Apple TV 4K Review: Stunning, But Strictly For Apple Fans

Apple TV 4K test: breathtaking, but exclusively for Apple fans

"The Apple TV 4K is a boon for Apple power users (but anyone else is better off with a Roku Ultra)."

  • Extremely intuitive user interface

  • Siri's search / control has been vastly improved

  • Powerful graphics and processing

  • Nice 4K HDR picture

  • In some cases the SDR content is dimmed slightly

  • No longer the only way to do AirPlay

  • Expensive compared to the competition

Apple introduced the Apple TV 4K in 2017. Despite ongoing software updates that can be expected as a streaming force, the hardware and price have stayed the same.

For the first year after its launch, Apple was able to justify the starting price of $ 179 for the 32GB model (the 64GB model costs $ 199). After all, it was one of the few streaming devices on the market that supported 4K, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.

But it's 2020 now and Apple's competitors haven't stood still. Roku updated its flagship $ 100 Ultra, Amazon launched and continues to update its $ 120 Fire TV Cube, Nvidia is updating its game on the $ 150 Shield TV, and Google officially moved to the remote media category with the incredibly affordable $ 50 Chromecast with Google TV Streamer.

Apple's little black box does a few things better than these other products, but that list is dwindling, making it increasingly difficult to make an argument that you should be spending that much. Let's take an updated look at the Apple TV 4K and see if it's still the king of Streaming Device Hill.

Out of the box

Apple wrote the rulebook for the out-of-box experience, and the Apple TV 4K packaging proves that the company is still the master at this point. From the heavy cardboard box to the neat cable management to the first-class appearance of the box and the remote control, everything on the Apple 4K TV screams “premium”, which you should expect given the price of 180 US dollars.

For that sum, you'll get a streaming device that feels like loving care and attention has been put into its design. Most streamers are made of plastic, but Apple's is visibly superior. The remote control feels good too – it's just right in your hand and makes you want to swipe up on the touchpad.

Apple TV ReviewBill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

In addition to the Apple TV 4K, its power cord and its remote control, you also receive a lightning cable for charging the remote control and a quick start guide with all three sentences. That's all you need as setting up couldn't be easier.

configuration

If you own a relatively new iOS device (sorry, iPad 2 owners, you're excluded here), you can already experience the fastest set-up process we've seen from a set-top box so far. After selecting the language and country, simply hold your iPhone or iPad near the Apple TV 4K and a few clicks later your WiFi information and Apple ID have been copied. All of your iTunes purchases – music, TV shows, movies – are instantly available on your new Apple TV 4K.

Bonus, if you're a third or fourth generation Apple TV owner who saves device settings in iCloud, your tvOS layout will automatically sync so your new streamer looks almost exactly like your old one – only better.

If you don't own an iPhone or iPad, you'll quickly find that you're not getting the best that Apple TV 4K has to offer. As you would expect, the more you invest in the Apple universe, the more bonuses and amenities you will enjoy.

However, once you've manually connected to your WiFi router (or, better yet, plug in an ethernet cable for a better overall experience), you'll find that plenty of goodies are in stock. Either way, your Apple TV 4K will be set up in no time.

If this is your first Apple TV, or if you don't store your tvOS setting in the cloud, then Netflix, Hulu, and many of the other common suspects aren't pre-installed. So you have to go get them. Apple makes it a little easier for pay TV subscribers by collecting provider information and then automatically downloading the streaming apps that users can enjoy with their pay TV subscription.

You must also sign in to all of your apps. This is the most tedious process of setting up a streaming box or smart TV. Apple makes it easier by automatically offering text entry through iOS on the iPhone or iPad to enter usernames and passwords, or by using Siri to say the letters and numbers out loud and have them transcribed. Both methods are infinitely less of a chore than chasing and pecking through a virtual keyboard, although this option is also available.

User experience

Apple has always had a focus on user experience (known technically as "UX" because of acronyms), which has led to buzzwords like "it just works" and products that have a reputation for being easy for everyone to use . The Apple TV 4K is rich in UX, and the convenience and well-conceived features are deep. There is also a plethora of apps for Apple's set-top device. We cannot discuss all of them here, but we will address those who we consider to be the most notable.

Siri

Most people are already familiar with Apple's digital assistant, but Siri on Apple TV 4K is especially helpful.

Remote Tips and Key Features for Apple Digital Trends:

  • Ask Siri, "What should I see tonight?" A menu of suggested movies and shows is displayed in the lower third of the screen. All recommendations are selected daily by the editors to show what is particularly important.
  • Double tapping the Home button on the remote will bring up recently used apps. This allows you to seamlessly switch between apps without having to go back to the home screen.
  • Move your most used apps to the top line of the home screen for quicker access. For example, add Netflix to your mix. When the icon is selected, shortcuts to Netflix titles will appear at the top. Just click on a title to view it.
  • Easily organize apps on Apple TV with folders.
  • When you highlight a track in Next, hold the button and you'll get quick shortcuts like marking an episode as viewed.
  • You can add any iTunes movie to your Up Next queue using Siri by saying "Add Up to Up Next" on the movie page.
  • Press the play button on any song in Watch Now to start playing immediately.
  • Ask Siri to “Play TVShowX” from your Next list to continue watching.

One of Siri's most helpful uses is finding content that you want to watch – specifically, finding 4K and HDR content that you can watch.

Siri search results are no longer as exclusive as they used to be. Apple might have limited search results to iTunes listings, but Apple TV 4K now shows whether the TV show or movie you want to watch is available outside of iTunes. The quest for orange is the new black, and you have options to buy or rent through iTunes, or watch it for free on Netflix (assuming you have a Netflix subscription, of course). A search will give you similar results for The Handmaid & # 39; s Tale, which you can watch on iTunes but which is free with a Hulu subscription.

Additionally, a narrow search for a specific movie title or a more focused search for movies with specific actors will produce a long list of results from numerous streaming sources. We tried searching for “Movies With Charlize Theron,” and there were certainly many that we could only get through iTunes, but there were several available from other streaming services to which we subscribed. We even searched for “4K Movies on Netflix” and loved it when Apple TV 4K showed us a long list of titles we could watch in 4K.

Other search tricks include asking to see movies in 4K HDR from multiple sources and refining your search by saying, "Just show me the sci-fi movies."

If you miss a dialogue, ask Siri, "What did you say?" and it will backup the video for 15 seconds and enable subtitles for that period. You can also ask Siri to skip forward or forward for a specified amount of time instead of using the backward or fast forward buttons.

Layout: TV app or symbol grid

The layout of the Apple TV 4K is intuitive, especially for previous Apple TV users, with a big and bold grid of colored icons for each app. However, starting with tvOS 13, Apple TV users have a different way of using the Apple TV app as their home screen.

The TV app acts as a single point of contact for all of your streaming needs and has an interface that mimics what you watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. The difference is that the TV app pulls content from all major services, not just one, and makes recommendations based on your viewing patterns and subscriptions.

Supported services include Apple TV +, Disney +, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, and Pluto TV. For some services, such as Netflix, the TV app shows the programs that are recommended. However, to actually watch them, you will be directed to the Netflix app instead of watching them in the TV app.

It can keep track of which movies or episodes you've watched, thus providing "Watch Next" and "Watch Next" lists.

If you're a Spectrum or AT&T cable customer, you can watch your subscribed channels in the TV app instead of having to switch inputs on your TV.

With sections dedicated to sports and kids, plus the ability to access the same content on the go with the Apple TV app for iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it's a very robust experience.

Gaming, fitness and more

Apple Fitness PlusApple

You have to hand it over to Apple: Although the Apple TV 4K is quickly approaching its fourth birthday, it keeps getting new features.

In 2019, Apple added Apple Arcade, a subscription service for casual gamers. To enhance the experience, support for gaming controllers has been expanded from the very restrictive list of devices designed for iOS to include both the Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox controllers. Unfortunately, developers and gamers haven't exactly made Apple Arcade a runaway success.

More recently, Apple announced its Fitness + subscription service, a virtual series of workouts guided by professionally hosted videos (via Apple TV, of course) and tied to the sensors built into the Apple Watch. We can't tell just how good Fitness + is (it will be rolled out later this year), but here's how it compares to Peloton on paper.

The latest version of Apple TV software, tvOS 14, has some cool extras like picture-in-picture, the ability to monitor HomeKit-compatible security cameras from your TV, and support for audio sharing if you have two Apple or two Pairing Apple Devices Suggests wireless headphones to Apple TV 4K.

The information

The Apple TV 4K makes it clear if 4K with HDR is available for the content you're watching, which is more than can be said for some of its competitors. There are also numerous reviews for TV shows and movies that are sourced from multiple outlets such as Rotten Tomatoes. You can also learn more about the cast and crew of your favorite movies and TV shows by clicking on the actors' profile picture. This is similar to Amazon's X-ray functionality, but is better implemented.

The speed

The Apple TV 4K is fast thanks to the A10X Fusion processor under the hood. If your internet connection can keep up, load times are lightning fast, info screens appear instantly when you click them, and even scrolling through long title tapes is remarkably smooth and fast.

The image quality

In HDR mode, the picture quality of the Apple TV 4K is excellent. The 4K content in Dolby Vision and HDR10 looks beautiful, especially with movies on iTunes. Most of the standard dynamic range (SDR) content also looks very good.

Pro Tip: Apple TV 4K converted 24fps movies to 60fps before they were delivered to the TV and there was no way to turn them off. Now there is an option to "match content" for audio and video in the settings we recommend.

Dolby Atmos

A key addition to Apple TV 4K, which was introduced with tvOS 12 in 2018, was support for Dolby Atmos, the leading surround sound format for home users. While not fully compatible with all apps (Plex can handle Dolby Atmos, for example, but only if the source is Dolby Digital Plus and not Dolby TrueHD), this was a huge win for home theater owners with Dolby Atmos sound systems. Here's how to find out if you're actually getting Dolby Atmos on your Apple TV 4K.

If you subscribe to Tidal's HiFi tier, you can use the Tidal app to listen to Dolby Atmos songs if you have a compatible home theater system or soundbar.

Dwindling benefits

There was a time when owning an Apple TV was the only way you could AirPlay screen mirroring or transfer content from an iOS device to your TV. It was also the only way to access iTunes movies and TV shows. Times have changed, however, and these once-exclusive features are increasingly being built into the latest generation of smart TVs and third-party streaming devices.

The iTunes Movies and TV app and the Apple Music app are available from 2018 and newer Samsung Smart TVs.

AirPlay 2 has been added to the latest smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony. There will also be 4K-capable Roku in the coming months. Along with AirPlay 2, most of these devices also get Apple's smart home platform, HomeKit, which Siri can use to control them.

The Apple TV app, arguably the nerve center for the overall Apple TV 4K user experience, also appears on the same devices as well as Amazon's Fire TV platform. The TV app isn't the entire Apple TV experience, but it's a significant part.

When you consider how much functionality is included in lower-cost streaming devices like Chromecast with Google TV, Fire TV Stick 4K, or Roku Ultra, how much value do you put in the exclusive features of Apple TV 4K like Apple Arcade? or Apple Fitness +.

warranty

The Apple TV 4K warranty provided by Apple protects against product defects for one year before purchase. Apple also offers an extended warranty for the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Our opinion

The Apple TV 4K is a fast device with Apple's unique design stamp. Those deeply immersed in the Apple universe will be delighted by the way the streaming set-top box integrates with other Apple devices, as well as the Siri integration which offers convenient search and voice control , be thrilled.

Is there a better alternative?

For Apple power users, the Apple 4K TV is just the thing. For everyone else, devices like the Streaming Stick + from Roku, the Roku Ultra, the Fire TV Stick 4K from Amazon or Chromecast with Google TV offer a much better price-performance ratio.

How long it will take?

With the A10X Fusion processor inside, the Apple TV 4K still has a lot of untapped potential. And even if Apple announces new hardware this year, you can bet the company will continue to support the current generation for many years to come.

Should you buy it?

Buy the Apple TV 4K if you are heavily invested in the Apple universe and / or have a large library of movies, TV shows, and music in the iTunes Store – and you don't intend to buy a new smart TV anytime soon. Don't buy the Apple TV 4K if you just want to get 4K HDR content through an easy-to-use device that's priced well below $ 100.

Editor's recommendations




Sony X900H 4K HDR TV review | Stunning Value

"Image quality that far exceeds your expectations"

  • Great black levels

  • Impressive HDR highlights

  • Extremely accurate color

  • Clean picture

  • Snappy Android TV response

  • Reflective screen

  • VRR not yet available for games

How can a 65-inch TV worth $ 1,300 add value? By providing an image quality that is well above the price. This is exactly what the Sony X900H does and therefore causes a lot of excitement in TV enthusiasts.

For several years now, film fans, home theater owners and almost everyone who wants to get the best TV picture quality for their money have been looking at the models of the X900 series from Sony. Yes, in the middle price segment, but not in the middle price segment due to the consistently excellent image quality from Sony.

This year the X900H offers a bonus. The set offers (or will soon be) features that none of its other televisions will offer this year – Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), especially for gamers. If you want a Sony and the best gaming experience, especially with next generation consoles like Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X, you should buy this TV. You get the following:

Out of the box

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The X900H is by far the easiest TV I've set up this year. The TV's packaging contains the unnecessarily long Sony remote, batteries for the remote, some product literature, and two legs – or feet if you prefer.

You will find that I have said nothing about screws, and that is because you do not need them. The legs snap directly into the slots under the TV cabinet without the need for screws. I was happy with how stable the stand was, but I'm not sure how to find the look of ultra-slim blade feet, and I wasn't impressed with the cable management solution, which is basically just a clip on the back of the feet.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Also not included is a breakout cable for older component or composite video cables. I'm not sure how many more people rock a classic console or VCR that may need to use one of these connections, but I know that in this case you will need your own breakout cable to make the connection.

Properties and design

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The X900H looks slim and reserved. It has thin bezels, not a ton of trim and is more plastic than metal. The overall depth of the X900H is 2 7/8 inches. Depending on what type of wall bracket is used, the TV should look inconspicuous on a wall.

An important note on the screen of the X900H. It's pretty reflective. This is usually not a problem if you are viewing bright content, but I would not plan to see Game of Thrones or Ozark with the windows open on a bright day without seeing room reflections.

Under the hood, the X900H is equipped with the X1 4K HDR processor from Sony. It's not the Hot Rod X1 Ultimate processor found in more expensive models like the recently reviewed Sony A8H OLED, but in my experience, it still delivers the nifty, clean look that distinguishes Sony TVs from others.

The X900H gives you four HDMI 2.0 inputs, one of which supports ARC. I mentioned earlier that the X900H will support VRR for gaming, but the update that enables it has not yet been released as of the release date of this review, and Sony has no estimated schedule for this feature coming on this TV.

A quick note on the above. I asked Sony why this TV has not yet been updated to support VRR or why it is not supported immediately. Sony's response is to standards. As a partner of CTA, NAB and various other standards organizations, Sony prefers to complete all standard tests before deploying new technology such as HDMI 2.1 or any of the features it comes with. Sony mentions a consistent, stable experience as very important to its customers.

I can respect Sony's stance, but while competitors offer features that their TVs don't have, I think Sony looks like it is lagging behind at the moment. Regardless, there is no reason not to have VRR at the start of not buying this TV. The image quality is too good for the price.

picture quality

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The contrast, which is the most striking element of image quality, is based on black levels. The darker a television can get, the higher the contrast and the less brightness is required to achieve a high contrast. One of the reasons why the X900H excels is its very good black level. This is thanks to Sony's backlight system.

An LCD screen is illuminated from behind by a series of LED backlights. The backlight system must be carefully controlled so that the black level does not turn gray. This control, which includes different zones – or groups – of lights is called local dimming, and this local dimming is driven by an algorithm. I've said it before, but it needs to be repeated: Sony has the best local dimming algorithm in the industry.

With a solid black base, the X900H doesn't need to be extremely bright to look vibrant. With the Calman software from Portrait Display and a SpectraCal C6 colorimeter, I measured the peak brightness of the X900H over a longer period in a 10% window at 750 nits. With competing TVs with 1,500, 2,000, and even 3,000 nits of peak brightness (see Vizio PQX), the X900Hs seem to be a bit low, but I assure you that 750 nits will offer you a very pleasant HDR experience even when the lights are on. and especially with the lights off.

Sony has the best local dimming algorithm in the industry.

To put things in the right light, the Samsung Q90T in HDR film mode (same 10% window test) offers about 1,400 nits of peak brightness, which is almost double the X900H. However, the 65-inch Q90T also costs $ 2,500. That's $ 1,200 more than the Sony X900H we tested here. I can tell you from experience that despite other valuable features, the experience of having double brightness alone in reserve is not worth more than $ 1,000.

When I turned to color, I was impressed with the ready-to-use color accuracy of the X900H in the Cinema and Custom image presets, both in SDR and HDR modes. The television had to be adjusted very little to bring the color accuracy below the visible threshold. This means that most users never have to touch anything to get an outstanding color experience with this TV.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Aside from these core picture elements, Sony's X1 processor delivered a very clean picture even when low bit rate content was streamed from websites like Netflix and Hulu. I observed minimized contours and streaks of color when I looked at them. The performance of the upscaling and other processing elements outperformed the Hisense H8G Quantum that I am currently evaluating and in some cases was just as good and even better than the Samsung Q90T.

This was not a surprise as Sony's workmanship has always been the best in the business. Also not surprising was the cleanliness of the VA panel, which had no dirty screen effect (DSE) or stains.

All of these individual elements have been brought together to create a rich, brilliant, vivid and clean picture. On more than a few occasions, I didn't take notes and just admired the TV. It's not as stunning as Sony's A8H OLED, but it offers a similarly satisfying cinema experience at a fraction of the price, and that's the value in my book.

Our opinion

The Sony X900H offers one of the best picture quality to price ratios you'll find this year. The screen is a bit reflective, and viewing this type of LED / LCD TV off-angle is never great, but these two mistakes can be overlooked thanks to the rich, colorful, and cinematic picture quality.

Is there a better alternative?

Not yet and not in this price range, although I have some upcoming Vizio models in mind. For gamers who want instant gratification, I would recommend taking a look at the Samsung Q70T, which costs the same for a 65-inch model, supports VRR and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and should also have convincing image quality.

How long it will take?

The television itself should last for many years, and new features to support next-generation game consoles are promised in the near future.

warranty

Sony grants a one year warranty on its X900H series TVs if you buy the TV from an authorized dealer. The guarantee relates specifically to the storage of the product packaging. So look at the fine print.

You should buy it

Yes. If you crave Sony image quality but want to minimize the dent in your wallet after purchase, the X900H is an excellent choice.

Editor's recommendations




Motorola Edge review: Stunning Display At A Reasonable Price

Motorola Edge Review screen angle

"The significant daily benefits of the Motorola Edge, from battery life to performance, outweigh the few frustrating disadvantages."

  • Great screen

  • 5G at a reasonable price

  • Outstanding battery life

  • Strong suitability for everyday use

  • Pretty, easy-to-use design

  • Fingerprint sensor is unreliable

  • Software can get frustrating

  • Camera needs to be improved

The Motorola Edge is so correct that I almost forget the annoyances. It's the best looking Motorola phone in ages, and yes, I'm counting the Moto Razr in that statement. The screen is a killer. I also liked to use it, especially because it's light, compact, and disappears in my pocket or bag. It's ideal for everyday use if you're not looking for a game-oriented powerhouse with the best camera.

However, there are some irritations in terms of build quality, security and software, which are very frustrating and are not entirely offset by the significant benefits. I've been using the phone for almost two weeks now and here are the good and bad details in more detail.

design

The Motorola Edge has been my favorite design for Motorola phones for some time. A main reason for this is the 19.5: 9 aspect ratio screen, which makes the body slim, much like Sony did with the 21: 9 aspect ratio Xperia 10 Plus. The advantage is that the phone doesn't need that much stretch, even though the screen is 6.7 inches and you can still reach the screen buttons with your fingers. It even fits in your pocket.

The screen falls over both sides of the phone in the same way as the Motorola Edge Plus and Huawei Mate 30 Pro, and helps you forget the large and slim aspect ratio by removing the side bezels. I think it looks great and although the functionality is shaky, more on that later, it gives the Edge a striking, modern look that is rarely seen on widely used devices.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's light at 188 grams, but fairly thick at 9.3 mm, and the body is very slippery. For this reason, a case for long-term use is required. The back of the phone is made of plastic, although it really feels like glass, but it has already noticed some uncomfortable scratches on the back even though it has spent most of its time indoors. This is unfortunate because I love the way the back of the edge looks.

Motorola’s decision not to make the phone very thin means that the camera module doesn’t protrude half a mile and instead is almost flush with the back of the phone. The Motorola logo is etched under the highly reflective black housing, which then takes on a rainbow effect in the right light. It is reminiscent of Samsung's aura glow color on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

So all right? No not really. My Motorola Edge review has a striking seam where the glass of the screen meets the body, and it's not consistent around the phone. Run your finger along the bottom left and it's very pronounced, almost as if the screen glass was misaligned, while being perfectly smooth and fitting in the upper right corner. You also don't have to struggle to find this, as you notice every time you hold the phone.

This is a problem with waterfall displays because my Huawei Mate 30 Pro test model has the exact same problem. It distracts and feels like poor build quality, whether it is real or not. The Motorola Edge scores some important design points and can then lose as many.

Screen and security

The 6.7-inch OLED touchscreen offers a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 90 Hz and HDR10 support. The aspect ratio of 19.5: 9 is very cinematic and gives the Edge a screen-to-body ratio of 95.9%, which is only interrupted by a small selfie camera with a punch that is barely noticeable. The waterfall display makes the background image look great. If the phone is covered, a white notification light runs along the side, which attracts your attention.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you watch the ever stunning carfection channel on YouTube in 1080p and set the color profile of the screen to Saturated, it becomes clear that the Edge screen emphasizes the colors strongly, but never oversaturated. Instead, you get a wonderful balance between black and shadow with light blue and red, resulting in an engaging and enjoyable visual experience. Compare it to the iPhone 11 Pro, which has the natural color profile active, and there are times when the Edge looks just as good, and that's a huge praise indeed.

HDR10 videos can be played back easily, and some of the breathtaking films look even better when zoomed in, so that they fill the entire screen, which also brings the cascade edge into play. The audio is also good, with a single speaker at the bottom of the phone, as well as audio from the speaker used for voice calls at the top of the screen. There is a lot of volume and a decent amount of bass, but also a certain amount of vibration through the body of the phone. Overall, the Edge is an excellent media smartphone.

Motorola Edge fingerprint sensorAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

There is a fingerprint sensor on the screen that is slow, unreliable and frustrating. It often takes several attempts to recognize your finger, and then about a second to unlock the device, or worse, a second or two to actually activate the sensor. This means that you tap the screen and press the power button in the hope that it will wake up to make the situation worse when the software gets into trouble. Using Face Unlock as an alternative compromises security and isn't much faster either. Security on the edge is a disappointment.

software

My review Motorola Edge installed Android 10 with the security update from May 2020 and exaggerated the very easy adjustment from Motorola. Visually, it's very similar to the look of Android on a Google Pixel 4, with the app taskbar up and the notification shadow down unaffected and all gesture controls and notifications untouched. This is a good thing since Android 10 is easy to use, attractive and fast.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, Motorola has added a selection of tools and features, some of which have been successful. I like the peek display, where notifications are sent on the lock screen and more information is shown by touching the icon. The edge light effect, where the sides of the screen light up to alert you to a new notification, caught my attention.

How about the edge of the screen in general? Edge Touch lets you open the app bar and notification shadow from the side of the screen, interact with some app shortcuts, and generally use the phone with one hand. It's not very successful and has often misunderstood my touch. I switched it off. Even then, the accidental interactions don't stop. I often accidentally open Google Assistant and often find that I've moved apps around on the screen. Also, tapping buttons on the edges of the screen is frustrating because they often don't work.

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Motorola Edge Moto action menu "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-moto-actions-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7The Motorola Edge Moto Actions menu Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola Edge screen customization menu "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-select-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge's screen customization menu Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

An excellent function is hidden. Since some apps don't work well with the waterfall screen, especially if the text wraps around the edge and makes reading difficult, you can switch any app from an edgeless to a standard full screen view. It is in the helicopter view of open apps and by tapping the app icon. Very practical and a great way to avoid at least some of the interference caused by this type of display.

Most apps ran smoothly, but not the standard camera app. It doesn't want to be in a hurry at all, and when you try it, it crashes often, sometimes to the point where the phone needs a restart to work again. This most often happens when you open the camera from the lock screen, either after unlocking it or when you use the quick gesture to rotate your wrist. Motorola forces you to do this instead of adding a swipe icon. I missed various photographic moments while the camera app fell over for this reason.

camera

The camera app can be painful, but what about the camera itself? On paper, it's a solid performance with a 64-megapixel main camera with an aperture of 1: 1.8, an ultrawide camera with 16 megapixels and 1: 2.2, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens for 2x optical Zoom shots. There is also a time-of-flight sensor that helps with portrait and bokeh shots. On the front there is a 25 megapixel wide-angle selfie camera with an aperture of 1: 2.0.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The results are good, but not quite as good as I expected, and it looks like Motorola still needs some tweaking. The differences in exposure and dynamic range between standard, wide-angle, and 2x zoom shots are significant, and wide-angle has problems, especially in difficult lighting. The colors are muted and the exposure is too low. Although this can be fixed with some edits, the shots can only be shared if you optimize them. This is not acceptable.

Shoot with the standard camera and the photos are generally much better, but exposure remains problematic. You can't always tell when this will happen, which makes it difficult to predict whether a photo will come out well.

I like macro mode, which can take some very detailed close-ups, and portrait mode is good too. Macro mode, however, requires a very steady hand, while edges when taking portraits can falsely become blurred. The night mode brightens pictures a little and without much influence on details. However, it's not a drastic change like you find on phones like the Huawei P40 Pro.

The Motorola camera app, if it has no problems opening it, is one thing apart. Motorola has placed the Google lens button right next to the shutter button, and not only is it too easy to accidentally press, it's also easily confused with the button used to switch between the rear and front cameras, which is annoying right on the page is placed. You also cannot edit the primary function switch. You must therefore go to a separate menu to activate night or portrait mode. Selfies in good light are great, with bold colors and lots of details, but in low light, it's not that good even in night mode, and edge detection in portrait mode is random.

Motorola Edge Review Standard "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-standard-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge standard lens Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

motorola edge review wide "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-wide-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge wide angle lens Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

motorola edge review 2x "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-2x-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge 2x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Motorola Edge's camera is just not very consistent, although the hardware is good and it can take some great photos under the right conditions. It's probably all software-related, which means future updates can bring improvements, but the Edge's camera isn't currently inspiring you to use it.

Power and battery

The Motorola Edge does not use Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset, but the Snapdragon 765G chipset. This will make many think that this is a “middle range”, but real-world performance is anything but. Ordinary, everyday tasks like taking photos, using email, making calls, and checking social media apps are as fluid and fast as you want them to be.

Geekbench 5: 1785 Multi Core / 573 Single Core

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 2800 (volcano)

The situation is different with the benchmark results. The closest competitor to the Motorola Edge is the OnePlus 8, which houses the Snapdragon 865 chipset, and which exceeds these numbers. Even the aging Asus Zenfone 6 with last year's Snapdragon 855 processor leaves the Motorola in the dust. However, it beats the Samsung Galaxy A51.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, the poor benchmark numbers do not lead to slowness. Asphalt 9 Legends is solid if you don't crank up the graphics properly, and DariusBurst is great too. No, the Motorola Edge isn't really for hardcore gamers, but it's okay for casual gaming. Motorola has added a game mode that minimizes distractions, as well as an option for virtual shoulder buttons that are easily programmable for individual games.

Motorola did the right thing with the Edge battery. It has a capacity of 4,500 mAh and it is absolutely no problem to take two full days, sometimes saving energy. However, if you add a few video calls, you will need to charge them sometime in the evening of the second day. Although my phone is currently mostly connected to Wi-Fi, the Edge typically ended a normal day with more than 60% remaining power, even when connected to a smartwatch and using voice calls, photos, and app usage. This is an excellent achievement.

It is quickly charged with the supplied charger with 18 W. Charging from zero to full takes almost an hour and 40 minutes and only reaches 26% after 20 minutes. There are faster charging systems, and unfortunately the Edge doesn't have wireless charging. Since my area is not a 5G coverage area, I was unable to test the Edge's 5G connectivity. However, I had no problems with regular calls and 4G LTE reception, but Wi-Fi sometimes failed when I was further away from my router. Many will also like to look at the bottom of the phone and see a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Motorola Edge costs £ 549 or about $ 695 and can currently be pre-ordered in the UK on Motorola's own website through the O2 network, as well as from retailers such as Amazon and Argos. A publication in the United States has been cited, but there are no details at the time of writing.

Our opinion

The Motorola Edge has strong advantages and disadvantages. The size, performance, and screen are excellent, and long battery life is a serious advantage, the camera is decent, and the price is reasonable because the phone has 5G for the future. These benefits pay off every day and make it very easy to live with. Elsewhere, it's not as good as it should be due to software and security vulnerabilities, but some aspects could be improved in the future by software updates.

Is there a better alternative?

The major challenger to the Motorola Edge is the OnePlus 8. In the UK, it costs £ 599, or $ 699 in the US. While not the most exciting phone you can buy today, it is very reliable and extremely powerful. It has 5G, ready for the future and more power than the Edge. This is the better buy unless you can upgrade to the OnePlus 8 Pro at £ 799 (or $ 899). Spend a little more again and the Samsung Galaxy S20 for $ 999 (or £ 799) is a great phone. If you haven't opted for Android, the Apple iPhone 11 is also an excellent buy for $ 699 or £ 729 with great camera, design, software, and battery life.

How long it will take?

While 5G is not an advantage at the moment, it will become more desirable in the near future and the Motorola Edge ensures that you are ready for the day without spending a fortune. It's moderately durable with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and plastic on the back, but as I have already noticed, it can be scratched fairly quickly. According to Motorola, the phone is water-repellent, but does not offer an IP protection class. This means it's okay when it rains, but not if you drop it in the bathtub.

According to Motorola, the Edge is guaranteed to get Android 11, but according to the company, it is not certain whether one will arrive afterwards. Based on that, you should only expect one big Android update after purchase, and that's not great.

Should you buy one?

Yes, despite the inconvenience, the everyday life of the Motorola Edge is excellent overall, so it is still worth buying if you are interested in the screen and design.

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