What was Motorola thinking? Confusing name for new phone and only one and a half cameras

The Motorola Edge 70 Plus is a good smartphone, but the manufacturer has made some truly strange decisions in certain areas. On closer inspection, the reasons are fairly clear, though not necessarily welcome news for customers.

Where exactly is the Plus?

The price of around US$ 650 is lower than that of the standard Edge 70, at least when comparing the manufacturer's prices. The Plus probably refers primarily to the battery, which, at 6,500 mAh, is significantly larger than the one in the standard Edge 70. As a result, our review unit delivers 15% longer battery life overall than its sibling and also outlasts most other similarly priced comparison devices.

The Edge 70 and Edge 70 Plus weigh the same, but the Edge 70 is significantly slimmer and more compact overall. The design concept is also fundamentally different: While the Edge 70 opts for a more angular look, the Plus model has rounded corners, including on the screen.

Motorola makes camera decisions for financial reasons

A look at the camera system is particularly interesting: Motorola has fitted the Edge 70 Plus with a 200-megapixel main camera, so there are significantly more pixels. However, the wide-angle camera is missing entirely, and the main camera's only companion on the back is an extremely low-resolution macro camera whose images are barely usable anywhere beyond the phone's screen.

These cost-cutting measures are likely driven by financial considerations: Rising component prices mean the manufacturer has to make compromises somewhere.

Many aspects remain impressive

At least the selfie camera on the front of the Edge 70 Plus performs well. The reliable fingerprint sensor, hidden beneath the screen, is also handy and unlocks the phone quickly. Many users will also appreciate the option to expand the storage via microSD: This is no longer a given in this price range.

You can find out more about the Motorola Edge 70 Plus in our in-depth review.