Andrew Heinzman
Motorola has announced the 2021 version of its $700 Edge flagship, and oddly enough, it ditches the signature waterfall “edge” display seen in previous models. But that may not be a bad thing—the 2021 Edge offers more compelling specs than its predecessor, including a 108MP main camera and (finally) a water-resistance certification.
In terms of raw specs, the Motorola Edge (2021) features a Snapdragon 778G processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage (or 8GB RAM/256GB storage if you pay extra). Those aren’t the best specs you’ll find at $700, but they’re quite good when you consider some of the other stuff you get with this phone.
The new Motorola Edge has a 6.8-inch 144Hz display with HDR10 support, a small step up from the 2020 model (unless you were a fan of its waterfall screen). Its 108MP camera is a carryover from the more expensive Edge Plus, though its 8MP ultra-wide lens, 2MP depth sensor, and 32MP selfie camera are pretty run of the mill. A 5000mAh battery should make up for the strain of 5G and a 144Hz refresh rate, while a new IP52 water-resistance rating defends the phone from splashes.
Frankly, it’s odd to see Motorola brag about an IP52 water-resistance rating, as it’s not that impressive and won’t protect the phone from a drop in the toilet. To put things into perspective, Google’s newly-announced Pixel 5a has an IP67 rating and costs just $450 (although water resistance is a defining feature of that phone).
Motorola will open pre-orders for the 2021 Edge on August 23rd. Those who pre-order the phone can get it for just $500, a great price for this set of features! Unfortunately, the phone will snap back to $700 when it starts shipping on September 2nd.
