If you want to enjoy decent performance without paying the price, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is for you. The cheapest model in Motorola’s Edge series tries to (usually) keep up.

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is not alone in its series and also has the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and Motorola Edge 50 Pro alongside it. The Edge 50 Fusion is ideal for everyday use with a robust battery, fast charging time and screen quality that exceeds expectations for a seamless user experience. As far as camera quality goes, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is no outlier, nor is its series companion Edge 50 Pro.

Visually, Motorola has opted for a colorful appearance with the Edge series. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, which we are examining here, has a bright pink back. This feels soft, fits well in the hands and remained clean and intact even after our (short) test period. In addition to bright pink, the smartphone is also available in dark and light blue.

We tested the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion in bright pink with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB storage.

Sharp screen

What immediately struck us about the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is the clear screen. This is not the quality you would expect from a mid-range car and exceeds our expectations. The model has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels. The display size is similar to that of the series companion Edge 50 Pro, but with a lower resolution and peak brightness (2,500 nits vs. 1,600 nits).

But the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion uses all its power to make the screen work to its full potential. Even though summer days are sometimes few and far between in Belgium, the phone’s screen was able to keep up on a sunny day. The 144 Hz refresh rate also ensures a smooth experience and is higher than most high-end smartphones.

One screen feature that Motorola thinks is nice but we think is unnecessary is the slanted glass on the sides of the screen. It just increases the likelihood of making false contacts when you pick up the handset.

Camera could be better

The Fusion version of the Motorola Edge series is equipped with a 50 MP (f/1.9) main camera with optical image stabilization and a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle lens. There was no room for a telephoto lens. In return, you can zoom in digitally.

Unlike the Motorola Edge 50 Pro camera, where we noticed that the colors were rather bright, the colors of the Edge 50 Fusion look quite natural. We do observe a color difference between the wide-angle lens and the main camera. Click on the image to view it in full resolution.

The macro lens does its best to capture details, but it doesn’t do it brilliantly. At first glance, it appears to be a clear close-up, but as you zoom further into the image, the details are not visible and are rather blurry. Still, this remains an expected result for a mid-range car.

When the sun disappears after a long summer day and gives way to darkness, the camera becomes a little more difficult. Photos taken in the evening light lose some of the image sharpness. This becomes even more noticeable when we use the macro lens.

Robust battery

Compared to its brothers, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is equipped with a robust 5,000 mAh battery. Wireless charging is not possible. A charger is included in the delivery. In the following graphic we compare some mid-range models. Here the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, as the cheapest device in the series, tries to keep up with its counterparts. In the video test, the Edge 50 Fusion surpasses its big brother, the Edge 50 Pro.

The Edge 50 Fusion allows fast charging of up to 68 watts, which is a decent speed for a mid-range smartphone. If we take a look at the charging time compared to its counterparts in the same price range, we see that the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a real class piece. In just sixteen minutes it is charged to 50 percent, and it takes 30 minutes to reach 80 percent. This is the best result compared to its price competitors. Only the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, the more expensive variant of the Edge series, performs better with unique results in its segment.

Acceptable performance

In terms of hardware, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is no racehorse unless you compare it to its priced competitors. Motorola has opted for a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip for this model, which is in the lower class. Nevertheless, it performs relatively well in its own segment. Its big brother, the Edge 50 Pro, performs a little better with its Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, but is a leader in its segment. outsider.

In terms of graphics, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is equipped with an Adreno 710. It performs significantly better than its price counterparts, but is still far behind the Motorola Edge 50 Pro from the higher segment. It is equipped with an Adreno 720.

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion certainly doesn’t do badly in its segment, but these results aren’t the best if you want to use applications with 3D functionality. It’s great for other apps that are relevant in a business context, such as Outlook or WhatsApp.

software

One important point for improvement is Motorola’s update policy. The brand provides the Edge series with around four years of security updates and three years of operating system updates. That’s very little, although we would rather accept it for the cheapest model in the series.

Motorola’s new software shell on top of Android 14, Hello UI, is nothing more than a pre-installed collection of Moto apps. These applications add no value to the device. In addition, Motorola continues to cling to third-party apps that are on the device at launch, such as TikTok and LinkedIn.

In harmony with the middle class

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion exceeds mid-range expectations in terms of battery and screen quality. The camera still needs some work, but in terms of performance it is mid-range.

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is available in three colors: pink, light blue and dark blue. The basic version has 8 GB RAM with 256 GB storage and costs 349 euros. The version with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage costs 399 euros, the version with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB storage costs 449 euros. The prices include VAT.

Android update policy: Motorola guarantees that the Edge 50 Fusion will receive at least four years of security updates and three operating system updates. This period begins with the launch of Android 14 on April 16, 2024. The statutory warranty period is two years.