Motorola Edge + 2023 Review

A phone of contradictions. It packs high-end specs like a Snapdragon 8 and 512GB storage into a $355 package, but our data shows it falters where it counts. The display and camera are below average, making it a hard sell despite the tempting core hardware.

At $355, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is a phone that makes you ask some hard questions about what you're really paying for. It's got a Snapdragon 8 chip and 512GB of storage, which sounds great on paper, but our data shows it lands in a weird middle ground. Its overall score puts it in the bottom quarter of phones we track, and it's particularly weak for anyone on a budget or looking for a rugged device.

The 'industry-leading Snapdragon 8' promise is a bit of a stretch here. Our performance ranking puts it at the 62nd percentile, which is basically middle of the pack. It's not slow, but it's not a standout either. You're getting solid, everyday speed, but don't expect it to top any benchmark charts. The 512GB storage is a genuine highlight, though, offering way more space than most phones at this price point.

The value argument is tricky. At $355 for a phone with a Snapdragon 8 and 512GB, it seems like a steal. But our scoring tells a different story. Its 'budget' score is awful, and its total score is low. This suggests you're paying for last year's flagship specs wrapped in a package with significant compromises, especially the display and camera. You're not getting a bad phone, but you might be getting a less complete experience than the core specs imply.

Stack it up against its peers and the trade-offs become clear. A used iPhone 16 Pro will likely destroy it in camera and display quality. The Google Pixel 10 Pro will offer a much more polished software experience and probably better computational photography. Even phones like the OnePlus 15 might offer a more balanced package for a similar price. The Edge+'s main advantage is that massive 512GB storage and unlocked flexibility, but you give up screen quality and camera prowess to get it.

Skip this phone if you care about screen quality, camera performance, or battery life. Our rankings show it lags behind most phones in display (29th percentile) and camera/battery (35th percentile). It's also a terrible choice if you need a rugged device—it scores in the bottom 12% for that. Basically, if you're not purely chasing the Snapdragon 8 + 512GB spec sheet for a low price, look elsewhere.

We can't give this a full-throated recommendation. If your absolute top priorities are getting a Snapdragon 8 processor and half a terabyte of storage for under $400, and you're willing to accept a mediocre screen and so-so camera, then sure, this works. But for most people, that's a tough compromise to make. There are better-rounded phones out there that might offer less storage but a much better daily experience.