2023: Motorola Edge Plus. Motorola is relying on this brand, which may not be the most memorable you've ever heard, to reenter the top smartphone market. And even while the branding may use some improvement, the
actual phone proves that Motorola still has what it takes to make a standout flagship.
The Motorola Edge Plus (2023) meets all the requirements for a contemporary Android smartphone. There is the most recent processor from Qualcomm, a sizable battery that charges quickly, a trio of cameras, and a sizable display with a quick refresh rate. It doesn't take long to understand why Motorola believes it has a winner when you combine all of it with a sleek design and an asking price of $800.
Motorola Edge Plus (2023): design
The Motorola Edge Plus (2023) has a nice, albeit rather dull, initial impression. The phone boasts a massive 6.7-inch curved display that dominates the front, a camera bump that isn't overly enormous, and it comes in any color you want—as long as it's black. The rear of the phone has a delicate frosted finish that shimmers in the light.
The Edge Plus (2023), which I'll be the first to say, isn't the most striking smartphone to launch this year, but once you have it in your hand, it becomes much more amazing.
Although the glass back is a little bit more slippery than I'd like, the velvety surface Motorola gave it feels fantastic and barely shows any fingerprints. The weight is also great. The Edge Plus weighs only 203 grammes, which is much less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max's 240 grammes and the 234 grammes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Naturally, there are also curves. The Edge Plus (2023) has curved edges on the back and front of the phone, returning the curved display that was present in the Edge Plus (2022) from a year earlier. I realise that some people may disagree with my choice, but I have truly come to like it. The Motorola Edge Plus (2023) has exceptional grip because to its curves, smooth back, and light design.
Two external stereo speakers are located on the top and bottom frames of the Edge Plus, and when paired with Dolby Atmos capability, they should deliver a fantastic audio experience. Unfortunately, I've been disappointed by the Edge Plus' audio quality. The sound on the phone is tinny and lacks any true depth, even if it becomes very loud. The speakers aren't bad, but I definitely anticipated better.
And last, you can't perceive a significant design shift. The 2023 model achieves a true IP68 classification, which means the phone is dust-tight and can survive water submersion in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes. Last year's Edge Plus disappointed with a meagre IP52 water-resistance rating.
Motorola Edge Plus (2023): display and performance
A 6.7-inch pOLED display is encircled by the Motorola Edge Plus (2023)'s curves on the front. Its specs include a 2400 x 1080 resolution, HDR10+, a 165Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. In other words, it seems lovely.
Nowadays, it's unusual to find a smartphone with a truly terrible display, but the Edge Plus (2023)'s display is notably gorgeous. The 165Hz refresh rate, which exceeds the 90Hz and 120Hz norms we've grown to anticipate on most smartphones, is partly to blame for this. While the phone can be set to Auto mode, which employs "smart optimisation up to 120Hz," I've never seen any lag or choppy performance while doing so.
Additionally, I've discovered that I appreciate the curves more than I had imagined. They not only make the Edge Plus (2023) pleasant to handle, but they also give the impression that there are no bezels around the screen; everything just flows over the sides. Even though it's a small effect, every time I switch back to my iPhone 14 Pro, I find myself missing it.
The touchscreen has occasionally acted strangely when my hands have touched the curved edge, but for the most part, the Edge Plus has done a fine job of rejecting undesirable inputs.
Performance-wise, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip found within the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) is identical to that found inside many of the top Android phones that have been made available this year. The Edge Plus's speed shouldn't be a surprise given that it is paired with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The Edge Plus (2023) never lags, whether I'm browsing through Twitter, using Google Maps to obtain precise directions, or playing excessive amounts of Marvel Snap.
Another crucial aspect is that it provides this intense performance without ever feeling uncomfortable to the touch. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has a history of having great heat management, and that is still true today.
Motorola Edge Plus (2023): cameras
Despite Motorola's several attempts over the years to reverse that perception, their phones have never been regarded for having excellent camera systems. We have a 50-megapixel primary camera with a 1/1.5-inch sensor and an f/1.8 aperture for the Edge Plus (2023). Optical image stabilisation is another feature.
Another 50MP ultrawide sensor with a 114-degree field-of-view is attached to the primary camera and is also utilised for macro photography. A 60MP selfie camera and a 12MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom are also included.
at conclusion, the camera system at this place is decent, despite the fact that it isn't very innovative or intriguing.
The 50MP primary camera regularly produces high-quality images. Motorola often boosts the colours so they are more vivid than how a scene seemed in real life, but it doesn't go overboard like the Samsung Galaxy A54.
Motorola Edge Plus (2023): battery and charging
A 5,100mAh battery keeps the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) running. On paper, the figure is remarkable, and in real life, it is much more so. According to my tests, the Edge Plus offers one of the best 2023 mobile battery experiences.
One morning at 7:40 a.m., my battery was at 100%. I played Marvel Snap for about 30 minutes that day, spent approximately 45 minutes on Twitter, utilised Google Maps' turn-by-turn instructions for 20 minutes, and did a lot of other stuff. After everything was said and done, I had spent 3 hours and 48 minutes in front of the screen, and at 11:49 that night, the battery still had 52% charge.
I didn't eventually deplete the battery to 4% until 6:20 p.m. the following day, despite spending a total of 7 hours and 38 minutes in front of the screen, which included additional gaming, streaming YouTube TV, extensive TikTok scrolling, and other activities. Even with moderate to heavy use, this smartphone comfortably lasts two days. It's quite possible that you could go for two and a half days on a single charge if you limit how much time you spend on your phone during the day.
When a recharge is eventually required, the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) is ready. Unlike the majority of modern phones, this one supports 68-watt cable charging and comes with a 68W charger already installed. Expect the Edge Plus to charge to roughly 45% in only 15 minutes, and it will take just under an hour to reach 100%. That is much quicker than the 25W and 23W charging rates provided by the Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7 Pro, respectively, however it is not nearly as quick as the 80W charging you get on the OnePlus 11.
Motorola Edge Plus (2023): software and updates
Android 13 is preinstalled on the Motorola Edge Plus (2023). The fact that the user interface is nearly comparable to that of a Google Pixel is advantageous to Motorola.
The programme is responsive, slick, simple to use, and free of unnecessary options or features. I did discover a few preloaded applications (Facebook, Publishers Clearing House, Words of Wonders, and CallApp), but it merely took a few seconds to remove them all.
The Moto app, which provides access to your customization tools, gestures, and display settings as well as a security hub, is Motorola's largest upgrade. The software is quite nicely made, and in true Moto manner, everything that has been added to custom Android is actually helpful.
Consider the gestures, for instance. While swiftly turning the phone activates the torch, it also launches the camera app. These gestures have been a part of Motorola smartphones since the 2013 Moto X, but they are still some of the most user-friendly ones available today.
The customisation options offered by Motorola are also quite good. A very smooth user interface is provided for changing your background image, accent colour, icon form, fingerprint sensor animation, and other settings. The ability to randomly choose your lock screen PIN each time you open your phone is one of the truly useful security features.
Motorola's version of Android is still one of my favourites out of all the Android phones I've tried over the years. It maintains the same excellent appearance of a Google Pixel and is quick and dependable. It also cleverly incorporates little improvements that are as simple to overlook if you don't want anything to do with them. I can tolerate using One UI on a Samsung phone or OxygenOS on a OnePlus device, but Motorola's software is far superior to any of them.
