The ultra-slim cellphone dream may be over earlier than it’s correctly begun.
Samsung has reportedly already jumped ship, with disappointing gross sales of the 5.8mm Galaxy S25 Edge inflicting it to be ditched on the upcoming Galaxy S26 collection. Apple isn’t prepared to surrender simply but, however there are indicators that the 5.6mm iPhone Air isn’t promoting in addition to its iPhone 17 counterparts.
Regardless of their premium worth tags, each telephones have main compromises in comparison with their thicker siblings, most notably in battery life and cameras. If two of the largest smartphone makers on the planet can’t make a super-slim handset work, what hope does anybody else have?
Because it seems, much more than I used to be anticipating. With none devoted branding, you might be fooled into pondering that the Motorola Edge 70 was an everyday entry within the firm’s mid-range cellphone lineup.
Nevertheless, you’d be very improper. At 5.99mm and 159g, it’s dramatically thinner and lighter than the Edge 60 (7.9mm and 179g), whereas additionally introducing some genuinely premium options.
The Edge 70 is likely one of the best-looking telephones I’ve utilized in 2025 – and as somebody who critiques them for a residing, that’s excessive reward
I’ve solely been utilizing the cellphone for a couple of hours, however I can already see this being a significantly better purchase than the underwhelming iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge. Listed here are 5 areas during which Motorola has the higher hand.
A beautiful but sensible design
In case you’re on the lookout for absolutely the thinnest smartphone in the marketplace, you shouldn’t purchase the Motorola Edge 70. At 5.99mm, it’s considerably thicker than each the iPhone Air (5.6mm) and the Galaxy S25 Edge (5.8mm), one thing I seen instantly.
The Edge 70 remains to be very slim – it’s over 2mm thinner than the Galaxy S25 Extremely and all Pixel 10 telephones – simply not in a method that instantly makes you go ‘wow’.
What notably impressed me is how gentle the cellphone feels. At 159g, it’s lighter than Apple and Samsung rivals, and one of many lightest smartphones of 2025. With rounded corners and a grippy textured (and supposedly nylon-inspired) rear end, it’s essentially the most comfy case-free cellphone I’ve utilized in years.
That’s earlier than you even get to the aesthetics. The Edge 70 is likely one of the best-looking telephones I’ve utilized in 2025 – and as somebody who critiques them for a residing, that’s excessive reward.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The Edge 60 is out there in three Pantone-certified colors: Lily Pad, Gadget Gray and Bronze Inexperienced. I notably just like the latter, the mannequin I’m testing – its refined, earthy tones supply one thing a bit completely different in comparison with the generic black and silver handsets that we see so typically.
Unmatched sturdiness
In my few hours with the cellphone, I’m but to drop it, not to mention present a extra excessive sturdiness take a look at. Nevertheless, I’d be assured in its skill to outlive unscathed.
The Edge 70 boasts each IP68 and IP69 scores. To take action, it should have been uncovered to the next with none long-term injury: submersion in as much as 1.5m of freshwater for as much as half-hour, high-temperature and strain water jets, steam cleansing and dirt particles of all sizes.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
However that’s not all. With a military-standard MIL-STD-810 compliance and drop-resistant Gorilla Glass 7i on the beautiful 6.7-inch OLED show, the Edge 70 is constructed to final, and I’m right here for it.
A correct digicam system
All too typically, slim telephones make large compromises on the subject of cameras. That’s notably obvious on the iPhone Air, with a single 48Mp rear lens critically harming the general expertise.
The Edge 70 is an enormous step ahead in comparison with Apple’s cellphone, with its 50Mp major lens supported by a 50Mp ultrawide (120-degree area of view) and separate macro lens. I’d nonetheless wish to see a devoted telephoto lens for optical zoom pictures, however this can be a trade-off the Galaxy S25 Edge additionally makes.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Early indications counsel this shall be an excellent digicam system for the worth (extra on that later). Within the take a look at pictures I took, photographs persistently supplied glorious element and excellent dynamic vary. Colors aren’t true to life, however the punchy, high-contrast look may be very aesthetically pleasing.
I’m actually having fun with its portrait pictures, too, which typically keep away from the frequent difficulty of mistaking the place the in-focus topic ought to finish and the blurred background begins.
On the entrance, a 50Mp sensor delivers sturdy selfies, managing to seize the complicated skies that many cellphone cameras overexpose. Up to now, so good.
After all, there’s loads of digicam testing nonetheless to be completed. I don’t understand how the Edge 70 will deal with low-light environments, or how a lot of a drop-off in high quality the ultrawide lens may be. Nevertheless, it’s a really promising begin, and already higher than the iPhone Air.
Superior battery tech and real quick charging
The only largest problem for ultra-slim telephones is battery life. With such little area to work with, becoming in an enormous cell is virtually unimaginable.
That’s borne out within the competitors, with the Galaxy S25 Edge providing a paltry 3900mAh capability that was its main weak spot. Apple doesn’t quote battery capacities, however the iPhone Air is reported to function a 3100mAh cell, although it carried out higher than that determine suggests.
Nevertheless, on paper, Motorola has managed to realize zero-compromise battery life. By utilising silicon-carbon expertise, it’s been in a position to equip the Edge 70 with a promising-sounding 4800mAh battery.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
After all, I haven’t been in a position to take a look at this correctly but, however the firm claims you’ll be able to rise up to 50 hours on a single cost – e.g. greater than two full days. Which may not be doable with real-world utilization, however even when it simply persistently lasted a full day with cost to spare, that’d be a significant improve in comparison with Samsung and Apple.
Motorola can be blowing its rivals out of the water with regard to charging. The Edge 70 helps 68W speeds, placing it in a distinct universe from the 25W S25 Edge and 20W iPhone Air.
Like most telephones today, the charger isn’t included within the field, however Motorola’s excellent pre-order deal means you’ll be capable to get it (and another nice equipment) at no additional price.
In my early testing, efficiency has been a power, not a weak spot
I’m wanting ahead to testing simply how briskly the Edge 70 can cost. Regardless, it’s nearly assured to be faster than something Apple or Samsung can supply. As somebody who prefers to cost their cellphone within the morning reasonably than in a single day, that is important.
A worth that’s really cheap
My largest criticism concerning the iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge is their worth tags. The telephones begin at £999/$999 and £1,099/$1,099 respectively, with prices climbing shortly in the event you want extra storage.
In contrast, the Motorola Edge 60 prices simply £699.99 (US availability TBC), that means it’s nonetheless low cost sufficient to be thought of a mid-range cellphone.
Positive, there are compromises, most notably the mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. However in my early testing, efficiency has been a power, not a weak spot. Until you intend on graphic-intensive gaming or utilizing different demanding apps, I don’t anticipate it being an issue.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
After all, there’s tons extra testing to do, however the Edge 70 has made a really promising begin. It’s the primary ultra-slim cellphone that I might really see myself utilizing long-term, which is greater than may very well be mentioned for the iPhone Air or Galaxy S25 Edge.
You’ll be able to pre-order the Edge 70 from the Motorola web site or Amazon, plus a variety of third-party retailers and networks, forward of its launch on 18 November.
