Motorola Might Have Just Built the Mid-Ranger I’ve Been Begging For

Wednesday, 21 January 2026 at 02:59

I’ll be honest, most mid-range "Fusion" phones usually leave me a little cold. They’re fine, sure, but they’re rarely exciting. However, this latest massive leak regarding the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion actually has me checking my calendar for an April release. If even half of these specs—courtesy of the always-reliable Evan Blass—are real, Motorola is about to make a lot of $1,000 flagships look incredibly overpriced.

The standout? A 7,000mAh battery.

I had to read that twice. We’re so used to the standard 5,000mAh "ceiling" that seeing 7,000mAh feels like a typo. It’s a huge jump from last year’s 5,500mAh Edge 60. I do wonder if it’s going to make the phone feel like a literal brick, but if it means I can go three days without a charger, I’m honestly fine with a little extra heft.

Key Points

Massive 7,000mAh Battery: A huge leap that promises legitimate multi-day battery life.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3: Moves away from Dimensity to Qualcomm’s efficient new 4nm platform.
Extreme "Power-Wash" Durability: Rated for both IP68 and IP69 water/dust resistance.
Flagship-Grade Screen: A 144Hz OLED display capable of a wild 5,200 nits peak brightness.
Expected April Debut: Likely launching this Spring with unique fabric-inspired nylon finishes.

The Chipset Swap and the "Nylon" Vibe

What’s interesting is the silicon shift. It looks like Moto is ditching the Dimensity 7400 in favor of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. It’s a smart move—Qualcomm’s "s" series has been punching way above its weight lately. But it’s the design that really feels like "classic Moto." We’re hearing about nylon and linen-inspired back panels in colors like Country Air and Sporting Green. It sounds a bit pretentious, I know, but I’d take fabric-textured nylon over fingerprint-smudged glass any day of the week.

Does anyone need IP69?

The durability specs are bordering on overkill, and I kind of love it. We’re talking IP68 and IP69. That 9 at the end means it can survive high-pressure, high-temp water jets. I don't know who is power-washing their phone, but hey, it’s nice to know you could.

The display is no slouch either—a 6.78-inch 1.5K OLED with 144Hz. It’s supposedly hitting 5,200 nits of peak brightness. Again, that’s a number that sounds great in a marketing deck, but I doubt my retinas actually want to experience it. Still, for a "Fusion" model, this is an absurdly high-end package.

If this hits the market in April at the right price, it’s going to be a problem for Samsung and Google. It’s not just a spec bump; it feels like a genuine attempt to give people a phone that actually lasts.

Motorola Edge 70