Review | Motorola’s $1,500 Razr: The reboot feels more prototype than premium

The good news about the display is that its two creases can only really be seen when the screen is off

As smartphone sales have slowed in recent years, designers have been looking to reinvent the category. But Motorola’s new $1,500 Razr shows there is a long way to go before flagship devices like the iPhone are disrupted.

The foldable phone

The Razr is the third foldable Android phone launched by a big-name brand in recent months. The first attempts from Samsung and Huawei transformed into tablets, whereas the Razr is more of a foldable phone. Its 6.2-inch screen shuts into a small square, about half the size of an iPhone 11 Pro Max, and it benefits from deep nostalgia for the original Razr flip phone that defined the pre-iPhone era in the United States (US).

Novelty and portability are pluses, but that is not enough for a$1,500 handset. As solid as it feels when shut, its decidedly flimsy in the hand when opened up. The foldable screen which Motorola stresses is built to withstand daily use feels like it might work well for several months, but not for years. Smartphone buyers increasingly expect their devices to last as long as four years, especially the most expensive models. The Razr does not immediately convince that it can hold-up over time.

Even if durability was not a concern,Motorola’s Razr suffers from compromised specifications. Its 2,510mAh battery is behind the times for a device of its size, its camera underwhelms, the Android 9 Pie operating system is not the latest and its Qualcomm 700-series Snapdragon processor is not top of the line despite the phones premium price.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip on Tuesday with a similar square shape, but its inner display is larger at 6.7 inches and has a glass rather than plastic screen. In the hand, Samsung’s offering feels more refined and reliable. With a better processor, bigger battery and a price more than $100 less, the Z Flip instantly vaults ahead of the Razr.

The cons

As early users of the Moto Razr have noted, the phone makes a slight, unnerving cracking sound when opened and closed. That is something users will need to get used to. If you rub your finger along the plastic inner display, you will feel lumps that are part of the phones mechanism. Motorola says that is normal, but its another something you will need to get used to. The upper part of the screen feels more solid when pressed than the bottom half, and the entire panel is a fingerprint magnet. The elongated screen also hampers ergonomics when trying to type something on the keyboard.

A good display

The good news about the display is that its two creases can only really be seen when the screen is off. That is a step forward from Samsung’s 2019 Galaxy Fold. Moreover, like the Fold and the Z Flip, the Razrs screen is protected from scratches and accidental fumbles in a way that a device that does not fold inward is not.

Undeniably tactile appeal

Motorola’s experimentation with foldable touchscreen technology is commendable, and making it happen inside a device that closes up into a cute square is equally impressive. There is an undeniable tactile appeal to answering and ending calls by opening and slamming a phone shut, but its not of huge importance in an era when most people jump directly to Twitter, TikTok or their texts. The Razr simply feels too flimsy and compromised. Its trade-offs are far too high for anyone to make the switch from an iPhone, Samsung or even one of Motorola’s own, more conventional smartphones.

Foldable phones certainly have their benefits, but at this point they are like expensive weekend cars: something additional to your daily driver and not yet essential to most people. Smartphone makers are making fast strides toward ironing out the impracticalities and compromises, and once they do, there will be plenty of people ready to buy in. But Motorla’s revived Razr is not the product to mark that inflection point.