Motorola Edge 40 neo

The motorola edge 40 neo is a slim mid-range phone that mixes a few features usually found higher up the price ladder: a curved pOLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, an IP68 water and dust rating, a stabilised 50MP main camera and a 68W charger in the box. It arrived in autumn 2023 as a more affordable member of Motorola's edge family, and it is sold in colours chosen with the Pantone colour institute. This page is based on the published specifications and manufacturer information; it explains what the phone offers, where it was trimmed to hit its price and what to check before choosing it over newer models.

Where it sits in the line-up

Motorola's edge range spans premium flagships, mid-range phones and fan-edition models. The edge 40 neo sits in the middle, below the edge 40 and edge 40 Pro, and uses a MediaTek chip rather than a flagship Snapdragon. It was followed by later mid-range models such as the motorola edge 60 fusion, and the full motorola edge 60 shows how the line continued. For a side-by-side look at how the generations compare, open the table motorola edge 40 neo vs motorola edge 60 fusion. Because the neo is a 2023 phone, it is now best judged as a value or second-hand option.

Design and materials

Motorola's main design message is slimness. The phone measures 159.63 x 71.99 mm and is 7.89 mm thick in the silicone or vegan-leather versions and 7.79 mm in the acrylic (PMMA) version, with weights of 172 g and 170 g respectively. The back material changes with the colour: according to the specification sheet, Caneel Bay and Soothing Sea use vegan leather, while Beauty Black uses acrylic. A fourth colour, Peach Fuzz, appears in official photos with a soft, leather-like back and a small Pantone swatch printed near the bottom. These four colours were chosen with Pantone, and the swatch is part of the identity. The camera module is a rectangular block with two lenses, a flash and the "50MP" marking.

The ingress rating is IP68, which is higher than the splash-only ratings found on many phones at this price. It means protection against dust and against immersion in water under the conditions defined by the standard, but as with any such rating the protection is not permanent and liquid damage is typically excluded from warranties, so it is a safety margin rather than permission to take the phone diving.

Display

The screen is a 6.55-inch pOLED panel with what Motorola calls an Endless Edge design, a gentle curve on the sides that gives a near-borderless look. It supports a 144Hz refresh rate, which Motorola promotes for smooth scrolling and gaming, and HDR10+ for compatible video. A pOLED panel offers true blacks and strong contrast, and a 144Hz maximum is higher than many competitors in the segment, which usually stop at 90Hz or 120Hz. Curved edges look elegant, although they can produce occasional accidental touches and make some screen protectors harder to fit. An optical fingerprint reader sits under the screen.

Performance and software

The processor is the MediaTek Dimensity 7030, built on a 6 nm process. It is a mid-range chip intended for everyday use, social apps, video and casual games, not for the heaviest 3D titles. Memory is LPDDR4X in 8GB or 12GB versions, and storage is UFS 2.2 in 128GB or 256GB. The specification sheet does not list a memory card slot, so choose the capacity you need at purchase. The phone takes two nano-SIMs with 5G on both, and supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC and GPS with several satellite systems. The USB Type-C port runs at USB 2.0 speeds, and there is no FM radio.

The phone launched with Android 13 and Motorola's near-stock My UX interface, which includes features such as Moto Family Space and the Ready For connection to external displays. For security, Motorola lists the ThinkShield for mobile platform. Software support is stated as two operating-system updates plus three years of security maintenance releases, a commitment that is modest but clearly published. Check Motorola's current policy for your market before purchasing, as update availability differs by region.

Camera

The main camera is a 50MP sensor in a 1/1.5-inch optical format with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilisation. Its pixels are 1.0 micrometre, and a technique Motorola calls Ultra Pixel combines them to 2.0 micrometres for better low-light results, and the sensor uses omni-directional phase-detect autofocus. Next to it is a 13MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view that doubles as a macro camera, with an f/2.2 aperture. On the front is a 32MP selfie camera with an f/2.4 aperture that uses quad-pixel technology to give 1.4 micrometre effective pixels.

Video recording on the main camera goes up to 4K at 30 frames per second, with Full HD at 60 or 30 frames per second and slow motion in Full HD at up to 240 frames per second. The ultrawide and macro camera can also record 4K at 30 frames per second. Motorola emphasises low-light pictures through the combination of the large main sensor and stabilisation. As ever, the actual results depend on software processing and lighting, and a Dimensity 7030 phone will not match flagship image processing in speed.

Battery and charging

The battery capacity is 5,000 mAh, which Motorola describes as lasting up to 36 hours in its own testing. A TurboPower 68W charger is included in the box together with a USB Type-C to Type-C cable, a SIM tool and a protective case, so you do not have to buy a fast charger separately. The specification sheet does not list wireless charging. Charging speed in practice depends on the battery temperature and level, and the claim of up to 36 hours is a manufacturer figure that will vary with how you use the phone.

Audio and extras

Audio comes from dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. The page does not mention a headphone jack, so assume you will need a USB-C or wireless pair. A Moto Secure suite offers privacy tools, and an optional protective case is in the package.

Who it is for and what to weigh

The edge 40 neo suits people who want a slim, stylish phone with a fast pOLED display, genuine IP68 protection and quick charging, and who are comfortable with a mid-range processor and a two-update promise. Photographers who want a stabilised main camera and a usable macro lens will find it capable for the price. Those who want a memory card slot, a headphone jack, wireless charging or a long update window should look elsewhere. Browse other phones or see the rankings to compare.

• Strengths: 144Hz pOLED screen, IP68, OIS main camera, 68W charger in the box, 5,000 mAh battery, slim design.
• Trade-offs: mid-range chip, no card slot, USB 2.0 port, short update promise for a model launched with Android 13.