Foldable smartphones have been around for years now, but is it wrong to say that they are the new trend of summer 2023? Google’s first Pixel tablet phone will hit stores soon, and Motorola is joining the fray today by announcing two new models: the Razr 40 and Razr 40 Ultra.
This is technically Motorola’s third attempt at a foldable clamshell smartphone. A first version was released in 2020, and a second version was released exclusively in China late last year. But these two versions never saw the success that rival company, Samsung, had with its Z Fold and Z Flip models.
But recently, a brand spokesperson made it clear that this Motorola Razr 2023 family is central to Motorola’s strategy. After trying both Razr models, I’m cautiously optimistic. Motorola may finally have devices worth buying that can ultimately challenge Samsung’s dominance in the market.
Meet the flagship, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
June Wan/ZDNET
The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra is the more powerful foldable of the two; it’s the flagship, with a larger 3.6-inch external display, a more capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 256GB of storage and a €1,200 price tag.
Opening up the Razr is quite impressive. A large 6.9-inch POLED (plastic surface) screen that goes up to 165Hz, dual-output speakers, a 32MP selfie camera and a system that works with the latest version of Android 13 The device integrates a fingerprint sensor in its screen, has better resistance to water and dust (currently IP52), which is not perfect, however.
Camcorder mode lets you hold your phone firmly while giving your subject a clear view of what’s being photographed. June Wan/ZDNET
Most users will be drawn to the Razr 40 Ultra model for its exterior display that stretches from corner to corner of the machine. It’s a feat that Samsung’s next Galaxy Z Flip series should finally offer after four generations of foldable smartphones that neglected this feature. And I’m glad Motorola cares about that aspect of design. Beyond the usual music controls, notifications, and alarm clocks, the Razr 40 Ultra’s exterior display features customizable “panels.” Think app and widget windows squeezed into a 3.6-inch screen.
Interaction with the outer screen is akin to smartphones of the past decade, when 3-4 inch screens were the norm. And the gesture seems very natural. Without having to stretch my fingers, I was able to scroll through the local weather, reply to text messages, play games, and even control Spotify settings beyond play and pause.
And if you want to control your position while you check in on TikTok or take a group selfie, the same screen will act as your viewfinder, thanks to a hinge strong enough to stay still and tilted.
Personalization is at the heart of the external display. June Wan/ZDNET
Despite this major advantage in the flip phone war between Motorola and Samsung, there’s one thing that bugs me about the Razr 40 Ultra. The problem is battery life. Yes, the phone has, as the company claims, the slimmest design of any flip phone. The lack of visible space when the two halves are folded is striking enough. The external screen is also a real pleasure thanks to its refresh rate of 144 Hz.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from reviewing compact smartphones. It is that a 3800 mAh battery may not be enough for the whole day. I won’t draw any conclusions (including photo quality) until I’ve tested the Razr 40 Ultra.
The Razr 40, “significantly cheaper”
June Wan/ZDNET
The Razr 40 Ultra is accompanied by a less flashy model, simply dubbed “Razr 40”. Motorola says this phone will be released by the end of June, priced at €900.
It’s not a significantly smaller, thinner, and lighter device, and the unfolded screen performs just as well (6.9-inches and 144Hz).
On the other hand, the non-Ultra model has three major drawbacks. The most obvious difference is the smaller external screen (the Razr has a 1.5-inch panel instead of 3.6-inch) which is also interactive but limited to simple lines of text and buttons. This is the classic Galaxy Z Flip problem.
Comparison of the exterior screens of the Razr 40 Ultra (left) and the Razr (right). June Wan/ZDNET
The 64-megapixel main camera also has a smaller sensor than the Razr 40 Ultra, which can lead to a disparity in low-light performance and detail capture. Finally, the Razr is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip which, objectively, is less efficient than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 of the Ultra model.
On the other hand, the reduction of these characteristics allowed Motorola to integrate a larger battery of 4,200 mAh in the standard Razr. The space-saving external display is the reason for the improved battery life.
To conclude on the handling of the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra and Motorola Razr 40
This new crop of foldable smartphones hitting stores soon means customers have new options for shopping, and journalists have new gadgets to try out. And that manufacturers (I’m looking at you, Samsung) finally have tangible competition. Stay tuned, we will continue to evaluate the new Motorola Razr smartphones and we will bring you more details in the coming weeks.
Source: “ZDNet.com”