I was devastated when Motorola decided not to bring the Moto Edge 50 Ultra to the US last year.
It would’ve given us much-needed flagship competition, and with Motorola’s carrier store presence, I felt the phone would’ve had a real chance to succeed.
I love the Motorola Razr lineup, but I’d also like to see some of the value the company brings to midrange phones moved up to a flagship device.
If rumors are to be believed, Motorola is gearing up for another try, with a new flagship phone coming to the US early next year.
I’ve seen some leaked specs, and they are precisely what I’d expect from Motorola. Here’s what I’d like to see in Motorola’s next flagship phone to make it a success.
I don’t need a top-of-the-line chipset
Motorola understands price is important
Except for the Motorola Razr Ultra, Moto’s done an excellent job balancing performance and value the last few years.
I like what the company’s done with the Motorola Edge 70 overseas, giving buyers the feel of a thin phone without a prohibitive price tag. I’m expecting more of the same from their next US flagship.
It appears Motorola is tapping the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset for the new phone, not to be confused with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 featured in the OnePlus 15.
I don’t mind this at all.
We’re not going to notice much difference in real-world performance, and it’s time more manufacturers realized that — especially if it keeps the cost down.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is an expensive chipset, so if Moto can save a few dollars and pass that along to us, I’m all for it.
Leaks also suggest the device will have a 6.7-inch OLED 1.5K display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
I’ve maintained that’s the ideal size for a flagship device, and I won’t be bothered if Motorola doesn’t include the faster 144Hz refresh rates it has on other devices.
However, I will be annoyed if there isn’t an always-on display.
For as pleased as I’ve been with Moto over the last few years, it’s like pulling teeth to get a proper AOD on its traditional slab phones.
We finally got one on the Razr devices, but it wasn’t without significant pushback.
I want Motorola to break the mold in 2026 and give us a flagship with a headphone jack at least, if not a microSD card slot.
It’s an opportunity for Motorola to win over new fans, as there are plenty of people who would let go of their older phones if some legacy features made it to newer devices.
I’m also fine with the rumored triple 50MP camera setup on the new device.
I like that there won’t be a massive drop-off in quality between the lenses, and I’m curious to see what Moto comes up with on a flagship camera.
Software support needs to be there
No excuses for a flagship phone
I give Motorola a pass for its spotty software support on midrange phones, because the value is still there for buyers.
However, that won’t be the case on a flagship device. At minimum, Motorola has to match what OnePlus offers: four years of OS upgrades and six years of security patches.
It’s not just the length of upgrades, but also their timeliness.
I don’t want to hear about bi-monthly updates slipping into tri-monthly updates, and I don’t want to wait almost a year after other devices get a new version of Android before my Motorola flagship receives the same.
I don’t expect Motorola to turn into Google overnight, releasing feature drops every few months. Still, it would be welcome to see a bit more effort from the company.
Software support matters in 2025, and if you want to compete at the flagship level, you need to at least attempt to match the other manufacturers.
Price is going to rule all
Motorola needs to provide value
Motorola has a unique opportunity to pick up the mantle I wanted OnePlus to have.
When OnePlus exited T-Mobile stores, I knew it would relegate devices like the OnePlus 15 to also-ran status.
It’s a device for enthusiasts, willing to take a chance, but it’s hard to put a dent in Samsung’s or Google’s sales with that strategy.
Motorola is on carrier store shelves, and a combination of aggressive pricing and a powerful device could help it succeed.
People need to touch and feel the device they are buying — especially if you’re trying to convince them to switch.
Moto’s devices are premium, and if people get to play around with one and then look down to see an attractive price tag, there’s a greater chance they’ll opt for one.
I’d also like for Motorola to keep the unlocked price reasonable.
If the company could come in around $800 and maintain its aggressive sales throughout the year, it’s easy to see how Moto would have a winner on its hands.
It’s wait and see, but I’m excited
I do hope Motorola gives it a go this time and releases a proper flagship in the US.
It’s precisely what we need to challenge Samsung and Google, especially since Motorola already has a carrier store presence.
It’s still early, but 2026 is shaping up to be an interesting year for smartphones.
