Motorola edge 20 pro, motorola edge 20 and motorola edge 20 lite are a new family of premium smartphones that were presented in Poland in mid-August.
The first one in my hands was the most expensive version of the series, i.e. the edge 20 Pro version and I must admit that I liked it very much. Now I can share with you a slightly cheaper model, i.e. edge 20. This smartphone is distinguished by:
And how did the new model (PLN 2299) work on a daily basis? I invite you to the review.
Technical specification:
Contents of the box:
Design and use
The Motorola Edge 20, like the edge 20 Pro, looks great. Its big advantage is the very flat construction of the back and the screen. It seems to be slightly smaller than the screen indicates. Its dimensions are: 163 x 76 x 6.99 mm, and the weight is only 163 g. So it seems very compact, and it is also light. It is also influenced by the material used - the back is plastic. On the one hand, you could complain that it's not glass, but on the other hand, nicely finished plastic also has its advantages. And it won't break if the phone falls to the floor. I will add that the frames are aluminum and flat. Nevertheless, the grip is secure and the phone does not slip out of your hands.
What can be disturbing are the protruding cameras that make the smartphone wobble a bit when we put it on a flat surface. Therefore, we will have nothing else but to put on the silicone case that we will find in the package.
Currently, we have two colors to choose from: gray and white. Especially the white version is impressive - it shimmers under the influence of light. Due to such a finish, there is also a minimum of fingering.
The housing received protection against moisture - IP52. OK, but it could have been a bit more.
On the housing you will find:
The entire new edge 20 series has lost stereo speakers in favor of mono. The manufacturer explained this by listening to the customer's needs. Something I do not really want to believe that Motorola users prefer mono speakers than stereo. Personally, I regret this loss and it will probably also worry some users. There is also no mini jack output and space for an additional memory card. There is also no notification LED, which is no longer strange in this class of smartphones. Nevertheless, when it comes to the sound itself, there is little to complain about here other than the aforementioned loss of stereo. The music is clean, clear, quite loud, although without much depth, space or bass. It is correct, but leaves a little unsatisfied. For everyday use, it's enough to watch videos on YouTube, listen to podcasts or make hands-free calls.
And how does biometrics work in this model? I don't have any major comments here. The fingerprint reader placed in the button works quickly and flawlessly. For fans of unlocking the phone with the face, there is also such a mechanism, although less secure and may fail in darker rooms. It is no less and can be used.
But the screen makes a very good impression. This is the same matrix as in the more expensive model - edge 20 Pro. Here we have a 6.7-inch 20: 9 Max Vision display with OLED technology with FHD + resolution (2400 x 1080) and a refresh rate of 144 Hz (Touch refresh rate up to 576 Hz) . In addition, the active area-touch panel (AA-TP) is 90.6% and the color space is DCI-P3, Refresh rate 144Hz. The difference lies in the construction itself. The screen in the tested model is covered with 2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 (not 5 as in the PRO version) with a coating that protects against fingerprints.
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The image displayed on this screen is great. And here I will repeat myself. Just like in the edge 20 Pro, everything is clear, the colors are saturated, the viewing angles are wide, and the screen refresh rate is one of the highest currently on the market. You can easily work on it even on sunny days. It's rather hard to stick to anything here. In addition, in the options we will find several configuration options: change to a dark theme, change colors (saturated, natural, color temperature adjustment), change the refresh rate (60 Hz, 144 Hz, automatic), personalize colors, fonts or icons, night backlight, prevent image flicker or changing the brightness level and the option to turn on the "attentive screen" option (the screen is on when we look at it). So everyone will find something for themselves. As standard, we also have moto gestures and gesture navigation or the ability to turn on the standard bar with buttons. I turn off the latter very quickly, because gestures are super convenient in navigation. However, it's a matter of taste and it's good that there are both possibilities.
Motorola edge 20 received the following components.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G processor is a pretty good proposition for mid-range smartphones. It was presented by Qualcomm in May 2021, and the tested smartphone is one of the few that received it. We have here recently presented realme GT Master Edition or edge 20 lite from the same family. The competing realme model is also slightly cheaper and offers a version with more space for files (256 GB). There is a photo booth for that. So we have to answer for ourselves what we care about more.
The most important thing is that the smartphone works very smoothly, reacts quickly to my commands and can easily handle even more demanding applications. In the AnTuTu test, it received over 521,000. points. So work and entertainment on this model is pure pleasure. It is a pity that there is no place for an additional memory card.
Let's not forget about the support for the 5G network, which is slowly starting to develop in our country as well. Therefore, when buying a smartphone with a view to using it for the next 2-3 years, and maybe even longer, it is worth paying attention to whether it will work with the 5G network. This model will be able to connect to any 5G network currently in Poland and most importantly on both SIM cards.
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Motorola edge 20, like edge 20 Pro, works under the control of a clean edition of Android version 11. Thanks to this, we gain access to new features, such as better protection of data confidentiality (control over access in applications, e.g. to the microphone disk, etc.), balloons to facilitate multitasking, Android data sharing without the need to connect to the Internet, dark mode scheduler or power button menu. The manufacturer also declares that security updates will be provided for 2 years and one major system update. The last security update that appeared on my test model comes from July 1, 2021. The phone also includes My UX with all the well-known and liked Moto Features. Among other things, we can personalize styles (shapes, icon colors, fonts, etc.) or wallpapers. The optimization of the system is also correct, thanks to which the phone works smoothly and stably for this price range.
The most interesting feature, however, is the Motorola Ready For platform, which was first presented in the moto g100 model. It allows you to connect your phone with a TV or monitor and extend your workspace with an additional desktop. Until now, you needed an MHL adapter (HDMI - USB C) to connect, and from the edge 20 family, a Wi-Fi connection is enough (on a computer with Windows 10, you only need to install the Ready For PC application).
The connection itself is quick and seamless. In desktop mode, we can, for example, expand the game to the entire screen (here it is worth having an additional pad, because not all functions can be operated from the touchpad, which the phone changes into at the time of connection), turn on a movie, conduct video conferences, etc.
Interestingly, we can also use the phone as a webcam for conversations via e.g. Teams or Skype on a computer / laptop and we do not need any additional applications or paid add-ons. All you have to do is connect the phone via USB to the computer and an additional option will appear in the connection menu: "Webcam". What's more, we can also choose from which lens the image will be sent. In the era of work or remote learning, such a solution is a great option. We no longer need to buy an additional webcam. It would be nice if this option appeared in every teflon.
The communication package available in the motorola edge 20 should also satisfy every user. In it we will find:
I have no comments here. Everything worked fine during the testing period. Transferring files via BT, Wi-Fi connectivity, or finding your way around the city using GPS is no problem for this model. She didn't notice anything breaking or getting lost where it shouldn't have happened. There is also NFC payment, which is slowly becoming a standard even in much cheaper models.
Motorola edge 20 received a slightly smaller battery than edge 20 Pro, namely 4000 mAh (pro has 4500 mAh). Unfortunately, this has a real impact on the working time of the device on a single charge. Especially when we turn on 144 Hz refresh, 5G connectivity and make a round around the city to take photos. And there will be a lot of it. Returning home in the evening, we will definitely be looking for a charger. Fortunately, the manufacturer also took care of 30W fast charging as in the more expensive model. Therefore, we will replenish the missing energy quite quickly - approx. 1 h 50 minutes. It is a pity that inductive charging was not attempted. With mixed use (some social media, a few calls, texts or mms, a few photos) we should survive 1.5 - 2 days. So sum summarum is not bad.
And finally, of course, the camera and camera. In motorola edge 20 we will find:
When it comes to photo functions, the camera application has the following functions:
Regarding the photos, in nice weather and lighting I am really positively surprised by them, although they still lack the full WOW effect. Nevertheless, the frames are clear with nice, natural colors and look OK even on the computer. When switching to a wide angle, their quality drops a bit, but you can't see such a strong change in colors. They are quite similar. What's more, we also take macro shots with this lens. There is a dedicated mode for this. And I admit that these are probably one of the best macro lenses that have been based on such a lens. We can get really close to catch the bug sharply and it's not distorted and the frame doesn't cover too much of the surroundings. It's really OK.
The problem begins when the weather turns bad or evening gray outside. Here, the smartphone seems to be a bit stupid. The photos are exaggerated, the white turns yellow, and the detail drops sharply. You can save yourself with the night mode, but only in the main objective. Unfortunately, we will not find it in the wide angle, which is a pity.
And finally the x3 optical zoom. Quite a rare sight lately. In competing models, the zoom lens is cut out and replaced with a useless 2 Mpx macro lens. Fortunately, it stayed here, and the macro, as I mentioned earlier, can be made from a wide angle. However, returning to our lens, this x3 magnification is quite a sensible lens and you can get significantly closer to further objects. The only thing that should be improved is the quality of some shots (as it was in the pro version). Although the lens has stabilization, the final frame often loses focus - the elements are blurred and not very detailed. I hope, however, that this is an issue that can be corrected programmatically and one day it will come up with an appropriate update.
A very nice mode is also a spot color, which we already know from previous models or portraits.
And selfie photos will satisfy not one fan of such shots. They are clear, detailed with a nice blur.
Now, it's time for sample frames:
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When it comes to videos, we have the following options:
A novelty in the new series is a much slower pace and spot color. Such modes will allow us to take a slightly more creative approach to filming and have fun. The basic shots are very decent and surprisingly the camera loses focus less than it was with the pro version. Unfortunately, the main lens does not have optical stabilization.
Summary:
Motorola edge 20 is a mid-range model in the new series. It may not be the best choice for its price, but it certainly makes a positive impression in terms of appearance and performance and is worth considering when making your purchases. It is distinguished by a great look (flat back and front, comfortable frame, great colors of the back), IP52 protection, TurboPower™ 30 fast charging, great OLED screen with 144 Hz refresh rate, 108 Mpx main camera and x3 optical zoom lens, a very efficient processor in middle class, 5G network support, Wi-Fi 6E or relatively clean Android 11 with small additions Moto - My UX and the Ready For platform. However, there are also deficiencies that can be of real importance when buying: only mono speakers, there is no space for an additional memory card (we have 128 GB of space for files), the camera does not have optical stabilization in the main objective, the quality of photos drops significantly in difficult lighting conditions or there is no night mode in wide angle.
Let's recap. On the plus side, I would include:
Downside:
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