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MagyarMotorola Edge 50 Fusion smartphone review – Elegant midrange with a good battery life
Motorolas Edge series is a welcome addition in the market for high-quality smartphones. The smartphone series offers a high quality and pure Android, and the prices are also not too exaggerated. Only Motorola's naming isn't very consistent: Sometimes the midrange models are called "Edge Neo," at other times "Edge Fusion," or just "Edge."
This year its "Fusion's" turn. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is the successor of last year's Edge 40 Neo, and the equipment is also very similar to that of its predecessor. The highlights include a display that goes around to the edges, a good main camera, and fast charging.
So let's take a more detailed look at what has changed, and whether we can also hope for a high-quality addition to the midrange in 2024 with this.
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75.4 % | 07/2024 | Motorola Edge 50 Fusion SD 7s Gen 2, Adreno 710 | 175 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.70" | 2400x1080 | |
| 85.9 % | 05/2024 | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Exynos 1380, Mali-G68 MP5 | 209 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2340x1080 | |
| 84.6 % | 10/2023 | Motorola Edge 40 Neo Dimensity 7030, Mali-G610 MP3 | 170 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.55" | 2400x1080 | |
| 83.9 % | 02/2024 | Honor Magic6 Lite SD 6 Gen 1, Adreno 710 | 185 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.78" | 2652x1200 | |
| 85.8 % | 01/2024 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G SD 7s Gen 2, Adreno 710 | 187 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.67" | 2712x1220 |
Case – Elegant design made of various materials
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion picks up Motorola's current design language, particularly integrating the camera module beautifully into the case. With a rounded transition between the camera unit and back, the case appears seamless. Only the shiny material of the camera module stands out from the matte case.
At 175 grams (~6.17 oz), the smartphone continues to be fairly light, even though it weighs a few grams more than its predecessor. In addition, the size has also increased, which is due to the slightly larger display. The display glass goes around the edges, resulting in very slim bezels around the screen, which also provides the Edge 50 Fusion with very modern looks.
The back of the case is available in three different colors. In addition to the very bright Marshmallow Blue, which looks almost gray, there is Hot Pink, a very vibrant color tone, and finally a darker blue color tone with Forest Blue, which is also the color of our test unit. All three color versions have a different material in the back. For Marshmallow Blue, vegan leather is used, Hot Pink uses an artificial velvet, and with Forest Blue, you get a case back made from high-quality plastic.
The Edge 50 Fusion shows clean workmanship, and the case is very robust. However, the material transition between the back and the frame is noticeable by feel. Thanks to its IP68 certification, you can take the smartphone with you when you go snorkeling in some lake.
Sustainability – The packaging is very good
Motorola ships its smartphone in a box made of recycled materials, which is printed on with only some two-color soy ink. Plastic isn't used at all anymore in the packaging.
Although Motorola specifies the estimated CO2 footprint for many smartphones, unfortunately this document currently cannot be found for the Edge 50 Fusion.
Using some partner companies, Motorola also offers parts for repair in many countries. But unfortunately, this often doesn't include all models, it is mostly only for older smartphones, and there is a limited selection of parts. You can find repair instructions for several (also often older) Motorola smartphones on iFixit. In the US, Motorola offers several service manuals using third-party vendors, but this is also only the case for several models. Overall, Motorola's selection of offered parts and support for repair by the user looks rather halfhearted.
In addition, the power consumption and frequency and length of the software update period also have an influence on our evaluation of the sustainability, and we discuss this in the corresponding chapters. While Motorola takes some good steps towards sustainability overall, we don't get the feeling that the manufacturer currently acts very consistently, with the situation varying from country to country.
Equipment – Two storage versions
Motorola offers the Edge 50 Fusion in two storage versions:
- 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage: 399 Euros (~$432)
- 12 GB RAM / 512 GB storage: 449 Euros (~$486)
While there is no microSD card reader to expand the storage, eSIM support is available.
The USB-C port is used for charging, wired data transfer, and sound output, but it is internally only connected via USB-2.0 speed. This means that the port doesn't support image output via DisplayPort, and you also cannot use Motorola's Ready For assistant, which is the desktop mode for external displays.
Software – Fairly pure Android with 4 years of updates
The operating system is based on Google's Android 14, and Motorola leaves the system to a large extent unchanged, integrating all the manufacturer-specific functions and settings into the Moto app. This allows you to easily bring the functions to the current level even without an operating system update.
While several games and third-party apps are preinstalled, most of them can be uninstalled without any problems.
The manufacturer promises three large Android updates, up to Android 17, and four years of security patches until April 2028. This is a decent update promise for the price class, which also earns it some points in our sustainability rating.
Although Motorola promises to deliver security patches every two months, the latest updates of our test unit are from March, so they are already 4 months old at the time of the test.
Communication and GNSS – Only WiFi 5 but a lot of mobile frequency bands
While the Edge 40 Neo predecessor still offered WiFi 6E, allowing you to include the little-used 6-GHz band, you now have to be content with a step back in the successor - and that not only to WiFi 6 but even to WiFi 5, which is the slowest standard that is currently used in smartphones.
But at least, Motorola adds more antennas, so that you can reach decent speeds around 600 Mbit/s thanks to MIMO 2x2. However, the top speeds are still significantly slower than those of the predecessor.
Full WLAN reception is available close to the router, and websites load quickly, but you still have to wait from time to time until images are loaded during fast scrolling. At a distance of 10 meters (~33 ft) from the access point and through three walls, the reception signal still shows 50%, and it takes noticeably longer for websites to load.
The Edge 50 Fusion is a 5G smartphone that includes numerous frequency bands, allowing you to also use it for mobile internet access while traveling to most countries.
During some spot checks in our test, the network signal is strong and available in city areas in most situations. However, some high-end smartphones still show a more stable reception.
| Networking | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
If you step outdoors with the smartphone, it will quickly determine its location with an accuracy of up to 3 meters (~10 ft). Although many satellite systems are supported for the locating, the SBAS assistance system for more accuracy is not included.
We take the smartphone with us on a bike tour to evaluate the locating accuracy in everyday operation. For comparison, we also take the Garmin Venu 2 smartwatch.
At first glance, the Edge 50 Fusion shows itself as a capable locating device here. But when looking closer, we notice some smaller inaccuracies such as a curve that is too tight or locating ourselves on the sidewalk, even though we took the road. We also didn't levitate across the water when really going across a bridge.
As long as you don't need complete accuracy, you can easily use the Edge 50 Fusion for navigating, although there are also smartphones that are much more accurate in determining their location.
Phone Functions and Voice Quality – Clear voice quality
As its phone app, Motorola uses Google's app that you already know from many other Android smartphones. Other phone apps can also be installed easily and selected as the default.
During our test phone calls, the voice quality is good, the built-in earpiece sounds clear without any distortions, and the microphone transfers our own voices clearly and easily understandable to our conversation partner. The voices sound a little thinner via speaker phone and the hands-free microphone, since they lack the lower mids and bass sounds. Our own voice continues to be transferred easily understandable, as long as we don't speak too quietly, since otherwise nothing is recorded anymore.
Cameras – Problems with colors
Motorola left everything unchanged with the cameras. Like in the Edge 40 Neo, a 50-MP main camera is also used in the Edge 50 Fusion. By default, it only records pictures at 12.5 Megapixels, and 4 pixels are combined together into a single pixel to achieve a higher light sensitivity.
While we generally like the pictures taken with the Edge 50 Fusion, some problems also appear in the plant image: In strong sunlight, red and yellow colors can cause some problems for any camera, and this is also the case with our test unit. We can hardly see any details here, and the green leaves also look overexposed to some extent. Our comparison devices are better able to handle this difficult light condition.
The camera of the Edge 50 Fusion shows good quality in the picture of the surroundings, although it could still be slightly sharper overall. We see a positive quality in the fact that the candle flame isn't overexposed in weak light conditions and that there are still some visible details in the rest of the image.
Videos can be recorded with the main camera in a maximum resolution of 4K and at 30 fps, which is customary in this price class at this point. The autofocus responds quickly and the light sensor also works well. As a result, we really like the recorded videos.
The back also houses an ultrawide-angle camera, which allows us to record pictures with a wide viewing angle that are attractive at first glance. But once you enlarge them, you can see that the sharpness leaves something to be desired.
The front camera offers 32 Megapixels but like the main camera also takes pictures at a 1/4 of the maximum resolution by default. The resulting pictures are fairly sharp but lack some details particularly in dark areas.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main camera: plantMain camera: surroundingsMain camera: low lightUltrawide-angle camera
We also evaluate the main camera of the Edge 50 Fusion in our lab, using two preconfigured light scenarios: once in full studio illumination and then again in only 1 Lux of remaining light.
In bright light, the chart is recorded very well, and we only see some slight artifacts in text with a red and brown background. Otherwise, the image looks sharp up to the corners. In very low light conditions, the camera hardly recognizes anything anymore.
Accessories and Warranty – A lot of accessories included
Motorola includes a lot of accessories with its midrange smartphone. In addition to a charger and USB cable, you also get a SIM tool and even a silicone bumper case. Motorola's website doesn't list any specific accessories for the smartphone.
For devices purchased inside the EU, the warranty period is 24 months. Motorola also offers various insurance packages, allowing you to insure the smartphone against accidental damage. Motorola calls these services Moto Care, and you can either purchase a package directly when you buy the smartphone on Motorola's website, or you can buy them during a specific time period after the smartphone purchase.
If you are interested in such an insurance, you should also compare it with offerings from other vendors to make sure you get the best deal.
Input Devices and Operation – Fast fingerprint sensor
Operating the touchscreen works very well even on the edges and in the corners. Despite the glass reaching over the edges, the phone reliably rejects accidental touches, allowing you to work without any interference. With up to 144 Hz, the screen is very fast, leading to a very accurate and responsive navigation of the system.
The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the display. Even though it is placed fairly low, you can train yourself to place the finger to unlock the smartphone quickly and reliably even with larger hands. However, there is still a slight delay.
The smartphone can also be unlocked using face recognition. But since this doesn't use an infrared sensor, it isn't quite as safe from manipulation. This method also works reliably.
Display – Very accurate colors
The 6.7-inch display of the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion comes with 2400x1080 pixels, corresponding to an expanded Full-HD resolution. The display diagonal has increased by 0.15 inches compared to the predecessor, and the brightness is also higher. We measure up to 1,242 cd/m² with a full white background and even up to 1,455 cd/m² in smaller white areas. This allows you to also display HDR content with a large range of contrast beautifully.
When needed, the P-OLED display can display powerful colors and produce sharp images.
You have to accept some PWM flickering at low brightness levels, which can cause problems for some sensitive users. But at 30%, the amplitude, which is the difference in the flickering between light and dark, is not very large, so the effect is also softened.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 1213 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.36 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.95
ΔE Greyscale 1.1 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
98.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.254
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion P-OLED, 2400x1080, 6.7" | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Super AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.6" | Motorola Edge 40 Neo pOLED, 2400x1080, 6.6" | Honor Magic6 Lite AMOLED, 2652x1200, 6.8" | Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G AMOLED, 2712x1220, 6.7" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -37% | -48% | 4% | -37% | |
| Brightness middle | 1213 | 904 -25% | 966 -20% | 1003 -17% | 1205 -1% |
| Brightness | 1190 | 912 -23% | 957 -20% | 1007 -15% | 1177 -1% |
| Brightness Distribution | 93 | 97 4% | 97 4% | 96 3% | 90 -3% |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.36 | 2.1 -54% | 1.87 -38% | 0.8 41% | 1.51 -11% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.3 | 2.8 -22% | 4.34 -89% | 2.4 -4% | 4.07 -77% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.1 | 2.2 -100% | 2.5 -127% | 0.9 18% | 2.5 -127% |
| Gamma | 2.254 98% | 2.1 105% | 2.272 97% | 2.18 101% | 2.175 101% |
| CCT | 6624 98% | 6478 100% | 6582 99% | 6406 101% | 6407 101% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 389 Hz Amplitude: 30 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 389 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 389 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17365 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series at a fixed zoom level with various brightness settings
Our measurements with the spectral photometer and CalMAN software show a very accurate color reproduction in the "Natural" color mode. With the right settings, the display can also be used for professional color comparison.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 2 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.1 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.7 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.8 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.9 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 5 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.2 ms). | ||
The high brightness of the display is an advantage outdoors, but the reflections on the display still obscure the contents in direct sunlight.
The viewing angles are convincing, and there are at most only some very small brightness reductions and color deviations from very steep viewing angles from the sides.
Performance – Smooth operation with a Qualcomm SoC
From MediaTek to Qualcomm: In the Edge 50 Fusion, Motorola has changed the SoC manufacturer from that of the predecessor, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is now used. Does this have an effect on the performance capabilities? According to our processor benchmarks, it doesn't.
At times, the MediaTek SoC in the Edge 40 Neo is slightly ahead, and at other times, the Qualcomm SoC in our current test unit. However, the predecessor is considerably faster when computing AI content.
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1267 - 78964, n=146, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (8618 - 9206, n=2) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
In terms of the GPU, the Edge 50 Fusion is finally faster than its predecessor and can banish its competitors to the lower places most of the time. Even though it still isn't sufficient for smooth computation of demanding 4K graphics, you can easily enjoy playing games in the native resolution of the display.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Score | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
In the browser benchmarks, the Edge 50 Fusion is also able to easily stand up to its predecessor and competitors. But this might also be due to the new browser version.
In everyday operation, the Motorola smartphone allows for fast web surfing with only short load times.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G (Chrome 120) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=159, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (82.1 - 118.2, n=3) | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo (Chrome 118) | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite (Chrome 121) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 445, n=147, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (85.5 - 110, n=3) | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo (Chrome 118) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G (Chrome 120) | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite (Chrome 121) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G (Chrome 120) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 212, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo (Chrome 118) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (91 - 115, n=3) | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite (Chrome 121) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G (Chrome 120) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (31340 - 36202, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo (Chrome 118) | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite (Chrome 121) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite (Chrome 121) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 28190, n=158, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo (Chrome 118) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (1091 - 1478, n=3) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G (Chrome 120) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
* ... smaller is better
Motorola uses UFS 2.2 storage, which corresponds to the current class level in terms of the speed. But now the first smartphones that offer UFS 3.1 flash are appearing in this price category, such as the Honor Magic6 Lite, allowing for even significantly shorter load times and faster data transfers.
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | Motorola Edge 40 Neo | Honor Magic6 Lite | Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | Average 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -50% | 9% | 21% | -6% | -10% | 40% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 967.8 | 529.32 -45% | 1004.4 4% | 1827.3 89% | 946.8 -2% | 900 ? -7% | 1720 ? 78% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 800.5 | 270 -66% | 930.9 16% | 843.34 5% | 808.2 1% | 704 ? -12% | 1330 ? 66% |
| Random Read 4KB | 281.5 | 244.24 -13% | 279.5 -1% | 223.75 -21% | 239.2 -15% | 227 ? -19% | 265 ? -6% |
| Random Write 4KB | 241.4 | 62.59 -74% | 284.1 18% | 271.22 12% | 220.5 -9% | 238 ? -1% | 292 ? 21% |
Games – Midrange gaming
30 fps, 45 fps, and 60 fps: The three games that we selected show a good bandwidth of the gaming power you can expect from the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion. While in some graphically very demanding games such as Genshin Impact more than 45 fps are not possible, PUBG Mobile runs at 60 fps even in high settings.
Diablo: Immortal, on the other hand, shows itself very strict and limits the frame rates to 30 fps. In fact, both the game developers and the smartphone manufacturers limit the frame rates to avoid overheating devices and a short battery life.
So overall, the Motorola smartphone presents itself as a midrange gamer. Those whose demands aren't too high, asking for absolutely smooth framerates, will be satisfied with the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion.
We measure the frame rates with the software from GameBench.
Emissions – Significant warming
Temperatures
After a longer period of being under load, we measure the temperature on the outside of the smartphone: At a maximum of 45.9 °C (114.6 °F) in room temperature, it is elevated significantly. In warmer surroundings, this can already become uncomfortable.
On the other hand, during the stress test of 3DMark, we also see that the SoC remains unaffected by this and continues to deliver a very similar performance.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.9 °C / 115 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.9 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.6 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 40 Neo | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Honor Magic6 Lite | |
Speakers
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion includes stereo speakers, although one of them is the earpiece, fulfilling a dual purpose. In the diagram, we see a good maximum volume of more than 81 dB(A) and also some lower mids that are still audible through the speakers.
In our practice test, pop music sounds fairly decent, even though you definitely notice the lack of bass. At full volume, the high frequencies sound overemphasized in classical music, and particularly violins sound a bit shrill. If you lower the volume, the sound becomes distanced, but it is still suitable for checking out a piece of music.
You can get a better sound if you connect external speakers or headphones. This is possible via the USB-C port or wirelessly via Bluetooth. The smartphone supports numerous wireless audio codecs, such as SBC, AAC, all the aptX versions, LDAC, LC3, Opus, and LHDC V2-5.
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 17% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 39% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 19% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 72% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 41% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 52% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life – Fast charging and a good battery life
Power Consumption
The power consumption of the Edge 50 Fusion remains fairly close to the level of the Edge 40 Neo predecessor, although it consumes slightly more power during idle operation. Overall, the smartphone's power consumption meets almost exactly the average level of other smartphones, so it is neither particularly efficient, nor wasting power.
The Edge 50 Fusion can be charged at up to 68 watts using the corresponding charger that is included in the box. It takes less than an hour to charge the battery. Wireless charging continues to be unsupported by Motorola's midrange smartphone.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  1 / 1.3 / 1.9 Watt |
| Load |
5.1 / 9.4 Watt |
    
| |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Edge 40 Neo 5000 mAh | Honor Magic6 Lite 5300 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G 5100 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -15% | 8% | -27% | 6% | 3% | -1% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1 | 0.89 11% | 1 -0% | 0.93 7% | 1.3 -30% | 1.15 ? -15% | 0.911 ? 9% |
| Idle Average * | 1.3 | 1.99 -53% | 1.2 8% | 2.26 -74% | 1.4 -8% | 1.35 ? -4% | 1.448 ? -11% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.9 | 2.14 -13% | 1.3 32% | 2.31 -22% | 1.6 16% | 1.75 ? 8% | 1.612 ? 15% |
| Load Average * | 5.1 | 4.57 10% | 5.2 -2% | 7.87 -54% | 2.5 51% | 3.8 ? 25% | 6.21 ? -22% |
| Load Maximum * | 9.4 | 12.31 -31% | 9.2 2% | 8.55 9% | 9.1 3% | 9.25 ? 2% | 9.15 ? 3% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power Consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
With a 5,000-mAh battery, the Edge 50 Fusion offers a similar capacity as most of its competitors. Only the Honor Magic6 Lite stands out at 5,300 mAh.
Lasting more than 16 hours in our WLAN test, our test unit reaches a good result, although the runtime turns out slightly shorter in idle mode. When watching movies from the internal storage, 19:18 hours barely miss the mark to watch all the Harry Potter movies in a row.
Overall, the Edge 50 Fusion offers a good battery life for a midrange smartphone, being able to also handle two days of operation under medium load without needing a recharge.
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Edge 40 Neo 5000 mAh | Honor Magic6 Lite 5300 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G 5100 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 10% | 11% | -6% | 0% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1874 | 2600 39% | 2444 30% | 1841 -2% | 1786 -5% |
| H.264 | 1158 | 1401 21% | 1232 6% | 1009 -13% | 1142 -1% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 966 | 902 -7% | 864 -11% | 906 -6% | 1002 4% |
| Load | 297 | 262 -12% | 355 20% | 289 -3% | 307 3% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict – A midrange smartphone with a good design but also some cuts
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion again turns out to be a high-quality midrange smartphone, even though there are several changes compared to the predecessor that could also be considered downgrades: Instead of WiFi 6E, now only WiFi 5 is used and access to the 6-GHz band is therefore not available. There also is only UFS 2.2 storage, although this hardly results in any speed differences to the predecessor that still used UFS 3.1 flash, since that apparently had a very slow storage controller.
In the camera setup, nothing has changed compared to the predecessor. The switch in the SoC from MediaTek to Qualcomm gave the Edge 50 Fusion a few more fps in the benchmarks but hardly resulted in a noticeable performance difference.
Taken by itself, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a good midrange smartphone that convinces with its elegant and robust case and offers fast charging and a good battery life. It is surprising that the photo software stumbles over the red and yellow flowers in the sunlight, since otherwise the smartphone camera takes fairly good pictures. And finally, Motorola could also make some improvements in the locating accuracy.
While we like the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, with its predecessor, there is a similarly good and at this point more affordable inhouse competitor.
Those looking for an alternative and for whom updates until 2027 are sufficient should take a closer look at the Edge 40 Neo. It is very similar to our test unit in many areas and already available for less than 300 Euros (~$325) at the time of this test. For fans of wireless charging, there are currently only few models available in the midrange, and they have to turn to the Google Pixel 8a or Telekom T Phone Pro.
Please note that we recently updated our rating system and that the results from version 8 are not comparable to those from version 7. You can find more information on this here.
Price and Availability
In Germany, you currently cannot order the smartphone directly from Motorola, since it cannot be sold there due to a patent suit with Nokia. It is, however, available from online vendors.
In the US, you can get a model called "Motorola Edge 2024" with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage for example from Amazon for $550. Even though the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is listed on Motorola's US website, a price is currently not shown. Motorola's UK web store lists it for £350.
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion
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07/04/2024 v8
Florian Schmitt
Total Sustainability Score: 
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
Price comparison
