The middle child in Motorola’s most recent line of mid-range phones is the Edge 20. Does it, however, merit your time and money? Here is what we think.
Features of the Motorola Edge 20
The Edge 20’s display is its main draw. The OLED panel’s high refresh rate, which can reach 144Hz, makes it not only beautiful to look at but also incredibly smooth to use, even though 6.7 inches may be quite ordinary for contemporary smartphones. In contrast, the Pixel 5’s maximum frequency is 90Hz, while the Apple iPhone 13’s maximum frequency is 120Hz.
The refresh rate, which is measured in Hertz (Hz), is the number of times per second the screen can display a fresh image. For example, 144Hz indicates the image can be refreshed 144 times per second. Basically, the higher that number, the less lag or stuttering you will feel when using the touchscreen on the phone.
Although while not everyone will care (or even notice the difference) between 90Hz and more, the specification should be appreciated by anyone who spends a lot of time scrolling.
Although it may be set to lower than 60Hz, we selected the “auto” option during testing, which adjusts the refresh rate based on how the phone is used. Your battery life will last longer as a result. The smoothest frequency is 144Hz, although it uses more energy.
Although the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G isn’t the most potent processor ever utilized in a smartphone, we had no performance concerns while using the Edge 20. The phone was able to run the games Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt 9 without any lag or crashes, and apps booted up quickly.
Although the audio is loud and clear, the bass might be better. Due to its location on the bottom right of the handset, it is very simple to accidentally block out some of the audio output if you are gripping each side while playing a game.
In our tests, the fingerprint scanner that was included into the power button performed satisfactorily, which we appreciated. Options for security were generally good. In addition, face unlocking can be used in conjunction with a swipe pattern, pin code, or password.
The Motorola “ready for” mode enables you to connect the phone to a computer display so you can browse apps or games on the bigger screen or even use the phone as a TV remote. Although it’s simple to set up and effective for swiftly sharing files or papers, we didn’t frequently use this tool. Of course, that’s not the phone’s fault, and other people will value the connectivity.
Motorola Edge 20 power source
With a 4000mAh battery, the Edge 20 has more than enough power for a full day of use, including reading through Twitter, checking emails, and watching YouTube.
The battery life was found to be extended when the phone was not used as frequently and would last closer to a day and a half, especially with 144Hz mode off.
By today’s standards, that battery life is adequate but not outstanding. Several phones that cost far less, like the £179 Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G, have batteries with capacity of 5000mAh or more, which have battery life closer to 48 hours.
Camera Motorola Edge 20
A 108MP main camera sensor with a 12MP output resolution, an 8MP telephoto, and a 16MP ultra-wide angle camera are all featured on the Edge 20. At the center of the screen, there is a pinhole-like notch that houses the 32MP “selfie” camera.
There are numerous shooting options, such as a macro mode for up-close shots and a night mode for photos in low light. A filter on the selfie camera allows you smooth your skin; thankfully, it is deactivable.
The phone saves images by default at 12MP, but there is a “ultra-res” mode that enables you to use the 108MP sensor. The performance from the primary camera were pleasantly surprising, especially in stronger lighting. When zoomed out, there was very little noise and the colors were true to life. The image becomes less useable as you zoom in, as one might imagine. The camera contains filters that effectively alter the color of your photographs in real-time.
Design and setup of the Motorola Edge 20
The Edge 20 has a flat-edged design that feels very boxy in the hand, but the aluminum alloy used to make the back of the frame minimizes fingerprinting. We tried the Frosted Grey color, which was understated but still very attractive. Yet given the impending Pixel 6’s aesthetics, it won’t be a design that stands out from the crowd, and we anticipate some people may find it to be a touch boring.
The Edge 20 is also incredibly light, especially when compared to the OnePlus 8T we were previously using, weighing in at just 163g. That pleased us, and we discovered that using the phone for extended periods of time was pleasant.
Like other Android devices, the Edge 20’s setup was straightforward. When the phone is started, a step-by-step instruction leads you through language, security, and data transfer settings. From there, customization was simple, including altering the background picture, the widgets’ icon shapes, and the navigational gestures.
Conclusion
The Edge 20 isn’t very exciting with its subdued frosted colors and simple design, and it has the brand appeal of the iPhone or Pixel, but it’s well-made, has some good features, and is enjoyable to use on a daily basis. The Edge 20 is undoubtedly still a very great smartphone even though it isn’t our new favorite.
