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 machine.
When deciding which to purchase, just a few gadgets spring to thoughts instantly. There’s the lately launched Pixel 9a from Google and Samsung’s Galaxy A56 on the Android aspect, 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 machine.
With the brand new Edge 60 Professional, Motorola has a real contender to be among the best mid-range telephones round. On paper, it presents all the things most individuals search for in a smartphone. Fingers-on time with the machine is simply as encouraging, although I’ve one main concern, which might be a dealbreaker.
What a looker
For some time now, Motorola telephones have been recognized for his or her enticing designs, and the Edge 60 Professional isn’t any completely different. Drawing on an ongoing partnership with color specialists 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 really like the eye to element Motorola places into design, even on its cheaper telephones. The Edge 60 Professional feels impressively sturdy, combining robust 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 fiend
The Edge 60 Professional is perhaps a mid-range telephone, however you wouldn’t comprehend it from the show. This 6.7-inch pOLED was a pleasure to make use of in my brief time with the machine, providing the crisp, vibrant viewing expertise we count on from Motorola.
And regardless of technically being a small downgrade, the 120Hz refresh price ensures scrolling and switching between apps nonetheless feels impressively easy 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 most likely goes with out saying, however visibility in mainly any lighting circumstances must be glorious.
Many mid-range telephones have spectacular shows, so the Edge 60 Professional doesn’t essentially stand out from the gang. However no matter what you propose 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 checks telephones for a dwelling, 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 in recent times, and now typically 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 by means of all of the apps and multitasking situations I might throw at it with none points in anyway. The one duties I might think about inflicting points could be demanding apps equivalent to AAA gaming, however all the things else feels inside attain.
It blazed by means of all of the apps and multitasking situations I might throw at it
Slick software program
Motorola is understood for its light-touch method 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 aspect of the telephone presents easy accessibility to a variety of instruments designed to streamline and simplify the expertise.
These embody present ones equivalent to Catch Me Up (summarises missed calls and notifications), Pay Consideration (begins audio recording and transcription) and Keep in mind This (seize and retailer photographs, screenshots and different data). However the addition of a brand new context-aware Subsequent Transfer characteristic permits it to supply sensible solutions based mostly on what’s in your display screen, together with additional analysis through 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 lots of doubtlessly helpful stuff at your fingertips..
Bumper battery life
It’s not one thing I’ve been capable of correctly take a look at but, however I couldn’t not discuss in regards to the large 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% improve 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 as a replacement isn’t precisely gradual – Motorola claims you will get a full day of utilization from simply six minutes plugged in!
If you happen to choose the wi-fi route, although, you’ll need to drop all the best way right down to 15W, which is a bit disappointing.
Can the cameras really compete?
Except for barely restricted software program assist, my hands-on time suggests Motorola can combine it with the massive 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 presents 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 into a prime mid-range digicam telephone, which can be essential to tempt individuals away from rivals.
A couple of fast pictures within the hands-on space regarded first rate, 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, at the least 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 machine.