I’ve been using the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, a phone I really like. Unfortunately, I’m tired of Motorola not fixing the same old problems that plague its phones.
I’ve been using the Motorola Edge 50 Pro for the last few weeks with no real complaints, but that’s mainly because I’ve slowly accepted it’s yet another Motorola smartphone with the same old problems.
Once again, what is generally a good smartphone is plagued with the same issues we’ve written about for some considerable time, and sadly, the company seems to have no interest in changing its ways.What’s good about the Motorola Edge 50 Pro
Before we get all negative, let’s talk about the build, design, and ergonomics. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro looks superb, especially in the Luxe Lavender color seen in our photos. The curved screen neatly meets the vegan leather rear cover and never feels sharp or uncomfortable despite the tapered 8.2mm thickness. The slim chassis emphasizes the low 186-gram weight, and this phone disappears when you slip it into your pocket.
Many brands have shunned the curved screen, and I’m really pleased Motorola has not. The camera module blends into the back of the phone, so it’s not such a major design statement as it can be on other phones. It all makes the Edge 50 Pro look sleek and modern, and I have not experienced any fatigue holding it either. It’s a genuinely pleasant phone to show off, hold, and carry around. The vegan leather is quite sticky, though, and once lint or muck is on it, it’s a pain to completely remove.
The 6.7-inch pOLED screen is excellent too, and I appreciate its 144Hz maximum refresh rate, however I have not felt the need to change from the Auto setting. It adjusts between 60Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz depending on use, and it has judged the situation without a problem for me. The peak 2,000-nit brightness hasn’t activated for me very often, but it has always appeared bright enough to see, even in sunlight. When you pick up the Motorola Edge 50 Pro and take in the screen, it’s an immediately impressive phone.Where it goes wrong
It all starts well with the Edge 50 Pro, and I do like the phone, but there are several aspects that continue to irritate with Motorola phones. My biggest bugbear is that the Edge 50 Pro does not have an always-on screen. It sits there on the table with the big 6.7-inch screen, entirely black, all the time. It is the only manufacturer I can think of that does not provide an always-on screen feature on any of its smartphones, regardless of price or screen technology.
