Motorola has just announced its third smartphone this month — the edge 40 neo. With a price starting from Rs 23,999, the edge 40 neo is aimed at the budget market — but its specifications belie its price tag. The smartphone will go on sale at 7 pm on September 28.
The edge 40 neo is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chipset and comes in two variants — 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage (priced at Rs 23,999) and 12/256, priced at Rs 25,999. Motorola is offering the phone at a special festive price of Rs 20,999 and Rs 22,999 for a limited time. The edge 40 neo will be available on Flipkart, Motorola.in and retail stores. It is also available with an exchange bonus offer of Rs 1,000 or an instant bank discount of Rs 1,000.
The edge 40 neo sports a brilliant 6.55-inch curved-edge display with a 144 Hz refresh rate – so it's clearly aimed at mobile gamers. The 5,000 mAh battery promised 36 hours of uptime. On the camera front, it has two lenses on the back — a 50-megapixel main shooter and a 13 MP ultrawide snapper. On the front is a 32 MP selfie camera.
It is available in three colour variants — Pantone-certified Caneel Bay (blue), Beauty Black, and Soothing Sea (mint).
First impressions
The first thing that struck me when I unboxed the smartphone was just how ridiculously thin it was. It measures just 7.89 mm in thickness and weighs 172 grams.
Motorola sent me the Caneel Bay version with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. This and Soothing Sea come with a nice, soft-touch vegan leather back that makes it easy to hold the phone, which is already pretty hand-friendly thanks to its contoured edges. The black variant comes with what Motorola calls "Acrylic Glass", which is a very soft, satin-feeling plastic.
Motorola has also included a colour-matched hard-shell back cover in the box. The case is made entirely out of plants, according to Motorola, and is thus biodegradable. For a plant-based case, it is surprisingly rigid and doesn't add any bulk to the phone once you slap it on. Also in the box are a 68W charger, a USB Type-C cable, a SIM ejector tool and other expected sundries.
The motorola edge 40 neo boasts a stunning design. The Caneel Blue is a striking shade. Moreover, it's IP68-rated, which means it can withstand water and dust, be it a sandstorm or a quick dunk in the pool.
Motorola is known for its near-stock Android experience, and the edge 40 neo continues this tradition. The software is reminiscent of what you'd find on Google's Pixel smartphones, offering a clean and familiar Android interface. You have access to the Play Store, a swipe-down notification bar, and quick toggles. When you purchase the edge 40 neo, you're guaranteed to receive two major Android OS updates, with Android 14 on the horizon. Additionally, Motorola pledges three years of monthly security updates, ensuring your device remains secure and up-to-date.
Most pre-installed apps are Google's own services, but Motorola has included a few of its own, such as Family Space, which provides a safe digital playground for kids. There's also Moto Secure, which enhances Android's existing security features. However, the device also comes with some pre-installed apps, but you can uninstall them.
Motorola has also introduced some noteworthy features, including "Ready For," which allows quick pairing with a PC or tablet for sharing apps, files, and streaming content. The Moto app offers extensive customisation options, letting you personalize fonts, colours, wallpapers, and icons. Gesture controls like "Flip for Do Not Disturb" and a handy flashlight shortcut are also available.
The display offers vivid visuals, supports 10-bit color, and HDR10+ streaming. The screen nearly covers the entire front of the device, with a small punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera that minimally disrupts the viewing experience. The screen's brightness reaches up to 1300 nits, ensuring visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.
Notably, the display features a 144Hz refresh rate for a fluid user interface and supported apps, although it lacks an always-on display option. Instead, you can use third-party apps to enable this feature or use double-tap or shake-to-wake functions.
The device's stereo speakers provide reasonably good audio quality. The bottom speaker carries most of the weight, but it remains clear and powerful even at high volumes.
The device comes with dedicated gaming tools, such as High Performance mode, call blocking, notification blocking, screenshot capture, and screen recording. These features are handy for gamers and content creators.
With a generous 5000mAh battery and the efficient Dimensity 7030 chipset, the edge 40 neo provides all-day battery life. It also supports 68W wired fast charging, offering a substantial boost in just 10 minutes.
The camera setup includes a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens. The camera app offers various modes and AI enhancements for improved photography. While the camera's performance is decent for a budget device, it may not satisfy those seeking top-tier photography. Nevertheless, it captures usable shots in most conditions, excelling in well-lit environments. Portrait mode effectively separates subjects from backgrounds.
On the front, there's a 32MP selfie camera that produces good results, though it tends to deliver slightly muted colors. It handles indoor and low-light conditions reasonably well, thanks to the screen flash feature. Video recording supports up to 4K resolution, with adequate audio quality.
Watch this space for the full review.
