Which Motorola Edge 30 is for you? A detailed comparison of the five models and the 2022 Razr
Which Motorola Edge 30 is for you sounds very much like a fait accompli that you will buy one of these in 2022/23. And with five excellent models and a stunning leader-of-the-pack 2022 Razr flip, we say, why not?
As a smartphone reviewer for over a decade, I have seen some exceptional phones, but the bulk are typical glass slabs with little to discriminate between them. While we saw some excitement with Flips and Folds, these were not enough to excite – more a compromise between features, power and price.
So, it is unusual for me to see five, nay six if you count the Razr, phones that I would be happy to own.
We have attached the Excel Smart Phone comparison table for all you techies, but here is an overview.
Neo $599
Pretty Pantone colours over a standard glass slab. Motorola Edge 30 Neo – Pantone colours for the trendy set.
At $599, it is hard to beat for value, the Motorola Edge 2-year warranty, two-or-three-year OS upgrade, and security patch policy (exact length TBC).
Pro: 10-bit, 1.07 billion colour pOLED screen, excellent phone signal strength, and a rapid 40-minute 68W charge.
Con: USB-C 2.0 (no video out or cabled Ready For), Wi-Fi 5 AC, average sound and camera.
Motorola Edge 30 $699
Worth the extra $100. Motorola Edge 30 – fantastic value 5G phone
Pro: The additional $100 gets you a slightly faster processor than the Neo and adds Wi-Fi 6E, a 10-bit, 1.07 billion colour AMOLED screen, excellent phone signal strength and a better camera.
Con: USB-C 2.0 (no video out or cabled Ready For), average sound 33W fast charge (not 68W as in Neo)
Fusion $899
This is the Goldilocks – not too hot, too cold, just right. Motorola Edge 30 Fusion – a diamond in the rough
Pro: Bright, 1.07 billion colours, Qualcomm SD888+ (one step down from the SD8 Gen 1), USB-C 3.1 for fast, mountable external storage and Ready For cabled HDMI, Wi-Fi 6E, 37-minute 68W rapid charge, tri-camera and above average quality images.
Con: None – it is perfect and the one I would buy on a budget.
Pro $999
It is a powerhouse. Motorola Edge 30 Pro is the value flagship king
Pros: a Qualcomm SD8 Gen 1, 6.7”, 1.07 billion colour, 144Hz pOLED screen, Wi-Fi 6E, USB-C 3.1 for fast, mountable external storage and Ready For cabled HDMI, 40-minute 68W charger (30W supplied), and same camera as the Edge 30 Neo.
Con: None and very few compromises to meet this price.
Ultra $1399
Ultra by name and nature. Motorola Edge 30 Ultra – a flagship-class cameraphone
Pro: Huge 12/256GB, fastest Qualcomm SD8+ Gen 1 processor, 6.7” 1.07 billion colour, 144Hz pOLED screen, Wi-Fi 6E, USB-C 3.1 for fast, mountable external storage and Ready For cabled HDMI. But the biggest features are the 1255W 31-minute charger (and 50W Qi) and the 200MP primary camera. It beats the competition, hands down.
Con: None, really
Motorola Razr 2022 $1599
Razr is sharp – Motorola Razr 2022 – A full-featured Fab Flip for percipient people
I have not been enamoured with Flips. The screen crease is too noticeable, poor battery life, and a few too many compromises. Enter the third generation 2022 Motorola Razr that solves all the issues and makes this Flip a definite feat. I love this and can see myself using it.
Pro: A larger 2.7” external screen than its competitors, an almost crease-free 6.7” internal 1.07 billion colour, 144Hz pOLED screen, Wi-Fi 6E, USB-C 3.1 for fast, mountable external storage and Ready For cabled HDMI, the fastest Qualcomm SD8+ Gen 1 processor, Qi and 30W charge, and its hinge is the most advanced of all. The 50+13MP camera is excellent for point-and-shoot.
Con: None, really, and it is finally safe to Flip to Motorola.
A few common features
- No microSD – who cares when you have USB-C 3.1 on most models
- IP52 dust and water resistance. It is not class-leading, but it is fit-for-purpose
- Dual SIM, both 5G and active, dual ring tones and some of the strongest phone reception signal for city, suburbs, regional and rural use.
- We understand that these all get three OS upgrades and three years of security patches (some of our earlier reviews mention two years).
- New 2-year warranty on all Edge 30
- It is almost pure Android with a few Motorola benefits – no bloatware
A few things Motorola is working on
- The speaker sound signature is generally Bright vocal, which is fine for clear voice, but it could do a better job via firmware updates.
- The cameras are competent but capable of much more. Again, firmware will fix this.
- Throttling is a characteristic of all high-end processors, and the answer is to work on improving thermal management and perhaps lowering the GIPS a tad. It is not bad but could be better.
CyberShack’s take – Which Motorola Edge 30 is for you?
It is highly unusual for any brand to have so many class-leading models from $599 to $1599. You could buy any of these and be deliriously happy.
And don’t forget the Motorola G-series, from $279-499, that are pretty good too.
It reflects Motorola’s desire to become the #2 or #3 global smartphone maker, and at the rate it is going, (backed by Lenovo) it has Samsung and OPPO (BBK) in its sights.
