We analyzed 686 verified reviews for the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) to understand its real-world performance. Our method is straightforward. We identify every time a user mentions a key feature of the phone, such as its screen, camera, performance, or battery. We then analyze the sentiment of each comment, categorizing it as positive, negative, or neutral. This allows us to calculate a simple percentage score for each feature, showing exactly how owners feel about the different parts of their phone.
💸 Value for Money: Initial Win, Hidden Costs
The perception of Value for Money with the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) is a deeply divided story, hinging almost entirely on the price a user pays. For those who snag it at a steep discount, the phone can feel like a major win. This sentiment, however, is not the majority experience, as evidenced by a 55% positive score for overall satisfaction versus cost, a figure that lags a staggering 29 points behind the category average of 84%.
The key to this fleeting satisfaction is timing a sale perfectly. As one buyer explained:
For the price I paid of $140 on sale it’s a smoking hot deal, especially if you’re in a financial bind like I am.
Another echoed this, stating:
at $250.00 it is an absolute bargain and a fine phone.
For these users, the low entry cost makes the phone’s feature set, like its ample storage and decent screen, feel like an undeniable steal.
Unexpected Costs and Hidden Frustrations
However, this initial thrill of a bargain is often soured by a cascade of frustrations and hidden costs. The most damaging factor is the experience with unexpected costs or missing items, where the phone scores a dismal 3% in positive sentiment, a massive 18 points below the category average. Users feel blindsided by what’s not in the box and the subsequent chase for compatible parts.
The absence of a charger is a common complaint, but the frustrations run deeper, from the lack of an SD card slot forcing paid cloud subscriptions to the difficulty in finding working accessories. One user detailed their costly struggle with the phone’s fragility:
Within the first 30 days of getting it I already had to get the screen replaced, which cost me $210.
This transforms the initial “bargain” into an expensive and ongoing headache.
Flagship Price, Subpar Experience
This feeling of being short-changed is thrown into sharp relief when compared to key competitors. With satisfaction-to-cost scores of 84% and 94% respectively, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12 create a user experience where the price feels justified by a polished, complete product.
In contrast, many Motorola users feel they received a device with “flagship” pricing but without flagship performance or support. This creates a sense of buyer’s remorse, with one owner lamenting:
This phone I couldn’t see myself using for more than 6 months as it was supposed to be a ‘flagship’ but it’s just subpar.
For many, the experience failed to live up to the sticker price, with another user bluntly asking:
Moto, feel free to enlighten me as to how this is a $850 phone.
Trade-Off: The potential for a bargain-basement price is constantly undermined by the feeling of using a subpar device plagued with frustrating compromises and unexpected costs.
📸 Camera: Good, But Lacking
For the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022), the story of its camera is one of promising potential held back by significant omissions. While users find moments of satisfaction, a deeper look reveals a system that struggles to live up to its flagship aspirations.
Image and Video Quality
The camera’s primary strength lies in its fundamental image and video quality, which garners a 74% positive sentiment. While this is slightly below the category average of 78%, for many users, the output is more than sufficient for everyday use.
They feel the camera produces “bright, detailed quality pictures” and even serves as “a big step up from previous Moto phones.” The video performance, in particular, receives high praise. One owner noted that after a software update, “the difference in the camera stability and video quality was phenomenal,” calling it “very very smooth flagship quality – almost pixel quality!!”
This indicates that for basic point-and-shoot scenarios, the Edge+ delivers results that can delight its users, especially those upgrading from older devices.
Zoom and Software Deficiencies
However, this satisfaction quickly erodes when users attempt to utilize more advanced features, particularly the zoom. With a mere 30% positive rating, the zoom capabilities are the camera’s Achilles’ heel, falling a stark 16 points below the category average of 46%.
This isn’t just a number; it represents a tangible frustration for users. One user precisely identified the root cause of their disappointment:
No optical zoom so you are relying on electronics to zoom which is rarely ideal.
This lack is compounded by frustrating software and missing features, reflected in a low 51% satisfaction score for camera modes, 10 points below the category average. One person summed up the experience vividly:
Taking pictures really had me going, I’m not a big picture taker, so all those settings, different camera lenses, had me so frustrated, just trying to snap a quick picture.
Competitive Comparison
When placed next to its direct competitors, the camera’s weaknesses become impossible to ignore. The gulf in zoom performance is staggering: while the Edge+ sits at 30% satisfaction, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra commands a 75% rating, and the OnePlus 12 achieves a flawless 100%.
This vast difference means that a feature users expect to be functional is a major point of failure for the Motorola. Even in its strongest area, image quality (74%), the Edge+ is vastly outshined by the 88% satisfaction achieved by both the S24 Ultra and the OnePlus 12.
This gap is not lost on users, with one reviewer concluding that the camera “definitely loses out to higher tear phones such as the Galaxy S20 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max,” a sentiment that perfectly captures the phone’s struggle to compete.
Trade-Off: The Edge+ delivers surprisingly good photos in ideal conditions, but this comes at the cost of essential flagship features like optical zoom and refined software, leaving users feeling short-changed against the competition.
📱 Screen: Smooth Motion, Bad Touch
The Screen on the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) tells a story of a single, brilliant feature being completely undone by fundamental failings in usability and durability. While users praise its one standout quality, this positivity is quickly overshadowed by daily frustrations and costly breakages that define the overall experience.
Exceptional Screen Smoothness
The phone’s greatest and perhaps only triumph is its exceptional screen smoothness. Scoring a remarkable 90% positive sentiment for its refresh rate, it stands well above the 75% category average.
This high-performance display creates a fluid, premium feel during everyday use that users immediately notice and appreciate. As one owner put it:
My God 144 Hz makes the screen so smooth I don’t want to go back.
Another echoed this, stating, “the 144hz refresh rate makes the experience feel extremely smooth,” which for some, is the most satisfying part of the phone.
Frustrating Flaws and Fragility
However, this silky-smooth motion is anchored to a screen that is both frustrating to use and alarmingly fragile. The most significant pain point is its abysmal touchscreen responsiveness, which registered only 20% positive sentiment—less than half the category average of 43%. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a core interaction failure that breeds constant irritation. One user described the experience in vivid detail:
The screen tactile response is HORRIBLE!!… It swipes when it should push, push when it should swipe, half the time does not even register a touch.
Compounding this frustration is the screen’s shocking lack of durability. With a mere 10% positive score for build quality, far below the 31% category average, users report that the screen is “ridiculously fragile,” with another lamenting:
I have cracked my screen twice with a very durable shock absorbent case and top of the line screen protector.
Competitive Comparison
When placed next to its rivals, the Motorola Edge+’s screen deficiencies become starkly apparent. The infuriating touchscreen responsiveness, with its 20% positive score, is completely outclassed by the reliable 72% of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the flawless 100% score of the OnePlus 12.
This vast gap signifies that a responsive touch interface is a solved problem for competitors, making Motorola’s failure a significant reason for buyers to look elsewhere. The issue of fragility is similarly highlighted by the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s perfect 100% positive score for screen build quality, demonstrating that premium design doesn’t have to mean a fragile user experience.
Dealbreaker: A high refresh rate is rendered meaningless by a screen that is too fragile for daily life and too frustrating to reliably interact with.
💔 Design: Looks Good, Hurts Hands
Regarding the design of the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022), the user experience is a story of immediate attraction followed by practical frustration. The device’s visual appeal is undeniable and serves as its greatest strength.
With an 86% positive score for its Aesthetics and Look—nearly matching the category average of 88%—it’s clear the phone makes a striking first impression. Owners praise its premium feel and beautiful appearance.
It’s beautiful, if you’re looking for a phone that looks amazing this one is hard to beat.
Another owner loved how “the edges to the screen give the device a very premium feel,” creating a sense of holding a high-end product.
Design Features and Changes
However, this visual delight is severely undermined by functional design choices that frustrate users in daily operation. The Design Features and Changes factor earned a dismal 30% positive score, a full 10 points below the category average.
This dissatisfaction stems from a series of impractical decisions. The signature curved screen, while visually appealing, is a source of constant annoyance for many.
For me, they have no good benefit except to make it hard to click on something in the corner or edge of the screen. Your fingers are always dragging the edges and making the phone do something you really don’t want it to do.
This is compounded by other irritants, such as the camera bump causing the phone to “rock annoyingly when you touch the screen” on a flat surface and the lack of an SD card slot.
Build Quality and Materials
The phone’s shortcomings are thrown into sharp relief when its build quality is compared to direct competitors. The Edge+ scores a shockingly low 43% for Build Quality and Materials, lagging 33 points behind the category average of 76%.
This pales in comparison to the robust builds of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (79%) and OnePlus 12 (80%). For users, this translates into a phone that feels fragile and unreliable.
The glass back is a frequent point of failure, with one user expressing their extreme frustration:
The back of this phone is glass, it is completely shattered, even with a protective case on at all times. The glass is also sharp and will cut you. Why on earth make the back of a phone glass?
This perception of poor durability makes competitors feel like a much safer and more sensible investment for buyers prioritizing a phone that will last.
Trade-Off: The Motorola Edge+ (2022) forces users to trade premium, head-turning aesthetics for a design plagued by questionable durability and frustrating daily usability issues.
♨️ Performance: Hot Mess, Slow Pace
The performance of the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022) presents a complicated picture for users, one where moments of surprising capability are overshadowed by significant and frustrating flaws.
For casual gamers, the phone delivers an experience that meets expectations, with its gaming performance scoring a 75% positive sentiment, just edging out the category average of 74%. This capability is a clear bright spot, allowing users to enjoy their favorite titles without major incident.
This sentiment speaks to the phone’s ability to provide a solid, enjoyable escape for those who aren’t pushing for elite-level frame rates, as one user happily reported:
“it will play any game I’ve tried on it”
Thermal Management
However, this bright spot is dimmed by a critical, and often physical, frustration: thermal management. The phone’s ability to stay cool under pressure is alarmingly poor, earning a positive score of just 17%, a steep 16-point drop from the category average of 33%.
This isn’t just a number on a page; it’s a problem users can feel in their hands. The consequences are immediate and visceral, leading to discomfort and performance degradation. One user vividly described how even light, non-intensive tasks can cause the device to overheat, impacting both user comfort and battery life:
“an hour of Pandora it’s molten lava hot and the battery is halfway gone!”
Competitive Performance Gap
This performance gap becomes a chasm when placed in the context of key competitors. While the Edge+ struggles with heat at 17% positive sentiment, both the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12 manage a far more stable 63%. This vast difference highlights how users of rival phones are simply not dealing with the same level of overheating.
The disparity extends to raw speed and multitasking, where the Edge+ again falls far short of its flagship-priced rivals. With a processing power score of 72%, it lags more than 20 points behind the Samsung (94%) and OnePlus (96%). This translates into a user experience filled with noticeable sluggishness, as one owner lamented:
“This phone is also touted as being super fast. It is not. It is slower than the phone I upgraded from, it will often take forever to load a webpage.”
Dealbreaker: While capable of casual gaming, the device’s severe overheating and significant performance lag compared to rivals make it a liability for anyone expecting consistent, flagship-level power.
📉 Software & Operating System: Smooth, But Unstable
When it comes to the Software and Operating System on the Motorola Edge+ 5G UW (2022), users are met with a conflicted experience. On the surface, the phone delivers on the promise of a pure, uncluttered interface, with its user experience and UI smoothness earning a 62% positive sentiment score.
Users who value a minimalist approach appreciate this core philosophy.
Motorola offers as close to an authentic Android experience as you’ll find. They’re not trying to force you into some stupid ecosystem you don’t want. Bloatware is minimal.
This is enhanced by unique, practical shortcuts, with one user noting,
My personal favorite the chop light I’ve been using for years and even to this day friends/family are still amazed that a phone can do that just by my hand gesture.
Fundamental Instability
However, this appreciation for a clean UI is severely undermined by fundamental instability. The phone’s software stability and issues received a staggeringly low 10% positive rating, falling 17 points below the category average and revealing a core weakness that causes daily frustration.
Users report frequent and disruptive bugs that make simple tasks a challenge. One owner described the experience vividly:
The phone does freeze up a lot though especially when running high demand apps. The worst app it happens with… is YouTube. The player will freeze… When this happens, I either have to wait for the phone to ‘catch up’ or turn the screen off and on multiple times. At worst, I have to restart.
For others, the issues are more invasive, with one user calling it “highly annoying and really not acceptable” that the phone will randomly interrupt core functions.
I tried to call my wife and when pressed call the phone brought up a prompt to download tiktok from the play store… and only once I closed it did the call go through.
Competitor Comparison
This performance gap is thrown into sharp relief when compared to key competitors. The Motorola’s 10% positive rating for stability is trounced by the OnePlus 12‘s 37%, a massive difference that means OnePlus users are far less likely to encounter such crashes.
Even in its strongest area, UI smoothness, the Moto’s 62% score can’t compete with the polished 85% of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. This represents a real-world usability challenge, with one former Galaxy user capturing the frustration perfectly:
…totally frustrated and getting no where… everytime I tried to do something with this phone, it ended up being hours of research and trying to figure out how to do every day normal, simple stuff on it!
Dealbreaker: The software’s pervasive instability and intrusive bugs actively disrupt core functions, making the phone an unreliable and frustrating device for everyday use.
🔋 Battery: Fast Charge, Fast Drain
The Motorola Edge+ (2022) presents a deeply conflicted battery experience, where moments of impressive performance are undermined by significant, confidence-shattering flaws.
While some users find relief in its charging capabilities, many more are left frustrated by its daily stamina and unpredictable power consumption.
Rapid Charging
The phone’s strongest battery-related feature is its charging speed, which earns a 67% positive score. For users facing a low battery warning, this provides a welcome and practical solution, quickly getting them back up and running.
This rapid power-up is a tangible benefit, as one user noted:
I can go from 30% -85% in about 15 mins!!
This speed can be a lifesaver, mitigating some of the anxiety caused by the phone’s other battery shortcomings.
Inconsistent Drain and Hardware Failures
However, this bright spot is overshadowed by a critical weakness: its inconsistent and rapid battery drain. With a staggeringly low 6% positive score for drain patterns—a full 9 points below the already-low category average of 15%—users feel a constant sense of battery anxiety.
This isn’t just about not lasting the day; it’s about watching the power disappear before their eyes, creating a feeling of unreliability. One owner described the frustration perfectly:
Even with all battery saver features on, you can still literally watch it run down.
Compounding this problem are issues with charging methods themselves, which scored just 25% positive, with users reporting frustrating hardware failures like:
The charging port stops working after about a year.
Competitive Landscape
This struggle becomes even more pronounced when placed in the context of the market. Key competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12 boast a colossal 91% positive score for general battery life, nearly 30 points higher than the Motorola Edge+’s 62%.
For a potential buyer, this number represents a critical difference in daily life: choosing the Motorola means knowingly accepting a less reliable and more frustrating power experience than what is clearly the standard for its rivals.
Trade-Off: Users gain impressively fast charging speeds but must accept a significantly less reliable daily battery life and more unpredictable power drain than what competitors offer.
Bottom Line
- ✅ Its 144Hz screen is a standout feature, earning a 90% positive score for its exceptionally smooth display.
- ⚠️ Performance is a critical flaw, combining severe overheating (17% positive sentiment) with deep software instability (only a 10% positive rating for stability).
- ⚠️ The screen itself is a liability, pairing its smooth display with “horrible” touch responsiveness (20% positive) and shocking fragility (10% positive).
- 🔻 It feels like a downgrade, with a 72% processing power score that users call “slower than the phone I upgraded from.”
- 🏁 Competitors are far superior, especially in battery life where its 62% satisfaction is trounced by the 91% score of both the Samsung S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12.
- 💡 For bargain hunters: The low sale price is a trap, leading to a frustrating, fragile, and underperforming device that fails on its “flagship” promise.