A new ultrathin phone has arrived on the scene. On Wednesday, Motorola unveiled the Edge 70. It’s slightly thicker than the iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, but it also features a significantly larger battery capacity.

The announcement confirms earlier leaks about Motorola, which is entering a challenging market for ultrathins. Sales for the slim iPhone Air have reportedly been weak, and Samsung may consider ditching thin phones altogether due to declining interest in the Galaxy S25 Edge.

European consumers will have first crack at the Edge 70, as will phone shoppers in China (where it’s branded as the X70 Air). Motorola did not specify when it will be available in the US.

Typically, international phone models come with higher-end features, such as better cameras, more powerful processors and premium materials. The US edition of the Edge is often a more midrange phone. A look at the international model, however, does provide a hint about the eventual US-bound Edge.

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Motorola Edge 70 weight and battery life

The Edge 70 is 5.99mm thick and weighs about 159 grams. For comparison, the iPhone Air measures 5.6mm thick at 165 grams, while the Samsung S25 Edge is 5.8mm thick and weighs 163 grams. 

It’s among the lighter phones in Motorola’s Edge line: The 2025 model released in the US weighed in at 181 grams, although it also included an additional telephoto camera. The 2023 US model comes closer at 168 grams.

Motorola’s model surpasses its competitors in terms of battery capacity. The Edge 70 features a 4,800-mAh battery, compared to the Galaxy S25 Edge’s 3,900-mAh battery and the iPhone Air’s 3,149-mAh battery. Motorola’s battery is also built from silicon-carbon, which has a higher energy density than the traditional lithium-ion batteries used by its rivals.

Edge 70 owners can watch 29 straight hours of video with a full charge, Motorola says, and 38 hours of mixed usage. As for recharging, the device supports 68-watt fast-wired charging, compared with 25 watts for both the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air. It also supports 15-watt wireless charging.

Motorola Edge 70 cameras

The Edge 70 has three high-resolution cameras:

• A 50-megapixel main camera with 4K video recording
• A 50-megapixel ultrawide, which doubles as a macro lens with a 120-degree field of view
• A 50-megapixel front camera

It also has a dedicated 3-in-1 light sensor for light sensitivity and exposure.

AI assistance

The Edge 70 comes with Moto AI, an array of AI tools integrated into Motorola phones. Among the AI features is Next Move, which first appeared on Motorola’s Razr phone line. This feature provides proactive suggestions based on the content on the screen.

The phone also features other Moto AI capabilities introduced with the Razr and showcased on the 2025 Edge, including Playlist Studio, Catch Me Up for summarizing notifications, and Pay Attention, as well as the Remember This feature for saving information.

Resistance to water and dust

The Motorola Edge has IP68 and IP69 ratings for protection against dust and water intrusion. That is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, Apple iPhone 16 series, and Google Pixel 10 series, all of which have IP68 ratings.

There are three colors available: pantone bronze green, pantone lily pad, pantone gadget gray.

How ‘in’ is thin?

CNET phone expert Abrar Al-Heeti says she started as a thin-phone skeptic but was sold on the concept after reviewing the Oppo Find N5, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air.

«It’s refreshing to use something that feels innovative, and I’m surprised at how much more comfortable it is to use a lightweight phone,» Al-Heeti said. «With all the thin phones I’ve tested, it’s that feather-light feel that stands out to me.»

However, it remains unclear whether ultrathin phones will have lasting appeal. There are trade-offs to slimmer phones, such as shorter battery life and reduced camera capabilities. 

«The challenge for phone makers is to limit those compromises, so that thin phones can be more appealing to a wider range of people,» said Al-Heeti.