Introduction
The Moto Edge lineup has been undergoing some changes in 2023, with all Edge 40 models boasting feature sets and capabilities that you’d expect to find in a model one notch above what the name suggests. Such is the case with this year’s third release in the series, the Edge 40 Neo.
The new Neo gets really close to the ‘vanilla’ model in the roster – it practically reuses the same camera system as the Edge 40 and the great display also appears to be shared by the two. The 2023 Neo now features a decently potent chipset, for a change – the previous generation was a bit hampered by an underspecced Snapdragon, while the new Dimensity seems to tick all the right boxes. The fast charging and notable battery capacity upgrade sound promising too.
The IP68 rating that looked like it could be a Pro-only feature in the beginning, has been on all three Edge 40s to date, a most welcome development from a maker that wasn’t big on waterproofing in recent years. Meanwhile, the unique colors that come as part of the Pantone collab make the Neo even more physically appealing that what the compact size and low weight can do on their own.
It looks a properly well-specced balanced offering from Motorola in the midrange. We’re here to find out if it lives up to its potential.
Motorola Edge 40 Neo specs at a glance:
- Body: 159.6×72.0x7.9mm, 170g/172g; Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min).
- Display: 6.55″ P-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 402ppi.
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7030 (6nm): Octa-core (2×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G610 MC3.
- Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; uMCP.
- OS/Software: Android 13.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.5″, 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 1.12µm, PDAF.
- Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 0.7µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; 68W wired, 50% in 15 min (advertised).
- Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 6e; BT 5.4; NFC.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers.
Motorola Edge 40 Neo unboxing
Just like all recent Moto Edges, the Edge 40 Neo arrives in a sturdy two-piece recycled cardboard box. There’s no plastic used for any of the packaging on this model either, as Motorola has been doing for members of the lineup recently. Also a staple of the Edges, the box and its internals are scented, so you’re greeted with a gentle aroma when you open up your brand new phone’s package.
The contents of the bundle include a 68W adapter and a USB-C cable to go with it. Motorola hasn’t forgotten a case either – it’s a snap-on design with a color to match the handset’s colorway. You’ll probably also appreciate that it’s made in Sweden and it’s plant-based, so it’s biodegradable.
The Edge 40’s camera system, now in the Neo (sort of)
The Edge 40 Neo reuses the camera hardware of the Edge 40 almost entirely – the one thing that’s different is the lens on the primary unit on the back, which has an f/1.8 aperture here, as opposed to the f/1.4 on the other phone.
That primary camera uses the same OmniVision OV50A sensor that was the core of the Edge 40, Edge 40 Pro and Edge 30 Pro’s main cameras, the two Pros featuring the f/1.8 aperture lens, just like the Neo here. The imager has a 1/1.55″ optical format, so it’s fairly large as midrange cameras go. Individual pixel size is 1.0µm, and since it’s a 4-cell design (OV’s naming for what Sony calls Quad Bayer and Samsung – Tetrapixel), you’re effectively getting 4-to-1 binned 12.5MP photos with 2.0µm pixels – a spec proudly printed on the phone’s back.
The sensor has 2×2 on-chip lenses and all-pixel phase detection autofocus – you can have a look at Sony’s explanation for the same technology here.
The ultrawide camera, meanwhile is based on a 13MP SK Hynix HI1336 sensor with 1.12µm individual pixels and a 1/3″ optical format. The f/2.2 aperture lens has variable focus and this module can double as a close-up camera too.
Over on the front, the Edge 40 Neo uses the OmniVision OV32B sensor with a 1/3″ optical format and a 0.7µm pixel size (4-cell design too like the main camera on the back). No autofocus on this one, just like on the Edge 40.
