Motorola's new Razr Fold is a welcome addition to the world of foldable smartphones, offering a compelling alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. While it may have arrived late to the party, the Razr Fold packs a punch with its impressive features and thoughtful design choices. However, it's not without its flaws, and I'll delve into both the strengths and weaknesses of this device in this review.
A Familiar Face with Unique Touches
The Razr Fold's design is reminiscent of its competitors, with a 6.6-inch exterior display that unfolds to reveal an 8.1-inch interior screen. However, Motorola has added its own flair with curvier corners and a dedicated AI button. The back panel features a unique texture, resembling rugged outdoor gear, but the color options leave something to be desired. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor, while functional, is a bit tricky to use due to its narrow design.
In terms of size, the Razr Fold is thicker and heavier than the Z Fold 7, which I found to be a minor drawback. However, its water resistance is impressive, handling submersions up to five feet for 30 minutes. The IP49 rating, while not as robust as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's IP68, is still a step up from its competitors.
Display and Stylus Support: A World-Class Experience
The Razr Fold's displays are a standout feature, with larger panels and higher brightness levels. The interior and exterior screens are 0.1 to 0.2 inches bigger, providing a superior viewing experience. The slight crease is hardly noticeable once you adjust to it. However, the native stylus support is a game-changer for artists and note-takers, although the additional cost and lack of storage for the stylus are drawbacks.
Performance and Software: Smooth and Efficient
Under the hood, the Razr Fold is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, offering excellent performance and responsiveness. It handles games and apps with ease, and the splitscreen system is a convenient feature. However, the AI suite feels barebones compared to Samsung and Google's offerings, with basic tools and pre-installed apps.
Cameras: Impressive Image Quality
The Razr Fold's 50-megapixel main sensor delivers impressive image quality, outperforming the Z Fold 7 in certain scenarios. The photos are sharper and more detailed, with more saturated colors. The phone also boasts a 50MP telephoto cam and a 50MP ultra-wide cam, along with a 20MP exterior display camera and a 32MP main screen camera for selfies and video calls.
Battery Life and Charging: A Major Leap
Motorola has made significant strides in battery technology with the Razr Fold. The 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery lasts over a full day during our local video rundown test, outperforming the Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. However, the charging speeds are impressive, but the lack of a power adapter in the box and the need for proprietary accessories is a minor inconvenience.
Wrap-Up: A Worthy Contender
The Razr Fold is a strong contender in the foldable smartphone market, offering excellent screens, great cameras, and class-leading battery life. Its native stylus support is a unique selling point, and its price is more affordable than the Z Fold 7. However, the design is slightly less streamlined, and the AI features are less advanced than its competitors. If you're in the market for a foldable phone, the Razr Fold is a great option, but it may be overshadowed by its rivals' upcoming refreshes.
