In recent years, I have been spoiled by the phones I use daily. But it was not too long ago that I carried a mid-range device in my pocket, with one of my favourites being the Motorola X Play from around 2015. So, when Motorola offered the opportunity to review its modern mid-range device, the motorola edge 2026, I was interested.
My biggest gripe with many phones these days comes down to their overall size. I can breathe a huge sigh of relief, as the motorola edge 2026 is “only” a 6.3-inch phone, similar in size to my flagship Samsung Galaxy S26. Despite its mostly plastic build, the motorola edge 2026 feels amazing to hold, thanks to its weight of 160 grams, seven grams lighter than my Samsung Galaxy S26 without a case. The back of the motorola edge 2026 also features a twill-inspired finish, which feels different but pleasing to the touch and adds some nice grip to the phone.
My unit comes in the only colour available, PANTONE Martini Olive, which does not suit my preferences and leaves me wishing more colours were available. This can easily be solved by putting the phone in a case, as most people tend to do anyway. Some friends found the colour appealing, so individual tastes will vary in this regard. A more subtle black or navy blue would suit my style much better.
For a mid-tier phone, the motorola edge 2026 still packs 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, although 256 GB would be preferable as the market shifts toward larger storage capacities. Some cheaper devices offer this amount, if not more. Unfortunately, there is no built-in microSD card slot for additional storage, which seems like a slight misstep on Motorola’s part. I feel it would have made up for the overall lack of internal storage. RAM can be boosted in the settings when you need a little extra computing power for demanding tasks.
“The rear camera set on the motorola edge 2026 was quite capable in my testing, sometimes producing nicer photos than my much more expensive Samsung Galaxy S26.”
Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7450, the motorola edge 2026 is more than capable of handling daily tasks and even more demanding games fairly easily, such as Fortnite running at 60 FPS on “Epic” settings. That is something my previous review unit, the Infinix HOT 70, was unable to do. Overall power is similar to that of a Google Pixel 7 series device, which I found acceptable for a device of this class.
The rear camera set on the motorola edge 2026 was quite capable in my testing, sometimes producing nicer photos than my much more expensive Samsung Galaxy S26. That was something I was not expecting from a cheaper device. It also features a 3x optical zoom lens, placing it in a similar class as my Samsung. Colours were true to life and accurate, without the oversaturation some phones tend to apply. Photos of my cat were remarkably clear. I could make out individual strands of fur and see every detail on his face perfectly.
In well-lit environments, I tested the zoom lens on my car and could see all the details clearly. The exposure was also what I would want in a photo. Even in darker, shadowy areas, such as the wheel wells, I could still make out the screws, clips and even the brake components. That is something I have not been able to reproduce with some phone cameras.
In the ultrawide photo, I could easily capture my whole front lawn with no noticeable distortion at 0.5x zoom. I was also able to capture wider photos than I could with my Samsung, which “only” has a 0.6x zoom lens. I immediately found that useful when trying to capture photos of various rooms inside my house.
Despite being a mid-range phone, Motorola has packed an even nicer display than my Samsung Galaxy S26. With a 1.5K 120 Hz AMOLED display capable of reaching an incredible 5,200 nits of peak brightness, it has double the peak brightness of my Samsung. Viewing the display, even on the brightest days, is no trouble for the motorola edge 2026. Colours are also accurate and Pantone-validated, helping to ensure they look true to life.
“My time with the motorola edge 2026 was refreshing and interesting.”
One of the added benefits of having a lower-powered phone comes down to overall battery life. With a large 5,000 mAh battery, the motorola edge – 2026 can easily get you through the day with extra battery to spare. I could easily have more than 25% left at the end of a long 16-hour day, even after playing games, scrolling social media for hours and making several phone calls. At 700 mAh larger than my Samsung, this was especially nice for the times I go away for a night but do not want to worry about taking a charging cable with me.
When it comes time to top back up, the motorola edge 2026 offers charging speeds of 68 W with wired charging and 15 W with wireless charging. Compared with my Samsung, this is significantly faster and got me on my way much more quickly. That was great for the times when I did not have time to wait for my phone to charge.
Like most people, I generally pair my phone with a case and screen protector to keep it safe from accidental drops. Motorola has equipped the motorola edge 2026 with IP68 and IP69 protection, allowing me to carry it in my pocket with less worry about life’s little incidents, whether that means drops, getting caught in the rain or whatever else life throws at me. I would still recommend a case and screen protector to be safe, but knowing the motorola edge 2026 has my back adds some extra reassurance when I am on the go.
My time with the motorola edge 2026 was refreshing and interesting. Knowing I do not necessarily need to carry a flagship phone daily to cover my needs, including my more demanding ones, gives me confidence that I can save money when it comes time to buy my next phone. Given everything Motorola was able to pack into such a compact phone, this is a great device for anyone who wants a high-end phone but cannot necessarily justify the high price tag.
