At the end of summer 2021, the Motorola Edge 20 was appeared in the market – a smartphone that is a simplified version of the flagship model. Compared to it, it has few compromises while remaining attractive to consumers who would like to update their device with something close to the top models.
Inside we find a transparent silicone cover, a USB-C / USB-C cable, a 20W power supply, a pair of stereo headphones with an audio jack, and an audio jack to USB adapter. -C.
| PROS | CONS |
| Flexible camera set-up | Non-expandable memory |
| Screen up to 144 Hz | High introductory price |
| Thin and light | The back gets dirty easily |
| Complete software |
Key Specification
| Motorola Edge 20 | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE |
| Released | 2021, July 29 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G |
| Display | 6.7 inches |
| Memory | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
Design
| Dimensions | 163 x 76 x 7 mm |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) |
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Colour | Frosted Grey, Frosted White, Frosted Emerald |
| Display Type | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| Build Material | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
Motorola Edge 20 is a different smartphone from the point of view of design and construction compared to last year’s model. Not bad because from this point of view, Motorola still wanted to find a fascinating interpretation. We have a fragile aluminum body, only 7 millimeters, including the camera block, which unfortunately protrudes slightly more than expected. The body on the back is made of plastic, and compared to other solutions of the competition, it feels and holds some fingerprints. Nothing dramatic, but you feel the difference compared to glass. The smartphone is also splash-resistant for this year (but not certified).
Indeed the key to reading this Edge 20 is its thinness and its lightness: only 163 grams. An absolute rarity.
Display
The Motorola Edge 20 screen is a large 6.7-inch diagonal in OLED technology. The refresh rate can even be set to 144 Hz, a value currently only reached in gaming smartphones. You can also activate the automatism, but it will only be between 60 and 120 Hz. In any case, this guarantees an excellent feeling of fluidity in daily use. The resolution is FullHD + (1080 x 2400 pixels), and we have HDR10 support. The color of the panel was not convincing at first start, but we solved it with ease by setting the “deep colors” mode.
Performance
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G |
| GPU | Adreno 642L |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Internal | 128GB, 256GB |
| Expansion | No |
| OS | Android 11 |
Motorola Edge 20 has quality hardware, albeit not top of the range. We have a Snapdragon 778G octa-core 2.4 GHz processor made at 6nm and an Adreno 642L GPU. In terms of energy management and temperatures, it is undoubtedly one of the most successful processors of the year. We then have 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. There is also an 8/256 version on the market. Unfortunately, the memory is not expandable.
Camera
| Rear | 108MP + 16MP + 8MP |
| Front | 32MP |
| Video recording | 1080p@30fps |
From the hardware point of view, the cameras of this Edge 20 are very respectable, especially for the price range. We have a 108-megapixel ƒ / 1.9 main camera, a 16-megapixel ƒ / 2.2 wide-angle camera, and an optically stabilized 8 megapixel 3x zoom camera ƒ / 2.4. Especially the latter camera is a real rarity to find in a mid-range smartphone on the market. Also interesting is that the wide-angle camera offers autofocus and allows you to take pictures in macro mode.
The shots with good light from the main sensor are very good: well balanced in colors, sharp and detailed. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for low-light shots, where the night mode artificially increases the brightness, but dramatically increases the watercolor effect of the photos. The zoom camera is also good, and the wide-angle is also decent, even if it always takes at least a second to focus. For some reason, Motorola has chosen to have these cameras take 12-megapixel shots and the main one in automatic mode, thus artificially reducing or increasing the final resolution.
When the light is not perfect, the results of the photos are unpredictable. The focus does not seem to be perfect, and the photos are a bit of a lottery. Better to take a few more of the same subject to make sure you have a good one to use. Selfies are also sufficient, despite the 32-megapixel front sensor ƒ / 2.3. Many additional shooting modes, such as double shooting (double-sided) or the creation of animated gifs in which to animate only a part of the scene.
Sufficient videos in 4K at 30 fps achievable from the main sensor. The stabilization is decent, but it did not activate automatically in all the videos made for some reason. Undoubtedly Motorola has yet to work on the camera software of this Motorola Edge 20. And we know that it can, given the results obtained in other company smartphones, be even cheaper.
Multimedia
| Headphone jack | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| Microphones | Yes |
| FM Radio | No |
Battery Life
| Capacity | 4000 mAh |
| Type | Li-Po, non-removable |
| Power Supply | Fast charging 30W |
| User-Replaceable | No |
The battery is “alone” 4,000 mAh. They are not many compared to the competition, but they are also not few, and they are also the quantity that we would have expected considering the smartphone’s thinness. Thanks to the usual Motorola “miracle,” this battery still guarantees a full day of autonomy with almost any type of use. However, there is a 30W fast recharge and an optimized night-time recharge function to extend the battery life. There is no wireless charging.
Connectivity
| SIM | Dual SIM |
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Wifi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| NFC | Yes |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
We have excellent connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E (latest generation), Bluetooth 5.2, and 5G support. Do not miss the NFC and a fantastic digital player on the right side. Too bad for the absence of an audio jack. However, there is a button for Google Assistant on the left side of the smartphone. More than enough audio, even if unfortunately provided by only one lower speaker.
Software
Motorola Edge 20 has Android 11 available, updated with the September 2021 patches at writing. Again it is stock-looking software enriched by Motorola’s many features. After a period of “cleaning,” the company has added more functions to the software. We have Ready For to connect the wireless smartphone to monitors and TVs, customization by creating themes at will, the Moto Gestures, and the notifications function when the screen is off (but not always ). You can also set up a panel of favorite apps by double-tapping the fingerprint reader, and the gaming mode (always more prosperous) called Game Time is always present.
Conclusion!
This Moto Edge was born on a different philosophy from last year. No accentuated sloping edge but rather a super subtlety. However, to create something different from what is already around.
There are not many OLED models at this price point with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. In addition, we have a great design – a light and thin device, IP52 waterproof rating, a powerful processor, enough memory, impressive cameras, and an optimized operating system. Also worth mentioning is the Ready For option for using the Motorola Edge 20 as a cable-free PC with a monitor or TV.
