Motorola Edge 30 Ultra: A Bold Entry with 200MP Camera, But Can It Live Up to the Hype?

Motorola has recently introduced its inaugural ‘Ultra’ smartphone in India. The Edge 30 Ultra features some compelling hardware and is notable for being the first smartphone in India equipped with a 200-megapixel primary camera. A glance at its specifications reveals impressive figures, but does it truly stand out in comparison to other similarly priced devices in this category? Here are my initial thoughts.

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is positioned above the Edge 30 Pro (Review), which was released earlier this year in India at a highly competitive price. The Edge 30 Ultra is offered in a single configuration featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, priced at Rs. 59,999. It comes in two color options – Starlight White and Interstellar Black.

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra incorporates Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for both its front and back panels. Its anti-glare rear is curved along the sides, though it appears flat at the top and bottom. It features a distinctive texture that effectively resists fingerprints, reminiscent of the Vivo X80 Pro (Review) thanks to its shimmering finish under bright lighting.

The front and back of the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra are crafted from Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5

The display on the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra features curved edges that seamlessly integrate into the slim metal framework. The bezels surrounding the screen are minimal, aided by the adaptable nature of the pOLED panel. The metal border has a matte finish, making it feel somewhat slippery. The volume buttons and power key are conveniently located on the right side of the device.

Although the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra’s design is comparable to many other smartphones within the same range, its sleek profile (8.39mm thick) differentiates it, and it is relatively lightweight at 198.5g. It does, however, feel slightly tall for one-handed operation. The device boasts an official IP52 rating for dust and water resistance, which is superior to many competitors at this price point. Nonetheless, this rating is still underwhelming compared to devices like the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Review) that provide an IP68 rating for a lower price.

The 6.67-inch full-HD+ display on the Edge 30 Ultra supports a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz, which enhances gaming experiences and contributes to a smooth software interface. The display is also certified for HDR10+, although its availability is not yet recognized in some streaming applications like Netflix. The device runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, which is common among similarly priced offerings from brands like OnePlus and iQoo.

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra features a 6.67-inch curved-edge pOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra operates on a nearly stock version of Android 12, branded as MyUX, and Motorola asserts it will provide three generations of Android updates (up to Android 15), plus four years of security patches, which is commendable. The software experience feels predominantly stock with Motorola’s usual customizations (including features like Peek display and Quick capture) and is devoid of additional third-party applications, which is quite uncommon for high-end smartphones nowadays.

Regarding the software performance, I encountered several issues. The firmware on my review unit has been noticeably unstable, leading to frequent restarts since the initial setup. This was particularly pronounced while using the camera app and while charging, but there were even instances of random reboots while the device was idle. Motorola has acknowledged this problem, although it remains unclear whether it’s confined to certain review units in India or if it affects a wider array of devices.

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra features a triple rear camera system

Motorola has opted for a tri-camera arrangement on the rear, featuring a 200-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera that also functions as a macro lens (similar to the Edge 30 Pro), and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens offering 2X optical zoom. For selfies, there is a 60-megapixel front camera that is also found in the Motorola Edge 30 Pro (Review).

This smartphone allows for HDR10+ video recording at 4K resolution, which I plan to evaluate in my full review. In terms of battery life, Motorola has fitted a 4,610mAh battery into the slim form factor of the Edge 30 Ultra. The device supports fast charging up to 125W with the provided charger, as well as 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging.

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra features a metal chassis and boasts an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance

The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra currently competes with devices like the iQoo 9T 5G and the OnePlus 10T 5G (Review), both of which utilize the same Qualcomm SoC. There are also slightly older models from this year like Xiaomi’s 12 Pro (Review). The Edge 30 Ultra manages to maintain a competitive edge with unique features not found in many alternatives, such as the 200-megapixel camera, a 144Hz OLED display, and an official IP rating.

At a price of Rs. 59,999, Motorola seems to have included everything one could desire in the Edge 30 Ultra, at least on paper. But can these features translate into a superior flagship experience? Stay tuned for my comprehensive review coming soon on Gadgets360. Motorola also unveiled its new premium mid-range smartphone, the Edge 30 Fusion, and you can find our first impressions here.