Called Motorola Razr+ 2023 in Canada and Moto Razr 40 Ultra in Europe, we were able to test this 5G foldable flip phone. A mobile phone that has excellent technical qualities and that puts a wow effect on our hands… but that fades when we take photos.
Motorola was a flagship of the mobile phone world for many years in the late ’90s and early 2000s before it experienced a slump.
But like a phoenix, they were quietly reborn here from their ashes after Lenovo bought the mobility division in 2014.
The latter are particularly attacking the foldable screen phone market with a well-known model name: Razr.
In the mid-2000s, the Razr phone was practically an icon before the iPhone stole that prestige.
Still, Motorola is relaunching the brand in particular with its Razr+ (or Razer 40 Ultra in Europe) foldable phone, which we were able to test.
The technical data sheet of the Motorola Razr+ phone
Let’s start with the technical characteristics of the Razr+ to understand a little better what we have in our hands.
How is the quality of the screens?
First the screen, or rather the screens! The interior screen is 6.9 inches, FHD (2640 x 1080), HDR10+. The colors are very bright and pleasant to look at. We also benefit from a very smooth 165 Hz refresh rate. This is rare, although most phones generally offer 120 Hz.
The screen at the top of the phone is small at 3.6 inches (1066 x 1056), but we can easily navigate through our various applications and shortcuts.
Motorola hasn’t compromised on the offering and is offering a refresh rate of 144 Hz for this screen.
Which chip powers the phone?
At the chip level we find the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, which offers good performance overall. With the 8GB of RAM, you can easily multitask and run more power-intensive applications.
How much storage space?
On the storage side we benefit from 256 GB. There is also no other storage alternative or a slot for a microSD card. If we ever run out of storage space, we will have to clean up or turn to a cloud storage service.
Dolby Atmos compatibility
The sound is provided by two Dolby Atmos stereo speakers with spatial sound. But hey, we’re in the realm of marketing here. These are still phone speakers, so not the ultimate sound.
How long is the battery life?
As far as the phone’s battery life goes, the 3800mAh battery does a surprisingly good job despite having to power half an extra screen. We were easily able to use it regularly for a full day (from 7am to 10pm) without having to charge it.
To this end, it supports 30W wired fast charging. When it comes to wireless charging, we are limited to 5W. In short, charging with the USB-C cable takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from 0 to 100%.
WiFi 6e connectivity
Interestingly, it is compatible with WiFi 6e networks and therefore enables excellent download speeds. Of course, you still need a WiFi 6e router.
How water resistant is it?
Finally, it is important to know that it is not water resistant. At least it’s splash-proof, but you can’t submerge it underwater, as evidenced by its IP52 rating.
Do the Razr Plus cameras take good photos?
This is one of the aspects that most interests us these days when we want to buy a mobile phone: does it take good photos?
The short answer for the Razr+ is: it depends…
Obviously, foldable phones are still in their infancy and photography is often the element that is sacrificed to remain competitively priced.
Unfortunately, this is the case with this Motorola Razr+, whose 3.6-inch screen has two photo sensors. We find a 12 megapixel main sensor and then a 13 megapixel wide angle sensor.
The idea of being able to take a photo of yourself with your phone down and see yourself with that screen is great, it’s just that the quality is really off depending on the lighting conditions.
To put it bluntly, the photo sensor inside the phone is better than the one outside… We actually find a 32 megapixel sensor which, as we can see below, makes a big difference.
But hey, we admit it, we took one of the worst examples. Not all photos taken with the main sensor are that bad. But it is possible to achieve such a result.
The fact is that we are not dealing with a phone that performs well when it comes to photography. It doesn’t manage to capture as much detail as a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Pixel 7 Pro.
It should not be taken into account that the software work to improve quality cannot keep up with that of Apple, Samsung and Google.
That’s a shame, especially since Motorola highlights that you can place it on a table and fold it to 45 or 90 degrees to easily take photos with the rear cameras.
On the other hand, if we place it like this to make a video call with the sensor inside we will get a better result.
Speaking of video, anyone hoping to film in 4K will be disappointed as the phone isn’t capable of this.
Our take on the overall Motorola Razr+ experience
The Razr+ may have issues when it comes to photography, but it’s still an excellent phone.
The handheld experience remains extremely user-friendly, easy and pleasant to use.
Going from the main screen, folding the phone and then moving on to the top screen is a real thrill.
The same applies the other way around: while we can view our notifications on the screen at the top, press it to find out more and then open the phone to continue in a larger interface.
We even notice that we don’t open the phone as often. From the top screen we can check our calendar, start the camera, control Spotify, see the weather, in short, the kind of small actions that we perform regularly.
The screens are beautiful, they are vibrant and bright which makes the phone very pleasant to look at.
The latter also runs on Android 13. Motorola has added some of its own applications without overloading the phone with an additional layer of software.
We therefore find a parental control application for situations in which we lend it to our child. They provide an app that acts as a security hub and then one with the feature shortcuts for productivity.
Finally, it is certain that when folded the phone can be easily transported in a jeans pocket or in a small bag, which for some is not negligible.
Motorola Raz+: A good buy for the price?
The Razr+ costs $1,299, the same price as its inevitable comparison: the Samsung Galaxy ZFlip 5.
It’s still an expensive phone, but that’s the reality we have to accept if we’re interested in a phone with a foldable screen.
However, there is always a way to save by finding the best cell phone plan!
Still, the Razr+ has undeniable qualities: it has excellent screens, it offers high fluid speed and good performance, as well as good battery life.
The problem lies in the quality of photos with the rear sensors that we use most often.
Displays will be uneven depending on lighting conditions and you may end up with photos that are honestly not exceptional.
So it’s a question of choice.
If we consider photography to be a secondary part of our phone activities, we can easily overlook the Razr+’s shortcomings in this regard.
Conversely, if taking photos is a crucial aspect of a smartphone for us, we may have to move on.
Motorola Razr+