Motorola’s 2024 portfolio brought an impressive 30 smartphones to the market, including Edge 50 series, foldables, Moto G devices, and even a ThinkPhone. While some models soared to new heights, others failed to impress. Here’s a deep dive into Motorola’s wins and misses in 2024.
Winners
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra / Razr+ 2024
In a year when foldables struggled to shine, Motorola made a bold statement with the Razr 50 Ultra, a standout in the clamshell category.
- Key Strengths:
- Near crease-free foldable display.
- Lightning-fast chipset for a foldable.
- Waterproof design and the addition of a telephoto lens.
With only a handful of foldable options available outside China, Motorola’s global launch of the Razr 50 Ultra (Razr+ 2024 in the US) solidified its position as a leader in innovation.
Motorola Edge 50 Neo
The Edge 50 Neo carved out a unique niche with its compact size, IP68 rating, and wireless charging—a rare feature in its price range.
- Notable Features:
- Eye-catching Pantone-certified color options like the 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse.
- Excellent screen and battery performance for a mid-range phone.
Motorola’s collaboration with Pantone gave the Edge 50 Neo a distinctive aesthetic edge, making it one of the year’s most stylish midrange devices.
Pantone Partnership
Motorola’s ongoing partnership with Pantone continued to shine in 2024. From bold colors like Peach Fuzz (2024 Color of the Year) to daring shades like Twilight Purple and Green, the collaboration showcased stunning designs across the Edge 50 and Razr lineups.
This strategic partnership elevated Motorola’s visual appeal, blending innovation with artistic flair.
Notable Mention: Firmware Updates
Motorola stepped up its game with long-term software updates, pledging up to five Android OS upgrades for the Edge 50 Neo and other key models. While promises are yet to be fulfilled, this marks a positive shift in Motorola’s software strategy.
Losers
Motorola Razr 50 / Razr 2024
The vanilla Razr 50 couldn’t live up to its Ultra sibling’s success.
- Drawbacks:
- Underwhelming Dimensity 7300 chipset.
- Subpar camera performance for its €800 price point.
- Removal of the adapter from the box, citing weak environmental reasoning.
Despite being a more affordable foldable, the Razr 50 lacked the polish and performance expected in its category.
Motorola Edge 50
The vanilla Edge 50 was another forgettable entry in Motorola’s lineup.
- Shortcomings:
- Outdated Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset.
- Poor battery performance, compounded by the omission of Always-On Display.
- While priced competitively at €500, it struggled to compete against more capable alternatives.
Despite some redeeming features like its lightweight design and durability, the Edge 50 failed to make a strong impression.
Moto G Series
The Moto G lineup was a major disappointment, with Motorola cutting too many corners to keep costs low.
- Issues Across Models:
- The G35 used an unimpressive Unisoc chip, while retaining outdated features.
- The G55 barely improved on its predecessor.
- No G65 model, and the G75 was overpriced despite lackluster performance.
- The G85 offered minimal upgrades over the G84.
The Moto G series failed to stand out in the crowded budget segment, leaving consumers unimpressed.