Motorola Edge 50 Fusion Review: A Good Midranger With Some Compromises
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion presents a compelling option for those seeking a quality midrange Android phone, but it does come with some compromises compared to its predecessor.
Pros:
- Elegant design: The phone boasts a premium look and feel, utilizing materials like vegan leather and velvet depending on the color option.
- Solid Performance: The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC delivers good overall performance, particularly in graphics benchmarks.
- Good Battery Life: You can expect long hours of use without needing frequent recharges.
- Decent Camera: The camera system performs well for its class, capable of recording videos in 4K at 30fps.
- Clean Software: The phone runs on a near-stock Android 14 experience with Motorola's additional features neatly packed into a single app.
- Competitive Price: Starting at around €400, the Edge 50 Fusion offers good value for its features.
Cons:
- Downgraded WiFi: The phone steps back to WiFi 5 from the Edge 40 Neo's WiFi 6E, potentially impacting speed depending on your router.
- Camera Inconsistencies: While generally capable, the camera algorithm struggles with brightly lit red and yellow areas, resulting in a "burned-out" look.
- Slow USB: The phone sticks with an outdated USB 2.0 port without video output.
- Inconsistent Security Updates: Although promising three years of OS updates and four years of security patches, the review unit experienced delays in receiving the promised bi-monthly security updates.
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion delivers a good balance of features and performance for its price point. While it does make some sacrifices compared to its predecessor, its stylish design, capable camera, long battery life, and clean software make it a worthwhile contender in the midrange segment. However, be aware of its limitations, particularly the downgraded WiFi and occasional camera inconsistencies.
