The Motorola Edge+ (2023) is the very best “correct” flagship telephone we have seen from Motorola in years. Whereas I mentioned the identical factor concerning the ThinkPhone after I reviewed {that a} month in the past, the telephone’s restricted distribution and the marginally older processor maintain it from sitting firmly within the highest premium tier of smartphones.
However the Edge+ improves upon what Motorola already did nicely with the ThinkPhone, including in a fair nicer 165Hz pOLED show, higher cameras, a quicker (and newer) processor, and a stunning construct that makes final yr’s greatest Motorola telephones look much more like jokes than they already have been. Plus, in contrast to final yr’s telephones, this one has a correct IP68 water and dust-resistance score.
The Edge+ (2023) is the product of an organization that has shortly circled from a state of gradual decline over the previous few years, and it is refreshing to see a lot glorious competitors for Samsung and Apple at a time when Motorola continues to rise in recognition. The Motorola we used to like is again. It is higher than ever, and the Edge+ is totally the telephone I have been ready for them to make.
Motorola Edge+ (2023): Value and availability
The Motorola Edge+ (2023) is offered unlocked in North America at Motorola.com, Amazon, and Finest Purchase for $799 in a single Interstellar Black colorway.
Increase Infinite and Increase Cellular can also be promoting the telephone, providing up a carrier-locked various that is certain to return with loads of promotional value gives.
Internationally, Motorola sells the Motorola Edge 40 Professional, a near-identical system that differs primarily in some software program options, battery dimension, charging velocity, and appropriate wi-fi radios for every nation it is offered in.
For this evaluate, we’re utilizing a Motorola Edge+ (2023) evaluate unit in Interstellar Black supplied by Motorola for evaluate functions.
Motorola Edge+ (2023): Show and design
Show and design abstract
That is probably the most beautiful, well-built telephone Motorola has made in a really very long time. It mainly appears like in the event you took an Apple watch and turned it into a skinny, modern telephone. The in-display fingerprint scanner is impeccable and the on-board stereo audio system are loud and sound unimaginable.
The pOLED show on this telephone can also be very good, shiny, and actually beautiful trying, particularly with the quad-edge curved glass. It is also a part of the SGS Low Visible Fatigue Certification and could be very PWM and blue mild pleasant, particularly for an OLED show.
Every thing, I imply completely every thing, concerning the Motorola Edge+ (2023)’s design screams premium. From the quad-edge curved glass on the entrance to the “velvet matte” glass on the again, you may be gazing this telephone for days after you get it.
The quad-edge curved glass is one thing we do not typically see in telephones and it intently mimics the look of an Apple Watch — simply a lot bigger and taller, in fact. Whereas I do not just like the look of sq. watches in any respect, this curved glass design appears extremely horny on a telephone and goes an extended strategy to making the telephone really feel like the worth paid.
I discover myself regularly gazing this telephone as a result of it is simply so darn fairly trying.
In actual fact, I might go as far as to say that is the best-designed and constructed premium telephone I’ve used to this point, taking Google’s extra-shiny design strategy of the Pixel 7 Professional and completely melding it with Samsung’s stellar construct high quality of the Galaxy S23 Extremely.
In some ways, it displays the look and high quality I count on from Chinese language producers like Vivo and Oppo that are each famend for constructing extremely beautiful, flashy designs that maintain up nicely over time.
| Class | Motorola Edge+ (2023) specs |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Reminiscence | 8GB RAM LPDDR5X RAM |
| Storage | 256/512GB UFS 4.0 |
| Show | 6.7-inch pOLED, 2400×1080 decision (394 ppi), 165Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Rear Digicam 1 (Most important) | 50MP, ƒ/1.8, 1.0μm (2.0μm binned) pixel dimension , 1/1.5″, OIS, 8K@30FPS, 4K@60FPS, 4K@30FPS HDR10+, 960FPS extremely slow-mo video |
| Rear Digicam 2 (Extremely-wide/Macro) | 50MP, ƒ/2.2, 0.64μm (1.28μm binned) pixel dimension, 114-degree FoV, OIS, 4K@60 FPS |
| Rear Digicam 3 (Portrait) | 12MP, ƒ/1.6, 1.22μm pixel dimension, 2x telephoto, 4K@30FPS, 1080P@60FPS |
| Entrance Digicam | 60MP, ƒ/2.2, 0.61μm (1.22μm binned) pixel dimension, 4k@60FPS |
| Battery | 5,100mAh, 68W wired charging, 15W wi-fi charging, 5W wi-fi energy sharing |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C (USB 3.2) |
| Dimensions | 161.16 mm x 74 mm x 8.59 mm |
| Weight | 203 grams |
| Water and mud resistance | IP68 |
| Safety | In-screen fingerprint sensor |
| Colours | Interstellar Black |
| OS | Android 13 with Motorola My UX |
| Replace assure | 3 OS updates, 4 years of safety updates |
However being fairly is not crucial factor right here — though, that is positively a part of what makes shopping for a premium telephone really feel a bit extra value it. Fairly, Motorola actually stepped up its recreation by creating an IP68-rated telephone.
That may not sound like a lot however, on condition that it is a customary characteristic individuals count on on premium telephones, final yr’s Edge+ (2022) was solely IP-52 rated. It is good to see Motorola making significant enhancements that individuals want.
Motorola has made significant enhancements that individuals want, like a correct IP68 water and dust-resistance score.
The under-display fingerprint scanner is second to none. When mixed with Motorola’s great Peek show, I truly discover that I want front-mounted fingerprint scanners due to how helpful this Peek show is. Extra on that within the software program part.
Likewise, the stereo audio system on the Motorola Edge+ (2023) are very good. They’re tremendous loud, tremendous clear, and have all the standard Dolby Atmos results Motorola has been together with with all its telephones these days.
The Atmos tuning offers music an nearly ethereal spatial high quality and is admittedly spectacular to take heed to. I truly loved listening to music on this telephone’s audio system which is not one thing I typically can say.
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Beneath that fairly chassis is a stunning pOLED show with a shocking variety of vision-friendly enhancements. It is nonetheless a little bit of a secret that fashionable OLED panels on telephones aren’t probably the most pleasant to human eyeballs or brains however Motorola appears to be taking imaginative and prescient security extra critically than quite a lot of different corporations.
The Motorola Edge+ (2023) is participating within the SGS Low Visible Fatigue Certification program, together with a low blue mild and a low movement blur certification. As each movement blur and blue mild are generally thought to trigger imaginative and prescient fatigue, it is good to see that customers will not need to don a pair of blue mild glasses in the event that they’re delicate to blue mild.
Likewise, people like me who’re PWM-sensitive will doubtless be very pleased with this show. Sure, it is nonetheless an OLED panel that makes use of PWM to manage its brightness however Motorola is doing loads to make sure that that is way more PWM sensitive-friendly than different corporations like Samsung and Apple.
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Utilizing an Opple Gentle Grasp IV, I measured the glint frequency and modulation depth of the Motorola Edge+ (2023) show. Motorola charges the PWM frequency at 720Hz, which is a separate refresh worth from the 165Hz most of the show panel.
Motorola has made probably the most vision-friendly flagship to this point in 2023, and it is a great factor to see (pun totally supposed).
Between 50% and 100% brightness, I skilled no nausea or complications when utilizing this telephone, even in a darkish room. For me, that is an enormous enchancment over most different telephones in 2023 that use OLED panels, as these will trigger eye pressure and nausea inside a couple of minutes of me utilizing them beneath 100% brightness.
Within the case of many Samsung telephones in 2023, this impact may even happen at 100% brightness ranges.
As you’ll be able to see within the graphs above, Motorola’s PWM modulation curve is flat general, incomes it the “no threat” score at 100% brightness and a really “low threat” score even at 50%.
I examined the panel in any respect refresh charges and did not discover any sample or distinction between forcing the refresh fee — the choices being 60Hz, 120Hz, and 165Hz — when measuring PWM modulation.
I enabled the “Flicker prevention” choice in show settings which appeared to have a minor impact on modulation at decrease brightness ranges. I nonetheless could not use the telephone long-term beneath 50% brightness however I am fairly pleased with this outcome as I wrestle to make use of any fashionable OLED telephone at any lower than 100% brightness.
Motorola Edge+ (2023): Efficiency and battery life
Efficiency and battery life abstract
The Motorola Edge+ (2023) sports activities 2-day battery life (after which some), plus ultra-fast 68W charging with the included charging brick.
Efficiency is nothing in need of stellar due to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. All high-end video games run completely and whereas the telephone can get heat in efficiency mode, it by no means will get too sizzling to the contact like final yr’s Edge+.
Plus, Moto Gametime provides a ton of nice options to cell gaming together with efficiency and determination presets, enjoyable options like acoustic lighting, and extra.
If there’s one factor you may by no means have to fret about with the Motorola Edge+ (2023), it is battery life. All through the week or so I have been utilizing this telephone, each single cost lasted two full days with out fear.
I might typically get up and take a look at my telephone within the morning and it could nonetheless have over 60% battery left after a full day’s use the day prior to this. It is actually spectacular simply how environment friendly the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is, particularly when in comparison with final yr’s Gen 1 chip.
If 2-day battery life wasn’t sufficient, the included 68W charger will get you charged up from 0% to 100% battery in beneath 45 minutes. A fast 15 or 20-minute cost earlier than heading out the door will web a minimum of a 50% cost, as nicely, so there is not any likelihood you may ever run right into a scenario the place your battery is low and you do not have time to cost.
2-day battery life is met with ultra-fast 68W charging and very good efficiency and thermal administration.
And this type of battery life would not come on the expense of efficiency both. Video games like Fortnite and Genshin Impression run superbly at their most settings. For those who run into hiccups in gaming efficiency, enabling “efficiency mode” is as straightforward as tapping the Moto Gametime floating shortcut and choosing efficiency mode from the grid of icons.
In contrast to final yr’s Edge+ (2022), the Edge+ (2023) would not get so sizzling to the contact that it is uncomfortable to make use of whereas gaming. Sure, that even consists of whereas utilizing efficiency mode. It positively will get hotter when utilizing efficiency mode however I did not discover it to be uncomfortably so.
Cellular avid gamers can be extraordinarily pleased with Moto Gametime which permits gamers to not solely management efficiency and different attributes in real-time whereas enjoying utilizing that floating shortcut, however you can too set efficiency, decision, refresh fee, and different choices for every recreation put in.
It even makes it straightforward to handle screenshots, recorded movies, and allow cool options like acoustic lights — which mild up the corners of the display primarily based on the path sound is heard within the recreation. That is nice for a recreation like Fortnite or one thing comparable. Gametime is extremely detailed and well-designed, making cell gaming much more fulfilling.
Motorola Edge+ (2023): Software program
Software program abstract
Motorola My UX is a superb mix of inventory Android aesthetics with a plethora of great options. Motorola does a fantastic job of introducing and recommending options, too.
Motorola is providing 3 main OS upgrades and 4 years of safety patches, so this one will get Android 16 and see safety updates by means of 2027.
Motorola’s My UX does an excellent job of mixing that “inventory Android” look with out feeling characteristic disadvantaged. Of all of the Android OEMs in the marketplace, Motorola does the very best job of highlighting options it thinks you may need to use, together with toast notifications, pop-up ideas, and extra.
Loads of apps and different corporations use these sorts of notifications to focus on distinguished options — particularly throughout first-time use or throughout onboarding — however Motorola’s technique is much less intrusive and does a greater job of delivering notifications when it thinks I would use the characteristic slightly than bombarding me with lists of options proper off the bat.
In actual fact, I believe My UX is now my favourite Android pores and skin as a result of it is such an exquisite mix of that Pixel type with plenty of additional options you will not essentially discover on a Pixel.
The one draw back is that Motorola would not but have a spam safety characteristic, so all these beautiful automobile guarantee calls will not be mechanically blocked the best way they’re on a Google Pixel or Samsung telephone.
It is all the time laborious to speak about favourite software program options with out writing a novel, so I am going to primarily concentrate on one or two. Motorola’s Prepared For software program has developed and matured spectacularly over time, seamlessly linking telephones and PC in significant methods.
Once you join your telephone and PC utilizing the Prepared For app, each units share a clipboard — making copying and pasting between units easy — and you may even share your telephone’s display or simply “stream” particular person apps out of your telephone to your PC.
Motorola’s Prepared For software program is unbelievable and it permits seamless PC to smartphone connections.
One of the best half about app streaming is that the app being streamed to your desktop — which seems in a phone-sized window — would not run actively in your telephone’s display. Which means you’ll be able to have the Discord app streamed out of your telephone to your PC and nonetheless use your telephone usually, for example.
It’s also possible to use the telephone’s digicam as a webcam for conferences — which delivers each a notable high quality enchancment and totally different angles that are not restricted to the place your PC’s webcam is positioned — activate an on the spot hotspot for Web sharing between units, and immediately wirelessly switch recordsdata extra shortly and effectively than plugging in a USB cable.
Plus, in the event you actually needed to, you can use Prepared For to beam your telephone’s display onto a TV — both wirelessly or by way of a USB-C show cable — and play video games or current issues on display.
Motorola Edge+ (2023): Cameras
Cameras abstract
That is the very best digicam exhibiting Motorola has had in years. The low-light efficiency is especially spectacular and video recording, as an entire, is really nice. Horizon Lock is among the coolest digicam options added to any cell phone in years.
The one large draw back is the shortage of respectable zoom means. With only a 2x telephoto digicam — which makes use of a smaller 12MP sensor — zoom element past 2x is all the time missing it doesn’t matter what you do.
One other space the place Motorola continues to impress is with the Edge+’s digicam. I need to get the unhealthy information out first since mainly, the whole lot of the remainder of the expertise is nice.
Final yr’s Edge+ cameras have been very unhealthy on mainly each degree however, fortunately, Motorola appears to have ironed out all however one of many flaws from that telephone: good zoom element.
Whereas many telephones at this $799 value vary ship with a 3x or extra telephoto digicam, the Edge+ (2023) ships with only a 2x telephoto digicam. To make issues worse, this digicam is simply 12MP, down from 50MP on the primary and ultrawide sensors.
Motorola calls this a “portrait” digicam — not a telephoto digicam — for cause. Zooming in past 2X produces critical diminishing returns whereas many different flagship telephones simply do a significantly better job at this process. For those who’re somebody who often zooms in to scenes to snap a photograph or take a video, this is not the telephone for you.
For those who’re somebody who often zooms in to scenes to snap a photograph or take a video, this is not the telephone for you.
Likewise, there are some unusual digicam limitations whereas filming video on this telephone. For those who’re recording on the default 1080p decision, issues will appear simply positive. However, in the event you change over to 4K and even 8K recording, you can’t change between cameras whereas recording video.
It isn’t that the ultrawide or portrait cameras aren’t able to recording 4K video, it is simply that you will have to decide on them earlier than hitting the report button. That is normally a limitation we see on telephones with lower-power SoCs or cameras not able to recording at 4K decision, so I am undecided why the Edge+ (2023) has this downside.
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However, past that one specific space, the Motorola Edge+ (2023)’s digicam expertise is fairly top-notch. Daytime pictures can nonetheless are usually barely overexposed however that is one thing we have seen occur on the Galaxy S23 Extremely, so it is not only a Motorola downside.
This can be a considerably higher digicam than what got here with final yr’s Motorola Edge+ (2022).
Even with that mentioned, overexposure would not occur to the diploma that ruins the picture. It simply appears a tad over-bright. The baseball stadium comparability above is an ideal illustration of this. It is as if the software program sees shadows and would not perceive that it must brighten the shadow element with out brightening up the remainder of the picture.
However, Motorola’s software program appears to do a greater job of balancing issues out in high-contrast conditions than OnePlus, for instance. The Google Pixel 7 Professional actually nails the publicity greatest right here however Motorola’s shot can also be fairly good. For those who’re used to Samsung’s slightly-overexposed type, this can really feel comparable.
The ultrawide digicam displays similar conduct to the primary one, as nicely. This one’s a smaller sensor with smaller pixels however nonetheless does job in any mild.
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As regards to totally different lighting circumstances, I used to be greater than impressed with Motorola’s means to shoot a top quality, shiny shot even in low mild. It is on par — or generally even higher — than what I used to be capable of seize with the Galaxy S23 or Google Pixel 7 Professional.
Most pictures from the Edge+ (2023) have been brighter than the competitors and, most often, have been additionally extra detailed. Surprisingly, that even consists of the 2X telephoto digicam regardless of the sensor being smaller than the primary one.
My solely grievance is that the mixing will not be fairly as nuanced as Google’s or Samsung’s. By that, I imply that lights are usually barely overexposed at evening, robbing them a little bit of their coloration. It isn’t excessive by any means however, if we’re simply immediately evaluating them, it is an space the place Motorola might enhance.
This telephone shoots some actually fantastic-quality video in any lighting situation so long as you are OK with 1080p decision.
Low mild video can also be unimaginable and, general, this telephone shoots some actually fantastic-quality video in any lighting situation. First up, I needed to focus on Horizon Lock, which is a brand new characteristic Motorola has added to its flagship telephones. The Motorola Edge 30 Professional and Edge 40 Professional have already got it Internationally, and now the Edge+ (2023) introduces it to North America.
For those who’re somebody who loves going mountain climbing, recording excessive sports activities, or simply desires the very best stabilization within the enterprise, that is the telephone for you.
Moreover, nighttime recording is second to none when Evening Imaginative and prescient is enabled. First, let’s take a look at video recording from the Edge+ (2023) in extraordinarily darkish circumstances at evening.
As you’ll be able to see, Evening Imaginative and prescient considerably enhances the brightness degree and nonetheless retains the video stabilized sufficient so issues aren’t blurry or jittery whereas I am strolling down the hill or within the tall grass.
In comparison with the Galaxy S23, the Edge+ (2023) is brighter and extra secure, coming in with the win on nighttime video recording high quality.
The draw back is that each one of those modes — Evening Imaginative and prescient, Horizon Lock, and the power to modify between cameras in real-time whereas recording — are all locked to 1080p. That is nearly actually going to be a deal breaker for some individuals however, on the similar time, it is not going you may discover higher stabilization throughout the day or evening from every other telephone proper now.
Lastly, I needed to focus on simply how good Motorola’s portrait mode is today. The corporate spent a great deal of time on the media briefing again in April speaking up the portrait mode and now I do know why.
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Portrait cutouts are a lot, significantly better than something OnePlus or Google Pixels provide, and I might say it is a fair match between Motorola and Samsung for greatest portrait mode images. This goes for each the entrance and rear cameras on the Edge+ (2023), which seize beautiful portrait pictures day and evening.
There’s even some critically beautiful fall-off when utilizing portrait mode to take a “DSLR-style” shot of one thing, making it appear to be it was taken with a “actual” digicam slightly than a smartphone.
Motorola Edge+ (2023): The competitors
The obvious direct competitors is the Samsung Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S23 is similar value at $799 and gives each a greater general digicam and one further yr of software program updates. Samsung’s software program can also be extra full-featured — though that is not all the time a plus for everybody and it would not essentially imply it is higher — together with niceties like spam filtering for these annoying automobile guarantee calls nobody ever desires.
The Pixel 7 Professional is technically $899 however is commonly discovered at $749 or decrease, making it one other nice competitor to the Edge+ (2023). It is also received a greater general digicam expertise, together with much better zoom capabilities, however would not have pretty much as good of video recording high quality because the Edge+. Pixel software program is nice and has niceties like spam filtering however would not embrace as many options as Motorola’s My UX. It additionally has the identical four-year software program replace dedication as Motorola.
However, whereas each of those telephones provide some benefits to Motorola’s newest flagship, they each have worse battery life and fewer vision-friendly shows. The Edge+ additionally prices a lot quicker than both of these two telephones which, for me, is one thing I actually get pleasure from as I do not ever have to consider battery life, a lot much less fear about it.
Motorola Edge+ (2023): Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase this if:
- You need a telephone with a phenomenal 165HZ pOLED show that is blue mild and PWM-friendly.
- You need 2-day battery life with out sacrificing efficiency.
- You want Motorola’s software program options.
You should not purchase this if:
- You want higher than 2x digicam zoom.
- 4K video recording is a should.
- You want name screening and spam filtering.
Motorola has executed a outstanding job of turning its Edge+ lineup round, from the mess of final yr’s telephone to the brilliance of this yr’s mannequin. This telephone is an actual winner, from the efficiency to the battery life, fast charging (with included brick), and the wonderful digicam. Plus, the design is obscenely beautiful and is definitely IP68-rated, in contrast to final yr’s telephone.
The digicam is usually nice however a couple of unusual shortcomings stop it from being higher than it needs to be. Zooming in previous 2x has substantial diminishing returns and video recording is greatest stored at 1080p so all of the options can be utilized. As long as these aren’t deal-breakers for you, although, it is a very good alternative at $799.
Plus, I can not personally be happier with the show. In a world the place so many OLED shows push the boundaries of show high quality with out considering of the human eyes that need to view it, it is good to see Motorola implementing vision-protection requirements that make an actual distinction.
Get the telephone that not solely appears beautiful and will definitely flip heads, however is supported for 4 years, has killer efficiency and battery life, prices extremely quick, and has a digicam that may compete with the very best of them.
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