Lenovo motoS50: The Comeback of the Small-Screen Phone, All-Round Configuration for a Refined and Trendy Experience

Lenovo motoS50: The Comeback of the Small-Screen Phone, All-Round Configuration for a Refined and Trendy ExperienceAs the most stylish person in the entire Lei Technology team, after a whole year of talking about new phones and reviewing them, I'm inevitably asked about my preferences for digital products and which phone I use as my daily driver. Take the small backpack I carry to work every day as an example; it usually contains three devices: the Xiaomi 14, a representative of small-screen phones; the ROG Flow X13, a representative of thin and powerful laptops; and the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2, which can be used as both a phone and a tablet

Lenovo motoS50: The Comeback of the Small-Screen Phone, All-Round Configuration for a Refined and Trendy Experience

As the most stylish person in the entire Lei Technology team, after a whole year of talking about new phones and reviewing them, I'm inevitably asked about my preferences for digital products and which phone I use as my daily driver. Take the small backpack I carry to work every day as an example; it usually contains three devices: the Xiaomi 14, a representative of small-screen phones; the ROG Flow X13, a representative of thin and powerful laptops; and the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2, which can be used as both a phone and a tablet. The main focus is on an all-round configuration. From this, you can see that my preferences are quite similar to everyone else's something "small but refined" is the best.

However, contrary to my wishes, the trend in consumer electronics is to go "big." You see, new stacking technologies can now make phones smaller, narrower, and thinner, even fitting a 6500mAh battery in an 8mm-thick body. However, major manufacturers are only willing to go in the direction of crazy stacking, without considering the needs of small-screen users in the mainstream price segment.

Since other manufacturers aren't doing it, let Lenovo moto be the first to take the leap. (Source: Motorola) On September 5th, after only a brief pre-heating and without a formal launch event, the Lenovo motoS50 was directly listed on Lenovo's online store and its price was announced. It went on sale at 10:00 am the same day. Not only does it boast a refined small body, rare at its price point, but it also comes equipped with a complete set of peripheral features: IP68, wet touch, in-display fingerprint sensor, wireless charging... It also has imaging capabilities that can rival mid-tier flagship phones. The Lenovo motoS50, focusing on "quality," "design," and "imaging," how does it actually perform? Let me take you on a journey to find out.

Unique Colors, Refined Feel

When I think of Lenovo moto, the word "colorful" definitely comes to mind. Hey, don't get the wrong idea, I'm talking about color here. In the era of feature phones, since there were no obvious differences between products, most users preferred to choose models with beautiful appearances. Moto was one of the first major manufacturers to play the "color game," and whenever a phone became a bestseller, they would continuously launch different color versions of the same model to further attract the discerning eyes of consumers, ultimately squeezing every ounce of value out of the product. (Source: Motorola)

The Lenovo motoS50 perfectly inherits the moto philosophy, bringing us three captivating color options: Good Persimmons Orange, Flower Wood Blue, and Latte. In a market where phone colors are all the same, the Lenovo motoS50 makes each color unique. Flower Wood Blue is deep and steady, Good Persimmons Orange is passionate and vibrant, and Latte is warm and elegant. The model I have in my hands is the Good Persimmons Orange, taking its original color from PANTONE 18-1564 Poinciana. This deep red-orange hue exudes elegance and evokes strength and power. The leatherette finish provides a soft and comfortable feel, showcasing bold and fiery personality. It can even make the user feel like the most eye-catching focus among the crowd. (Source: Lei Technology)

Ah, it might be an illusion, but at least my Lenovo motoS50 is very cool. This red tone not only appears on the leatherette back cover but also on the frame of the Lenovo motoS50. The frosted texture of the frame, paired with the beveled edges, 8.28mm thickness, 71mm width, and measured 170.8g body weight, delivers a thin and light feel that is different from other phones at the same price point. I love it, I really do. (Source: Lei Technology)

Looking at the camera module, the Lenovo motoS50 and X50 Ultra share a similar design, both transitioning from the leatherette body to the camera cover via a smooth, angled cut. The lens arrangement also has a hint of family design; the top left is the 50MP main camera, the bottom left is the 13MP ultra-wide-angle, the bottom right is the 10MP 3x telephoto, and the top right integrates a monochrome LED fill light and a rear light sensor. The overall look is very coordinated, with a "possible curve" feel. (Source: Lei Technology)

Flipping to the front, the Lenovo motoS50 is equipped with a 6.36-inch OLED display, the same 1.5K 120Hz panel found on the Xiaomi 14. DCI-P3 wide color gamut and HDR10+ display, with Pantone color and skin tone dual certification, supports global DC dimming, peak brightness of 2800 nits, text is clear and sharp, color reproduction is closer to reality, but may not be as pleasing as the common vibrant colors. And of course, there's no screen stand. (Source: Lei Technology)

Moreover, Lenovo motoS50's bezels are also controlled well. Although the top and bottom bezels are slightly wider than the sides, not achieving a four-sided equal-width effect, the appearance is coordinated enough. In short, Lenovo moto really nailed the aesthetics this time.

AI Imaging, Shoot and Get

It may sound incredible, but this time Lenovo moto is surprisingly serious about imaging. The Lenovo motoS50 uses a brand new 1/1.56-inch IMX896 sensor, 50 million pixels, f/1.8 aperture, and supports OIS optical image stabilization. This configuration may have been common in mid-tier flagship phones in previous years, but it's truly rare at the thousand-yuan mid-range price point.

Thanks to the quality of the IMX896, the Lenovo motoS50's daytime imaging performance is truly remarkable. The dynamic range is excellent, noise control is top-notch, and the photos of scenery taken are natural and realistic. Considering that those who buy phones at this price point are not professional photographers, it's more than enough for everyday recording. (Source: Lei Technology)

Even at night, the Lenovo motoS50 can still produce clean enough night shots, with bright areas not overexposed and details in dark areas preserved. (Source: Lei Technology)

The 13MP ultra-wide-angle is very useful for capturing wide scenes or tall buildings, it's all about easily capturing large-scale photos. (Source: Lei Technology)

As for the last 10MP 3x telephoto, it's not really about the long-distance view, but its biggest role is actually to help ordinary consumers take better photos casually. Even someone like me who can't find girls, this lens can still be used to take great pictures of figurines... (Source: Lei Technology)

Don't talk, I'm about to cry. (Source: Lei Technology, 3x) (Source: Lei Technology, 6x)

As for the long-distance range, it's still pretty usable around the 3-6x focal length.

All-Round Configuration, Average Performance

Well, although I usually use performance to start this section, today I'm going to go against the grain and start with the peripheral configuration and analyze it properly. For example, the fingerprint sensor, this phone surprisingly gives an in-display fingerprint sensor, and it's perfectly placed on this phone. In addition, the unlocking speed is not slow either. (Source: Lei Technology)

Concerned about charging and battery life? A 4310mAh battery is packed into the small body. Coupled with the low power consumption of the small screen, there's no need to worry about battery life. 68W wired charging, it takes about 15 minutes to reach 50%, and it even has 15W wireless charging, which is very friendly for those who often sit in the office or drive. Dual speakers are included, and so are features like NFC.

In terms of the chip, the Lenovo motoS50 is equipped with the Dimensity 7300 chip. It uses a 4nm process technology and consists of 4 A78 cores and 4 A55 cores, with a maximum clock speed of 2.5GHz. The GPU is the Arm Mali-G615MC2, which integrates the AI processor APU655. (Source: MediaTek)

It looks unfamiliar because no domestic phones have used this processor yet. In fact, the performance of the Dimensity 7300 is at the same level as the Snapdragon 7s Gen2. You can consider it as the MediaTek equivalent of the Snapdragon 778G. In benchmark tests, it scored around 700,000 points in AnTuTu. (Source: Lei Technology)

Is this score high? In 2024, where the average score is 1.6 million points, it definitely doesn't count as top-notch. Is this score low?