As some Android brands quietly walk away from ultra‑thin phones, Motorola is doubling down – and today that strategy looks clearer than ever.
A new report out of Asia says Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo have cancelled their planned “iPhone Air–style” devices after weaker‑than‑expected demand for Apple’s iPhone Air and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge. [1] Yet Motorola’s own razor‑slim challenger, the Motorola Edge 70, is now on sale across Europe, earning strong battery‑life scores in reviews from outlets like GSMArena and TechRadar – and a brand‑new leak today confirms the chipset for the upcoming Motorola Edge 70 Ultra. [2]
Here’s a detailed look at where the Motorola Edge 70 stands today, what GSMArena and other reviewers are saying, and what the fresh Edge 70 Ultra leak means for the future of thin phones.
Motorola Edge 70 at a glance
- Category: ultra‑thin upper‑midrange Android
- Launch: global debut November 5, 2025 (Europe & Middle East) [3]
- Thickness & weight: 5.99 mm, 159 g – among the thinnest mainstream phones on sale
- Display: 6.7‑inch (≈6.67″) P‑OLED / “Super HD” 1.5K (1220×2712), 120 Hz, up to 4,500 nits peak brightness [4]
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4 nm) [5]
- Memory & storage: up to 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB UFS 3.1 storage (UK is 12/512 only) [6]
- Battery: 4,800 mAh silicon‑carbon cell, 68 W wired, 15 W wireless (Qi2‑style), advertised up to 50 hours mixed use [7]
- Cameras: 50 MP main + 50 MP ultrawide/macro + 50 MP selfie, plus a dedicated 3‑in‑1 rear light sensor [8]
- Durability: IP68 & IP69, MIL‑STD‑810H, Gorilla Glass 7i, aircraft‑grade aluminium frame [9]
- Software: Android 16 with Hello UI / moto ai, 4 years of OS updates and at least 5 years of security patches [10]
- Price (launch): from €799 / £699 in Europe and the UK; no US launch planned [11]
Design and display: ultra‑thin without feeling fragile
Motorola is marketing the Edge 70 as “impossibly thin”, and on paper it’s hard to argue: the phone is just 5.99 mm thick and 159 g, noticeably slimmer and lighter than most flagships, while still packing a big 6.7‑inch display. [12]
Unlike some previous “glass slab” thin phones, the Edge 70 uses:
- an aircraft‑grade aluminium frame
- Gorilla Glass 7i on the front
- a soft‑touch back (vegan leather or fabric‑like finish depending on colour), with Pantone‑validated hues like Bronze Green, Lily Pad and Gadget Grey. [13]
That’s paired with IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance and MIL‑STD‑810H certification, making this far tougher than you’d expect from something this thin. [14]
On the front, the 6.7‑inch P‑OLED panel delivers:
- 1.5K resolution (1220×2712)
- 120 Hz adaptive refresh
- peak brightness of around 4,500 nits for HDR content
- HDR10+ support and very slim bezels. [15]
Reviewers at outlets like The Verge and TechRadar describe the screen as bright, sharp and very smooth, easily on par with pricier flagship phones for everyday use. [16]
Battery life: where Motorola really hurts iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge
The real headline with the Edge 70 isn’t just how thin it is, but how much battery Motorola managed to squeeze in.
- Motorola Edge 70: 4,800 mAh silicon‑carbon, 68 W wired + 15 W wireless
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: 3,900 mAh, 25 W wired [17]
- Apple iPhone Air: roughly 3,036–3,149 mAh equivalent capacity [18]
Motorola and partner carriers are quoting up to 50 hours of mixed use and 29 hours of continuous video playback from the Edge 70’s silicon‑carbon pack – unusually strong claims for a 6 mm‑class phone. [19]
GSMArena’s battery lab data (summarised by users on Reddit) suggests those numbers aren’t far‑fetched, with the Edge 70 outlasting both the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air in standardised endurance tests despite their slightly slimmer bodies. [20]
Charging is another area where Motorola has a big advantage:
- 68 W TurboPower wired charging can refill the phone from near empty to a comfortable level in under an hour.
- 15 W wireless works with a bundled magnetic case in some markets, turning the phone into a MagSafe‑style snap‑on charger setup. [21]
By comparison, the Galaxy S25 Edge’s 25 W charging and smaller battery produce disappointing runtimes in Tom’s Guide and other tests, and iPhone Air is heavily reliant on its optional MagSafe battery pack to match that kind of endurance. [22]
Bottom line: for people who love thin phones but hate charging anxiety, Edge 70 may be the first ultra‑slim device that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Camera system: triple 50 MP sensors, plus a smart light sensor
On the back, the Edge 70 has three circular modules – but only two of them are actual cameras:
- 50 MP main: f/1.8, OIS, 1/1.56″ sensor, 24 mm equivalent
- 50 MP ultrawide/macro: 120° field of view, autofocus, doubles as a close‑up macro shooter
- 3‑in‑1 light sensor: a dedicated colour and ambient light sensor used to fine‑tune exposure and white balance, not a telephoto camera. [23]
- Front: 50 MP selfie camera with up to 4K/30 video. [24]
Motorola leans heavily on moto ai and Google’s AI tools here. You get:
- Pantone Validated colour & skintone profiles for more realistic portraits
- AI‑driven modes like Signature Style, Action Shot, Group Shot and a night‑focused Auto Night Vision mode
- Deep integration with Google Photos editing tools such as Magic Editor, Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. [25]
In practice, camera reviews paint a nuanced picture:
- Daylight photos: generally sharp with good detail and pleasing depth of field. The main and ultrawide cameras are well‑matched, so you can switch lenses without jarring colour shifts. [26]
- Colours: some outlets note that Motorola’s “Signature style” tuning can push saturation too far, especially for blue skies and green foliage; switching to a “Natural” profile reins this in. [27]
- Low light: the main camera holds its own for a mid‑ranger, with effective OIS and solid HDR, while the ultrawide is a little softer but still usable. [28]
- Zoom: with no dedicated telephoto lens, zooming beyond 2–3x relies on digital crop; fine for social media, not for serious telephoto shooting. [29]
If you care more about consistent, good‑looking photos than 10x zoom party tricks, the Edge 70’s camera stack looks like a smart use of space in such a thin chassis.
Performance, software and AI: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, Android 16 and a bit of bloat
Inside, the Edge 70 runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, paired with up to 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256/512 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. [30]
Synthetic benchmarks place it comfortably in mid‑range territory:
- noticeably faster than Motorola’s own Edge 60 series with MediaTek chips
- but behind Snapdragon 8 Elite‑equipped flagships like Galaxy S25 Edge and many OnePlus and Xiaomi flagships. [31]
In real‑world use, reviews generally report:
- Smooth everyday performance for social apps, browsing, messaging and photo editing
- Decent gaming at medium to high settings, though not always at a sustained 120 fps
- Good thermal behavior despite the slim body. [32]
On the software side, Motorola’s Hello UI on top of Android 16 is more opinionated than older near‑stock builds:
- You still get Motorola’s classic gestures (chop‑to‑flashlight, twist‑to‑camera) and a largely Google‑centric app load‑out.
- But reviewers complain about extra pre‑installed apps and a stock weather app that includes advertising. [33]
Long‑term support is a bright spot:
- 4 years of major Android updates
- at least 5 years of security patches, with some European documentation promising bimonthly patches into 2031. [34]
You also get deep AI integration:
- Moto AI: “Catch up”, “Pay attention” and “Remember this” modes to summarise notifications, transcribe voice notes and save on‑screen info for later recall
- Image Studio: on‑device tools to generate wallpapers, stickers and simple AI images
- Playlist Studio: music playlists built from what you’re doing and listening to
- Google Circle to Search + Gemini integration baked into the launcher. [35]
If you’d hoped for an ultra‑minimal Android skin, this might feel a bit busier than you’d like, but in exchange you get one of the most future‑proof mid‑range UIs in terms of OS lifespan.
Price and availability: Europe yes, US no (for now)
As of November 28, 2025, the Motorola Edge 70 is on sale in multiple European markets:
- Spain: €799 for 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage [36]
- UK: £699 for 12 GB / 512 GB (single configuration) [37]
- Other European markets: pricing starts at €799 / £699, according to Motorola’s launch partners and 9to5Google’s coverage. [38]
Gadgets360 and 91mobiles list the Edge 70 as “not launched in India” yet, and Motorola has explicitly confirmed to some reviewers that there are no plans for a US release, at least for now. [39]
So if you live in North America, this is effectively an import‑only phone; in most of Europe, you can buy it direct from Motorola and major carriers today.
What GSMArena, TechRadar, The Verge and others are saying
With full reviews now live across the tech press, a consensus is emerging around the Edge 70:
Highlights reviewers agree on
- Design & feel: universally praised – the phone looks and feels premium, and the Pantone colours stand out compared to the safer iPhone Air and S25 Edge palettes. [40]
- Display: bright, sharp and fluid; not quite LTPO at this price, but more than good enough for most users. [41]
- Battery life: genuinely excellent for such a thin device, often lasting a full heavy day or more, with fast top‑ups via 68 W charging. [42]
- Everyday camera quality: strong main and ultrawide cameras with reliable HDR and natural‑looking skin tones (especially if you dial back Motorola’s more aggressive colour profile). [43]
Common criticisms
- Price vs chipset: at €799/£699, several reviewers argue that a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 feels a bit under‑spec’d when rivals in that range use Snapdragon 8‑series silicon. [44]
- Software bloat & ads: TechAdvisor and Stuff both call out the growing amount of pre‑installed software and the ad‑supported weather app as a step backward from Motorola’s once ultra‑clean Android builds. [45]
- No telephoto: lack of an optical zoom lens is noticeable at this price; digital zoom can’t fully compensate. [46]
GSMArena’s own review (linked from community posts on Reddit) largely echoes that story: class‑leading battery life and a sturdy, slim chassis, set against mid‑range silicon and some missing “flagship” bells and whistles like telephoto zoom and truly rich stereo speakers. [47]
Edge 70 Ultra: today’s leak confirms Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
The biggest new development today, November 28, 2025, is on the Motorola Edge 70 Ultra front.
A fresh report from Notebookcheck cites renowned leaker Evan Blass and confirms that the upcoming Edge 70 Ultra – codenamed “Urus” – will use Qualcomm’s brand‑new Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset rather than the even more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite. [48]
Key details from the leak and earlier benchmark sightings:
- SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (a step below the 8 Elite, but still flagship‑grade)
- RAM: at least one model with 16 GB
- Display: OLED panel with 1.5K resolution
- Camera: a periscope telephoto is strongly rumored, finally bringing long‑range optical zoom back to the Edge Ultra line
- Launch window: expected to arrive after the OnePlus 15R, which is currently tipped as the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 phone with a December 17 launch – suggesting Edge 70 Ultra likely lands in early 2026. [49]
PhoneArena’s take, published yesterday, frames this as a good‑news / bad‑news scenario: Motorola will finally offer an Ultra model again (after skipping Edge 40 and 60 Ultra), but it may not match the absolute fastest 8 Elite‑based flagships on paper. [50]
For current Edge 70 owners, the upside is simple: your ultra‑thin phone sits in the mid‑range price bracket today, and there’s a clear, more powerful upgrade path in the same design family coming soon.
Thin‑phone wars after today: others retreat, Motorola stays in
Today’s Business Standard report that Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo have paused their own iPhone Air‑like projects is a notable turning point. Citing supply‑chain sources, the piece says weak demand for both iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge – devices that prioritised slim designs but compromised on battery – has made some brands rethink whether ultra‑thin is worth the trade‑offs. [51]
Crucially, that same report points out that:
- Motorola X70 Air has already launched in China, and
- Motorola Edge 70 rolled out in Europe and the Middle East this month, effectively making Motorola the third major player (alongside Apple and Samsung) visibly committed to thin‑phone experimentation. [52]
Viewed in that context, the Edge 70 looks less like a one‑off curiosity and more like Motorola’s attempt to own the niche other Android makers are quietly backing away from.
Should you buy the Motorola Edge 70 now, or wait for the Ultra?
If you’re in a country where the Edge 70 is sold officially, here’s how it breaks down today:
You should consider buying the Edge 70 if…
- You love thin and light phones, but you’re tired of trading away battery life to get them.
- You mostly use your phone for messaging, social media, streaming and casual gaming – Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is more than adequate for that.
- A bright 120 Hz OLED, IP69/MIL‑STD durability and fast charging matter more to you than top‑tier benchmark scores.
- You don’t need a long‑range telephoto camera; 1x and ultrawide are your main lenses.
You might want to wait for Edge 70 Ultra (or a rival) if…
- You want flagship‑class performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 or better) for heavy gaming, video editing or AI workloads. [53]
- A periscope zoom camera is high on your wishlist.
- You’re fine with a thicker phone if it means bigger battery or more aggressive cooling.
- You live outside Europe and would prefer a device with local warranty support.
And if you’re simply done with thin phones?
The early sales picture of iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge – and today’s report of Chinese brands shelving their own copies – suggest that ultra‑thin devices will likely remain a niche fashion statement rather than the new default. [54]
If you care outright about value and longevity, traditional non‑“Air” flagships and battery‑monster mid‑rangers (think 5,000–7,000 mAh phones) will still give you more performance per euro and less compromise.
Final take
As of November 28, 2025, the Motorola Edge 70 has carved out a rare spot in the market:
- Thinner than almost all rivals,
- with better battery life than many of them,
- and priced high but not absurdly so for what it offers.
GSMArena, The Verge, TechRadar, Stuff and others broadly agree: this is the thin phone that finally makes sense for everyday users – as long as you’re okay with mid‑range silicon, no telephoto zoom and a slightly busier Motorola skin than in years past. [55]
And with today’s leak confirming a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5‑powered Edge 70 Ultra on the horizon, it looks like Motorola is betting that thin phones still have a future – even if some of its competitors are starting to quietly bow out.
References
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