The Edge 30 Pro is a little less versatile when it comes to photography, and with good reason: Motorola chose to ditch the 8 megapixel module with periscopic zoom, allowing for a 5x magnification effect compared to the wide angle. In return, the smartphone offers an ultra-wide angle with a more defined sensor (50 megapixels at 16 Mpx for the Edge 20 Pro). The main module of the Edge 30 Pro displays the same definition of 50 megapixels, while a third module of 2 megapixels content on its part to ensure the depth measurement.
Main module: 50 megapixels, f/1.8
First of all, it should be noted that the Edge 30 Pro offers an HDR mode that is automatically activated in the settings of the photo application; since this setting was inaccessible when shooting, we kept it.
During the day we also notice that this mode results in a slightly accentuated exposure, and in slightly less deep blacks, more noise too. Comparing our scene captured with the Edge 30 Pro to that shot with the Reno 6 Pro, we notice that the overall tonality is more vibrant and bright, but the level of detail is nearly identical. The whole is satisfactory, even if the processing of small details is less efficient than on models over €1000, and also maintains good sharpness in the peripheral parts of the image.
Nighttime conditions pose more problems for the smartphone, the results of which are largely noisy – the fault of a significant increase in ISO. Nevertheless, despite a visible flattening, the shots are usable. Be careful though, we are far from the richness of the shots made with terminals such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro.
50 megapixel mode
All smartphones with highly defined sensors opt for the pixel binding to make less heavy shots, but at the very least brighter. So they point to 12.6 megapixels for the Edge 30 Pro’s body, but it’s still possible to capture images in full definition. However, it is better to reserve this use for well-lit scenes, where the gain in detail is significant and allows greater zoom. At night, the smartphone doesn’t do any better.
Ultra wide-angle module: 50 megapixels, f/2.2
Few smartphones at a price equal to the Motorola Edge 30 Pro offer an ultra-wide-angle module based on a 50 megapixel sensor. Many prefer sensors with 13 or 16 million points. But after abandoning the periscopic zoom of the Edge 20 Pro, the smartphone aims to make up for this shortcoming with a more efficient ultra-wide angle.
Despite its definition identical to that of the main sensor of this Edge 30 Pro, this ultra-wide angle module produces lower quality shots. The sharpness of its 12.5 megapixel photos is certainly much higher than that of 16 Mpx shots of competing models, such as the Reno 6 Pro, but less satisfactory than that of its main module. confronted with OnePlus 9we notice both a more present flattening and a slightly exaggerated contrast, despite a more natural colorimetry.
The flattening is extremely pronounced at night and makes most of the details of the image disappear: the comparison with the OnePlus 9 is eloquent.
Finally, let’s add that the 50 megapixel mode, which is also available on this ultra-wide angle module, turns out to be very irrelevant. The sharpness is hardly better during the day and equivalent at night: you don’t have to waste time activating a setting that provides no real benefit.
Front module, portrait and video mode
The Edge 30 Pro stands out from the vast majority of smartphones on the market by integrating a 60 megapixel sensor on the front. By default, it saves photos in 15 megapixels (pixel binding), but allows to choose a definition of 8 or 60 megapixels by means of an adjustment in the parameters of the application. The level of detail is high, even if there is a slight tendency to smooth the skin texture. Also note that the portrait mode, which isn’t customizable, tends to crop faces and hair a bit aggressively. Finally, the smartphone makes it possible to film on the front up to 4K at 30 frames per second. On the back, the Edge 30 Pro offers 8K up to 30 fps and, for the most demanding, 4K at 30 fps in HDR10+.
