For years, I have regarded the wave of ultrathin smartphones with a healthy dose of skepticism, often wondering what real value could possibly come from trimming a few millimeters from a device’s width if it meant sacrificing the power of its camera system or the endurance of its battery. That question echoed in my mind earlier this year when Samsung revealed its Galaxy S25 Edge, a marvel of minimalism that seemed to exemplify the industry’s obsession with thinness at all costs. Yet, despite my doubts, Motorola’s new Edge 70 has managed to subvert many of those expectations and even persuade me that this pursuit of slenderness might have a genuine purpose when executed with balance and intelligence.
The Edge 70 emerges as a more accessible counterpart to high-end devices like Samsung’s S25 Edge or Apple’s iPhone Air, launching across the United Kingdom and Europe with a price tag of £699/€799, or roughly $920. While Motorola’s global product marketing head, Nicole Hagen, made clear that this model will not reach the United States market, its mere presence in other regions demonstrates a shift in how thin phones are conceptualized. Only about a third of a millimeter thicker than the impossibly slim iPhone Air — a physical difference imperceptible to the naked eye — the Edge 70 nevertheless manages to correct some of that model’s biggest shortcomings through the inclusion of a larger battery and a sturdier, more resilient design. It is not flawless, of course, as no experiment in redefining form factors ever is. But as a conceptual template for where ultrathin phones might evolve next, Motorola’s effort feels substantially more convincing than comparable attempts from its competitors.
This season has, quite fittingly, become one dominated by the emergence of silicon–carbon battery technology — an innovation that enables higher capacity energy storage within smaller physical confines. Only weeks after witnessing Oppo achieve unprecedented density with its 7,500mAh cell in the Find X9 Pro, Motorola has demonstrated a different kind of triumph: using the same technology not to maximize capacity in an average-sized phone, but to compress a standard 4,800mAh battery into an exceptionally slim chassis. The end result is a phone that easily surpasses Apple’s claim of an “all-day battery,” with typical users comfortably stretching into a second day of use before requiring a recharge. Heavy users will find it difficult, though not impossible, to exhaust the battery entirely within twenty-four hours — an accomplishment unimaginable just a few years ago in a device of such thin proportions.
Where Apple and Samsung’s most refined designs compel users to accept drastic reductions in endurance — with the Air’s 3,149mAh and the S25 Edge’s 3,900mAh batteries falling far short — Motorola’s silicon–carbon integration offsets those compromises entirely. It redefines what consumers can expect when choosing sleekness over bulk, and in doing so, demonstrates that elegance need not entail loss. Complementing that efficiency is a fast-charging experience that feels thoroughly modern: 68W wired charging swiftly replenishes the battery, while support for 15W Qi wireless charging ensures convenience for those who prefer a cable-free setup. Absent, however, is support for the newer Qi2 standard, though Motorola tries to soften that omission by including a magnetic plastic case in its EMEA release, granting partial parity for those who admire the magnet-ready Pixel 10 line.
Physically, the Edge 70 maintains the purity of its design language with a subtle camera bump that tapers neatly into the rear panel, maintaining visual harmony while adding functional practicality. To contextualize its delicate proportions, one could imagine a stack of six credit cards — roughly equivalent to its total thickness. A distinctive blue button graces its edge, dedicated to shortcuts for artificial intelligence–driven features, emblematic of Motorola’s attempt to integrate contemporary functionality without aesthetic disruption.
What struck me most after a week of consistent use was how the novelty of its thinness never wore off. While I had previously interacted fleetingly with Samsung’s and Apple’s corresponding models, handling Motorola’s version day after day revealed an enduring sense of wonder. Its extraordinarily lightweight feel and the ergonomically refined curvature make it both visually and physically delightful. There is a tangible pleasure in holding a device this light that simultaneously feels solid enough to inspire confidence.
Motorola’s material choices play a pivotal role in that assurance. Unlike the delicate glass backs favored by Apple and Samsung, the Edge 70 employs a robust aluminum frame coupled with a textured silicone rear that enhances grip and mitigates fragility. It stands as the only member of the ultrathin trio to carry both IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance, alongside certification under the rigorous MIL-STD-810H military durability tests. That said, it remains no indestructible fortress — its screen, protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, lacks the ceramic reinforcements of its rivals — but this construction still invites a newfound freedom. Where most users instinctively encase their expensive devices in bulky protection, the Edge 70 encourages confidence in using it bare, showcasing the very elegance its engineers achieved.
Nevertheless, no smartphone escapes trade-offs. The Edge 70’s greatest technical concession appears in its camera system. The 50-megapixel main sensor performs commendably under bright or evenly lit conditions, even handling low-light environments reasonably well, though high-contrast scenes — such as illuminated stadiums under night skies — expose its computational limits. Still, its inclusion of an ultrawide lens gives it a practical versatility absent in Apple’s Air, even if the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens is felt by photography enthusiasts. The third apparent sensor positioned beside the main duo is, in truth, merely a light sensor, and those who value optical zoom may find stronger performance from midrange alternatives such as Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE or Xiaomi’s 15T Pro.
Performance-focused consumers may raise similar eyebrows at Motorola’s decision to power the device with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. Objectively, it supplies ample speed for daily multitasking, social use, and occasional gaming, but it stands technically beneath the flagship processors found in other phones within the same price bracket. For the average user, the difference is largely theoretical; only competitive gamers or power users running demanding applications will regularly sense the limitations.
Motorola’s greatest misstep is, unfortunately, one of philosophy rather than hardware. The company’s iteration of Android has regressed in experience due to intrusive monetization and excess preloaded software. With a retail price nearing £700, it feels unacceptable for a device to arrive burdened with an array of third-party apps and advertisements. Out of the box, the Edge 70 is inundated with at least fourteen Motorola-branded applications, plus a suite of additional ones — from games like Candy Crush Saga and Monopoly Go to utility apps such as Pinterest, Microsoft Copilot, and even lesser-known titles like Toon Blast. The default app drawer presents an automatically created “games” folder that, rather than storing installed applications, pushes recommendations for further downloads. Above it sits a “suggestions” bar, which intelligently proposes three of my own frequently used apps — a welcome touch — but derails the experience by perpetually inserting a fourth app I have never requested, routinely cycling through commercial offerings from payment tools like MoneyGram to music-learning platforms such as Simply Guitar.
Even more frustrating is the so-called Live Lock Screen, a feature introduced as an optional enhancement during setup. In reality, it displays a rotating gallery of images interspersed with promotional content and embedded article links categorized by general interests like technology or food. While most entries resemble lifestyle snippets, every few swipes produce unsubtle full-screen advertisements, often promoting online retailers such as Temu. Deactivation and removal of these intrusive elements are thankfully possible, but their inclusion in a premium device undermines Motorola’s credibility. For a brand that once prided itself on a near-stock Android experience, this cluttered software direction feels like a step backward.
Design details, however, retain a measure of charm — each colorway includes a small Pantone swatch embedded on the rear panel, a nod to Motorola’s ongoing collaboration with the color authority and a subtle expression of the company’s visual attention to detail.
After weighing the entire experience, I find myself uncertain whether the Edge 70 strictly outperforms Apple’s iPhone Air across all parameters. Yet, as a forward-looking statement of design intent, Motorola’s creation feels more authentic and encouraging. It proves that a thin phone can indeed deliver genuine practicality without giving up crucial endurance. The inclusion of silicon–carbon battery technology represents not merely an incremental advancement but a defining one — an enabling factor that could well guide Apple’s or Samsung’s next-generation models toward similar efficiencies. The Edge 70 demonstrates that longevity and elegance can coexist, maintaining strength while resisting unnecessary heft.
Its photographic capabilities may remain modest, and its processor middle-of-the-road, but few buyers drawn to an ultrathin, beautifully engineered device seek raw computational dominance anyway. What they desire — tactile pleasure, seamless endurance, and design integrity — the Edge 70 fulfills gracefully. It lasts through the day, often beyond, and feels so well balanced that one might finally dare to use an ultrathin phone without fear. In that sense, Motorola may not have perfected the category, but it has undeniably set a new and promising standard for where the future of slim smartphones can go next.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/813377/motorola-edge-70-review
