Motorola Edge series brings back the wooden phone

Motorola is reviving a nostalgic design element with its new Edge series phones: a real wood back panel, reminiscent of the classic Moto X. The highest-end model, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, offers the unique “real wood” back panel option, alongside peach fuzz vegan leather alternatives. Motorola will initially launch the phones outside of the US in the coming weeks and plans to expand the Edge series in North America later this year.

Read: Samsung retakes the global smartphone crown

The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra features the new Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 chipset, a slight variation from the 8 Gen 3. It boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display with up to a 144Hz refresh rate and a “Pantone-validated” designation for accurate colour simulation on the display and camera.

The Ultra is IP68-rated for full water immersion and supports wireless charging—key features for a flagship phone in 2024. It includes a 50-megapixel stabilized main camera, a 64-megapixel telephoto lens (both with optical stabilization), and a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens that doubles as a macro lens.

Sitting just below the Ultra is the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, equipped with a midrange Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset. The Edge 50 Fusion rounds out the lineup with a 6 Gen 1 chipset. Both devices carry an IP68 rating, but only the 50 Pro supports wireless charging. The 50 Pro also offers an additional 10-megapixel stabilized 3x telephoto lens. Motorola integrates AI features across all three phones, including Google’s Magic Editor in Photos, offering the first 10 edits for free without a Google One subscription.

Motorola’s typical approach is to introduce Edge devices in the US after their international debut under generic “Edge” and “Edge Plus” branding. Currently, it sells two Edge devices in its online store, and there may be a chance that all three new models will be available in the US.

The Edge 50 Fusion is available in hot pink vegan suede, while the Edge 50 Pro offers black and lavender vegan leather options. The 50 Ultra’s Nordic wood finish is an appealing choice, adding a touch of elegance reminiscent of the wood-panelled Moto X.

Pricing starts at €999 for the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, €699 for the Edge 50 Pro, and €399 for the Edge 50 Fusion. These models will be available in select regions across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.