Motorola Showdown: Edge 50 vs Edge 60 vs G96 5G 📱
Ultimate comparison of Motorola's 2024-2025 smartphone lineup - which one deserves your wallet?
🔍 Introduction: The Motorola Mid-Range Battle
Motorola's 2024-2025 smartphone lineup presents consumers with compelling options in the competitive mid-range segment. The Edge 50, Edge 60, and upcoming G96 5G each target different price points while sharing Motorola's signature design language and near-stock Android experience. As of July 2025, these devices showcase how Motorola is balancing premium features with affordability.
The Edge series represents Motorola's push toward premium specifications while maintaining accessible pricing, with the Edge 50 positioned as the entry-premium model and Edge 60 as its more advanced sibling. The G96 5G, launching July 16, 2025 in India, aims to deliver core flagship features at an aggressive price point starting at ₹17,999 ($215) . This comparison examines where each device excels and where compromises emerge.
🎨 Design & Build: From Premium to Practical
Motorola employs distinct materials and construction approaches across these three models:
| Feature | Edge 50 | Edge 60 | G96 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Vegan leather/plastic back, aluminum frame | Premium silicone/rubberized back with fabric or faux leather finish | Premium vegan leather back |
| Dimensions | 162 × 73.1 × 7.8mm, 175g | Approx 161.2 × 73.08 × 8.25mm, 181g | 161.86 × 73.26 × 7.93mm, 178g |
| Durability | IP68 rating | IP68/IP69 rating (dust/water/high-temp jets) | IP68 rating |
| Colors | Jungle Green, Peach Fuzz, Koala Grey | Dazzling Blue, Sparkling Grape, Shadow | Ashleigh Blue, Dresden Blue, Cattleya Orchid, Greener Pastures |
The Edge 60 stands out with IP69 certification, making it resistant to high-temperature water jets - a rarity in mid-range devices . Its textured silicone back provides superior grip compared to the Edge 50's controversial vegan leather finish that some reviewers found unpleasant . The G96 5G adopts vegan leather across all color options, prioritizing tactile experience at its lower price point.
👍 Design Advantages
- Edge 60: Most durable with IP69 rating and premium materials
- G96 5G: Surprisingly premium vegan leather at entry price
- Edge 50: Slimmest profile (7.8mm) and military-grade durability
👎 Design Limitations
- Edge 50: Vegan leather polarizes users, included case offers minimal protection
- Edge 60: Thicker (8.25mm) than Edge 50, no charger included
- G96 5G: Plastic frame instead of aluminum
📱 Display Comparison: Brightness vs Refresh Rate
Display technology showcases significant differences between these models:
| Specification | Edge 50 | Edge 60 | G96 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size & Type | 6.7" pOLED curved | 6.7" P-OLED curved | 6.67" P-OLED curved |
| Resolution | 1220 × 2712 pixels (FHD+) | 1220 × 2712 pixels (FHD+) | 1080 × 2400 pixels (FHD) |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | 144Hz |
| Peak Brightness | 2,000 nits | 4,500 nits (advertised), ~4,000 nits tested | 1,600 nits |
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass 7i | Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Special Features | HDR10+, 100% DCI-P3 | HDR10/10+, 100% DCI-P3 | Water Touch, 100% DCI-P3 |
The Edge 60's display is class-leading with its 4,000+ nits peak brightness - significantly outperforming many competitors in outdoor visibility . While the G96 5G offers a higher 144Hz refresh rate, its brightness caps at 1,600 nits, placing it behind both Edge models in HDR content consumption. The Edge 50's display received praise for color accuracy but criticism for lacking Always On Display functionality .
All three devices feature curved OLED displays, though opinions on this design choice vary. The Edge 60 minimizes accidental touches through software optimization, a noted improvement over previous curved displays .
⚙️ Performance & Hardware: Power Efficiency Tradeoffs
| Component | Edge 50 | Edge 60 | G96 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 12GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB (non-expandable) | 256GB/512GB (expandable via microSD) | 128GB/256GB (non-expandable) |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,500mAh (Edge 60) / 5,200mAh (Edge 60 Pro) | 5,500mAh |
| Charging | 68W wired, 15W wireless | 68W wired (no wireless) | 33W wired |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6 (slow throughput), Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC |
The Edge 60's MediaTek Dimensity 7300 delivers solid mid-range performance, handling games like Genshin Impact at 30 FPS . Surprisingly, the Edge 50's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 underperforms against competitors in its price bracket, with benchmarks showing it behind even the cheaper Edge 50 Neo .
Battery performance shows interesting tradeoffs. Despite its smaller 5,000mAh battery, the Edge 50 lasts through a typical day but falls short of competitors. The Edge 60 excels with 20+ hours of web browsing in tests, while the G96 5G's 5,500mAh battery promises 42 hours of backup according to Motorola .
🚀 Performance Strengths
- Edge 60: Best battery life, highest RAM capacity, microSD expansion
- G96 5G: Most power-efficient chipset (4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2)
- Edge 50: Wireless charging capability (rare in mid-range)
⚠️ Performance Limitations
- Edge 50: Dated chipset, disappointing benchmark scores
- Edge 60: Slow Wi-Fi throughput despite Wi-Fi 6
- G96 5G: Slower 33W charging, no wireless charging
📸 Camera Capabilities: Sensor Showdown
Camera systems reveal significant differences in approach:
| Camera | Edge 50 | Edge 60 | G96 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Sensor | 50MP Sony LYT-700C (OIS) | 50MP Sony LYT-700C (OIS) | 50MP Sony LYT-700C (OIS) |
| Ultra-Wide | 13MP (f/2.2) | 50MP (f/2.0) | 8MP (f/2.2) |
| Telephoto | 10MP 3x optical zoom | 10MP 3x optical zoom | None |
| Front Camera | 32MP | 50MP | 32MP |
| Video Capabilities | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@120fps |
| Special Features | Pantone validation, OIS | Pantone validation, 30x hybrid zoom | Macro Vision, AI Photo Enhancement |
The Edge 60 stands out with its 50MP ultra-wide sensor, a significant upgrade from the Edge 50's 13MP offering . All three share the same 50MP Sony LYT-700C main sensor with optical image stabilization, ensuring solid primary camera performance across the lineup.
Low-light photography remains a challenge for all models, with noise and loss of definition in challenging conditions . The Edge 50's 30x digital zoom was particularly criticized for producing poor-quality images , while the Edge 60 maintains more conservative digital zoom processing.
For selfie enthusiasts, the Edge 60's 50MP front camera outshines the 32MP sensors on both Edge 50 and G96 5G. All three support 4K video recording from front and rear cameras, though the G96 5G surprisingly offers 1080p at 120fps for smoother slow-motion effects .
🔄 Software & Longevity: Update Policies Compared
| Software Aspect | Edge 50 | Edge 60 | G96 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch OS | Android 14 | Android 15 | Android 15 |
| OS Upgrades | 2 years | 3 years | 1 year |
| Security Updates | 3 years (bi-monthly) | 4 years (until 2029) | 3 years |
| Interface | My UX (near-stock) | My UX (near-stock) | Hello UI (near-stock) |
| Special Features | Moto Actions, Desktop Mode | Moto AI, ThinkShield security | Moto AI imaging, Family Space |
The Edge 60 offers the most promising update policy with 3 OS upgrades and security patches until 2029 . This represents a significant improvement over the Edge 50's limited 2-year OS support, which drew criticism when the cheaper Edge 50 Neo received 5 years of updates .
All three devices feature Motorola's lightly customized Android interface with valuable additions like Moto Gestures. The Edge 60 introduces Moto AI features, though reviewers note these feel "undercooked" compared to Google's AI implementations . The G96 5G's single OS upgrade seems particularly limited given its Android 15 launch OS.
💰 Price & Value Analysis
Current pricing reveals each device's target market:
| Model | Global Pricing | Indian Pricing | Value Proposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edge 50 | ~€550 (Europe) | ₹22,780 (~$275) | Most affordable entry to telephoto camera |
| Edge 60 | €400-€430 (Europe) | ₹26,954 (~$325) | Premium features at mid-range price |
| G96 5G | N/A (India-first launch) |
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