Motorola Motorola Edge 70 5G (XT2601-2 / XT2603-2)

The ₹1,00,000+ iPhone Air gasps for power by 4 PM. The Motorola Edge 70 cruises into day two at ₹29,999—here's why thinner stopped meaning weaker.

Quick Take Box

Design & Build Quality

The Motorola Edge 70 measures exactly 5.99mm thick and weighs 159 grams. For context, that's thinner than a pencil and lighter than an iPhone 16 Pro (199g). Yet Motorola didn't achieve this by sacrificing structural integrity.

Materials breakdown:

1. Frame: Aerospace-grade aluminum with matte finish
2. Front: Corning Gorilla Glass 7i (rated Mohs level 4)
3. Back: Nylon-textured composite with Pantone-validated colors
4. Dimensions: 159.9 x 74.0 x 5.99mm

The phone ships in three Pantone-curated colors: Gadget Grey, Lily Pad, and Bronze Green. Each color carries official Pantone certification—a nerdy flex that translates to genuinely unique aesthetics compared to the sea of black and silver rectangles.

Durability is where this phone surprises. IP68 rating means 1.5m submersion for 30 minutes. IP69 adds resistance to high-pressure water jets (read: actual rain, not just splash resistance theater). MIL-STD-810H certification covers drop protection, temperature extremes, and altitude resilience.

Motorola bundles a transparent MagSafe-compatible case in the box, enabling wireless charging alignment and accessory attachment without aftermarket hunting.

Ergonomics verdict: The Edge 70 disappears in your pocket and fits naturally in one-handed use. The flat display (no curved edges) eliminates accidental palm touches that plagued earlier Edge models.

Display & Multimedia

The 6.7-inch P-OLED panel runs at 2712 x 1220 pixels (1.5K resolution) with a 20.01:9 aspect ratio and 446 ppi density. This isn't just spec-sheet padding.

Display specifications:

The 4,500 nits peak brightness figure demolishes every competitor in the ultra-slim category. The iPhone Air tops out at 3,000 nits; the Galaxy S25 Edge manages 2,600 nits. In real-world testing, the Edge 70 remains completely legible under direct Indian summer sunlight—something that can't be said for phones at triple the price.

Color accuracy matters here. Pantone validation means skin tones render accurately across the camera viewfinder, photos, and video playback. Content creators will appreciate consistent color reproduction without needing external monitors for reference.

The downsides: No LTPO technology means the display can't drop below 60Hz to conserve power. Netflix doesn't currently list the Edge 70 on its HDR allowlist, limiting streaming to 1080p SDR (this should resolve via software updates).

Audio: Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support deliver "Very Good" loudness scores in lab testing, but sound quality skews toward treble-heavy reproduction. The thin chassis limits bass response—physics wins here.

Performance & Software

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4nm) represents the flagship of Qualcomm's mid-range silicon. It pairs with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage in India's 8GB/256GB configuration.

Chipset architecture:

1. CPU: Octa-core (1x 2.8GHz Cortex-A720 prime + 4x 2.4GHz Cortex-A720 performance + 3x 1.8GHz Cortex-A520 efficiency)
2. GPU: Adreno 722
3. Process: 4nm TSMC

Benchmark scores (verified):

For comparison: OnePlus Nord 5's Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 scores approximately 1,700,000+ on AnTuTu—40% higher raw performance. The Edge 70 isn't a gaming phone; it's a lifestyle phone that handles games acceptably rather than exceptionally.

Thermal management: Under sustained stress testing (30+ minutes gaming), the phone maintains 86.2% stability with peak temperatures around 41.5°C. It doesn't become uncomfortable to hold, but frame rates in demanding titles like Genshin Impact will drop after extended sessions.

Real-world performance: App launches feel snappy. Multitasking between social media, messaging, and browsers remains smooth. The 120Hz display makes UI animations feel premium. Where the chipset struggles: video encoding, heavy photo editing, and anything requiring sustained GPU compute.

Software experience: Android 16 arrives with Motorola's Hello UI overlay—one of the cleanest Android implementations outside Google Pixels. Core experience highlights:

1. Moto AI 2.0: Dedicated AI button summons assistant for notes, translations, and contextual actions. Integrates Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity for flexibility.
2. Smart gestures: Karate chop for flashlight, double-twist for camera launch, tap-to-unlock
3. Smart Connect: Seamless screen mirroring and PC connectivity
4. Circle to Search: Google's contextual search built-in

Update commitment: 4 years of Android OS upgrades and 6 years of bi-monthly security patches. This matches or exceeds most competitors in this price segment.

The bloatware problem: Initial setup pushes multiple third-party app installations aggressively. The built-in weather app contains ads (can only be disabled, not uninstalled). Apps can be removed post-setup, but first impressions suffer.

Camera System

The Edge 70 carries a simplified dual-camera setup compared to its Edge 60 predecessor, which offered telephoto zoom. This is the sacrifice for thinness.

Camera hardware:

Daylight performance: The main sensor captures 12MP binned photos with high detail, accurate white balance, and true-to-life colors. Dynamic range handles challenging lighting well. Colors lean slightly saturated—great for social media, slightly less accurate for professional work.

Low-light performance: Night mode produces usable results with competent noise reduction. However, enabling Night Mode brightens scenes artificially, creating an "overprocessed" look rather than natural darkness preservation. Standard low-light shots (without Night Mode) often look better for authenticity.

Portrait mode: Edge detection performs well on subjects with clear outlines. Six adjustable blur levels and Dynamic Bokeh add creative flexibility. Processing occasionally struggles with complex backgrounds (hair, foliage edges).

The 2x zoom problem: Without optical telephoto, the 2x zoom relies on main sensor cropping. Results are usable for social media but show visible detail loss and washed-out colors compared to optical alternatives. Users upgrading from Edge 60's telephoto will miss it.

Video capabilities:

1. Main: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
2. Ultrawide: 4K@30fps
3. Selfie: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps
4. Stabilization: Gyro-EIS (effective for walking shots)

AI camera features:

1. AI Video Enhancement
2. AI Action Shot
3. AI Adaptive Stabilization
4. AI Signature Style (learns your editing preferences)
5. AI Group Shot
6. Google Photos Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Magic Editor

Selfie verdict: The 50MP front camera outperforms most competitors, delivering detailed photos with natural skin tones thanks to Pantone validation. Video calls look sharp in 4K.

Battery & Charging

Here's where the Motorola Edge 70 humiliates its ultra-slim competition.

Battery specifications:

Why silicon-carbon matters: This battery chemistry enables 25% higher energy density than traditional lithium-ion cells. Translation: 5,000mAh fits where competitors squeeze 3,900mAh (Galaxy S25 Edge) or 3,149mAh (iPhone Air).

Real-world endurance:

1. GSMArena Active Use Score: 13 hours 36 minutes
2. Typical daily use: Comfortably survives a full day with 4-6 hours screen-on time
3. Light usage: Can stretch into day two without anxiety
4. NotebookCheck WiFi browsing: 19 hours 34 minutes

Charging speed tests:

The 68W charging speed means even heavy users can recover meaningful battery during a lunch break. However, Motorola doesn't include a charger in the Indian box—you'll need to source a 68W USB-PD compatible adapter.

Battery health features:

1. Charge limit option (cap at 80% for longevity)
2. Charge boost toggle (disable for slower, healthier charging)
3. Smart charging for overnight routines

Thermal behavior during charging: Peak temperature stays around 38-39°C—warm but not uncomfortable.

Connectivity & Extras

Network bands:

1. 5G: Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 (SA/NSA/Sub6)
2. 4G LTE: Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66
3. India 5G compatibility: Full support for Jio and Airtel 5G networks

Connectivity features:

The USB 2.0 limitation hurts. File transfers max out around 480Mbps—frustrating when moving large video files. In 2025, USB 3.0 should be baseline at this price.

SIM configuration: Nano-SIM + eSIM for international variants; Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM for China model.

Water Touch feature: The screen remains functional when wet, enabling use in rain or by the pool without touch-rejection issues.

Sensors: Under-display optical fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass. The fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable, though ultrasonic alternatives (found on Samsung flagships) offer slightly better wet-finger performance.

What's missing vs competitors:

1. No headphone jack (expected at this form factor)
2. No microSD slot (disappointing at 256GB base storage)
3. No 4G/5G toggle in settings (odd software omission)
4. No FM radio (increasingly rare anyway)

Marketing Claims Reality Check

Competitive Analysis

Direct rival at same price: OnePlus Nord 5 (₹31,999)

1. Wins: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (40% faster), 6,800mAh battery, better gaming
2. Loses: Thicker design, no wireless charging, less unique aesthetics
3. Buy OnePlus if: Performance matters more than portability

Value alternative (20-30% cheaper): Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (₹21,399)

1. Wins: Lower price, similar software experience
2. Loses: Older chip, less premium build, smaller battery
3. Buy Edge 60 Fusion if: Budget is primary constraint

Aspirational upgrade: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (₹33,729)

1. Wins: Exynos 2400e (more powerful), 7 years updates, OneUI polish
2. Loses: Thicker, heavier, no ultra-slim appeal
3. Buy Samsung if: Software longevity trumps design

Regional Considerations (India)

Sustainability & Longevity