Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Review: The Best Foldable You Can Get

At a look

Knowledgeable’s Score

Execs

• Unbelievable 4-inch exterior show
• Daring color choices
• Improved cameras from earlier technology
• Distinctive software program options
• Spectacular battery life for a flip

Cons

• Not as lengthy software program help as Samsung
• Will get heat with intensive use
• Weaker inner digicam

Our Verdict

The Motorola Razr 50 Extremely makes huge enhancements to its digicam and battery life in comparison with the earlier technology, all whereas preserving prices beneath its greatest rival. In order for you a flip cellphone in 2024, that is the one to purchase.

Worth When Reviewed

$999

Finest Costs Right this moment: Motorola Razr 50 Extremely

Because the launch of the reimagined Razr in 2019, Motorola has come a great distance.

Final yr’s Razr 40 Extremely beat its greatest rival, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, to win our crown as the perfect folding cellphone.  

There have been some hiccups stopping it from perfection, together with an older chipset and a barely underwhelming digicam for the worth. Nevertheless, this yr Motorola has managed to include {hardware} upgrades and a aggressive worth for 2024’s launch, the Razr 50 Extremely – also referred to as the Razr+ (2024) within the US.

There are compromises, however they’re all in the appropriate areas – making this flip cellphone the cream of the foldable crop, and probably the greatest smartphones I’ve ever reviewed.  

Design & Construct 

• 4 colors
• IPX8 score
• Matching leather-based case and strap

At first look, the Razr 50 Extremely appears to be like like final yr’s mannequin. It retains the identical curved edges that permit it to suit comfortably in your palm when closed. That mentioned, Motorola has outdone itself this yr with the quilt show, which is the most important we’ve seen on a flip cellphone at 4-inches.  

The hinge on the cellphone permits it to open and shut easily, leaving barely any hole between the 2 halves. When shut, the cellphone is simply 15.32mm thick, 73.9mm lengthy and weighs simply 189g, so it matches completely in pockets – even the minuscule ones on ladies’s denims (game-changing, of us).  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

As a result of digicam bump, the cellphone doesn’t lie absolutely flush with the show dealing with up, however that’s a standard gripe of many flagship smartphones. Motorola claims that the revamped hinge permits customers to shut and open the cellphone one-handed extra simply. It’s doable, but it surely nonetheless takes a little bit of fiddling round.

There’s a minimal crease, particularly after simply unfolding the gadget. Nevertheless, not like cheaper foldables just like the Nubia Flip 5G, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t destroy my expertise watching YouTube or streaming Netflix. 

The cellphone is available in 4 colors: Sizzling Pink, Spring Inexperienced, Peach Fuzz and Midnight Blue, which I examined. These tones are current on each the aluminium chassis and the vegan leather-based rear a part of the cellphone. The blue model has a refined stripe down the center, including a little bit of a aptitude to probably the most understated color within the vary.  

The Razr 50 Extremely packs an IPX8 score, which suggests it could possibly survive a 1.5-metre dunking for as much as half-hour. Whereas that’s the next water resistance than final yr’s mannequin, the cellphone has no mud safety, although Motorola did inform Trusted Opinions that the construct and hinge are designed to minimise letting this in.  

There’s additionally now Gorilla Glass Victus on the quilt display, so it’s extra protected in opposition to drops. However after all, I’d advocate nonetheless utilizing a case because of the nature of its construct.

The quantity rocker and energy button sit on the right-hand aspect, with the USB-C port on the backside. The facility button has a fingerprint scanner inbuilt, and it really works constantly properly. Face recognition can also be obtainable.

This premium cellphone comes with an identical vegan leather-based solid and elective strap, so you possibly can carry the cellphone on a lanyard or crossbody fashion. I beloved the purple colourway on my mannequin, although it generally had hassle gripping the cellphone when first placing it on.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Display & Audio system 

• Large 4-inch exterior show
• 6.9-inch inner show
• Stereo audio system

Attributable to its foldable nature, there are two shows to debate on the Razr 50 Extremely. Let’s begin with that huge outdated 4-inch FHD+ pOLED 120Hz exterior one.  

This daring, vibrant and spectacular outer show stretches across the cameras, so you possibly can run any app on it. This can be a distinction to many different flip rivals that solely embody smaller screens predominantly for studying notifications. 

Which means you possibly can watch YouTube movies, use Google Maps and reply to chats on Messenger, all with out unflipping the cellphone. There are additionally devoted widgets for the exterior show, resembling a Spotify participant. 

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Apps which are opened on the outer show principally default to working smaller, leaving a niche on the backside. Some apps resembling Messenger supply the choice of a ‘Fullscreen editor’ when typing on the keyboard, which eliminates the chat above for a cleaner viewing expertise. Others, such because the climate, lengthen to the underside – although the digicam bump does cowl over some icons.  

Utilizing the show closed whereas travelling is extraordinarily useful. I can management my music and reply messages, all whereas having a safer grip on my cellphone. It’s additionally helped me handle my display time higher, as I’m much less more likely to scroll by way of social media as soon as the Razr is closed. Which may be a psychological factor, after all.  

Shifting onto the inner show – you get a 6.9-inch pOLED show, with a decision of 2640 x 1080 and a refresh charge of as much as 165Hz. That’s the joint-highest refresh charge of any cellphone.

There’s solely the choice to pick between ‘excessive’ and ‘customary’ moderately than placing the show completely on any particular quantity. Nevertheless, the LTPO tech means it could possibly drop all the best way all the way down to 1Hz to preserve battery life when not required.

You additionally get a peak brightness of 2400 nits, leading to a shiny, shiny display that’s simple to view below daylight and is a pleasure to look at movies on. Nevertheless, as a result of it’s longer than the typical sweet bar mannequin, you’ll get letterboxing on the sides of content material from the likes of Netflix, which makes use of the 16:9 ratio. It’s conscious of faucets and swipes, although, with no sluggishness in sight.  

The Razr 50 Extremely has stereo audio system, with help for Dolby Atmos. The audio isn’t as vibrant or punchy as I’ve seen on different flagships, but it surely’s moderately loud so respectable for podcasts and movies. There’s additionally no headphone jack, however that’s customary nowadays on telephones of this worth.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Specs & Efficiency 

• Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
• 12GB RAM/512GB value of storage

Final yr’s Razr 40 Extremely ran on an outdated Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor – that’s not the case anymore. The Razr 50 Extremely is full of the most recent Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 which launched in 2024. That is paired with 12GB RAM and 512GB value of storage within the UK. US customers solely get 256GB, sadly.  

This chipset will not be as highly effective because the 8 Gen 3, purchase you possibly can nonetheless anticipate speedy efficiency day-to-day. The cellphone is fast besides up, and has no issues switching between app and between the 2 shows. It’s additionally able to some work and gaming, do you have to want it.  

Motorola Razr 50 Extremely benchmarks

As you possibly can see, it’s not fairly flagship-level efficiency. In order for you that in a clamshell foldable, we advocate the Galaxy Z Flip 6. That’s additionally the higher gadget for energy customers, because it presents a vapour chamber system for cooling. Throughout lengthy video calls, I seen that the Razr 50 Extremely obtained fairly scorching.  

Cameras 

• 50Mp principal digicam
• 50Mp telephoto
• 32Mp selfie

Motorola has opted for a beefed-up digicam setup for this technology, however to do this it needed to ditch a significant part. Motorola has swapped out the ultrawide for a 50Mp telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom so customers can get higher zoomed-in pictures and improved portrait pictures. That is paired with a 50Mp principal snapper.  

Some could disagree with the choice to take away the ultrawide digicam. Nevertheless, I’d argue that almost all of those have a drop in high quality in comparison with the primary one, and solely are available in helpful a handful of instances. I’d a lot favor to have a set-up that prioritises zooms for the likes of journey and live shows.

The primary digicam on this cellphone is basically spectacular. The Razr 50 Extremely captures an distinctive quantity of element, together with effective textures resembling fur and hair. Shadows additionally seem dynamic, with cloudy pictures wanting simply as spectacular as these taken in shiny sunshine.  

Colors pop lots on the Razr, albeit erring barely on the over-processed aspect. Nevertheless, for those who love an excellent filter and like daring and shiny photographs, this gained’t be a problem.

Portrait mode is equally stable, with simply sufficient of a blur to look skilled. There’s the choice to make use of this in 4 totally different focal lengths, although the closer-up pictures are extra correct in capturing effective particulars.

The 2x optical zoom is great, with solely a slight shift in colors. As you veer into digital territory, particulars start to melt and begin to look ropey previous 10x zoom. Nevertheless, that’s a compromise of choosing a cellphone with a flippy construct, moderately than one thing that prioritises the cameras just like the Pixel 8 Professional.

Evening mode captures an awesome degree of element, with processing working to minimise gentle glare in comparison with the primary digicam. Nevertheless, it doesn’t fairly elevate topics as clearly as rivals – see the bush beneath on the Razr (first) in comparison with the OnePlus 12 (second):

For selfies, I’d advocate simply taking them with the cellphone folded shut. You may see the distinction right here utilizing the primary snapper (first) versus the inner 32Mp one (second) which is identical as final yr’s. This loses the aptitude and blurs pores and skin particulars.

It’s a disgrace that the entrance digicam isn’t the perfect, however when you may have such a viable various, I don’t see this as a dealbreaker.  

Motorola has additionally included loads of distinctive flip digicam options. This contains the exterior show digicam preview, which is especially helpful for recording vlogs because it acts as a preview window.

There’s a setting to allow a cartoon preview, which can assist get youngsters’s consideration for images. Lastly, there’s the retro camcorder mode, which mechanically begins to document video if you fold the cellphone at a 90-degree axis.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Talking of video, the Razr 50 Extremely can document in each 4K and 1080p, in 30fps and 60fps, with help for HDR10 for those who movie in FHD high quality. Adaptive stabilisation additionally helps to minimise undesirable shakes and labored fairly easily throughout my testing.  

Battery Life & Charging 

• 4000mAh battery
• 45W wired charging
• 15W wi-fi charging

Motorola has elevated the battery on the Razr Extremely from 3800mAh to 4000mAh.

That’s nonetheless smaller than many different flagship rivals, however for a flip cellphone, I used to be impressed with the battery on the Razr 50 Extremely. On common I’d get a couple of day and a half’s value of utilization, watching movies, listening to Spotify, messaging and taking calls. 

In comparison with the day-long battery lifetime of the Razr 40 Extremely, that is fairly game-changing.   

Wired charging has additionally been improved from 30W to 45W. This juices the cellphone from zero to 59% in half-hour. Plus, there’s additionally 15W wi-fi charging help, do you have to want it.  

Software program & Apps 

• Android 14
• Three years of software program updates
• Loads of unique foldable options

One of many advantages of getting a Motorola cellphone is that you just get a clear software program expertise – with this cellphone transport with the most recent OS on the time of writing, Android 14. Which means there’s minimal bloat and app duplications, which manufacturers resembling Oppo and Samsung have.  

There are all the standard Google apps and settings, plus lots extra options unique to this cellphone. This contains gesture controls resembling twisting your wrist twice to open the digicam when the cellphone is closed, and the power to maintain apps open if you transition between shows. 

And as it is a flip cellphone, you possibly can open the gadget to reply a name when it rings – a function that can attraction to my fellow millennials. For movies and visible calls, the cellphone can be utilized in laptop computer, stand or tent modes, with apps resembling YouTube adjusting to the orientation.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Any app can be utilized on the outer show (Maps, Instagram, YouTube and so on), however they aren’t all fully correctly optimised – some simply work higher on the complete display, as in any other case info might be cramped. Google and different builders will most likely not work on devoted variations of those apps till there are extra gadgets with this distinctive flip-style construct.  

Motorola has made a giant shout about together with Gemini AI on the exterior show, and help for Moto AI, with Magic Canvas that may create customized wallpapers. I’m not that enthused by gen-AI options, however the Razr has loads of different customisation choices for fonts, wallpapers and themes, so you can also make this cellphone your individual.

The Razr 50 Extremely comes with three years of software program updates and 4 years of safety updates. Whereas that is customary in comparison with many of the market, it’s properly behind the guarantees of Google and Samsung, which supply seven years of every.  

Worth & Availability 

The Motorola Razr 50 Extremely/Razr+ begins from £999/$999. That worth stays flat within the US, but it surely’s a £50 drop within the UK in comparison with the earlier technology.

You should buy it outright from Motorola, Amazon and Currys within the UK, and pre-order it from Motorola and Finest Purchase in America – for those who try this, you’ll get $100 off the RRP, making it an actual steal.  

The cellphone goes on sale within the States on 24 July. UK readers may also register their curiosity for the Sizzling Pink colourway, which hasn’t hit cabinets but on this nation.

When you’d favor to purchase the cellphone on contract, then it’s obtainable from the likes of O2, Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone in Britain, and T-Cellular within the US. We’ve obtained the perfect month-to-month UK offers obtainable beneath.

And for those who’re within the US, the choices beneath have at the least 5GB of information:

The most recent Samsung Z Flip 6 clocks in £50/$100 dearer than that. Whereas it presents cooling, a greater processor and longer software program help, it doesn’t have a telephoto lens and incorporates a smaller exterior show.

Subsequently, until your precedence is working probably the most highly effective apps and video games, the Razr 50 Extremely presents extra on your cash – particularly for those who’re within the UK. You may verify our round-up of the perfect foldable telephones for extra choices.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Must you purchase the Motorola Razr 50 Extremely? 

The Motorola Razr 50 Extremely has made stable enhancements on the 2023 foldable whereas managing to undercut its greatest rival, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Its improved battery life means it may be used for a day and a half on a single cost, whereas the extra highly effective principal digicam means the cellphone isn’t far behind sweet bar flagships. Motorola’s determination to chop the ultrawide lens is a good trade-off.

The massive exterior show is a pleasure to make use of, as are all of the quirky options of this distinctive construct. All these components make this flip cellphone a very distinctive piece of tech – one which has even tempted a few of my Apple loyalist mates.

Certain, not all of the apps are optimised for this display, the inner selfie digicam isn’t the perfect and the cellphone will get a bit scorching right here and there. Nevertheless, that is the strongest Razr but, and the perfect clamshell foldable available on the market proper now contemplating the worth you pay.

Specs

• 4-inch, 165Hz pOLED cowl show 
• 6.9-inch, 1-165Hz LTPO pOLED principal show 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 
• 12GB RAM 
• 256/512GB storage 
• Cameras:
  • 50Mp, f/1.7, OIS principal digicam 
  • 50Mp, f/2.0 telephoto digicam 
  • 32Mp, f/2.4 selfie digicam 
• 4000mAh 
• 45W wired charging 
• 15W wi-fi charging 
• Stereo audio system 
• IPX8 
• Gorilla Glass Victus 
• 5G 
• 73.99 x 171.42 x 7.09 mm (open) 
• 189g 
• Android 14