Motorola Revives Wooden Back Panels in New Edge Series Phones

Motorola is set to reintroduce a nostalgic element to its smartphone lineup with the launch of three new Edge series models, featuring a classic wooden back panel design. This design, first seen a decade ago, will grace the highest specification model of the trio, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra. Alongside this retro touch, the phone will also offer a modern twist with options like peach fuzz vegan leather.

The Edge 50 Ultra, positioned as the flagship of the new series, will be powered by the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 chipset. It boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, which Motorola claims is Pantone-validated for color accuracy. The phone also includes premium features such as an IP68 rating for water resistance, wireless charging capabilities, and a robust camera system featuring a 50-megapixel stabilized main camera, a 64-megapixel telephoto, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide that doubles as a macro lens.

Below the Ultra, the Edge 50 Pro features a mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset and retains similar high-end features like IP68 rating and wireless charging, but with a slightly less powerful camera setup. The most affordable model, the Edge 50 Fusion, is equipped with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, maintaining the IP68 standard without the wireless charging feature.

While initially launching outside the US in regions including parts of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, Motorola has confirmed plans to expand the Edge family to North America later this year. The anticipated US debut could see these devices, potentially including the nostalgically appealing wooden-backed Edge 50 Ultra, under Motorola's typical "Edge" and "Edge Plus" branding. With starting prices of €999 for the Ultra, €699 for the Pro, and €399 for the Fusion, Motorola aims to blend classic design with contemporary technology across various price points.