The Motorola portfolio of smartphones for 2024 consists of a minimum of 30 fashions. There was a recent set of Edge 50 telephones, two new foldables, a handful of Moto G inexpensive units and even a ThinkPhone as a nod to Lenovo – Motorola’s father or mother firm.
There have been some spectacular units, whereas others upset. Here is our tackle what went effectively and what flopped.
Winner: Motorola Razr 50 Extremely/razr+ 2024
The world of foldables had a slower 12 months than regular, however Motorola is among the firms that made an enormous achieve regardless of the stagnation. The Razr 50 Extremely is among the main causes, because the clamshell improved over the already spectacular predecessor. The foldable panel lacks any main creases, and the chipset was extraordinarily quick for a cellphone on this class.
The brand new razr is lastly waterproof, and we obtained a telephoto lens as effectively.
Only some firms provide clamshell foldables outdoors of China, and we applaud Motorola for bringing the Razr 50 Extremely (offered as razr+ 2024 within the US) to worldwide markets.
Loser: Motorola Razr 50/razr 2024
Whereas we’re on the subject of foldables, we can’t miss the vanilla Razr 50. Positive, the cellphone obtained among the perks of the Razr 40 Extremely, however camera-wise, it didn’t impress. There’s additionally the abysmal efficiency of the Dimensity 7300 chipset, which appears like an insult to everybody keen to spend €800 on a smartphone.
Motorola launched the Razr 50 (aka razr 2024 within the US) as a extra inexpensive different to the Extremely, and as such, it’s certain to come back with some compromises. Sadly, it determined to take away the adapter from the field below the obscure pretext of being environmentally aware. This argument falls quick, given the cumbersome case within the retail field.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely
Winner: Motorola Edge 50 Neo
Motorola managed to place this 12 months’s Neo in its personal class – a lightweight cellphone with a reasonably small display screen with the value and efficiency of a midranger. It’s IP68-rated, the display screen and battery are nice, and it even comes with wi-fi charging.
The Edge 50 Neo can also be a lovely-looking cellphone. All its shade choices had been co-selected with Pantone, and all 5 paint jobs are gorgeous.
The Edge 50 Neo just lately launched in Mocha Mousse, the 2025 Pantone Shade of the 12 months. It’s mentioned to be impressed by cacao, chocolate and low. Positive, seems are subjective, however this new shade is one more daring push from Motorola.
The colour matching case is one other good contact in regards to the Edge 50 Neo.
Motorola razr+ 2024
Loser: Motorola Edge 50
The Edge 50 household has 5 members, and the vanilla choice is definitely probably the most forgettable. Whereas the cellphone does have a aggressive beginning value of €500, its dated Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset instantly places it on the again foot.
We reviewed the cellphone a number of weeks in the past, and the battery check was downright unimpressive. Additionally, regardless of the Edge 50 having an OLED panel, Motorola omitted the AOD function. Nonetheless, it is perhaps for good to maintain the poor battery from being much more disappointing.
Motorola Edge 50
The Edge 50 just isn’t a complete catastrophe. It nonetheless has a skinny, gentle physique, and the panel on the again just isn’t slippery, making the cellphone simple to deal with. The system is IP68-certified and military-graded for sturdiness and resistance to excessive temperatures. The cameras are additionally good, even when the app struggles to maintain up.
Winner: Pantone partnership
We already mentioned the Edge 50 Neo and its colours, however we should additionally point out Motorola’s partnership with Pantone.
It’s fairly easy: The cellphone firm is given the correct to make use of trademarked names and paint jobs for its telephones, whereas Pantone will get model publicity and showcases its sharp colours on completely different supplies, similar to leather-based, plastic, and glass.
Pantone is the go-to firm for colours in plenty of industries. It gives consistency and a dependable shade information, which print homes, factories, and manufacturing crops use.
Talking particularly in regards to the Moto and Edge telephones, now we have seen some gorgeous choices prior to now 12 years. Various telephones, together with the Edge 50, Edge 50 Extremely, and Razr 40 Extremely, are promoting in Peach Fuzz, the 2024 Shade of the 12 months. This 12 months’s high foldable obtained the Mocha Mousse therapy.
Even when Motorola determined to not pay for the naming rights within the Moto G collection, we nonetheless noticed some daring colours, similar to a Purple Moto G85, a Inexperienced Moto G35 and our favourite, a Twilight Purple Moto G55.
Loser: Moto G collection
We wished to choose one Moto G smartphone however struggled to find out which was the worst. So we current Motorola’s largest flop of 2024 — the Moto G collection.
We perceive that Moto G telephones are supposed to be inexpensive, however Motorola reduce too many corners to maintain the value low. The G35 went for an unimpressive Unisoc chip whereas maintaining the 5,000 mAh battery with 18W charging from the predecessor; the G55 was barely an improve over the predecessor, and for some cause, Motorola skipped on a Moto G65.
Motorola Moto G35
The corporate did launch a Moto G75, which is at the moment costlier than the Edge 50 Fusion regardless of its much less highly effective CPU, slower wired charging and primary digital camera set.
The tour of disappointment ends with the Moto G85, which is hardly a worthy improve over the G84, regardless of some spectacular feats just like the improved predominant and selfie cameras.
Notable point out: Firmware updates
Motorola has been behind the competitors relating to software program updates for some time now. Fortunately, the corporate stepped up its sport in 2024 and prolonged its help considerably with the midranger Edge 50 Neo notably getting 5 editions of latest Android OS.
We do not rely this as a win but as a result of guarantees are simple to make. Now we have to attend and see whether or not Motorola will observe by means of. After all, the corporate additionally mentioned some AI options are being developed, however as soon as the guarantees begin showing on display screen, we are going to rely them as a win.
