Latest news with #midrangephones
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Motorola's Edge (2025) can't keep up: because it's not meant to
It's not easy to stand out in the world of $500–$600 phones. Every year, the competition gets tighter: Google's Pixel 'a' series keeps getting better, OnePlus pushes the boundaries of what a mid-ranger can do, and newcomers like Nothing double down on design and identity while offering a polished there's Motorola, and it's latest mid-range phone — the Edge (2025). It comes with the company's signature look, featuring a silicone back and a slim form factor with a curved display. But besides its looks, which can be a subjective topic, what else does the Motorola Edge (2025) have to offer to beat its scary-good competition? I took a closer look at how the Motorola Edge (2025) compared head-to-head with the Pixel 9a, OnePlus 13R, and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro in our tests, and came to a surprising conclusion. The Edge (2025) is the only phone in this group that received an 8/10 design score from us, which reflects not just its clean aesthetics, but also how it feels in the hand and its durability. The curved edges, aluminum frame, and lightweight 174g build make it surprisingly refined, more so than the plastic Pixel 9a or the bolder but chunkier designs of the OnePlus 13R and Nothing Phone (3a) to mention that I am a proud fan of the silicon/vegan leather back panels out there. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this material is superior because it is: Less slippery Less prone to visible scratches More pleasant to the touch Does not attract fingerprints The Motorola Edge (2025) might catch your eye with its sleek curves, but its display doesn't quite keep up where it 6.7-inch screen sounds great on paper, but in real-world use, it's noticeably dimmer than the competition. It peaks at 1375 nits, which is enough for most indoor situations, but not ideal under bright sunlight. At night, it doesn't get as comfortably dim as others either, which might bother you during bedtime good news is that colors looked good on the Edge (2025). Photos and video were color-accurate and vibrant. But the Pixel 9a , for example, much better brightness levels (2561 nits) and even better color accuracy. The OnePlus 13R offered similarly strong results as the 9a, with the added benefit of a slightly higher resolution (1264p). Even the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro beat the Edge in both brightness, with a similar display resolution as the Motorola. The Motorola Edge (2025) includes a substantially large 5,200mAh battery, and it charges extremely fast: 0 to 100% in just 53 minutes via 68W wired charging. That's slightly faster than the OnePlus 13R and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, both of which finished around 56 minutes. Compared to the Pixel 9a 's sluggish 1h 42 min full charge, the Edge is in a different charging only gets you so far. The Edge (2025) has no good reason to get such comparatively low results considering its large battery and weaker chip performance, which points to less efficient software or thermals. This is where the Edge (2025) truly shows Motorola's lackluster efforts in the mid-range US market. The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 — a new chip, but one that simply can't measure up in a world of Snapdragons, Tensors, and even OnePlus 13R and its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 simply dominate, followed by the Pixel 9a 's Tensor G4. Even the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, with its mid-tier Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, outpaces the Edge in both Geekbench and 3DMark scores, which showcase the performance capabilities of a chip's CPU and GPU, respectively. In our review score breakdown, the Edge earned a 6/10 for both light and heavy performance. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro did only slightly better (6.1/4.3), but the Pixel 9a (6.8/5.9) and OnePlus 13R (7.5/7.0) pulled well ahead. So, benchmark performance is not great, and that holds up in real-world use. Apps take longer to open, and heavy multitasking leads to stutters and reloads. That's not to say that the phone is unusable, it just means that in 2025, you can get better performance at $550. The Motorola Edge (2025) camera system is not as good as it sounds. | Image credit — PhoneArena On paper, the Motorola Edge (2025) looks like a camera powerhouse: a 50 MP main shooter, 50 MP ultrawide, 10 MP 3X zoom and even a 50 MP selfie cam. But as we've learned time and again, great specs don't always mean great reality, the Edge struggles with how it processes images. Photos often look overly sharp and too processed. This makes textures like skin, hair, or trees look unnatural and too crisp, taking away from the realism the real scene or subject. It's frustrating, because the hardware is there, but Motorola just isn't letting it said, the telephoto lens does deserve some praise. It delivers surprisingly clear results at different zoom levels, which is rare for a phone at this price. Unfortunately, that one highlight doesn't lift the overall photo experience much beyond is where things dip even more. While the Edge scores on par with the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro in our tests, both trail behind the Pixel 9a and OnePlus 13R . Those two handle shaky footage and dim lighting better, making them much more usable for a family gathering or a concert. And when you try to zoom while recording on the Edge, the quality takes a nosedive — it scored the worst in our video zoom tests, which is weird considering how well it does with taking photos. Motorola's Edge (2025) may look sharp, but all eyes and effort seem to fall on the company's foldables instead. | Image credit — PhoneArena When you compare the Motorola Edge (2025) against its competitors, it becomes clear that it's not exactly a point of focus for the company. Despite its sleek design and a few standout features like wireless charging and a telephoto lens, the Edge (2025) doesn't quite match its rivals. So, it almost feels like Motorola is not even trying to compete. Instead, the company's real effort is going into its Razr foldables, but there's a good reason for that — Motorola is leading the pack in that segment right now. There is arguably no other flip phone that does a better job at utilizing the clamshell form factor than the Razr (2025) series. Even the base Motorola Razr (2025), which is $200 more expensive than the Edge, feels like a more competitive device. To me, it feels like the Edge (2025) was built to fill a price segment, not to beat everyone in it. It seems clear what Motorola's U.S. strategy is: foldables come first, and everything else comes second. And while the Edge line used to be a showcase for style and value, it now looks like an afterthought next to the company's more exciting Razr lineup. 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Phone Arena
27-05-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Hefty discount at Motorola slingshots the mid-range Edge (2024) into the budget segment!
High-end smartphones like the iPhone 16 Pro and the Galaxy S25 Ultra—which can currently be yours for up to $870 off with a trade-in, by the way—are worth every penny. However, the problem is that you usually have to drop a serious amount of cash to rock one of these bad boys. And that's hardly a great financial move if all you need is a solid phone for everyday tasks like calls and watching videos. A smarter choice would be to go for a mid-range phone —ideally, one that's heavily discounted. Trade-in $249 99 $549 99 $300 off (55%) Motorola is slashing $200 off the price of its mid-range Edge (2024), bringing it down to just $349.99. And if you trade in your old phone, you can snag an extra $100 off! Packed with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset and 8GB of RAM, this phone delivers smooth, speedy performance—making it an absolute steal at this price. Act fast before this deal disappears! Buy at Motorola For instance, the Motorola Edge (2024) is a great pick right now, selling for a whopping $200 off on This allows you to get one for only $349.99, down from its usual price of around $550. On top of that, you can trade in your old handset to score extra savings. Motorola claims that it offers a $100 trade-in discount on most phones. Truth be told, this isn't a new promo. Motorola has been offering this same $200 discount—$300 with the trade-in—for quite a while now. However, the Motorola Edge (2024) is one of the best mid-range phones on the market and is a steal at its current sub-$350 price. So, while the offer isn't brand-spanking-new, we believe it's still quite unmissable. Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset and 8GB of RAM, it is built to tackle just about any task with ease. Even demanding games like League of Legends: Wild Rift run smoothly. In addition, it comes with a stunning 6.6-inch P-OLED display featuring a sharp 2400 x 1080 resolution, HDR10+ support, and impressive 1300-nit brightness. Whether you're streaming HDR content or just enjoying regular YouTube videos, you'll enjoy a pleasant viewing experience without breaking the bank. Plus, with its buttery-smooth 144Hz refresh rate, the phone feels fast and its incredible display and firepower, our friend here also delivers when it comes to camera performance. It boasts a 50MP main snapper, which captures impressive photos—especially for a camera on a device priced at just $349.99. However, since it misses out on a telephoto lens, zooming in may lead to a loss of sharpness and detail. Nevertheless, the Edge (2024) offers outstanding value at its current price on The deal gets even better when you factor in the generous trade-in discount, making it an irresistible bargain. If you're looking for a fast and reliable mid-range phone at a great price, this is your chance! But don't wait too long—the offer won't last forever!
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Forbes
Honor 400 Series Brings Flagship AI And Longevity To Mid-Range Phones
Honor 400 Prakhar Khanna Honor 400 and 400 Pro are the latest mid-range phones from the house of Honor. While they don't pack the latest flagship processors, both devices are loaded with AI-powered features and come with a promise of six years of Android OS and security updates. A standout feature on both models is AI Image to Video, powered by Google Cloud's Veo 2 model, which transforms static photos into five-second videos. The 499 Euro Honor 400 features a 6.55-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness for supported HDR content. It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. On the back, there's a 200MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide sensor with macro support, along with Harcourt Portrait Mode for stylized portraits. The phone packs a 5,300mAh battery with 66W fast charging and no wireless charging support. It is promised to claimed to charge up to 44% within 15 minutes. As for the Honor 400 Pro, it brings a bigger 6.7-inch display and retains the same resolution, refresh rate, and peak brightness. Under the hood, it's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, alongside 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of storage. The more expesnive Honor phone sports a triple rear camera setup that includes a 200MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The Honor 400 Pro also packs the same 5,300mAh battery but supports 100W wired and 50W wireless fast charging. Both phones feature a 50MP selfie camera and a range of AI tools: AI Eraser, AI Outpainting, AI Remove Reflection, AI Deepfake Detection and more. The more affordable Honor 400 is rated for IP65 dust and water resistance, while the 400 Pro adds a more comprehensive IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance rating. The Honor 400 5G is available in Desert Gold, Lunar Grey, and Midnight Black, while the Honor 400 Pro comes in Lunar Grey and Midnight Black. Both devices are now available in the UK and Europe for 499 Euros and 799 Euros, respectively.
Phone Arena
09-05-2025
- Phone Arena
The best phone in 2025 costs $500 (and it's not the Pixel 9a)
We are getting close to the midpoint of 2025, and we already have quite a few new mid-range phones that have entered the market since the beginning of the year. Google has come out with the Pixel 9a, Apple released the bizarre iPhone 16e , Samsung is expected to bring back its mid-range king to the U.S. with the Galaxy A56 5G, and the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro breaks the mold. But before all of these phones came out, we began the year with the OnePlus 13R, which I felt was worth revisiting now that we are nearing six months after its release. What inspired me to do so are the new tools that we launched this year — these tools allow you to compare our phone scores and test results in a super easy way. As I was fidgeting with them, I noticed that in many ways, the OnePlus 13R is still a top-notch mid-ranger, even compared to the phones that followed after calling it "the best phone of 2025" might sound like a stretch—especially for a mid-ranger—but hear me out. Personally, I've always had a soft spot for mid-range phones . With every passing year, they've become a smarter choice for more people. Sure, you can spend twice as much for a flagship and get some extra bells and whistles, but in most cases, you're running headfirst into the law of diminishing returns. And yes, I know the OnePlus 13R is technically priced at $600—so before you head to the comments to correct me, let me clarify. OnePlus still offers a $100 discount if you trade in any phone, in any condition. That's a deal most of us can easily take advantage of, and it brings the 13R down to a much more competitive price point. Now let's get into the details... The processor is traditionally one of the most expensive parts in a phone, if not the most expensive one. So, it comes as no surprise that this is the first part that we see downgraded in mid-range phones . However, that is not the case with the OnePlus 13R , which comes equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. With this chip, the phone surpasses rivals like the Google Pixel 9a (nearly 30% higher single-core performance and 50% higher multi-core). The Galaxy A56 and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro were even further behind. The iPhone 16e was the only one that managed to get a higher score, but even then, the OnePlus 13R dominates in GPU performance, scoring an impressive 4,748 on the 3DMark's Extreme benchmark — easily ahead of the Pixel 9a and the iPhone 16e . In fact, the 13R even beats the more expensive iPhone 16. Even outside the scope of benchmark numbers, the OnePlus 13R just feels as snappy as any flagship released in the last year. There was absolutely nothing we did with the phone that would make it slow down or lag. Of course, the extra smooth display and OnePlus' Parallel Processing helped with that too. Speaking of the display, it is yet another part that OnePlus decided to go above and beyond. The 13R has the same ProXDR AMOLED panel that also comes with the pricier OnePlus 13. It spans 6.78 inches and comes with a 2800 x 1260 resolution. Our tests show a remarkable peak brightness of 2384 nits, slightly below the Pixel 9a 's excellent 2561-nit peak but still significantly outshining the rest of the competition, the closest of which is the Galaxy A56 with 1715 nits. The iPhone 16e , on the other hand, feels like an outdated piece of tech with its near 800 nits of peak brightness — making it much harder to use in broad daylight. Even color accuracy—an often neglected aspect of display quality—is exceptional on the 13R, with a Delta E grayscale of just 3.82, far ahead of Pixel 9a 's 5.76 and Galaxy A56 's disappointing 7.4. This metric is important for general use, but especially if you watch a lot of movies or work on photo and video-editing apps. OnePlus made a key improvement this year, which was the decision to ditch the largely useless macro camera for a versatile 50 MP telephoto. Portrait shots and zoom photos benefit significantly thanks to this change, marking a clear difference in quality compared to the Pixel 9a 's reliance on digital zoom and the iPhone 16e 's single camera. Of course, that's not to say the 13R's camera system is flawless. The 8 MP ultra-wide camera remains a weak point, sometimes oversaturating colors—but it's still adequate for its class and the second best among its competitors, only trailing the Pixel 9a . Video recording is also quite good for a phone of this caliber, scoring just 2 points below the Pixel 9a , and narrowly ahead of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, which lags behind by another 2 points. Another thing that truly sets the phone apart from the rest is that it maintains decent performance even in low light, which is something we typically associate with flagship phones. Battery life and charging have slowly turned into the latest trending topic when it comes to phone upgrades, and OnePlus is at the forefront of this wave with the OnePlus 13 and 13R. The company used a single-cell battery with a Si/C anode, allowing for a capacity of 6,000 while we expected more out of this new battery, the OnePlus 13R still managed to score an impressive 7 hours and 22 minutes of estimated battery life. The Pixel 9a is the only one that beat this score by about an hour. Charging speed, however, is where the OnePlus truly shines. Its super-fast 80W wired charging can juice its enormous battery in just under an hour—far faster than the Pixel 9a 's sluggish 1h 42min at 23W, the iPhone 16e 's painful 1h 41min at 20W, and even the Galaxy A56 's decent 1h 15min at 45W. The only phone that came close in real-world speed was the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, which also fully charged in under an hour thanks to its 50W wired true that there's no wireless charging support on the 13R, but at this price, the speed advantage of wired charging is unbeatable. While Google's Pixel 9a might have the AI edge with Gemini Nano XXS and Apple delivers reliable updates and ecosystem benefits with the iPhone 16e , the OxygenOS 15 on the OnePlus 13R offers an appealing balance. It feels cleaner and smoother than Samsung's Awesome Intelligence-laden One UI or Nothing's heavily stylized Nothing OS 3.1, yet packs useful features like Task Prediction, real-time translation, and a superior gaming mode. Not to mention that OnePlus now promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches, placing it in line with the top mid-range rivals. Samsung matches it, and Google offers even longer software support, but OxygenOS's balance between useful customization and performance optimization like Parallel Processing help keep the 13R appealing. There are certainly compromises. Video stabilization on the 13R isn't ideal, and it lacks the Pixel's computational photography. Additionally, it doesn't offer expandable storage or wireless charging, omissions some users might find through 2025, the OnePlus 13R (arguably) remains the best mid-range phone you can buy. Google's Pixel 9a offers unbeatable battery life, Samsung's Galaxy A56 charges quickly, Nothing's (3a) Pro is stylish and unique, and the iPhone 16e holds raw power and ecosystem perks. Yet, none of them provide the holistic balance of performance, display quality, camera versatility, and practical fast-charging that the 13R does. Months after its release, it's clearer than ever that the OnePlus 13R wasn't just the first major mid-range phone of 2025—it was, and still is, the best one.
