Samsung has been the biggest name in foldable for the past few years. While rivals are in China and, to a certain extent, throughout Europe, the Samsung Galaxy Z series has run the table, offering generation after generation of improvements and refined designs.
But the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phones aren’t the only folding pieces you’ll find available throughout much of the world. Motorola has two folding phones under its belt, and a third-gen model was recently released in 2022 in China.
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With an all-new design, flagship specifications, and rumours of a relatively affordable price, if you want to relive the 2000s with a familiar phone should get excited. Here’s everything you would like to know about Moto Razr which will be released in August 2022!
The Motorola Razr is going to be the third-generation foldable phone from popular handset maker Motorola, and one of the most expected bending devices that’ll be out.
The Motorola Razr series was being released in yearly iterations, a report suggests there might be no version of the handset. With the new model seeing bigger improvements it gets an extra year of development. That’s not a confirmed report, though.
The Competitors
Motorola Razr is a compact device when folded and a normal-sized smartphone when opened. Its direct competitor is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and tertiary competitors in other folding phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and, to a certain degree, the LG V60 and LG Velvet.
Why Foldable Device?
Motorola’s goal with this phone was to create a desirable, premium device that appeals to those who are looking for foldable phones. But Motorola is also trying something new here. The folding form is in its nascent and none of the products in the market have truly found their footing.
Motorola Razr 5G? It’s a refined experiment, a chance to get things (more) right while serving as the shiny hero of Motorola’s lineup.
Who Is It For?
The Motorola Razr is a phone of the future and also a phone of the past. While it takes its basic approach from the famous 2005 smash hit, it displays some of the latest innovations from Motorola and beyond. Even after having been in the market for a full year now, folding screens are still a fresh concept. They have yet to scale down from pricey showpieces to more mainstream, affordable fare.
The Motorola Razr 5G is for people who are bored with current phone designs, who long for something different and new, and who want something to show off to their friends to stir discussion. At $1,400, it’s an expensive one that’s out of reach for most people. That makes the Razr 5G a luxury item.
It is not for all. The first Motorola Razr was widely panned for its creaky hinge. Now it says that the hinge of its new phone has been completely redesigned and is stronger than ever. Moreover, folding display tech has yet to prove itself of real value to consumers. This could be a craze that fades into oblivion — or it could be the next big thing. We just don’t know yet.
But the Motorola Razr 5G is first and foremost for those who can afford it.
Motorola’s first two foldable are interesting but flawed, so there’s a lot of room for improvement here.y handy.
Design and Specifications
Unlike its predecessors, Motorola Razr shifted to an all-new look for its third-gen Razr. This phone uses a broader build that looks more durable than previous generations, all at the cost of its iconic chin. To some, it might not be that appealing that unsightly notch and other questionable design decisions, so your mileage may vary.
When it comes to specs, the third-gen Razr is a leap forward, and it’s not because it’s been two years since the last model. Motorola itself to mid-range processors on the previous two models, but the 2022 Razr uses a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Combined with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, it’s some serious flagship power. But, the 12GB/512GB SKU is limited to China exclusively.
Like other foldable, Motorola uses interior and exterior displays to keep you connected to your notifications at all times. The main screen is a standard 6.7″ 1080p OLED panel, and at 144Hz, it even excels the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 when it comes to the refresh rate.
The outside has a 2.7″ 573 x 800 OLED panel, displaying the time, incoming notifications, and more. That’s larger than what Samsung uses on its Flip, which should make the Razr an appealing alternative should it arrive stateside.
Power
Battery life is often the biggest challenge phones face, and it’s unclear if the Razr will fair much better. A 3,500mAh manages to best the paltry cells included in its predecessors—neither of which surpassed 3,000mAh. Still, it’s still below the 3,700mAh battery Samsung uses in the Galaxy Z Flip 4. You can use it for a day when fully charged, but don’t be surprised if you have to rely on its 33W fast charging to top up on your way home from the office.
Cameras
Motorola’s smartphones are not having great camera performance, and the Razr will likely follow that pattern. The third-gen Razr includes two cameras on the front of the device: a 50MP f/1.9 1/1.55″ wide lens and a 13MP f/2.2 121˚ ultra-wide lens. That’s nothing too impressive, and none of Motorola’s recent launches give us hope that it’ll exceed your expectations regarding low-light performance. Expect to take some decent daytime shots, though. The Razr’s also capable of recording 4K30 videos, with options up to 120FPS in 1080p.
Inside the phone, you’ll find a 32MP selfie cam. Motorola terminated its notch cut-out this time. Instead, it opted for a basic circle in the middle of the screen. It should be fine for Snapchat or Instagram, and the 1080p60 videos should be more than enough for video chatting. However, you might be better off using the main sensor to take selfies, as the exterior cam acts as a viewfinder.
Motorola Razr: Software
The third-gen Moto Razr launched with Android 12 in China, which makes a lot of sense. The company unveiled its latest foldable after Google released Android 13, making it infeasible for Motorola to ship the phone with anything newer. It also runs Motorola’s skin, though the company usually keeps its customization and tweaks to a minimum.
Unfortunately, the phone also arrived in Europe running on Android 12, two and a half months out from the arrival of Android 13. The company has not a bad track record in providing timely, long-lasting software releases for its phones.
Performance
We all know that the last two generations of Razr know that phones’ price/performance balance was completely out of whack, compared to other conventionally-shaped handsets, but there was valid reasoning for this.
Their combination of high price tags and mid-range processors was the brainchild of the company’s desire the break into the foldable phone space early and that required money to invest in research and development.
Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip runs the show, packed with speedy LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 storage. In most markets outside of China, the Motorola Razr 2022 is available with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but depending on your location, you might encounter the 128GB storage build or the top-tier 12GB RAM / 512GB storage variant.
The only caveat is that, despite the top-tier chip and high refresh rate main display, you will occasionally run into jumps and stutters that can carry through to gaming and are even more apparent when using the external Quick View display.
Availability, Release Date, And Pricing
Motorola Razr has a rough start when launching its third-gen Razr. After taking a year off, rumours of a new folding phone filled the mobile landscape throughout 2022. When it came time for the phone’s launch, the phone finally arrived in August, though limited to the China slot. You can get Motorola Razr 5G at NZD 3,128 now.
A Folding Phone To Rival Samsung?
As it stands, Motorola Razr remains Samsung’s biggest rival outside of some China-focused brands. Without much competition in regions like the U.S., it’s easy to see Motorola getting a foothold here. It’ll likely depend on pricing, availability, and carrier deals.
You Should Buy This Phone If:
You are looking for a foldable that’s good for gaming as it is pairing of a top-tier chip, fast, responsive display, and useful software augments in Moto Gametime make it a great foldable for gaming.
You do not like the crease as the manufacturers have been working hard to eliminate the crease that appears along the fold line of a phone’s folding display and the Razr 2022 is one of the best bets.
You want a compact big-screen phone of about 6.7 inches on the larger side – when it comes to smartphone displays – so being able to fold that sized screen in half and slip it in your pocket is pretty handy.
Interesting Read: TVNZ on demand
Conclusion:
In the competitive world of foldable smartphones, Samsung’s Galaxy Z series has dominated the scene with continuous improvements. However, Motorola’s Razr series has also made its mark, offering a unique and nostalgic twist with its folding design. The third-generation Motorola Razr, released in 2022, brings significant advancements, sporting flagship specifications and a refined design. As a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5G, the Razr targets those seeking both innovation and a touch of nostalgia. With an all-new look, improved hinge, powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, and a flexible display setup, the Razr aims to carve a niche in the evolving world of foldable devices. While the competition is fierce, the Razr offers a unique proposition for those willing to invest in the merging worlds of past and future smartphone design.
