Motorola has recently been on a roll, launching the Razr 40 series and the Edge 40. We see a new variant of the latter today: the Motorola Edge 40 Neo. This is it if you’re looking for a device with all the premium bells and whistles that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
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Let’s find out if the Edge 40 Neo lives up to the hype.
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Should You Buy the Motorola Edge 40 Neo
If you’re looking for a mid-range phone that offers excellent value for its price, the Motorola Edge 40 is the one you’re looking for. However, it’s not perfect, as it lacks a microSD card slot and has slow wireless charging.
That being said, Motorola had to make some sacrifices given the price level of the Edge 40 Neo and we think Motorola has chosen well.
What is the Price of the Motorola Edge 40 Neo in Dubai and the UAE?
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is available in the UAE from various online and offline retailers. It’s priced at AED 1,349 for the 8GB + 128GB variant.
We don’t have more info on additional configurations or prices and will update this article when we hear about it.
Specs: Motorola Edge 40 Neo vs. Moto Edge 40?
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | Motorola Edge 40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.55 inches P-OLED 144Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels | 6.55 inches P-OLED 144Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7030 (6 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm) |
| RAM | 8GB or 12GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB or 256GB, no card slot |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP (wide) + 13 MP (ultrawide) | 50 MP (wide) + 13 MP (ultrawide) |
| Front Camera | 32 MP (wide) | 32 MP (wide) |
| Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh 68W TurboPower wired charging No wireless charging | Li-Po 4400 mAh 68W TurboPower wired charging 15W wireless charging |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.4 NFC USB Type-C | Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 NFC USB Type-C |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display) Accelerometer Proximity Compass | Fingerprint (under display) Accelerometer Proximity Compass |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Dimensions | 159.6 x 72 x 7.9 mm | 158.4 x 72 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight | 170 g | 167 g |
Design
Even though the Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a midrange phone, it has a premium look and feel from the metal frame with glass that curves slightly at the edges for that comfortable grip.
The front of the phone mostly comprises a 6.55-inch display, with minimal bezels and a punch-hole cutout for the front camera that adds to its sleek and elegant design.
Like most new phones, Motorola has made with this latest iteration of their Edge phone is the under-display fingerprint sensor. It’s fast and responsive so that you can access your phone in a blink of an eye.
As for the other buttons, it’s your standard set with the power button and volume rocker on the right side and a dedicated Google Assistant button on the left.
The bottom edge has a USB Type-C port for charging and a SIM tray that supports dual SIM cards. There’s no slot for a microSD expansion card, so you need to pick one that fits your storage needs.
Surprisingly, the top edge has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which not many phones have these days.
Display
If there’s a feature highlight of the Motorola Edge 40 Neo, it’s the 6.55-inch P-OLED display with a 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution. It’s an adaptive 144Hz refresh rate, making your apps and games look smooth as you use them.
As for display performance, it has excellent colour accuracy, contrast, brightness, and viewing angles, which you don’t expect from a midrange device. It’s also capable of HDR10+ and a wide DCI-P3 colour gamut.
Camera
As for the camera capabilities of the Motorola Edge 40 Neo, you can say it’s one of the best in its segment. It has a dual-camera setup with a 50MP main camera, an f/1.8 aperture, and phase detection autofocus or PDAF.
There’s also a 13MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 123-degree field of view to capture a lot more of the scene.
The camera system can capture detailed and sharp images with accurate colours and exposure as long as there is good lighting condition.
The front selfie camera has a 32MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture that takes excellent quality selfies with detail and clarity. It’s versatile, with modes like Portrait, Night, and Pro that you can use to improve your selfies.
Expect good videos from the Edge 40 Neo, as it’s capable of 4K recording at 30 frames per second. Lower the resolution to Full HD or 1080, and it shoots at a rate of 120 fps.
Performance
When it comes to performance, you can expect the Motorola Edge 40 Neo to handle most of your everyday tasks with ease, thanks to the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chipset. Even if you run multiple apps in the background, the phone won’t experience any lag or slowdowns.
Gaming should not be a problem, as the processor is backed up by a Mali-G57 MC5 GPU that should handle most games and take advantage of its high refresh rate display. Cooling is decent on the Edge 40 Neo, as it won’t heat up or throttle even when you set your games at the highest settings.
You can also expect a clean and smooth experience, thanks to a near-stock version of Android 13. Motorola did not add a lot of bloatware and customizations, taking full advantage of the efficiency of Android.
You get some good customizations, like Moto Actions and Moto Gametime, which offer an optimized usage experience.
Battery and Charging
Another strong point of the Motorola Edge 40 Neo is its battery life. It has a large 5000mAh battery packed in a compact chassis that lasts a full day or more with moderate to heavy use.
The phone also supports fast charging with 68W TurboPower with the adapter that comes with the box. You can expect the Edge 40 Neo to charge from 0% to 100% in around 40 minutes.
There’s no wireless charging support, though.
Video Reviews of the Motorola Edge 40 Neo
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a clear upgrade from its predecessor, the Edge 30 Neo. With improvements in design, performance, battery life, and camera, if you liked the previous model, you’re surely going to love this one.
In a quick hands-on review by GSMDome, he looks at the performance of the MediaTek Dimensity 7030 on the Motorola Edge 40 Neo. Whether you’re gaming or using it for productivity tasks, the phone should give you reliable performance every time
In a different unboxing of the Motorola Edge 40 Neo, GSMDome takes a closer look at the different features of the device, from the camera to the display and hardware. If you’re looking for a device that offers versatility and top-notch performance at an affordable price, this is the phone you’re looking for.
Alternatives to the Motorola Edge 40 Neo
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is a proven, all-around midrange phone. However, there are also a lot of others that should offer you a similar level of features and performance. Here are some options to consider:
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Weight: 189g | Thickness: 8.1mm | Screen: 6.5” 1080 x 2400 pixels, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Exynos 1280 Octa-core | RAM: up to 8GB | Storage: up to 256GB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM | Rear camera: 64MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 32MP | Battery: 5000mAh, 25W Wired charging
The Samsung Galaxy A53 offers a competitive alternative to the Motorola Edge 40 Neo. As for the features, there’s very little that separates these two phones. However, the Galaxy A53 may lag slightly behind in terms of performance and camera hardware.
Realme 11 Pro Plus 5G
The Realme 11 Pro Plus competes with the Motorola Edge 40 Neo in terms of specifications and performance. However, it falls short of software and overall user experience compared to the Motorola phone.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is a worthy contender against the Motorola Edge 40 Neo. Both devices come with 5G connectivity and high-quality displays, so it’s neck and neck between them. Choosing will come down to your preference, whether you want the clean software of the OnePlus or the reliable performance of the Motorola.
Motorola Edge 40 Neo Wrap Up
If you thought the Edge 40 was a curveball from Motorola, the Neo twists it even further. Yes, Motorola has removed some features like wireless charging but you also get a lower price. That being said, the non-neo Edge 40 is currently on sale, making it a great deal. Thus, we’d say it’s best to wait for the Motorola Edge 40 Neo to also go on sale if you’re planning on picking one up.
Jian Bacallan
Technology Content Crafter. Helping you unbox the latest in tech trends, especially with laptops and mobile devices. A PC gaming enthusiast who loves to cook and is currently obsessed with sim games and pizza dough.
