Motorola Edge 40 Review: Ultimate Budget Smartphone for UK?

Discover the Motorola Edge 40: A budget-friendly gem in the UK smartphone market. Uncover its features, performance, and more in our in-depth review.

Is the Motorola Edge 40 a true flagship killer smartphone under £550? Before you decide, let’s take an in-depth look at its strengths and weaknesses.

Motorola has been making waves in the smartphone market, and their latest offering, the Motorola Edge 40 5G, has garnered significant attention among UK consumers. Following the success of the Motorola Edge 30, the Moto Edge 40 aims to raise the bar.

With claims of being the first in its segment or even the world’s first, this phone has certainly piqued our interest. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the Motorola Edge 40 5G smartphone, exploring its virtues and vices. So, let’s not waste any time and get right into it.

Motorola Edge 40 Key Specifications

Before we delve into the review, let’s take a quick look at the key specifications of the Motorola Edge 40:

• An impressive 6.55-inch 144Hz 3D Curved pOLED Display.
• The world’s first MediaTek Dimensity 8020 Processor.
• An incredibly slim design.
• A 4400mAh Battery with 68W Turbo Charging.
• A 50MP Dual Camera Setup with OIS.
• The segment’s first IP68 Rating Certification.

Motorola Edge 40 Price in the UK

Motorola has launched the Motorola Edge 40 at a highly competitive price point in the UK. There’s only one variant available, featuring 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at £529.99. With this pricing strategy, Motorola has created a compelling value proposition. But, let’s dig deeper and see if the phone lives up to expectations for UK consumers.

Motorola Edge 40 Review

Now, let’s dive into the comprehensive review of the Moto Edge 40, focusing on aspects relevant to UK consumers.

Build

Motorola claims that the Edge 40 boasts an extravagant design, and in this case, we wholeheartedly agree. The phone’s aesthetic is truly impressive, leaving a lasting impression when you unbox it and hold it in your hand. The luxurious feel of the phone is attributed to its aluminum frame and a back panel made either of vegan leather or plastic, depending on the variant. UK consumers can choose from three color options: Nebula Green, Eclipse Black, and Lunar Blue. The Nebula Green and Eclipse Black variants come with vegan leather, while the Lunar Blue variant features PMMA material.

Both materials offer a pleasant tactile experience, but the leather finish stands out for its non-slippery feel and its resemblance to high-end flagship phones. As the slimmest and lightest phone in its category, the differences in thickness (7.49mm for the PMMA variant and 7.58mm for the vegan leather variant) and weight (168 grams vs. 173 grams) are negligible. When you hold the phone, it feels incredibly lightweight and comfortable in your hand and pocket.

In terms of physical aesthetics, the back of the phone features a dual-camera cutout integrated into the back panel, creating a unified design. While the camera bump may cause the phone to wobble on a flat surface, it’s a minor issue. The front side houses a punch-hole style 3D curved display with very thin bezels, giving the phone a modern look. Overall, the build and design of the Motorola Edge 40 are top-notch and well-suited for UK consumers.

Display

Moving on to the display, the Motorola Edge 40 features a 6.55-inch Full HD+ pOLED 3D Curved Display with a peak brightness of 1200 nits and an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, a first in its segment. The curved display delivers vibrant colors with deep blacks, creating a visually striking experience. The bezels around the display are minimal, almost non-existent. Additionally, the display boasts HDR10+ certification, allowing you to enjoy HDR content on platforms like YouTube and Netflix.

However, there’s one minor drawback regarding the refresh rate. While the phone supports a 144Hz refresh rate, it doesn’t automatically switch to this mode. To activate the 144Hz refresh rate, you’ll need to adjust the settings manually, which can impact battery life as it remains static at 144Hz. Nevertheless, aside from this, the display is exceptional and ideal for UK consumers who enjoy streaming content on Netflix and YouTube. It offers an immersive viewing experience, making it one of the best displays in the £550 price range.

Performance

Performance is a critical aspect of any smartphone, and the Motorola Edge 40 doesn’t disappoint. It features the world’s first MediaTek Dimensity 8020 5G chipset, built on a 6nm architecture, which enhances power efficiency. This processor is coupled with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, ensuring swift read and write speeds.

In terms of benchmark performance, the Moto Edge 40 impresses with an AnTuTu score nearing 685,000, which is commendable for its price range. It also fares well in Geekbench, scoring 1101 in the Single-core test and 3590 in the Multi-core test. During the 3DMark Wildlife Stress Test, the GPU stability remains above 91%, and the phone maintains a reasonable temperature without excessive battery drain.

In everyday use, the phone handles heavy tasks and casual gaming without overheating. However, during extended gaming sessions, such as playing games like BGMI or Call of Duty, the phone tends to get slightly warmer after 30-40 minutes of gameplay, and the frame rate may drop. Therefore, for casual gaming, the Motorola Edge 40 is more than sufficient for UK consumers, but it may not be ideal for hardcore gaming enthusiasts.

For regular daily usage and light gaming, this phone offers excellent performance without breaking a sweat.

Battery & Charging

Given the phone’s slim profile, some sacrifices were made in the battery department. The Motorola Edge 40 is equipped with a 4400mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than some of its competitors’ 5000mAh batteries. For typical tasks, the phone easily lasts a full day. However, when subjected to heavy usage or gaming, the screen-on time drops to around 6-7 hours.

Fortunately, to compensate for the battery’s capacity, the phone comes with a 68W turbocharger included in the box. This charger can quickly juice up the phone, reaching 50% in just 18 minutes and fully charging it in a mere 40 minutes. Additionally, the phone supports 15W wireless charging, a feature typically found in flagship phones but offered here in the sub-£550 segment. The balance between battery life and charging speed is commendable, ensuring UK consumers can quickly get back to their tasks.

Camera

Motorola made some wise decisions in the camera department for the Edge 40. They removed the unnecessary 2MP depth and macro sensors and opted for a functional dual rear camera setup featuring a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, which also serves as a depth and macro sensor. On the front, there’s a 32MP selfie camera.

The 50MP primary sensor boasts a wide f/1.4 aperture, the widest available on a smartphone. In well-lit conditions, this camera captures sharp and dynamic photos. However, it tends to oversaturate colors, particularly the greens of leaves and blues of the sky, creating vibrant, social media-ready photos. If you prefer more natural-looking photos, this phone may not be your best choice.

The wide aperture also benefits low-light photography. The Motorola Edge 40 performs admirably in low-light conditions, thanks to its ability to capture more light, resulting in brighter nighttime photos. Nevertheless, in very dark conditions, the phone may struggle to produce high-quality shots, as some ambient light is still necessary.

The selfie camera performs decently in normal lighting conditions but tends to overly whiten the subject’s face, lacking a natural appearance. Moreover, when taking selfies with a strong backlight, the exposure control is subpar, leading to washed-out details and colors. In terms of videography, the phone can record up to 4K 30fps videos with excellent quality.

The camera app itself is feature-rich, offering functions like horizon lock, which allows you to lock the camera’s position or angle and then record video at that fixed orientation, regardless of how you move the phone. Other standard features include portrait mode, panorama mode, pro mode, depth, and macro mode, among others. While Motorola has made improvements in the camera department compared to its predecessor, there’s still room for optimization. If camera quality is your top priority, the Moto Edge 40 may not be the best choice. However, for everyday photography needs, it performs adequately.

Multimedia

Motorola phones are known for providing a great multimedia experience, and the Edge 40 is no exception. It boasts a beautiful 144Hz pOLED display and Dolby Atmos-tuned dual stereo speakers. The sound quality is top-notch, and the volume is impressive.

In the audio department, this phone excels, and you won’t encounter any issues. It’s important to note, though, that the Motorola Edge 40 lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack. If you prefer wired earphones, you’ll need to use Bluetooth headphones or earphones.

Additionally, the Moto Edge 40 supports HDR, enabling you to enjoy HDR content on YouTube and Netflix. While YouTube currently supports HDR, Netflix may not display HDR support initially, but this issue is likely to be resolved through future updates. Furthermore, the phone is Widevine L1 certified, allowing you to stream videos and movies in Full HD resolution on OTT apps like Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Amazon Prime. If you’re a heavy smartphone content consumer and prioritize multimedia, the Motorola Edge 40 is an excellent choice.

OS & UI

One of the standout features of Motorola phones is their near-stock Android experience, and the Motorola Edge 40 is no different. It runs on a clean UI based on the latest Android 13 out of the box, free from bloatware apps or advertisements. This stock Android UI provides a smooth and visually pleasing user experience.

Motorola has also committed to providing 2 years of major OS updates and 3 years of security updates, which is a commendable level of support.

To enhance the OS’s functionality, Motorola has incorporated some additional features. Users can enjoy various customization options for app icons and UI layouts. Notable features include “ReadyFor,” which allows you to connect your phone to a PC or TV for extended functionality, and “Moto Secure,” which adds security features to the phone. Moto Secure includes a secure folder section where you can add apps and apply passwords to them. It also features indicators for Wi-Fi security, such as a red or green dot next to Wi-Fi connections.

Additionally, the phone offers native Moto Gestures, such as the chop-chop motion to turn on the flashlight, twist motion to launch the camera app, and multi-window support for multitasking. These features are practical and enhance the overall user experience. The phone also features a high-quality vibration motor for haptic feedback, which is a nice touch.

Overall, the OS and UI experience on the Moto Edge 40 are top-notch, offering a clean and user-friendly interface. However, one potential downside is Motorola’s track record of delivering updates later than some other manufacturers. If timely updates are a priority for you, it’s worth considering this aspect before making a decision.

Network & Connectivity

In terms of network and connectivity, the Motorola Edge 40 is well-equipped. It’s a 5G phone with support for 14 5G bands, ensuring compatibility in various regions. Additionally, the phone features the latest Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, dual 4G VoLTE, and NFC, offering seamless wireless connectivity.

One standout feature in this price segment is the inclusion of eSIM support. While the phone supports dual SIM cards, only one can be a physical SIM card, with the secondary SIM being an eSIM. While this feature may not be widely used or understood in the sub-£550 price segment, it’s a notable addition for those who can take advantage of it.

Sensors

The Motorola Edge 40 comes equipped with a comprehensive array of sensors, including an in-display fingerprint sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer sensor, ambient light sensor, SAR sensor, sensor hub, and E-Compass. During testing, all sensors performed well without any issues.

Service

After-sales service is a crucial aspect that many people overlook. No matter how impressive a phone is, it’s essential to have reliable support in case issues arise. Motorola offers a unique service called “Moto Premium Care” designed specifically for Edge smartphone users. This service provides doorstep service, eliminating the need to visit a service center. The Moto Premium Care service includes the following benefits:

• 24×7 WhatsApp chatbot support
• Free pickup and drop-off of your device from your location
• A dedicated calling line for support
• A free standby device while your main device is being repaired

Furthermore, Motorola has service centers in over 371 cities in the UK, ensuring widespread coverage. In summary, you can expect reliable after-sales service for the Motorola Edge 40.

Motorola Edge 40 Pros & Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Motorola Edge 40 is a compelling smartphone option in the sub-£550 price range for UK consumers. It offers a stunning design, a vibrant display, solid performance for daily tasks, and a comprehensive after-sales service package. While it may not cater to hardcore gamers, it excels in various other aspects, making it a worthy contender in its price segment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)