Motorola Edge 30 Pro review

Competition

The Motorola Edge 30 Pro is sold throughout the world and in multiple RAM and storage versions. Throwing in its North American alter ego, the Edge+ (2022), and we can be looking at vastly different price points and competition.

A US-spec Edge+ with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (seemingly the only available version there) runs for $900 nominally, but is $100 off now. Meanwhile, in Europe, the default version is the one with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and that retails for €800. India, on the other hand, gets the base version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (both still decently roomy) for what is a comparatively bargain price - the INR 50K translates to $660/€590.

In the US and Europe, Edge 30 Pro money or a small premium buys you one of a selection of competing flagships - be it the Galaxy S22, or iPhone 13, or the Pixel 6 Pro, though all of these will come with half the storage. While the iPhone is in a similarly telephoto-challenged position as the Moto, the other two offer zooming capability. All three come with proper IP68 rating, however, unlike the Moto's 'splash resistance'.

The iPhone and the Galaxy are considerably more compact than the Moto but, conversely, with a lot smaller displays. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, matches the Edge 30 Pro for physical size and screen diagonal, and also outresolves it (1440p vs. 1080p). None of these go as high as the Moto's 144Hz, but is that really essential? Similarly, the Edge 30 Pro's stylus capability might be nice, but it's a niche feature and with the stylus being optional, how many people will actually get one?

The Pixel has the original Android 12 that the Edge's software looks like, while the Galaxy offers DeX - Samsung's 'ready for'. The iPhone's iOS, meanwhile, 'just works'.

It's a tough crowd to be in, but it gets even more difficult to justify the Moto's price against the Galaxy S21 FE. Sure, it's got last year's chipset (which also, sort of, does the Pixel), and the base version has 'just' 6GB of RAM, but at $550/€550 the FE comes with significant savings on top of an IP68 rating and a telephoto camera.

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G • Apple iPhone 13 • Google Pixel 6 Pro • Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

The FE is also a solid alternative to the Edge 30 Pro in India, only there it's priced at Moto money. But even with the saving out the door, the Galaxy may very well be the better option unless you're specifically into the Moto software.

If you're after a more versatile camera system, the vivo X70 Pro (if you can find one) retails for about Moto money and comes with two telephotos versus the Edge 30 Pro's nought. The vivo comfortably wins for battery life, but its Dimensity can't quite match the Moto's Snapdragon, plus the Funtouch OS might be a dealbreaker (all in itself, but also because of the older Android 11 foundation).

A similar software trade-off must be reasoned around when it comes to the Xiaomi 11T Pro. Additionally, this one too lacks a telephoto camera, its ultrawide is simpler than the Moto's and its selfies aren't as good - overall, the Edge 30 Pro is the better option for picturetaking. The Xiaomi is among the record holders for charging speed, beating the Moto, though a battery life victory is hard to award in this bout and the display situation is similarly a toss-up. Perhaps key here is the fact that the Xiaomi comes in at 10% less at the checkout and that's for a 12GB/256GB version, next to an 8GB/128GB Moto.

Next up, the Asus 8z - India's name for what is known globally as the Zenfone 8. It's a tiny one, the 8z which some may consider an advantage, though we'd get if you prefer the Moto's 6.7-inch display over the Asus' 5.9-inch one. In that small package, the 8z packs an overall superior camera setup (no telephoto though, again), and it more or less ties the Edge 30 Pro for battery life and display quality. So if more screen estate isn't a priority or, on the contrary - pocketability is, the 8z is a winner in our book.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G • vivo X70 Pro • Xiaomi 11T Pro • Asus Zenfone 8

Verdict

The Motorola Edge 30 Pro is somewhat of an odd proposition - a flagship that isn't quite, with unique selling points but also some notable shortcomings. On the first list is the 144Hz display - we can appreciate the smoothness, but can't quite see it as a substantial advantage over the 120Hz of the competition.

We also enjoy the 'stock' Android 12 build, sweetened by Moto enhancements and we can even come up with use cases for the 'ready for' platform. It's in those cases that the latest-gen Snapdragon (even though it's got Gen 1 in its name) comes in handy and it doesn't hurt that the Edge 30 Pro shows one of its more stable implementations that we've seen.

The Moto does miss the mark in some important areas. The lack of a telephoto camera stands out and it's compounded by all too simple video recording capabilities. Slight missteps in the display and battery departments, while hardly dealbreakers, place the Edge 30 Pro in a trailing position too. Add to that the missing waterproofing in a sea of properly sealed competitors and some odd choices in the BoM and the phone isn't looking very premium either.

With all that said, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro isn't a bad package. On the contrary, it's a balanced offering that's simply hard to straight up recommend at list price against the available rivals. That balance can easily shift in its direction though if you stumble upon a discount down the line, or you find yourself liking some particular aspects of it that others can't match. Don't rush to the store for one, but don't cross it off your list, is what we're saying.

Pros

• Extra fluid 144Hz display, straightforward HRR handling.
• Fast charging with standard USB Power Delivery peripherals.
• Wireless charging.
• Android 12 interface akin to that on a Pixel, additional Moto custom bits, 'ready for' PC-like capability.
• Top-tier performance, excellent stability under sustained CPU load.

Cons

• Not waterproof (just splash resistant), plastic frame lacks premium feel.
• Display not as bright as the competition.
• Battery life is uninspiring.
• No telephoto camera.
• Limited video recording options - no 4K60, no 4K on the ultrawide at all.