial intelligence in all three phones, including the Google Magic Editor in the Photos app, although only the first 10 saved changes are free with no Google One subscription.
A typical move by Motorola is to launch Edge devices in the US after their international debut under the generic “Edge” and “Edge Plus” brands. It currently sells two Edge devices on its online store – if it plans to “expand” its U.S. lineup, perhaps all three will come stateside.
I bet you five bucks this one finally ends up at T-Mobile. Photo: Motorola
The Edge 50 Fusion is offered in T-Mobile-ready hot pink vegan suede, while the Edge 50 Pro is offered in black and lavender vegan leather. It’s hard to say which phones and colours will make it to the US, but I’m rooting for the 50 Ultra’s Nordic wood finish to make it. If we will not have cool stuff like Moto Mods, not less than give us a few of the charm of a wood-paneled Moto X!
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra will start from €999, the Edge 50 Pro from €699 and the Edge 50 Fusion from €399. They will probably be sold in parts of Europe, Asia, Latin America and Oceania.
Credit : www.theverge.com
