The original Motorola Razr was released in 2004 and now we have a new version of the iconic Razr flip phone in 2019. The Motorola Razr phone in 2004 was a fashion icon, as it minimized the flip phone clam-shell technology into a small form factor that you could take with you. The 2019 version is very similar but yet different as it is still a flip phone but now with a foldable screen. Once a dream is now finally becoming a reality.
Motorola Razr – Design
Motorola Razr features a design that most of the users will appreciate and enjoy. When it comes to foldable devices, they very rarely look like regular smartphones. The Motorola Razr is special because it looks like a regular smartphone that can be made smaller because of the folding screen. The Razr features a hinge in the middle that folds a plastic 6.2 inch OLED display with 21:9 aspect ration. The display is not very high end except for the fact that it folds. The impressive thing about the Motorola Razr is that it looks just like the original Razr, including the big chin at the bottom, which houses a fingerprint reader. Another great feature of the Motorola Razr is that it folds down completely flush, without any gap between the screen. Thanks to the unique hinge design, which includes movable support plates that rigidly support the display when the phone is open but collapse out of the way when the phone is closed. In fact, the Razr has the same thickness as the original Motorola Razr phone. Motorola was also able to design a screen that doesn’t show any creases when the phone is unfolded, a common problem for foldable screens. When comparing the Motorola Razr to other foldable devices, there is no denying that the design of the Motorola Razr is one of the best parts about the phone. Just like the original Moto Razr, the foldable Razr also has a second screen on the front but this time it is a 2.7 inch OLED touchscreen. The front screen allows you to look at the notification, access quick settings, view messages and emails, quickly respond to some messages using voice, and access the camera with twisting your wrist twice. Thanks to the folding nature of Motorola Razr, the camera doubles as front facing camera when folded and a rear camera when unfolded.
Technical Specifications
The Razr has Snapdragon 710 processor (not the 730), which may not be a big issue if you are not looking to use the phone for heaving gaming or image editing purposes. The Razr has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of on-board storage. The battery is rated at 2510 mAh, which can be charged using USB C cable. The small battery might be sufficient if you are able to complete some of your actions using the smaller front screen. Check out detailed technical specifications below, we have also included technical specs of Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X for your comparison.
| Motorola Razr | Samsung Galaxy Fold | Huawei Mate X | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Unfolded: 72 x 172 x 6.9mm Folded: 72 x 94 x 14mm | Unfolded: 160.9 x 117.9 x 6.9 mm Folded: 160.9 x 62.9 x 15.5 mm | Unfolded: 161.3 × 146.2 × 5.4 mm, Folded: 161.3 × 78.3 × 11 mm |
| Weight | 205g | 263 g | 295 grams |
| Screen size | 6.2-inch pOLED and 2.7-inch gOLED | 7.3-inch AMOLED and 4.6-inch AMOLED | 8-inch AMOLED folds down to 6.6 and 6.3 inches |
| Screen resolution | 2142 x 876 px and 600 x 800 px | 2,152 x 1,536 pixels and 1,960 x 840 pixels | 2,480 x 2,200 pixels and 2,480 x 1,148 pixels, 2,480 x 892 pixels |
| Operating system | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Storage space | 128 GB | 512GB | 512GB |
| MicroSD card slot | No | No | Yes |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Kirin 980 |
| RAM | 6 GB | 12GB | 8GB |
| Camera | Main: 16 MP f/1.7 (EIS, AF) Front: 5MP f/2.0 (unfolded) | Rear: Triple-lens, 16 MP f/2.2 (ultra wide), 12MP f/1.5-2.4 (OIS), 12 MP f/2.4 (telephoto) Front: 10MP f/2.2 (folded), 10MP f/2.2 and 8MP f/1.9 (unfolded) | Rear: Quad-lens, 16 MP f/2.2 (ultra wide), 40MP f/1.8 (OIS), 8MP f/2.4 (telephoto), and TOF camera |
| Video | TBD | 2160p at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps | 2160p at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 30 fps |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes (bottom) | Yes (side) | Yes (side) |
| Water resistance | Splash-proof with water resistant nanocoating | TBD | TBD |
| Battery | 2510 mAh | 4,380mAh Quick Charge 2.0 (18W) Qi wireless charging | 4,500mAh Huawei SuperCharge (55W) |
| Colors | Noir Black | Cosmos Black, Space Silver, Martian Green, or Astro Blue | Interstellar Blue |
| Price | $1,500 (USD) | $1,980 | ~$2,600 |
As most companies are trying to achieve the notchless display, a select few are trying to make 2019 the year of the foldable phone. Check out our comparison of the foldable smartphones from Samsung and Huawei.
Things you need to know
The Motorola Razr solves a key problem for many smartphone users who are looking for a smaller form factor. The Razr manages to fit a big 6.2 inch screen in a small body, which is great for those users who are tired of carrying around large phones due to small hands, tight jeans, small pockets/purse. The Motorola Razr is only coming to Verizon in the United States and it is important to note that it doesn’t use SIM card as it uses eSIM technology.
The Motorola Razr also brings back moto actions. You can turn on your flashlight with chopping action with the phone. You can put the phone face down to enter into do not disturb mode. You can twist your wrist twice to activate selfie mode. With selfies, you also have gesture control that allows you to take selfies remotely by putting up your palm. If you are taking the picture with the screen unfolded, you can display the counter on the front screen so that your subjects are ready for the picture. The small screen will also display a tiny photo so that your subjects can view how the picture turned out. The second screen can also be used to display tiny animation so that you can get your dog or infant to focus on the camera as you take a photo.
What’s not so good
Given the outstanding design of the Motorola Razr, it is very difficult to find many issues with this device. However, there are definitely some shortcomings that you need to be aware of. First of all, thee is no pink or orange color option like the original Motorola Razr. In 2019, the Motorola Razr features Snapdragon 710, which is not the latest processor as it was released back in 2018, and new smartphones are shipping with Snapdragon 730. In addition, the two cameras are not expected to be the best in the industry as low light performance might be an issue with the Moto Razr. Finally, the screen resolution of 2124 x 876 px is not high end, which explains the inclusion of small 2510 mAh battery.
What is in the box:
In the box, you get one of the coolest phones of the year. You also get razr earbuds, accessories case, TurboPowerTMÂ charger, and USB-C cable. The phone will cost you $1500 USD, which also includes one year of free Disney+ streaming service. Motorola is also including one year replacement warranty.
Final Verdict
The Motorola Razr is by no means a powerhouse but it does the job. It is a foldable smartphone that manages to fit a large screen into a small form factor. The Razr is definitely the right option for those customers who enjoy a minimalist phone lifestyle. In addition, if you are nostalgic about the original Motorola Razr, then the foldable version will address your needs because it looks and feels exactly like the original version except for the full 6.2 inch screen. With the 2019 Razr smartphone, Motorola has managed to produce the most innovative smartphone since the Apple iPhone. Motorola Razr is a smartphone that inspires us to get excited about the industry.
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav