What’s all the buzz about the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra smartphone? Is it the 1 TB storage?

Motorola's latest flagship, the Edge 50 Ultra, is more than just an improvement over its predecessor. This 2024 model boasts a periscope zoom camera and an impressive 1 TB storage capacity, all for around $1,000. Here’s an in-depth look at this promising device.

Key Specifications

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

Graphics Adapter: Qualcomm Adreno 735

Memory: 16 GB RAM

Display: 6.70 inch, 2712 x 1220 pixels, P-OLED, 144 Hz refresh rate

Storage: 1 TB UFS 4.0 Flash

Weight: 197 g

Price: 999 Euros

Design and Build Quality

Motorola continues to experiment with unique materials and colors. The Edge 50 Ultra is available in understated Forest Gray, eye-catching Peach Fuzz, and Nordic Wood, which features a real wood back. The phone’s design includes slim edges and a slightly curved screen, enhancing its elegant look. Despite its large screen, it remains lightweight at 197 grams and offers an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, paired with the Adreno 735 GPU and 16 GB of RAM, ensures smooth performance. The 144 Hz display enhances the user experience with fluid animations and quick responsiveness. The large 1 TB storage provides ample space for apps, media, and more.

Camera

The standout feature is the periscope zoom camera, which promises enhanced zoom capabilities. Combined with the high-resolution display, this makes for an excellent photography experience.

Connectivity

The Edge 50 Ultra supports the latest WiFi 7 standard, enabling fast and stable internet connections. It includes a USB-C port with data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbit/s and supports DisplayPort for connecting to external monitors. The phone is dual-SIM ready, with one nano-SIM slot and an eSIM option, both supporting 5G connectivity. NFC and Bluetooth 5.4 are also included, but there’s no microSD slot for expandable storage.

Software

The device runs on stock Android 14, with Motorola’s custom features available through additional apps. Motorola promises four years of security updates and new OS versions up to Android 17. Features like Ready For, Desktop Mode, and Media Center enhance productivity by allowing the phone to be used with a mouse, keyboard, or as a webcam.

Sustainability

Motorola packages the Edge 50 Ultra in recycled materials printed with soy ink. However, the availability of spare parts and repair instructions varies by region, indicating room for improvement in sustainability practices.

Verdict

The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is a compelling choice for those seeking a high-performance smartphone with excellent storage capacity and advanced camera features. At around $1,000, it offers great value, especially compared to more expensive competitors like the iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Impressive 1 TB storage

Periscope zoom camera

144 Hz P-OLED display

Affordable price for flagship features

IP68 rating

Cons:

No microSD slot for expandable storage

Limited spare parts availability for repairs

Slightly rough transition between frame and back

Overall, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is a well-rounded smartphone that balances performance, design, and value.