I bear in mind when family and friends members used to achieve out to me for assist selecting a smartphone, I’d inform them, “enhance your funds, after which speak to me.” Perhaps I sounded a bit impolite, however actually, I barely had any suggestions for telephones priced underneath Rs 30,000. That section lasted two years.
However one thing modified late final 12 months — the choices within the mid-range smartphone section began to develop. A lot of the queries I get for smartphone suggestions are nonetheless within the Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 vary. These are individuals who earn nicely however don’t wish to spend Rs 50,000 or extra on a smartphone.
Both approach, after I see a telephone just like the Motorola Edge 60 Professional, which I’ve been utilizing for just a few days, it makes me surprise if the mid-range smartphone section is making a comeback and is right here to remain unfazed by the rise of premium telephones.
That is most likely the third or fourth Motorola smartphone I’ve reviewed this 12 months, and the model’s back-to-back launches clearly present how targeted it’s on capturing the sub-Rs 30,000 section in India. The Edge 60 Professional isn’t a low-cost telephone, neither is it precisely a premium smartphone — it falls someplace in between.
I’d say the system goes after the likes of the Apple iPhone 16e, Google Pixel 9a, Samsung Galaxy A56, and the Nothing Telephone (3A) Professional—however with a Motorola-esque design, a deal with AI options, and all of this at Rs 30,000.
What: Motorola Edge 60 Professional| Worth: Rs 29,990 onwards
The curved show
Curved shows on smartphones aren’t a brand new function, however I keep in mind that within the mid-2010s, high-end telephones usually had curved screens, which had been thought of a premium function. I feel the rationale behind utilizing curved screens on a mid-range smartphone is to present shoppers a way of a premium expertise — and there’s nothing mistaken with that.
The Edge 60 Professional, because the identify suggests, options a big 6.7-inch pOLED curved show. Whereas most telephones usually include flat screens, Motorola has opted for a curved show as a differentiating function, with the display curving over the sides on each side.
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The telephone’s 6.7-inch show has a refresh fee as much as 120Hz, which makes video games and animations look clean. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
Evaluating the Edge 60 Professional aspect by aspect with my iPhone 16 Professional does really feel completely different, regardless that I’ve used smartphones with curved shows prior to now. For somebody utilizing a curved display for the primary time, the expertise can both be optimistic or met with blended reactions.
For instance, scrolling by way of articles and net pages on a curved display is gratifying, however when watching movies, some elements of the content material might get misplaced within the curve. There may also be app optimisation points. At instances, app builders place buttons close to the sides of the display, which might make it troublesome for curved shows to register touches precisely. Nonetheless, to be honest, Apple’s Dynamic Island additionally suffers from occasional app optimisation issues. Neither curved shows nor the Dynamic Island are good options, in my view.
The 6.7-inch pOLED show is bigger than the 6.3-inch display on the Pixel 9a and the 6.1-inch show on the iPhone 16e. The entrance is sort of all display, with solely a small gap within the middle for the front-facing digicam. The OLED show (2712 x 1220 pixels) is sharp and presents spectacular peak brightness, making it simply legible outside. It helps a 120Hz refresh fee, good for cellular video games or watching motion motion pictures. It additionally includes a fingerprint scanner underneath the display. That mentioned, show high quality is usually good throughout most mid-range smartphones as of late. Motorola additionally permits you to set the show’s edges to gentle up for notifications when the telephone is face down — a cool contact.
Smooth appears
Recently, I’ve observed a rising cohesiveness in Motorola’s smartphone design. The model has taken a special route, choosing vegan leather-based over the extra acquainted steel and glass our bodies. The again of the telephone is clean to the contact, presents additional grip, and doesn’t entice fingerprints.
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The again is roofed in “Vegan” leather-based. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
The system is available in enjoyable colors (Motorola loaned me the evaluation unit in a purple end) — a reminder of the nice outdated days when telephones had been joyful to have a look at. Including to the Edge 60 Professional’s attraction is its light-weight design; at simply 186 grams, it’s noticeably simpler to hold than different telephones of the same dimension. It’s attention-grabbing to see how manufacturers are working to make smartphones slimmer and lighter whereas additionally growing display dimension.
Quick charging meets lengthy battery life
Whereas the Dimensity 8300 Excessive chip (paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage on my unit) will not be as highly effective as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite or Apple’s A18 processor, it performs nicely in on a regular basis use. Normally, the Edge 60 Professional is quick sufficient that you just gained’t be fascinated with what’s powering the system. Should-have apps like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Gmail opened rapidly, and I used to be capable of run Genshin Influence with none points. The telephone does get heat when pushed — particularly in Delhi summers — however actually, most telephones do.
The person interface is easy and straightforward to make use of. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
With a 6000mAh battery, the Edge 60 Professional presents a bigger battery capability than many different smartphones on this worth section. The telephone can simply final two days on a single cost, and in my expertise, it delivered a couple of day and a half of heavy use earlier than needing to be plugged in. Meaning I don’t have to hold an influence financial institution after I step out and may journey worry-free from one a part of the town to a different with no charger. As for recharging, the Edge 60 Professional helps 90W wired and 15W wi-fi charging, making it considerably quicker to cost than the Google Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e.
A devoted AI key
The Edge 60 Professional, alongside the brand new Razr foldable, debuts with a devoted AI key that launches Moto AI when pressed. Motorola has partnered with Gemini, Perplexity, Meta’s Llama, and Microsoft Copilot to energy Moto AI and several other of its options. Nonetheless, up to now, the combination nonetheless seems like a piece in progress. I would like extra time to completely consider how nicely Moto AI performs in real-world use, however I admire how Motorola is making an attempt to combine synthetic intelligence into the general expertise.
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The Ask and Search bar seems all through the UI, together with as a floating Moto AI icon. You can even summon Moto AI by urgent the devoted bodily button on the left aspect of the telephone. The Edge 60 Professional is filled with AI options like Picture Studio and Catch Me Up — a notification summariser just like a function in Apple Intelligence.
Like others, Motorola is betting closely on manmade intelligence on its telephones. (Screenshot)
That mentioned, Moto AI can really feel overwhelming at instances, with so many options that it’s laborious to recollect all of them. I’m not certain if that is the best method, however it appears smartphone manufacturers are nonetheless experimenting to see which AI options resonate with customers — which is probably going why fashionable smartphones now ship with such a variety of AI capabilities.
Past the AI expertise, the model of Android 15 on the Edge 60 Professional is strong. There aren’t many pre-installed apps, and the person interface is clear and unobtrusive. My solely grievance is Motorola’s restricted software program help: the Edge 60 Professional will obtain solely three years of main Android updates and 4 years of safety updates — nicely under the seven years supplied by Samsung, Google, and even Apple. That’s a trade-off you’ll have to think about when you’re fascinated with shopping for the Edge 60 Professional.
Surprisingly good cameras
I will not be a giant fan of Motorola’s cameras, however there was constant enchancment of their digicam techniques — not less than based mostly on my expertise with newer Motorola smartphones. The Edge 60 Professional includes a 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA 700C sensor with OIS, a 50 megapixel ultra-wide digicam, and a ten megapixel 3x telephoto lens, which now helps as much as 50x digital zoom. There’s additionally a 3-in-1 gentle sensor for higher publicity management, white stability adjustment, and flicker discount. On the entrance, there’s a 50 megapixel digicam for selfies and video calls.
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Motorola Edge 60 Professional digicam pattern. Picture resized for net. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
Motorola Edge 60 Professional digicam pattern. Picture resized for net. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
Motorola Edge 60 Professional digicam pattern. Picture resized for net. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
Motorola Edge 60 Professional digicam pattern. Picture resized for net. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
Motorola Edge 60 Professional digicam pattern. Picture resized for net. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
Nicely, the digicam takes clear pictures, however they usually seem overprocessed — one thing Samsung Galaxy cameras additionally are likely to do. Nonetheless, Motorola’s partnership with Pantone appears to be paying off. The colors are shiny and correct, capturing good element and matching the vibe of the scene. You will get nice pictures even when the topic is shifting or in difficult lighting situations. The ultrawide digicam now captures extra element in comparison with final 12 months’s Edge 50 Professional.
Motorola has added a devoted AI key on the Edge 60 Professional. (Picture: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
I’m nonetheless not a fan of how the Edge 60 Professional handles bokeh pictures, although. Motorola’s AI does plenty of work on low-light pictures, serving to to scale back picture noise. Total, when you ask me, the Edge 60 Professional isn’t a nasty digicam telephone — it’s serviceable for the value vary. It’s nowhere near Google’s color replica and low-light prowess, however Pixel smartphones are costly. The distinction between probably the most inexpensive Pixel 9a and the Edge 60 Professional is Rs 20,000.
Motorola Edge 60 Professional evaluation: Must you purchase it?
If you happen to’re trying to purchase a brand new smartphone, the Edge 60 Professional is a strong improve. It’s not an ideal telephone, however at Rs 30,000, it’s laborious to argue towards it. The telephone includes a fairly good curved OLED display, presents typically sturdy efficiency, has glorious battery life, and runs a clear, bloatware-free person interface. The digicam isn’t one of the best I’ve seen, however for the value, the Motorola Edge 60 Professional could possibly be an awesome choice for everybody — teenagers, adults, and even the aged who don’t wish to spend Rs 50,000 on a smartphone. Truthfully, after spending a number of days with the Edge 60 Professional, the argument {that a} premium telephone is at all times higher than a mid-range smartphone is a tricky tablet to swallow. The Edge 60 Professional is so good on the worth it’s retailing for, it actually makes you query whether or not you want a high-end smartphone in any respect.