Moto Edge 50 Ultra review: A premium contender with impressive features

Motorola has stepped into the high-end smartphone market with its latest offering, the Moto Edge 50 Ultra. Priced at ₹59,999, with an introductory offer at ₹54,999, the Moto Edge 50 Ultra is designed to compete with flagship models like the OnePlus 12, Samsung Galaxy S24, and Xiaomi 14. Let's delve into its features and performance to see if it stands out in this competitive segment.

Design and Build

The Moto Edge 50 Ultra boasts a distinctive aesthetic, available in three back panel options: wood, glass, and faux leather. The wooden variant I reviewed provides a unique look, setting it apart from the usual glass and metal phones. The phone features a triple camera setup and dual LED flash neatly housed in a slightly raised rectangular module that blends seamlessly with the back panel.

The device is equipped with a 6.67-inch curved Full HD+ display (2712x1220 resolution), which offers a 20:9 aspect ratio. The front-facing camera and earpiece grille are discreetly positioned at the top. At 8.6mm thick and weighing under 200 grams, the phone feels comfortable to hold, although it can be a bit slippery on flat surfaces.

Display

The 6.67-inch display supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and 720Hz DC dimming, making it suitable for both gaming and daily use. The screen is bright enough to be visible in direct sunlight and offers sharp, vivid visuals. I found the natural display mode to provide accurate colors, making it ideal for watching movies and TV shows. The display also supports HDR10+, maintaining detailed visuals without compromising shadows and motion during fast-paced scenes.

Camera Performance

The Moto Edge 50 Ultra is equipped with a powerful camera system:

Main Camera: 50MP (f/1.6) with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)

Ultra-Wide Camera: 50MP (f/2.0)

Telephoto Camera: 64MP (f/2.4) with OIS

The camera performance is impressive, delivering clear and well-detailed shots in daylight. The camera app is quick and responsive, making it easy to switch between modes. The Action mode is particularly useful for capturing moving subjects like kids and pets. The 50MP front-facing camera (f/1.9) with autofocus performs well in various lighting conditions and can record 4K videos at 30FPS.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Moto Edge 50 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, featuring an octa-core processor clocked at up to 3GHz, an Adreno 735 GPU, and an X70 5G modem. With 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 internal storage, the phone runs smoothly on Android 14 with Moto’s Hello UX. The interface is close to stock Android but includes useful features and customization options.

The phone handles multitasking and gaming effortlessly, maintaining a consistent 60FPS in graphically intensive games like Wuthering Waves. However, Moto’s promise of only three years of OS updates and four years of security patches falls short compared to competitors offering up to seven years of updates.

Battery Life and Charging

The Moto Edge 50 Ultra houses a 4,500mAh battery, which generally lasts a little under a day. The included 125-watt TurboPower charger can fully charge the phone in about an hour and is compatible with other USB-C devices, including laptops, thanks to its broad compatibility.

Additional Features

The phone's loudspeakers offer decent depth and volume, suitable for media consumption and gaming. During my usage, WiFi and GPS performed reliably, and 5G network reception was stable on the move.

Conclusion

The Moto Edge 50 Ultra is a well-crafted smartphone with a solid chipset that performs well across the board. While it may not be the absolute best value in its price range, it offers a capable camera system and respectable battery life. It’s a commendable choice for those looking for a premium smartphone with a unique design and robust features.