Motorola recently made an exciting announcement, introducing its latest lineup of folding phones. One of them is set to hit the market later this month, while the other will be available at a later date. These innovative devices appear as regular-sized phones when unfolded, but can be folded in half to become more compact and easily portable. Let’s dive into the details and learn more about these devices.
What’s in a name?
Motorola has officially unveiled its 2023 foldable smartphones, namely the Motorola RAZR and the Motorola RAZR Plus. These phones are set to be launched in the United States, and those will be their official names within the country.
However, it’s important to note that these devices have different names outside the United States. They will be referred to as the Motorola RAZR 40 and the Motorola RAZR 40 Ultra, respectively. For the sake of consistency, I will be using their U.S. release names throughout this discussion.
What are the differences?
The Motorola RAZR Plus stands out with a faster processor, a higher price point, and a notably larger external display. Let’s delve into the details.
The Largest External Display on a Folding Phone
One prominent trend in foldable phones is the inclusion of a substantial outer display. The RAZR Plus takes this concept to new heights by featuring the largest cover screen yet, measuring 3.6 inches. This expansive display dominates the phone’s exterior, with the cameras subtly integrated to maximize the full-screen effect. It surpasses the external display of Samsung’s rival Galaxy Z Flip4 by a significant margin.
The larger cover screen provides a range of advantages, such as enhanced photography capabilities. When capturing photos, the subject can now preview and adjust their appearance before the shutter is pressed, alleviating the disappointment that may arise from unsatisfactory shots. Moreover, the size of the display allows for tasks like reading emails, sending texts, and more without the need to unfold the phone.
In contrast, the RAZR features a 1.5-inch display, which, while sufficient, pales in comparison to the impressive offering of the RAZR Plus.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Processor
The RAZR Plus boasts a powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, known for its speed and high performance. This same chip is also expected to be featured in the upcoming Nothing Phone (2). On the other hand, the RAZR is equipped with a decent but slightly slower Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip.
Pricing Details
While not all pricing details have been officially disclosed, the RAZR Plus is priced at $999 or £1,049.99 in the U.K. The cost of the regular RAZR has not been announced for the United States, but the U.K. price of £799.99 provides some indication. The significant price difference suggests a potential range of $750-$800 for the regular RAZR.
What do the phones have in common?
Both phones share a few common features. They both sport an internal 6.9-inch OLED display, although the Plus offers a faster refresh rate of 165Hz compared to the 144Hz of the regular RAZR. The hinge mechanism has been meticulously designed to allow for various positions and folds completely flat, ensuring that dust or lint from pockets doesn’t find its way inside.
In terms of cameras, the RAZR Plus features a 12MP main camera, 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 32MP selfie camera. The regular RAZR has a 64MP main camera, while the other two cameras match those of the Plus.
One advantage of the RAZR is its slightly larger battery capacity, thanks to the smaller display size. The RAZR Plus is set to go on sale later this month, with the regular RAZR following suit.
Both phones boast impressive features, but the Plus model is the one that will likely make Samsung take notice and contemplate ways to elevate its own offerings.
