Motorola’s New 2026 Edge Is Svelte, but I Hope It Tees Up Something Bigger


I’ve quickly become a little obsessed with the look of the new Motorola Edge for 2026 during my brief hands-on time with it so far. The $600 phone’s new and noticeably lighter design feels great in the hand. The Pantone martini olive green color shade is emblazoned on a smooth texture that Motorola describes as “twill-inspired.” The 6.3-inch display — now with rounded corners instead of last year’s curved edges — gives the phone a more relaxed, easier-on-the-eyes appearance.

It’s the design refresh I’d like to see more often on new handsets, especially if they’re expecting us to pay a premium for them. A lot of the phones we’ve seen in 2026 so far look the same as their 2025 counterparts, and are getting a lot more expensive to boot, with $100 or even $200 price hikes. By comparison, the 2026 Edge is $50 more expensive at launch than its predecessor.

The Motorola Edge storage screen

The phone has a 6.3-inch display with rounded corners, but only 128GB of storage. 

René Ramos/CNET

Instead, I quite like that Motorola’s Edge phone is leaving the more staid gray and black colors behind in favor of this look, accented with gold around the camera bump and the side rails. The phone’s 160-gram weight also makes it one of the lighter phones out there for its overall size. That’s including a three-camera array with a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with a 3x optical zoom alongside 50-megapixel wide and ultrawide cameras. (For reference, Samsung’s $900 Galaxy S26 weighs in a touch heavier at 167 grams, while the $500 Google Pixel 10A is 183 grams.)

I’ll need more time with the cameras to see how they perform in a variety of situations, but a few sample photos I took of the decorations around the office show plenty of color in a variety of items. For instance, the wide-angle camera captures plenty of detail and color throughout the Lego Death Star that’s on display. When moving over to the telephoto lens, I’m able to use the 3x zoom to focus in on one of the scenes in the center.

Taken with the Motorola Edge’s 50-megapixel camera.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

The move to a 10-megapixel lens is slightly more noticeable — there’s some variance in the color shades of the red between the Lego photos and it’s a little grainier — but the camera gets the job done in terms of zooming into a scene without resorting to the digital zoom we commonly see on similarly priced phones that lack a telephoto camera.

Lego Death Star

Taken with the telephoto camera at 3x zoom on the Motorola Edge.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

The zoom is more effective in this simpler photo of a red dragon in the office, in which the telephoto camera is able to pick up quite a bit of detail by keeping its focus on the center of the image.

Photo of red dragon

Taken on the wide camera of the Motorola Edge.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Whereas the wide photo takes in plenty of detail of this little red dragon, the telephoto gets up close and personal, nailing even the tiny nostril imprints and some text on the right wing.

Red dragon

Taken with the telephoto camera at 3x zoom.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

The Edge also includes a 50-megapixel selfie camera that I quickly tried out. While I found the photo captured a decent amount of face detail, I still want to try it out in more challenging conditions, such as brighter outdoor spots and low-light evening and night settings.

Photo of Mike Sorrentino

Taken with the 50-megapixel selfie camera on the Motorola Edge.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Most other specs on the phone are solidly midrange — including the phone’s MediaTek Dimensity 7450 processor that’s similar to what’s in the base Razr 2026. It does mean that the Edge is powerful enough to support the company’s various Moto AI features, which include photography enhancement tools such as the AI-powered Signature Style for adjusting how colors process after taking photos. The phone’s 5,000-mAh battery can recharge at 60-watt wired speeds. (For reference, last year’s Edge — with slightly faster 68W speeds — recharged from 0% to 65% in our 30-minute test.)

Moto AI settings.

The Moto AI feature suite is available on the Motorola Edge.

René Ramos/CNET

My biggest concerns however, are the Edge’s limited 128GB of storage along with a short upgrade cycle commitment of two years — plus three years of security updates. It’s a constrained amount of storage for a $600 phone, but it’s likely buyers won’t have to pay full price, as the Edge might become discounted quickly. Last year, Motorola’s Edge had a $550 MSRP but some phone carriers sold it for $300 no contract needed. And if this year’s Edge does become similarly discounted, it might be an attractive option when put up against other devices that normally sell in the $300 range.

But what I really hope with the Edge’s revamped design is that Motorola finds a way to eventually bring the company’s new Signature phone line to the US. That phone — currently only available internationally — has the best of both worlds: the similarly premium look with a ton of high-end specs such as a 5,200-mAh silicon carbon battery with 90-watt wired charging speeds, 50-megapixel wide, ultrawide and telephoto cameras along with seven years of software updates. Maybe we’ll eventually get the company’s Signature, but perhaps the Motorola Edge is merely the ramp-up to that higher-end phone.

Watch this: Unboxing the $600 Motorola Edge (2026)





Source link

Leave a Reply

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest articles delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, we promise.

Recent Reviews







2026 has shaped up to be a big year for Milwaukee, and the company shows no signs of slowing down as it expands its product line. For example, it has announced that some solid new Milwaukee hand tools and organizers will be arriving throughout the summer, but that’s not all. At the end of the day, you need somewhere to put all of this stuff, and while the Milwaukee Packout storage system is deep and varied as is, the company will expand the line in the summer months.

More methods for organizing your tools are on the way, too, with the Milwaukee Packout line set to introduce some new entries this summer. They vary in size, purpose, and price point, but they’re all compatible with the wider Packout line. That means they can connect to each other, making transportation easier. In some cases, they’ll be able to help keep tools and other items secure and organized while on the move. Additionally, all of these new Packout products are covered by Milwaukee’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

So, what new products does Milwaukee have to offer from its Packout line this summer? Here are the drops you can look forward to throughout June and July 2026.

Milwaukee compact crate

Sometimes, a massive Packout crate isn’t a necessity, which is why the line has its share of smaller options. Yet another will be coming to the Milwaukee catalog in the form of the Milwaukee Packout compact crate, which is set for a June 2026 release and will cost $39.97. It has a 30-pound weight capacity, comes in at 8.75 inches tall, 9.5 inches wide, 15.5 inches long, and 3.75 pounds, and includes two removable dividers to create up to three sections within the crate. The dividers can also be customized by cutting them to size along the pre-made score lines.

This compact crate features a wide front opening for easy access to its contents while on the job, as well as a metal top handle to carry it around on its own. Should you want to add it to your current Packout stack, you can use the connection points at the top and bottom of the crate. Speaking of durability, Milwaukee notes that it has an impact-resistant body along with weep holes to prevent water collection. At the same time, there is some nuance regarding the waterproof nature of Milwaukee Packout products, so keep that in mind before letting this crate get soaked.

Milwaukee Packout low-profile crate

A shorter but equally mighty Milwaukee Packout container is also on its way to customers this summer. The Milwaukee Packout low-profile crate is the shortest of the new releases at just 6.625 inches tall, though it makes up for what it lacks in height with a 15-inch length and an 18.625-inch width. Even though it’s slightly heavier than the compact crate at 4.85 pounds, it wins out in weight capacity with a 50-pound limit. It will be released in June 2026 and will cost $44.97.

For added modularity, the low-profile crate includes three different divider types: eight short, two long, and one for the middle of the container. When combined, they form up to 12 individual sections for tool and accessory organization. In terms of connecting to other Packout containers, it can do so from the top and bottom. Alternatively, built-in side handles are integrated into the design to make it easier to carry the crate on its own. The crate has weep holes for water drainage and an impact-resistant body.

Milwaukee Packout XL crate

Moving on to one of the larger upcoming Milwaukee Packout releases — even if it ultimately lands somewhere in the middle of the smallest and largest Packout containers for sale — there’s the aptly-named Milwaukee Packout XL crate. This release will hit shelves in June 2026 and comes with a $69.97 price tag. The 8.03-pound crate can take on some serious tools with its 75-pound weight capacity. It measures 15 inches tall, 15.75 inches long, and 18.625 inches wide. Despite its size, it can be hung up on a wall like most other Packout containers.

While some may hang this crate in their workshop, many will use it as part of their mobile Packout stack. You can connect it to your existing setup via the top and bottom connection points. It can also be used with Milwaukee toolbox attachments to hold smaller tools and batteries with connection points on the sides. Alternatively, you can move the crate around using its built-in side handles. It’s advertised as having an impact-resistant body along with anti-water collection weep holes. Suffice to say, there’s more to this seemingly simple crate than initially meets the eye.

Milwaukee Packout Wire Pulling XL Crate

For the most part, the Milwaukee Packout line is so popular because of its versatility. While most entries can be used for just about anything, there are those that come with a specialized function. Case in point, the forthcoming Milwaukee Packout Wire Pulling XL crate, which is designed for dispensing wire. This involves inserting and locking in spools of the user’s needed material, threading the wire through the wire retention slots, and using the fold-down panel to keep the end of the wire from rolling back into the box.

Overall, this crate has the same dimensions and weight capacity as the previously covered Packout XL crate, though it is the heavier of the two at 9.85 pounds. It can accommodate up to six spools, can be stacked onto other Packout containers or hung up, and has an impact-resistant body. This is the most expensive of the new Packout releases at a hefty $119.97, and it’s set to release during July 2026. Alongside the best Milwaukee power tools for electrical work, this crate seems like a vital piece for any Milwaukee-enthusiast electrician’s kit.

New Milwaukee Packout inserts are coming, too

That’s it for the new Milwaukee Packout containers set to debut this summer, but there are more new releases yet to cover. To pair with some of these containers and improve their levels of organization and function, come two new insert sets. First is the divider for the Milwaukee Packout XL crate, which splits the container into two sections. It simply slides down the middle of the crate and fits snugly into place, while retaining its ability to connect with smaller Packout attachments. It will be released in July 2026 for $29.97.

Alongside the Packout XL crate divider is the set of Packout wire pulling inserts for the XL crate. You’ll need these if you end up buying an XL crate and later want to use it as a wire-pulling crate. These inserts allow you to convert it instead of having to buy a new designated wire pulling crate. They attach to two of the inner sides of the crate via T-25 screws and include wire puller guards as well. The Milwaukee product listing says these inserts are meant for 1/2-inch EMT conduit. This insert set also comes out in July and will cost $49.97. 





Source link