Review of the Motorola Edge 40

Even though it won't be the most well-known brand in the market in 2023, Motorola is still producing high-quality products at a variety of price points to rival Apple, Samsung, and the other market leaders. One of Motorola's contemporary Android smartphones, the Edge 40 sits perfectly next to other mid-range phones and has a lengthy list of intriguing features and capabilities of its own.

For those who are unaware, the Motorola Edge series offers more processing power and better visual clarity than the Moto models in the lower price bracket. Although the Edge 40 Pro is still the best device in the lineup, this one serves as more of Motorola's flagship model, proving that the company can stay competitive and innovate continuously. It comes close to achieving that goal, but an average battery life and a somewhat worse camera hurt the whole experience.

The phone is really quite a gaming marvel, with the P-OLED screen nearly exploding with color across all the games we could throw at it, even though Motorola is obviously pitching it to pros. When it comes to a mid-range gaming phone, the Edge 40 is a bit of a dark horse since the games not only look great but also work reliably. Is it among the top Motorola phones, though? See what we think by reading on.

Availability and price

The Motorola Edge 40 is presently not officially available in the United States of America, although it is easily accessible in the UK and Europe via a number of merchants and the manufacturer's website. The Edge 40 comes in only one model, but you may choose between Eclipse Black, Nebula Green, and Viva Magenta as your color.

• Eclipse Black – 8GB RAM and 256GB Memory – £529
• Nebula Green – 8GB RAM and 256GB Memory – £529
• Viva Magenta – 8GB RAM and 256GB Memory – £529

Specifications

Attributes

The Motorola Edge 40 has a business-like appearance and feel. And what do you know? It also has every characteristic of one. Water resistance, a fingerprint sensor, and all the components needed for the Google workflow are there and ready to use. After completing a quick installation, you'll have a tonne of possibilities for customizing your device using tools and applications.

Still, this gadget has you covered if all you want to do is play about with it. The MediaTek Dimensity 8020 chipset allows you to broadcast and play games in beautiful high definition. Together, the processor and P-OLED screen—along with Dolby Atmos technology—produce striking images. Even my large hands fit around the tablet with ease, proving that its size is ideal for gaming. With this handset, it's all work or play—it's up to you which you choose to do first.

Another benefit for gamers is that Motorola's Gametime software is pre-installed on the Edge 40, allowing you to turn off alerts when playing games. You can definitely maximize gametime by filling the Edge 40 with an endless number of games thanks to its 256GB storage. As a little test, I attempted to see how many I could install, but they simply kept downloading, leaving plenty of room for messages and photographs.

The Edge 40's quick charging time is one of its main features. It seems like you can carry it wherever as long as you have the charger lead with you since it has the power to boost you by more than 50% in less than ten minutes. Although the real battery life isn't as good as some other models at the same price range, how much you place on rapid charging vs battery capacity ultimately determines how good the product is.

However, there are a few restrictions in the features area. There is no headphone jack, thus wireless headphones are required if you wish to listen to anything. It's difficult to precisely compose photos with the selfie camera's lack of a zoom feature, even with a high-quality front-facing lens. With the exception of that and a few other possible problems, the Edge 40 is, in my opinion, an all-arounder since it has almost everything you might want in a smartphone in 2023.

Photography

There's plenty here to keep you snap happy, even if Motorola isn't exactly renowned for its high-quality gadget cameras—that is, if you're not expecting the same kind of quality you could get from a similarly priced camera, of course. Though things change somewhat in low light, there are many of choices to customize the quality of your photographs between the two cameras—a 50mp primary camera and a 13mp ultrawide in support.

In my experiments, I discovered that photos taken with either of the front cameras might be a touch lackluster unless they are in optimal lighting. Anything in the correct light works, as the image below shows, although some of the photos I took on a dreary evening are a little blurry. It won't deter you from sharing your photos on social media, but if you're looking for the sharpest possible screen, a Motorola definitely isn't for you. In terms of cost, it is comparable to the Google Pixel 7. Even if the Pixel has other problems, it's probably the best option if you're seeking for the greatest images at this price point. Still, as you can see below, it's more than enough for taking up close and personal photos of my adorable fluffy kid.

The enhanced camera technology of the Edge 40 from Motorola allows you to shoot some excellent selfies with the front camera. I quickly tested the quality of a selfie shot with the Edge 40 vs my iPhone 13, and the Edge 40 came out on top.

Design

The Motorola Edge 40 has one of the most polished appearances and feelings in terms of design. The subtle design of the phone makes it difficult to set it apart from the myriad other mid-to-high-end models made by non-Apple companies, but the devil is really in the details. This device's faux-leather back lends even more refinement to what already seems like a phone fit for a tuxedo. It is important to note that cleaning this material might be challenging, thus we still advise getting a case.

This gadget is the perfect size to operate with one hand or both, so even after a lengthy gaming session, your fingers won't get tired. But apart from its enormous screen, the Edge 40 doesn't really seem like it was made for gaming. It can manage it and look very lovely doing it, but it lacks any unique triggers or buttons tailored to a particular game.

Display

With a seamless 144Hz refresh rate, the Motorola Edge 40's P-OLED screen offers stunning clarity. One of the best things about this phone is its display; if you stream content on your phone often, this one has the best quality you can get at this mid-range pricing. As someone who has regularly used Apple phones for the last several years, the thing that most influences me to consider permanently switching to Android is the fact that every pixel pops.One noteworthy feature is that, when used inside, the phone's adaptive brightness feature causes it to sometimes fade and then brighten again. I disabled the feature, but before you do the same, make sure you check the Edge 40's maximum brightness. It gives me headaches.

Life of Battery

The Motorola Edge 40's battery life is marginally inferior than that of competing models. During our testing, the gadget operated for slightly more than two days when used sporadically and for around nine hours when used heavily. This is less than mid-range smartphones from other manufacturers including the Sony Xperia 10 V and ASUS ROG Phone 6, as well as the upgraded Edge 40 Pro.The Edge 40 does not have great battery retention, but it does recover to full power quickly. In our test, the Motorola claimed to have a charge rate of 0–100% in 39 minutes; nevertheless, in 41 minutes, it was discovered to be significantly above that. Therefore, even with a rather short battery life, the Motorola Edge 40 is still a device to think about if you don't mind charging while on the move.

Performance

The performance Edge 40 has enough to adore, even if Motorola isn't one of the more well-known brands in the mobile gaming space. Any game you load up will sparkle thanks to the crystal clear P-OLED, whether it's Marvel Snap's sparkling animations or Need for Speed: No Limits' intense action.Nothing I tried to throw at the phone during my little time with it caused the frame rate to substantially drop. Even in very crowded on-screen times, performance remains steady across a variety of genres, even if you won't use the entire 144 Hz screen in more demanding games. You won't have any lag while running numerous programs at once, so you may switch between games, YouTube videos, and games without experiencing any performance issues.At the high end, Qualcomm is the clear leader, while competition is stronger in the mid range. The Edge 40's MediaTek Dimensity processor has more than enough power to run your favorite mobile games in stunning high definition. It's difficult to predict how it will perform in the future, but you can be sure that this Motorola will work flawlessly with any of the top-ranked games available on the Google Play Store right now.

Is it wise to purchase the Motorola Edge 40?

The Motorola Edge 40 is a powerful mid-range smartphone that is perfect for professionals and individuals who want to stream media and play games while on the move. The P-OLED screen promises very clear movies and gaming, and the 144 Hz refresh rate keeps everything feeling snappy. Its gorgeous display is perhaps its best feature.However, there are certain people for whom this phone isn't the best option. If you're a serious photographer, there are many more models available from other manufacturers that manage photography better and provide more built-in shooting choices. Regardless of the color you choose, it's also rather basic, so if you're searching for something with a little flair or a conversation starter, the Edge 40 is definitely not for you.

If you're not a good fit for the Motorola Edge 40

See some other options that could work better for you below.

Pixel 7a

GoogleThe Google Pixel 7a is a good choice if you need the smallest camera available but want to remain in the mid-range pricing bracket. If the Edge is a touch too plain for you, the Pixel is a worthy competitor in terms of performance as well.

Galaxy A54

from SamsungThe Samsung Galaxy A54 is a potent rival that addresses your worries about the Motorola Edge 40's camera quality and battery life. Other than being a little heavier and not having wireless charging, the Samsung addresses the most of the concerns that may turn you off the mid-range Motorola device. However, if your budget is a little bit larger, be sure to read our Samsung Galaxy S23 review.