For the second year in a row, Motorola treated us to a pair of foldable Androids that rock the Razr moniker. The tech giant’s latest Razr and Razr+ smartphones replace a duo of excellent products, bringing a host of design and hardware improvements while keeping the same pricing. The Razr starts at $700, while the Plus model rocks a $1,000 price tag.
Key Specs
| Chip | MediaTek Dimensity 7300X |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch foldable pOLED with FHD+ resolution (2,640 x 1,080 pixels), 120 Hz refresh rate; 3.6-inch external pOLED (1,056 x 1,066 pixels) |
| Camera | 50 MP primary, 13 MP ultra-wide, 32 MP selfie |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage |
| Power | 4,200 mAh battery, fast wired and wireless charging |
| Other | IPX8 water-resistant, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos |
Key Specs
| Chip | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch foldable pOLED with FHD+ resolution (2,640 x 1,080 pixels), 165 Hz refresh rate; 4-inch external pOLED (1,272 x 1,080 pixels) |
| Camera | 50 MP primary, 50 MP telephoto, 32 MP selfie |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage |
| Power | 4,000 mAh battery, fast wired and wireless charging |
| Other | IPX8 water-resistant, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos |
This year marks two decades since Motorola introduced the iconic Razr, so the arrival of the latest ones is a huge deal for those of us who had the original and Y2K lovers. Thankfully, the foldable duo is up to the big occasion. The new Razr phones are sleeker, tougher, and better equipped than the outgoing models, so I was eager to put them through their paces.
We’re in the mid-2020s, but the market for foldable phones, especially with a flip form factor that harks back decades, is still quite small. The Motorola Razr+, in particular, is a direct rival to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6, making a direct comparison inevitable.
With all of the above on my mind, I spent the past couple of weeks testing the Motorola Razr and Razr+, constantly comparing the latter to the similarly priced Samsung Galaxy Z series. Here’s everything you should know about the Motorola’s design and performance, as well as a closer look at how they stack up against the competition.
Design
At a glance, the 2024 Motorola Razr+ looks just like its predecessor. However, comparing the two phones side by side reveals that the latest iteration has a noticeably larger external display. Measuring four inches diagonally, the display panel adds more convenience and versatility to the new Razr+ when it’s folded.
The lower-priced Razr, on the other hand, looks dramatically different from the 2023 version, courtesy of a much larger exterior screen. The latter makes the standard Razr look a whole lot like the Plus. Of course, the bigger display also brings a whole new world of interactions that weren’t available in the previous version.
Both new Moto Razr phones rock colorful vegan leather back panels that look and feel decidedly luxurious. The material’s textured finish also improves the handling of each phone. I didn’t worry about accidentally dropping the Razr and Razr+ even though I tested them without cases — potentially pointing to a decent savings over the life of the phone.
Enhanced durability with an IPX8 rating for water resistance is a more consequential upgrade for the new Razr phones than their bigger external screens. That’s a massive leap forward for both products, as it ensures that they can survive full submersion underwater. For comparison, the 2023 generation Razr phones only had a water-repellent coating that was underwhelming for products in their price category.
Display(s)
I tip my hat to the tech giant for decking out the 2024 Razr and Razr+ with identical primary displays. The 6.9-inch foldable AMOLED panels of both new Motorola Razr iterations are the biggest in class and excellent overall. Their 3,000-nit peak brightness and 165-Hertz refresh rate are also leading the product category, guaranteeing fast and fluid interactions and vivid colors even in scenarios with bright lighting.
The crease in the devices’ foldable screens is minimal and does not get in the way of viewing and interacting with content. I spent hours gaming on both Razr versions, sent hundreds of emails and instant messages, and scrolled through many yards’ worth of social media feeds clearly and comfortably.
The spacious exterior displays of the new Razr and Razr+ are one of the primary reasons to have the phones on your radar. The 4-inch panel of the Razr+, in addition to making common tasks like keeping tabs on notifications and accessing the device controls easy, allowed me to crank out messages and use many of my go-to apps without the need to open the phone. This ergonomic revelation reminded me of the days when phones were smaller and more comfortable to use with one hand.
Swapping the minuscule 1.5-inch external screen of the 2023 Razr for a 3.6-inch unit in the follow-up has dramatically impacted its usability. That’s a nifty upgrade, as there’s no longer a need to spend big to get the external experience of the Plus version.
Camera
The dual camera of the new Motorola Razr+ includes a sensor with a telephoto lens, and that’s a big deal. Notably missing on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip lineup, the functionality makes the Razr+ a more capable tool for capturing wildlife and portraits, to name a couple of common scenarios. The high-resolution sensor also enables a four-time zoom magnification, a la iPhone 15, without the loss of detail.
Both 2024 Razr phones captured instantly shareable, if not best-for-the-money, photos when I put their cameras through their paces. Due to the packaging challenges brought by their shape-shifting form factor, foldable phones can’t match identically priced rectangles in camera quality, and that’s okay, given their unique benefits.
Among the above perks is the option to easily capture quality selfies with the primary cameras of each Razr while using its external screen as a viewfinder. The high-resolution interior camera of both phones is also perfect for the task, though I always preferred the superior optics and added versatility of their external snappers.
Performance
Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, the new Motorola Razr+ is a stellar all-around performer, if far from the most powerful phone for the money. Most identically priced Androids with a standard form factor pack a version of the chip sans the “s” moniker that’s more powerful. Still, the 4-nanometer silicon of the Plus is on a higher level than the chip of last year’s Razr+.
The Mediatek Dimensity 7300X chip of the entry-level Razr is unsurprisingly a step behind the Qualcomm-made unit of the range-topping version but still plenty capable. I didn’t feel short on hardware oomph while using the device daily.
During my testing, both phones performed well. App startups and interactions were fast and fluid, and so was switching between multiple active ones like a Chrome browser, Slack, Outlook, Gmail, and social media outlets. Avid gamers and multitaskers should spend extra to get the Razr+ because it has a speedier chip and more RAM.
The battery life of each Razr was excellent, courtesy of energy-efficient hardware and a large onboard battery. I had no trouble getting a full day of use from the phones.
User Experience
Motorola phones have a longtime reputation for providing a clutter-free Android experience with thoughtful additional enhancements, and the new Razr and Razr+ follow the tradition. Twisting the razr twice to activate its camera and using it as a flashlight via a chopping gesture was faster and more convenient than the competition.
AI — the buzziest tech feature to enter mainstream gadgets — is also part of the new Moto Razr Android experience, with Google Gemini leading the way. The mighty virtual helper can deliver a supercharged search experience and enhance productivity quickly and intuitively. On the other hand, Moto AI makes creating digital art and customizing the phone easy and fun.
Comparing the Moto Razr+ to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Flip6 is the most formidable Moto Razr+ rival, making a comparison between the two products compulsory. I’d recommend the Razr+ for its sleeker looks, larger screens (especially the exterior one), telephoto camera, onboard telephoto camera, speedier charging, and lower asking price. The Motorola product undercuts its Galaxy rival by $200 before factoring in additional deals and discounts.
That said, the Galaxy Z Flip6 packs the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Serie 3 chip as the S24 lineup, so it’s vastly more powerful than the razr+. Samsung’s phone is also more durable and, thanks to seven years’ worth of guaranteed updates (versus three platform updates for the Razr), more future-proof. The Galaxy AI-powered experiences it offers are also worth spending extra on.
Conclusion
Twenty years ago, the Motorola Razr rightfully made millions of consumers prioritize style and tactility when searching for a new phone. The 2024 sequels are no exception. The phones are elegant and superbly made without skimping on hardware, performance, and usability.
If you are looking to make the jump to a foldable phone or introduce someone to this form factor via a gift, the 2024 Razr duo should be on your radar, so long as you or the recipient don’t plan to hold onto your phones for more than 2-3 years. Otherwise, spend more on a Samsung Galaxy Z Series phone for its next-level power and platform support, or get a regularly shaped top-shelf Android like the Samsung Galaxy or a Google Pixel.
The Razr+ is worth the price premium over the standard model for its bigger exterior display, more powerful chip, and superior camera. Currently, it’s available at $100 below retail, so it’s already a good buy for early adopters.
The exterior display and durability improvements of the starter Razr make it an even stronger buy than its predecessor, even at full retail. Still, given that Motorola discounted the 2023 not long after launch, I’d wait a bit before its follow-up gets an inevitable price cut.
