ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Motorola Razr (2024) is on the market now for $699.
- It is a refreshed model of the entry-level foldable Moto launched final yr, with an excellent greater cowl show, higher efficiency, and all-day battery life.
- The digicam stays the weakest level of the gadget, and you will solely get three main Android upgrades.
So, you are out there for a folding cellphone. Whether or not it is your first one or your second or third — in case you refuse to return to “regular” non-folding telephones and wish to avoid wasting cash, there is no higher foldable available on the market right this moment than the Motorola Razr.
Additionally: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Motorola Razr+ (2024): I’ve tested both, and the winner is not so obvious
The most recent model of Motorola’s flip cellphone will get all types of upgrades from final yr’s mannequin: a much bigger exterior show, sooner efficiency, higher water resistance, and better brightness, all for a similar $699 value. Are there some downsides? Positive, however anybody on the lookout for a mid-range foldable ought to look no additional.
It begins with the duvet display screen, which has considerably improved over the earlier era. The show has grown from 1.5 inches to three.6 inches — the identical dimension because the outer display screen on the 2023 Razr Plus. This implies you can run apps, play video games, and use well-detailed widgets for fast glances at essential data.
Additionally: One of the best foldable phones I’ve tested is not from OnePlus or Motorola
For context, none of those options have been accessible on the outdated Razr. Positive, you had some widgets and panels to have a look at on its tiny 1.5-inch show, however there is no denying that it received cramped fairly shortly. The brand new Razr gracefully avoids that challenge with a far bigger display screen, and it is the improve I’ve appreciated essentially the most.
Talking of which, the primary show additionally seems nice. It shares most of the similar specs because the outdated Razr’s show, akin to the scale, the P-OLED panel, and the Full HD+ decision. The refresh charge is barely decrease at 120Hz versus 144Hz, however the distinction is negligible. What issues most is the elevated brightness; the brand new Razr can go all the way in which as much as 3,000 nits, making the display screen approach simpler to see in direct daylight, particularly via sun shades.
In fact, the crease remains to be there, however Motorola has decreased it in comparison with the earlier Razr. It does not really feel as pronounced in particular person, however you possibly can undoubtedly nonetheless see it. The hinge itself has additionally been upgraded with elevated energy, which is essential for long-term use.
Additionally: The best Android phones you can buy: Expert tested
Motorola additionally had the Razr and Razr Plus IPX8 licensed, which suggests you possibly can dunk both of them in a meter and a half of water for as much as half-hour. You is likely to be questioning why there’s an “X” the place you’d often discover a “5” or “6” in that ranking, and that is as a result of Moto did not take a look at for grime and mud safety. The corporate did, nevertheless, inform me that there’s a degree of safety for small particles, so there’s that.
The design additionally contains some premium supplies on the outside. The Koala Grey model I’ve comes with a vegan suede materials, whereas the Seashore Sand and Spritz Orange (a.ok.a. one of the best colour) have vegan leather-based. The suede on the grey mannequin feels each clean and grippy, and I have not seen any extra grime assortment. In fact, over time, it is unclear how nicely the fabric will maintain up, nevertheless it appears to be doing nicely in my early testing.
Additionally: I tested Motorola’s new Razr Plus (2024) and it made the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip feel outdated
New in Motorola’s Hi there UX expertise are a couple of AI upgrades, together with a complete new Moto Assistant that may reference photos, keep in mind what somebody stated, and handle your notifications. Sadly, it is not right here but. As an alternative, the one “new” AI characteristic I may take a look at was Google Gemini, which is built-in into each the folding and canopy shows. You may fully substitute the Google Assistant with Gemini and use the identical “Hey Google” command to ask questions or prompts.
I additionally actually appreciated the battery lifetime of the Razr. Motorola geared up it with a 4,200mAh cell, and it could ship all-day battery life with 20-25 % left within the tank after a full 16-hour day. It recharges at 30W which, admittedly, is gradual by right this moment’s requirements, nevertheless it’s tremendous for an in a single day juice-up. You additionally get 15W wi-fi charging, which is a pleasant comfort, however there is no reverse wi-fi charging.
The most important draw back to the brand new Razr, nevertheless, is the digicam. The 50MP f/1.7 principal digicam is severely underwhelming. Pictures come out respectable in broad daylight, however they collapse shortly in most different conditions.
A pattern from the 50MP principal digicam on the Motorola Razr (2024)
Max Buondonno/ZDNET
The 13MP ultra-wide digicam is solely unreliable as is. High quality dips tremendously between the 2 sensors, with the ultra-wide failing to seize the identical quantity of sunshine and element as the primary. Video high quality from each seems uneven and overprocessed, and the portrait mode is satisfactory. I do respect the very fact you need to use the outer display screen as a viewfinder in your topic, however with cameras this disappointing, it is nothing greater than a nice-to-have the few occasions you may be snapping pictures.
Additionally: Motorola’s $399 Razr is still the cheapest foldable phone deal after Prime Day
Video high quality can be disappointing, as are selfies taken with the 32MP front-facing digicam. General, except you have a tendency to use a ton of filters to your photographs anyway, you may be disillusioned.
I am additionally not a fan of the software program help Motorola has promised. It solely ensures three years of main Android upgrades and 4 years of safety patches, whereas different producers provide 5 to seven years of updates. Perhaps you utilize your cellphone for longer than three years, perhaps you do not, nevertheless it’d be good if Motorola gave you the choice to make use of the cellphone longer than three years with updates.
Yet one more aspect observe: the Razr tends to get fairly sizzling beneath regular utilization. Perhaps it is simply the additional warmth from the summer season or the very fact I used to be taking extra photos than I often would exterior of a evaluate interval, however I seen that it heats up fairly typically and does not quiet down as shortly as different telephones. My guess? It is a physics factor involving the specs, battery, and the very fact this factor is on the skinny aspect.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Motorola Razr (2024) is a good entry-level cellphone for many who are curious concerning the flip-style type issue. Whereas the digicam is not one of the best, the remainder of the Razr is extremely strong, particularly for the $699 asking value. Positive, you may discover extra high-end foldables on the market, however if you wish to avoid wasting cash (or maybe choose it up as a secondary cellphone), that is the one to get.
