Seriously, a smartphone made of suede? – motorola edge 50 fusion review

Motorola continues its bold experiments. In addition to the quite successful return and “modernization” of the Razr model, the company pays attention to more familiar smartphones. And this time, the manufacturer has added an option with a non-standard and interesting coating – faux suede. Of course, this is not the only thing that can attract attention. Therefore, in today’s review, we will take a closer look at the capabilities of Motorola edge 50 fusion.

motorola edge 50 fusion specifications

Package contents

The manufacturer traditionally packs its smartphones well, so in the box with the edge 50 fusion you will find a 68W Turbo Power power supply, a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a SIM card reader, and a plastic protective case. (Our editorial team received a sample with a slightly incomplete set, where only the branded power supply was missing, so it is not in the photo.)

The interesting feature of adding perfume to the box has not disappeared. So, unpacking the new device still has an unusual “twist”.  

Design and usability

As is often the case, the appearance of models in the same line is quite similar, although there are slight differences for different indices. For example, we recently reviewed the motorola edge 50 pro, and it’s no surprise that the motorola edge 50 fusion has a lot of similarities. Nevertheless, the “younger” smartphone still got its own interesting accents. And it is worth noting that they are quite original not only for its family, but for smartphones in general.

Another unusual accent is the case material, which is of a certain color. Thus, the edge 50 fusion is available in Forest Blue with a plastic back, Marshmallow Blue with vegan leather, and Hot Pink, which has a special feature – faux suede. Except, of course, for protective cases, suede was only seen on the body of phones exclusively with Vertu or custom models like the Nokia 8800. But on more affordable smartphones, I don’t recall such a practice. (Although it’s hard not to remember the Microsoft Surface with alcantara, but that’s not a smartphone.)

It was this element, even without this exceptional color, that made the motorola edge 50 fusion truly original. Practical? – Hardly. In addition to natural wear and tear, I can’t even imagine what would happen to such suede if, say, burger sauce got on it or a drink spilled nearby. In the case of an ordinary case made of glass or plastic, such life situations can be easily eliminated with a napkin. I never dared to try what would happen with suede. The same goes for, say, dust or just dirty or wet hands. It is unlikely that such circumstances will pass without a trace for suede. 

But even with all the potential impracticality of such a coating, I liked it. First of all, it is soft and very pleasant to the touch. There is no point in comparing it to glass or metal (I’m not saying they are bad, but the sensations when using them are still different). Secondly, the device won’t slip out of your hand or “drip” off the couch cushion, as is the case with modern glass models. Yes, the bundled case eliminates all this, but users who refuse it will still get a much more original experience.

If we abstract from suede, the Motorola edge 50 fusion is still a typical representative of the line. And since this is the base model, the frame is plastic. This choice of materials did not affect the dimensions and weight: 161.9×73.1×7.9 mm, 174.9 grams. However, there is protection against water and dust – IP68. 

There are no outstanding features in the placement of working elements. And the level of convenience is generally not inferior to devices with similar dimensions. That is, there is nothing to complain about.

And yet, it is the faux suede coating that leaves the greatest impression. If it were no less practical than the other coating options, I would probably like to see it more often. But it’s unlikely that the back panel will look “fresh” after a year of use, and it doesn’t seem logical to use such a device with a case either. But buyers who don’t expect to preserve the condition of the suede as much as possible and are willing to experiment will get a truly original component for a modern smartphone.

Display

Another feature of smartphones in this line is displays with curved side edges. Of course, the initial model of the motorola edge 50 fusion did not escape this feature. That’s why the 6.7-inch screen has neatly curved side edges with all the usual features of use (it’s harder to find a protective coating, accidental triggering occurs…). It’s still not the most comfortable option, but subjectively, it’s prettier than the usual flat options.

Compared to more expensive models, this screen has a slightly lower resolution of 2400×1080 pixels (395 PPI, 20:9 aspect ratio), but it can also offer a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz and a sensor sampling rate of up to 360 Hz. The image clarity is absolutely sufficient. And the speed indicators may not be so important, but they will not be superfluous.

Like the other models in the line, edge 50 fusion also offers a POLED matrix with Natural, Radiant and Vivid color options. Each of them has an additional temperature setting. The DCI-P3 color space is covered. And the screen is really great to use, even after more expensive flagship devices. You don’t want to notice any fundamental changes in the image from the very beginning of use.

Another difference of this screen is its lower peak brightness than the more expensive representatives of the line, namely 1,600 cd/m². Again, such a display allows you to enjoy HDR video and see the image in direct sunlight without any problems. At the same time, the backlight is absolutely adequately adjusted depending on the lighting. Thus, we can only complain about one thing – the lack of the Always-On function. (However, this will definitely not be a “deal breaker” for the vast majority of potential buyers.)

Security

Motorola edge 50 fusion has standard quick unlock options. For good lighting conditions, there is face scanning, which is done by the front camera. If you are not wearing sunglasses, there will be no problems. 

But in a dark room, it’s better to use a generally safer fingerprint sensor. And although it’s optical, I didn’t notice any drawbacks that are common for this type of sensor. It responds quickly and mostly accurately, and it can store up to five prints in its memory.

Sound

Despite its positioning in the model range, Motorola edge 50 fusion supports stereo sound. There is no separate second speaker for media playback, so its role is traditionally played by the earpiece speaker. The playback quality is inferior to the flagships, but in general it is quite good for its class. It has everything you need to soundtrack a video or play music indoors. Although at high volume, you can feel that the main speaker is still more powerful.

There is no separate jack for wired headphones, so the user will have to have wireless headphones or use an adapter.

The earpiece speaker is hidden between the bezel and the screen as standard. Its volume and quality are also sufficient, although in some cases you want to make it a little louder. There are no significant problems with the microphones and noise reduction, but the voice can change minimally depending on the circumstances around you.

Performance and software

As I mentioned in the review of the older model of the edge 50 line, the manufacturer has chosen different processors for individual models. And the motorola edge 50 fusion also has options. In Latin America, the smartphone offers Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, and the “international” version has the more interesting Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. This is a 4-nanometer chip consisting of eight cores (4× Cortex-A78 with a frequency of 2.4 GHz and another 4× Cortex-A55 with a frequency of 1.95 GHz); graphics processing is handled by Adreno 710. 

Officially, only configurations with 12 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 512 GB of UFS 2.2 storage are sold in Ukraine. However, other markets have smaller options (from 8/128 GB). At the same time, the RAM can be expanded by allocating a certain part of the drive (from 4 to 12 GB) for such tasks, where there is even an option with AI capacity control. However, you won’t be able to add a memory card to the drive, as there is no slot for such a device.

For connectivity, there is support for 5G (one slot for Nano-SIM and eSIM), Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.2, popular navigation systems, and NFC for payment and quick connection to other devices. The set is quite standard, but some of its parts, such as Wi-Fi, are already a bit outdated by modern standards.

As for performance, everything is fine. In the vast majority of cases, the smartphone works quickly and correctly. Yes, there are no record-breaking results in load tests, and this is completely understandable. But for most daily tasks, the available capacities are easily enough. Those users who tend to spend time with demanding mobile games should, of course, look for more powerful processors, but for all other cases, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is just fine.

The flip side of record-breaking performance is stability. Even though it heats up considerably, the processor practically does not lose power. After completing several tests in a row, it does not change its performance, which is almost never the case with flagship chips. Therefore, in the case of a long load, you can expect a confident level of performance from your smartphone.

At the same time, Motorola edge 50 fusion has the same Android 14 with most of the manufacturer’s proprietary additions. For example, as with other models in the line, there is additional side illumination for notifications, gestures to turn on the flashlight or launch the camera, automatic DND activation when the smartphone is face down on the table, an additional Sidebar menu, and more. And everything works properly. At the same time, the manufacturer does not change the appearance of the system much, which some Motorola fans like.

Cameras

Since motorola edge 50 fusion is the “youngest” representative of the line, there are only two cameras in its main unit. The wide-angle one has a sensor with a resolution of 50 MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture and optical stabilization. The ultra-wide-angle will offer 13 MP, ƒ/2.2, a 120° capture angle, and as a bonus, the Macro Vision function.

The unit itself is quite neatly integrated into the back cover, but the smartphone will not be able to lie flat on a flat surface. And it’s quite possible that some traces of use will appear on the suede surface along the contour over time. But, again, both will affect only those users who decide to do without protective cases.

Let’s move on to something more interesting: photo quality. During the day, you can take great photos with the main camera, where post-processing won’t spoil the shadows, although it will add saturation to individual colors. You should also minimize the exposure in the finished images, as certain objects may be slightly overexposed. But against the general background, these are all trifles, because the camera is really good for its price.

The main camera can also afford to record video in 4K resolution. But in this case, it is clearly noticeable that the optical stabilization cannot quite cope with the expectations placed on it. Although in general, the image is quite good.

At night, even with minimal street lighting, the Night Vision mode and processing algorithms will be able to produce good results. But, of course, this won’t help in the dark (although in the current conditions, any smartphone will have a hard time, even without tripods). So, in general, you can rely on such a camera if you have at least some lighting and static objects.

The ultra-wide-angle, despite its lower resolution, is also good. Moreover, in my opinion, it coped better with the white balance (which traditionally differs between cameras). The difference in aperture is also noticeable in the shadows, but it didn’t affect the overall impression.

Video can also be recorded in 4K, but at 30 frames per second, not 60. In this case, the quality is mediocre, with artifacts of digital stabilization, highlights, and a noticeable loss of detail.

At night, however, an ultra-wide-angle camera is much more difficult. Here, the principle of “turn on the camera and take a picture” will not work. The result must be examined on the spot and it is quite possible that you will have to try again. And this sensor also collects much less light, which is why some scenes will be too difficult for it.

Macro mode is still relatively toy-like. It needs as much light as possible, but due to the lack of stabilization of the ultra-wide-angle camera, even this will not guarantee a clear picture. I don’t think this feature is very popular, even for more expensive and sophisticated smartphones. However, some users may find it useful.

The front camera with a resolution of 32 megapixels and ƒ/2.45 aperture will cope with different lighting conditions. As with the main camera, it will take four times smaller photos, but Quad Pixel technology will preserve a lot of details, and if necessary, the camera will “blur” the background, add filters, etc.

There is nothing fundamentally different about the app from most competitors. All the necessary switches and modes are at your fingertips, where you can arrange them to suit your own needs. For added convenience, the app has integrated Google Lens. Everything else is traditionally convenient and simple.

Battery life

With a 5,000 mAh battery, the motorola edge 50 fusion predicts almost a day and a half of operation. A synthetic autonomy test showed a result of more than 10 hours, which is relatively on par with other models in the line. In practice, if the smartphone is not loaded with games, frequent use of cameras, navigation, or other energy-consuming tasks, then it is very easy to get more than a day of operation. During testing, there were practically no situations in which the device would need an additional charge in the evening or even late at night.

Since we did not receive a branded power supply, it was difficult to determine the exact charging time. However, having a more powerful laptop charger at hand, we managed to fully restore the battery charge in one hour and 15 minutes. That is, you can usually count on a faster process if you do not constantly discharge your smartphone completely. And it is possible that with a bundled unit, this time will also differ (for the better). But only the wired method is suitable for charging, because this model does not support induction methods.