Motorola Edge 40 review in 5 points: Best productivity-focused smartphone under Rs 30,000

If you’re in search of a stylish and productivity-focused smartphone, you might come across the new Motorola Edge 40. Priced under Rs 30,000, it offers a sleek design, a curved display, an OIS-enabled camera, wireless charging, fast wired charging, and a clean Android experience. The Edge 40 could also be a good choice if you’re looking for a value-for-money device for your parents or if you’re a college student who appreciates its edgy design and camera-focused features.

If these points meet your requirements, here are five things to keep in mind before purchasing the Motorola Edge 40.

Design and display: There’s no doubt that the Edge 40 is one of the most stylish-looking smartphones on the market right now. If you pick the green variant, the back has a leather finish instead of the glass-like finish on the black model. The sides also feature a metal finish, adding great value to its overall premiumness. The only challenge with a slim smartphone is that you may find it difficult to find the right case and screen guard. The package includes a clear hardcover, which is a thoughtful decision from Motorola.

The display performance is also good. It features a 6.5-inch display with HDR support and a 144Hz refresh rate. The two features could help with the viewing experience if the content and app also have the same support.

Productivity: During my review, I found the Motorola Edge 40 reliable with daily tasks, be it browsing the web or other app-uses. It carries a MediaTek Dimensity 8020 chipset, which performs relatively better than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G SoC that powers some of my favourite mid-budget Android phones, like the Galaxy M52. The Dimensity 8020 SoC performs much better than Snapdragon 695 SoC, which has become a go-to choice for many smartphone OEMs in this segment. There’s Android 13, though I found some bugs during my test.

Camera: Motorola has chosen to remove a third camera and instead features a 50-megapixel OIS-enabled main camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera that doubles as a macro camera. The performance of both rear cameras is similar, but Motorola could enhance its processing capabilities. In well-lit settings, photos and videos default to a high white balance, resulting in a slightly washed-out appearance despite retaining details. The 32-megapixel front camera had the same problem of excessively lightening skin tones. Thankfully, all cameras support 4K recording, which could be useful to many upcoming creators.

Battery: Despite its slim design, the Edge 40 impressively houses a 4,400mAh battery that easily lasted a full day during my testing. It’s worth noting that I had all the power-intensive features enabled, such as the 144Hz refresh rate and Always-On Display (AOD). Additionally, the bundled 68W PD charger performed remarkably well, charging the phone up to 66 per cent in just 30 minutes and reaching a full 100 per cent charge in approximately 50 minutes.

Verdict: The Motorola Edge 40 provides excellent value for its price, especially for individuals who value productivity and aesthetics. However, if you’re an avid gamer, I suggest exploring alternatives like the Poco F5 or iQOO Neo 7, as they outperformed the Edge 40 in benchmark tests. If you’re a fan of clean Android OS, the Pixel 6a is a good choice, but that comes at the cost of a low refresh rate display and no wireless charging.

Readers can read the complete review here.