Motorola's mid-range iPhone Air rival packs a remarkably large battery for its ultra-thin profile
The aptly named Moto X70 Air is official (in China) with a spec sheet that's likely to make both Apple and Samsung jealous of Motorola's engineering feat.
The master of budget-friendly Android mid-rangers around the world is done sitting idly by and watching Samsung and Apple battle for the ultra-thin smartphone throne, as the hot new Moto X70 Air somehow manages to be almost as slim as the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air with a way bigger battery under its hood and a presumably significantly lower price point soon to be attached to its name.
What a glorious spec sheet!
159.87 x 74.28 x 5.99mm dimensions;
159 grams weight;
6.7-inch OLED screen with 2712 x 1220 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate technology;
50 + 50MP dual rear-facing camera system;
50MP front-facing camera;
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor;
256 and 512GB storage variants;
12GB RAM;
4,800mAh battery;
68W wired and 20W wireless charging support;
IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance;
Android 16;
5G;
Gadget Gray, Lily Pad, and Bronze Green color options.
Just in case it's not abundantly clear for everyone yet, let me highlight (again) that Motorola's latest China-first handset is not a flagship and should (theoretically) not be compared with ultra-high-end devices like the aforementioned iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge.
That name makes it impossible not to compare this phone to the iPhone Air. | Image Credit -- Lenovo
But while such comparisons obviously make zero sense when it comes to things like processing power and camera performance, it's hard not to point out that the S25 Edge, for instance, barely squeezes a 3,900mAh battery into its razor-thin 5.8mm body.
The Moto X70 Air, meanwhile, is somehow capable of offering 23 percent more cell capacity almost without increasing the product thickness. The iPhone Air, of course, is likely to look noticeably slimmer in a side-by-side comparison, at 5.6mm, but that's only because its battery is even smaller than that of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Do you like ultra-thin phones?
I love them!
34.62%
Yes... when they're able to pack such a hefty battery
38.46%
I'd probably like a slightly thicker phone more
26.92%
I hate them!
0%
To put Motorola's engineering achievement into further perspective, something like the Galaxy S25 Plus packs an only slightly larger 4,900mAh battery... while measuring 7.3mm in thickness and tipping the scales at 190 grams.
More than just a pretty face and a wasp waist
Yes, the Moto X70 Air looks undeniably glorious at a first glance, with flashy colorways, a large and flat screen (sorry, curve enthusiasts), and a surprisingly robust construction (at least in theory), but you know what else is great about this mid-end phone? That's right, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC.
Unveiled just a few months back, that's obviously Qualcomm's latest top-of-the-line mid-range chipset (is that even a thing?), replacing the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 found inside the likes of Motorola's Edge 50 Pro, as well as the Honor 400 and OnePlus Nord CE4.
The X70 Air is beautiful on the outside, as well as on the inside. | Image Credit -- Lenovo
Curiously enough, no Edge 60-series devices have used Snapdragon processors, opting instead for their MediaTek Dimensity equivalents, but something tells me that's soon going to change with the Edge 70 family.
The first member of that family could very well "copy" the X70 Air's specifications for a global audience at some point in the next couple of months or so, although unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about how much such a Motorola Edge 70 phone could cost in Europe or the US.
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That's because the Chinese price of the Moto X70 Air is still under wraps, and even if it wasn't, that's rarely a good indicator of Western tags.
Should you buy this thing?
Well, you obviously won't be able to outside of China, so that matter is settled. But when/if the Edge 70 arrives in your country, you'll certainly be faced with a tough decision.
A razor-thin profile is not everything, but it's definitely a nice thing to have. | Image Credit -- Lenovo
On one hand, it's hard to imagine how another company could go higher than 4,800mAh in the battery capacity department and/or lower than 5.99mm as far as device thickness is concerned. On the other, this is clearly still the beginning of a worldwide trend that's probably going to see every major (and not-so-major) brand throw its hat in the "Air" ring over the next few months, pushing today's known design boundaries further and further and possibly prices further and further down.
So, yes, if you want my opinion, I believe you should definitely admire the Moto X70 Air/Motorola Edge 70... from a distance for the foreseeable future, and wait for a few more of these types of razor-thin Android mid-rangers before making a buying decision.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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