Motorola Edge 50 Ultra Review — Camera and Performance Breakdown
Release Date: September 2024
Price (launch): €699 / ₹54,999 / $750
Availability: Europe, India, Middle East, Latin America (no official U.S. carrier launch)
Overview
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is Motorola’s most ambitious handset in years — a flagship that prioritizes both performance and photographic excellence while pushing sustainability forward. This review focuses on the areas most buyers care about: camera hardware and imaging results, and raw performance (CPU/GPU, display responsiveness, and thermal behaviour). If your primary interest is “Motorola Edge 50 Ultra camera and performance,” this article is written for you.
What matters: Camera & Performance
- Camera tech: 1-inch Sony IMX989 main sensor (50MP) tuned with Hasselblad, versatile multi-lens array, true optical telephoto with ~3x periscope.
- Performance: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage — flagship-class snappiness without flagship pricing.
- Display & UX: 6.7" 144Hz pOLED with Dolby Vision and extremely high peak brightness — ideal for HDR content and gaming.
- Charging: 125W wired and 50W wireless for extremely fast top-ups.
Key Specifications
| Display | 6.7″ pOLED, 144Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 2600 nits peak |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| RAM / Storage | 12GB LPDDR5X / 256GB or 512GB UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera | 50MP 1-inch Sony IMX989, OIS, Hasselblad tuning |
| Ultrawide | 50MP ultrawide, wide dynamic range |
| Telephoto | 64MP periscope, ~3x optical zoom |
| Front Camera | 32MP |
| Battery | 4500 mAh, 125W wired, 50W wireless |
| OS & Updates | Android 14-style HyperOS enhancements, 4 OS updates, 7 years security |
| Build | IP68, 8.2mm, 194g, recycled glass & bio-polymers back |
Camera — Real-world performance
The Edge 50 Ultra’s headline is the 1-inch Sony IMX989 main sensor. This larger sensor yields clear benefits: superior dynamic range, much-improved low-light noise control, and natural subject separation. Hasselblad tuning keeps tones natural and reliable, which helps photographers who edit or print their work.
Daylight: Sharp, detailed images with accurate skin tones and clean highlight handling. The ultrawide closely matches main-sensor color, easing post-processing.
Low light & Night mode: The large sensor plus well-implemented processing produces usable, low-noise shots in challenging light. Night mode preserves textures instead of producing over-processed HDR-looking images.
Telephoto: The ~3x periscope provides genuine optical reach for portraits and distant subjects — a meaningful advantage over digital-only zooms in this price segment.
Video: Reliable 4K capture with good stabilization and faithful color. Advanced AI video features are fewer than some rivals, but base video quality is excellent for everyday recording.
Performance — Benchmarks and daily use
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 with LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0 brings flagship-class responsiveness for gaming, multitasking and productivity. Under extended heavy loads thermal throttling is present but well-managed — you’ll see top short-burst performance and steady long-run frame rates with occasional drops that are normal in slim flagship designs.
Display responsiveness: 144Hz keeps animations buttery and benefits competitive games. High touch sampling and the panel’s peak brightness make it practical outdoors.
Battery life: 4500 mAh should deliver a full day of mixed use; heavy gamers will want a mid-day top-up. When you do charge, 125W wired is extremely fast and gets you to a high percentage in minutes.
Key Features (summary)
- 1-inch main sensor (Sony IMX989) with Hasselblad color science
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 + 12GB RAM — flagship snappiness
- 6.7″ 144Hz pOLED with Dolby Vision
- 125W wired + 50W wireless charging
- IP68, recycled materials, long software support promise
Pricing (USD) & Where it fits
Launched at roughly $750, the Edge 50 Ultra undercuts many top-tier flagships while closing the gap in photography and display tech. It’s a strong value for buyers focused on camera quality and fast charging without the Galaxy or iPhone price premium.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1-inch main sensor with Hasselblad tuning | Not officially sold by U.S. carriers |
| Flagship-class performance at a lower price | Battery life is good but not class-leading |
| Bright 144Hz pOLED with Dolby Vision | Software lacks some advanced AI camera features vs top rivals |
| 125W fast charging | No microSD slot |
| Eco-friendly materials and packaging | Heavier than some competitors at 194g |
Final Verdict
Score: 9.0 / 10
The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is an excellent choice if camera quality and responsive performance are your priorities. It doesn’t dominate every category compared to the very top-tier Galaxy or iPhone models, but it delivers most flagship features — large-sensor photography, ultra-fast charging, and a superb display — at a lower price and with an eco-conscious build.
Buy it if: You prioritize camera quality, fast charging and a premium display.
Skip it if: You need guaranteed U.S. carrier support, maximum battery endurance, or deep AI camera features.
More camera-focused reviews: See more camera reviews