Motorola Edge 30 Pro costs less than $1k but has the fastest Android processor

Motorola's latest flagship phone - the Edge 30 Pro - will sell for just $999 when it launches in Australia, undercutting the likes of Samsung and Apple. Despite the lower price tag, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro is still powered by the fastest Android processor on the market: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

At time of writing, the cheapest phone with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 locally is the Samsung Galaxy S22, which starts at $1249. The OPPO Find X5 Pro is also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but local pricing for it has yet to be confirmed.

In addition to a top-tier processor, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro has the same kind of specs you'd expect from a flagship phone. These include a 6.7-inch 1080p+ display with a 144Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, IP52 splash resistance, and a 4,800mAh battery. On the back, you'll find a 50MP primary lens, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth camera. On the front, there's a massive 60MP selfie camera.

When compared to pricier flagship phones, the weaker water resistance rating is the biggest downside - at least on paper. IP52 means the Edge 30 Pro is dust protected, in addition to being protected against dripping water. Most modern flagships are rated IP68, which means they can survive being submerged.

The Edge 30 Pro is available for pre-order from today via JB Hi-Fi ahead of a March 31 release date. If you pre-order, you'll get a bonus Lenovo Smart Clock with Wireless Charging Dock valued at $109. The Good Guys, Big W, Officeworks, and Mobileciti will also range the Edge 30 Pro from March 31 onward. If you're hoping to get it on a plan, Vodafone will have it at some point in April.

Motorola will also be launching the decidedly more budget Moto G22 soon for $299 shortly, but has yet to confirm exact availability.

Key specifications for the cheaper handset include a 6.5-inch 720p+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Helio G37 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. On the back, you'll find a 50MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide lens, 2MP macro lens, and 2MP depth lens. There's a 16MP selfie camera on the front.

The Moto G22 will come in a choice of black or white.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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