Skip to main content

Motorola’s newest phone has something we’ve never seen before

Motorola is on a roll, having now announced the Motorola Edge 40 smartphone on the back of the Motorola Edge+ (2023) and the Motorola Edge 40 Pro.

Don’t bother looking into Motorola’s naming style too deeply, though, as all you need to know is the Edge 40 series is for the U.K. and various other regions, while the Edge+ (2023) is for the U.S. It means the Edge 40 seen here may arrive at a later date in the U.S., but be called something else.

The Motorola Edge 40 in green.
Motorola

Made of aluminum and with a vegan leather rear panel, the Edge 40 is just under 8mm thick and has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, so it should prove relatively hardwearing. The screen is a 6.55-inch pOLED with a Full HD+ resolution, making it a little smaller than the other two recent Edge models, and the refresh rate has dropped to 144Hz rather than 165Hz, but you almost certainly won’t notice the change in the real world.

Interestingly, Motorola has chosen MediaTek to power the Edge 40, and it’s the first time we’ve seen the Dimensity 8020 in a smartphone. The octa-core, 2.6GHz chip is accompanied by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage space, and it runs Android 13 with all the usual Motorola additions. These include the Ready For software to connect to a PC, and Motorola’s ThinkSheild security platform, just like on the Motorola ThinkPhone. And that’s not where the similarities end between these two Moto phones.

The Motorola Edge 40 in black.
Motorola

On the back of the Edge 40 is a 50-megapixel main camera, which is likely the same one fitted to the Edge 40 Pro, the Edge+ (2023), and the Motorola ThinkPhone too. It comes with a 13MP wide-angle camera with a macro mode, and on the front is a 32MP selfie camera. This setup is just like the ThinkPhone, and you can see what we thought of it in our ThinkPhone review.

Finally, all this is kept powered up by a 4,400mAh battery that’s recharged using Motorola’s proprietary 68W TurboPower fast charging system (or with 15W wireless charging). While the charging system is the same as the Edge+ (2023) and the ThinkPhone, the battery has a smaller capacity which may see it struggle to last a couple of days if pushed hard.

Motorola Edge 40 being put into a pocket.
Motorola

Motorola will release the Edge 40 in the U.K. for 530 British pounds, which is around $666, through its own online store and several retailers — including Currys and John Lewis, along with Vodafone and Three.

The price sees it undercut the OnePlus 11 and the Google Pixel 7, meaning it’s going to compete with phones like the Samsung Galaxy A54.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
5 phones you should buy instead of the Google Pixel 8
A person holding the Google Pixel 8, showing the back of the phone.

The Google Pixel 8 is a well-received Android-based smartphone. However, there are reasons why you might not choose it and opt for something else. Perhaps its 6.2-inch display does not meet your requirements, or its camera system does not match your expectations. It could also be possible that you would prefer a phone released in 2024 instead of one launched late last year.

If you’re not interested in buying the Google Pixel 8, several alternative phones may be more suitable for your needs. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S24 has the same-sized display as the Pixel 8 but with better internals. Alternatively, you could consider the OnePlus 12R, which offers a bigger display and better internals at a lower price. And that's just scratching the surface.

Read more
Motorola’s new Android phone looks amazing, but there’s a catch
motorola edge 50 Pro rear shell.

Earlier today, Motorola introduced a new premium phone in the Edge series, and from the looks of it, this could be one of the most value-centric phones of 2024. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro, which flaunts a fresh design language, marked its arrival in the Indian market with a price tag of roughly $385. For a limited spell, it will be sold at approximately $335, which is nothing short of stunning.

At that asking price, you won’t find a phone in the U.S. market that can match the hardware prowess and the fine looks of Motorola’s latest phone. We are talking about sleek curved glass aesthetics, a metallic frame, and a vegan leather finish available in a beautiful lavender shade.

Read more
A new Motorola phone just leaked, and it could beat the Galaxy S24 Ultra
A leaked render of the purple Motorola Edge Plus (2024), showing the front and back of the phone.

Motorola is said to be readying a new flagship in the Edge series, but it seems leaks will leave no surprises for the official reveal. In addition to a sneak peek at its design, leaked specifications suggest it could go tow-to-tow with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra.

The folks over at Android Headlines have leaked what looks like marketing renders of the upcoming Motorola Edge 50 Pro, a device that will likely arrive as Motorola Edge Plus (2024) in the U.S. market.

Read more