Samsung has been the most well-known brand in foldables for the past few years. While competitors have emerged in China and, to a lesser extent, around Europe, the Samsung Galaxy Z series has dominated the market for years by introducing upgrades and improved designs on a yearly basis. There are other clamshell phones that fold up that are available in most parts of the world besides the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phones. Two folding phones were produced by Motorola, and the third generation of that product debuted early in China.
Despite the fact that region exclusivity may cause you to gravitate toward Samsung’s models throughout their next sale, you might not have to wait long to obtain the most recent Moto Razr. Anyone hoping to relive the 2000s with a recognisable clamshell phone should be thrilled because it has a brand-new design, flagship specifications, and reports suggest it will be reasonably priced. Here is a list of everything we currently know about the Moto Razr and an outlook on what lies ahead.
Motorola Razr: Design and specs
We already know everything there is to know about Motorola’s newest foldable from a design and specification standpoint thanks to an early introduction in China. Put aside rumours and leaks. It’s simple to figure out what makes the Razr unique.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip
- 8GB, 12GB of RAM (China-exclusive)
- 128GB or 256GB; 512GB (unique to China); non-expandable storage
- Displays 2.7″ 573 x 800 G-OLED panel with 6.7″ 1080p 144Hz P-OLED panel (exterior)
- 50 MP f/1.9 1/1.55 cameras “wide-angle, 13MP, f/2.2, and 32MP front-facing cameras
- Android 12 software 3,500mAh, 33W quick-charging
- Price £949 / €1199
For its third-generation Razr, Motorola has adopted a whole new aesthetic. Less of this phone is modelled after the flip phone you used twenty years ago. Instead, it does away with the chin from its 2019 and 2020 models and adopts a wider design that appears more robust than prior generations. It can make the Razr appear less appealing than the original design to certain people. Your experience may differ, but it also eliminates the unattractive notch and other dubious design choices.
The third-generation Razr is a significant improvement in terms of specs, and not only because the previous model was released two years ago. On the previous two iterations, Motorola was restricted to using midrange processors, but the 2022 Razr uses a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Currently, that is the pinnacle of Android’s mobile processing power, matching the performance provided by the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. It is a serious flagship device with up to 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the 12GB/512GB SKU is only available in China.
Motorola employs inner and external displays, like other foldables, to keep you always informed of your alerts. The primary display is a typical 6.7.” “In terms of refresh rate, it even outperforms the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 with a 1080p OLED panel running at 144Hz. Outside of game, that won’t mean much. Still, if you’re a serious mobile gamer, the Razr might be the foldable to get.
The exterior is embellished with a 2.7 “OLED display with a resolution of 573 by 800 that can display the clock, new notifications, and more. That makes the Razr an enticing alternative if it ever makes it to the United States because it is bigger than what Samsung employs on its Flip.
It’s not known how well the Razr will perform in terms of battery life, which is frequently the main problem with clamshell phones. The meagre cells seen in its predecessors, neither of which exceeded 3,000mAh, are outclassed by a 3,500mAh. The battery is still less powerful than the 3,700mAh one Samsung uses in the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Expect to use it for at most one day before needing to recharge using its 33W fast-charging, so don’t be surprised if you need to do so on your way home from work.
Motorola Razr: Cameras
The camera quality of Motorola’s cellphones is seldom well-known, and the Razr is expected to continue that trend. The third-generation Razr has two cameras on the front, as we’ve come to expect from clamshell phones: a 50MP f/1.9 1/1.55 “a 13MP f/2.2 121 ultra-wide lens, and a wide lens. That’s not particularly spectacular, and none of Motorola’s recent product introductions have given us reason to believe that it will perform better in low light than we anticipate. However, plan to snap some good pictures during the day. Additionally, the Razr has choices for capturing 4K30 videos at 120FPS in 1080p.
The phone has a 32MP selfie camera inside. This time, Motorola did away with the notch cut-out. It chose to place a simple circle in the centre of the screen instead. The 1080p60 videos should be more than sufficient for video chatting and should be adequate for Snapchat or Instagram. However, since the external camera doubles as a viewfinder, you might be better suited using the main sensor to snap selfies.
Motorola Razr: Software
It makes perfect sense that the third-generation Moto Razr was introduced in China with Android 12. After Google launched Android 13, the company showed its newest foldable, making it impossible for Motorola to ship the phone with anything newer. Although the company often limits its modification and alterations, it also runs Motorola’s skin.
Unfortunately, the device is also shipping in Europe with Android 12 installed, even though Android 13 is due to launch in two and a half months. Making excuses is more difficult in this situation. Additionally, we are unsure about Motorola’s plans for updates. It’s uncertain if the company’s track record of releasing timely, durable software updates for its phones will improve much with this particular handset.
Motorola Razr: Availability, release date, and pricing
When Motorola released the third generation Razr, things didn’t go well. After a year off, rumours about a brand-new foldable phone dominated the mobile industry in 2022. Motorola delayed the device’s release by a week without providing an explanation when the time came for it to happen.
The phone finally came in August, but it was only available in China. Motorola intends to introduce the Razr in a number of markets before the year is through, as we explained at launch. Some leaked graphics that suggest a possible U.S. debut have been revealed. Why else would American locales like Portland, Oregon, and Ohio show up in these pictures? When exactly that might occur is unknown. We don’t know if Motorola will work with all three national carriers for its forthcoming foldable, but it is plausible.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that a debut in Europe will take place at the end of October. It undercuts the Galaxy Z Flip 4 with a price starting at £949, or about $1,100 at today’s currency rates, but it’s not certain if it will be enough to persuade customers.
On whether a US debut is likely or what its pricing could be if it does, we still don’t have a lot of information. It’s difficult to see how Motorola can compete with the numerous carrier offers and trade-in values for the Flip 4 that have come and gone as well as the impending holiday buying season.
A folding phone to rival Samsung?
Outside of a few China-focused firms, Motorola is still Samsung’s biggest prospective opponent. It’s simple to imagine Motorola establishing a presence in areas like the U.S. given the lack of competition there. Pricing, availability, and carrier arrangements will probably all play a role. Nevertheless, given how quickly 2022 is coming to a close, don’t be shocked if we soon learn anything regarding the Razr’s increased availability. It remains to be seen if it will be sufficient to qualify as one of the greatest Android phones available.
