For many individuals, a mid-range telephone is the candy spot. It’s low-cost sufficient to be inexpensive, even when shopping for outright, but costly sufficient to nonetheless really feel and carry out like a premium system.
When deciding which to purchase, just a few units spring to thoughts instantly. There’s the not too long ago launched Pixel 9a from Google and Samsung’s Galaxy A56 on the Android facet, and naturally, the iPhone 16e.
Nonetheless, one model you won’t have thought-about is Motorola. And whereas the corporate is understood for its Razr flip telephones, you shouldn’t ignore its common non-folding system.
With the brand new Edge 60 Professional, Motorola has a real contender to be the most effective mid-range telephones round. On paper, it affords every thing most individuals search for in a smartphone. Fingers-on time with the system is simply as encouraging, although I’ve one main concern, which could possibly be a dealbreaker.
What a looker
For some time now, Motorola telephones have been identified for his or her enticing designs, and the Edge 60 Professional is not any completely different. Drawing on an ongoing partnership with color consultants Pantone, the telephone is offered in three eye-catching finishes: a vegan leather-based ‘Shadow’, a nylon-esque ‘Dazzling Blue’ and ‘Glowing Grape’, my private favorite.
Motorola
I like the eye to element Motorola places into design, even on its cheaper telephones. The Edge 60 Professional feels impressively sturdy, combining powerful Corning Gorilla Glass 7i with military-grade MIL-STD-810 sturdiness.
Elsewhere, flagship-level IP68 and IP69 water and mud resistance imply it’s rated to outlive each submersion in water and high-pressure jets. Alongside a grippy again, it’s one of many few telephones I’d really feel snug utilizing case-free.
Display screen fiend
The Edge 60 Professional is perhaps a mid-range telephone, however you wouldn’t realize it from the show. This 6.7-inch pOLED was a pleasure to make use of in my quick time with the system, providing the crisp, vibrant viewing expertise we anticipate from Motorola.
And regardless of technically being a small downgrade, the 120Hz refresh charge ensures scrolling and switching between apps nonetheless feels impressively clean and premium.
Motorola
Whereas I didn’t get to correctly take a look at this, Motorola claims the height brightness has greater than doubled, going from 2000 nits on the Edge 50 Professional to 4500 nits right here. It in all probability goes with out saying, however visibility in principally any lighting circumstances ought to be wonderful.
Many mid-range telephones have spectacular shows, so the Edge 60 Professional doesn’t essentially stand out from the group. However no matter what you intend to make use of it for, it gained’t allow you to down.
Don’t fear in regards to the chipset change
As somebody who assessments telephones for a residing, it may be simple to learn an excessive amount of into an inventory of specs. However regardless of the Edge 60 Professional ditching a Qualcomm chip in favour of MediaTek’s Dimensity 8350 Excessive, I wasn’t too involved. MediaTek processors have come a good distance lately, and now usually match and even surpass their Qualcomm equivalents.
Whereas a couple of minutes of hands-on time isn’t essentially a consultant take a look at, I’ve no worries in regards to the Edge 60 Professional’s efficiency. It blazed via all of the apps and multitasking situations I might throw at it with none points by any means. The one duties I might think about inflicting points could be demanding apps corresponding to AAA gaming, however every thing else feels inside attain.
It blazed via all of the apps and multitasking situations I might throw at it
Slick software program
Motorola is understood for its light-touch strategy to software program, and that continues right here.
The Edge 60 Professional’s model of Android 15 is just like what you’ll discover on Pixel telephones, right down to the inclusion of Google Pictures as the first gallery app. As anticipated, the software program expertise is clear and slick, plus largely free from annoying bloatware.
Nonetheless, it’s AI options the place Motorola is attempting to distinguish itself. A devoted AI Key on the left facet of the telephone affords easy accessibility to a spread of instruments designed to streamline and simplify the expertise.
These embody present ones corresponding to Catch Me Up (summarises missed calls and notifications), Pay Consideration (begins audio recording and transcription) and Keep in mind This (seize and retailer images, screenshots and different info). However the addition of a brand new context-aware Subsequent Transfer characteristic permits it to supply good options based mostly on what’s in your display screen, together with additional analysis by way of a partnership with Perplexity AI.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Alongside a brand new Playlist Studio instrument for bespoke music suggestions and enhancements to the Gen AI-powered Picture Studio, the Edge 60 Professional has a complete suite of AI options. There’s nothing groundbreaking right here, however loads of probably helpful stuff at your fingertips..
Bumper battery life
It’s not one thing I’ve been in a position to correctly take a look at but, however I couldn’t not discuss in regards to the huge battery upgrades on the Edge 60 Professional.
Its predecessor, the Edge 50 Professional, had a reasonably unremarkable 4500mAh cell, so Motorola has changed it with a bumper 6000mAh one right here. Whereas it hasn’t made any particular battery life claims, a 33% enhance in capability ought to yield an enormous enhance.
Motorola
Nonetheless, charging speeds have been scaled again barely. The Edge 50 Professional’s ridiculously quick 125W wired charging is perhaps gone, however the 90W model instead isn’t precisely gradual – Motorola claims you may get a full day of utilization from simply six minutes plugged in!
In the event you want the wi-fi route, although, you’ll should drop all the best way right down to 15W, which is just a little disappointing.
Can the cameras really compete?
Other than barely restricted software program help, my hands-on time suggests Motorola can combine it with the large names within the mid-range telephone market.
Nonetheless, the cameras are nonetheless an enormous query mark for me. On paper, the 50Mp Sony Lytia sensor sounds good, however I’m not satisfied Motorola’s software program processing can fairly match Google, Apple or Samsung.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
And whereas the ultrawide has had a pleasant enhance to 50Mp and affords the pliability of a 120-degree subject of view, the 3x telephoto stays at simply 10Mp. I don’t know if that’s sufficient for the Edge 60 Professional to turn out to be a prime mid-range digicam telephone, which shall be essential to tempt folks away from rivals.
Just a few fast photographs within the hands-on space appeared respectable, but it surely’s laborious to attract any conclusions with out prolonged real-world testing.
Priced at €599.99 in Europe, the Edge 50 Professional represents good worth for cash, no less than based mostly on preliminary impressions. However will the digicam find yourself being a dealbreaker when contemplating the fiercely aggressive mid-range market? Time will inform.
Motorola hosted my journey to New York. I accepted, as there have been no alternative routes to get hands-on time with the Razr 60 Professional at launch. There have been no preconditions on what I write or how I consider the system.