Motorola Unveils 2023 Razr+ and Razr Clamshell Folding Phones
After a long wait, Motorola has finally revealed its latest foldable phones, the 2023 Razr+ and Razr clamshell. These phones, which were last updated internationally in 2020, come with a price tag of $999. The new Razr+ looks like a substantial upgrade compared to the first foldable Razr, and the main reason for this is the new XXL 3.5-inch cover display that wraps around the cameras of the phone. This creates the most visually striking take on the punch-hole(s) display we’ve seen to date.
The Cover Display
The cover screen of the Motorola Razr+ can run pretty much any app and act as a properly decent camera viewfinder for taking selfie photos and videos with your best cameras (the ones on the rear). However, the large cover screen is also what holds the Motorola Razr+ back.
The Downside of the Large Cover Screen
The brilliant cover display of the new Motorola Razr+ looks more impressive, more attractive, and (far) more practical than anything Samsung’s ever made. Unfortunately, the large cover screen is also what holds the Motorola Razr+ back. The list of sacrifices Motorola had to make to fit the Razr+ with a large cover display includes last year’s chip, the average battery life, and ancient camera with lost potential.
Is it Worth the Sacrifice?
Whether you agree or disagree with what you’re about to read will depend on how you view folding phones in general. Folding phones can be viewed as an entirely different smartphone category thanks to their different form-factor. Folding phones can also be considered about as “normal” as any other phone because they don’t fundamentally change the way you use a smartphone.
The Motorola Razr+ Sacrifices Everything to Challenge Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip
The Motorola Razr+ gained a large cover screen, but was it worth all the sacrifice? The phone uses last year’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip instead of the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which means the $1,000 foldable won’t give you the best performance on the market. Also, the space needed for the larger cover display means the Motorola Razr+ packs a relatively tiny (for today’s standards) cell, at just 3,800 mAh.
The Camera
The Motorola Razr+ brings a pretty ancient 12 MP 1/2.55-inch camera sensor, which would be considered small even in 2018, let alone today. Photos from the Motorola Razr+ send you back in time with an oversharpened look, lack of detail, and mediocre low-light performance.
The Large Cover Display
The Motorola Razr+’s awesome cover display also means now you have another awesome display that’s absolutely awesome until… you drop and crack it. If by buying a clamshell foldable your goal was to be less distracted by your phone, and less likely to get sucked into the scrolling game, the Motorola Razr+’s large cover screen will now make this more difficult.
Conclusion
Motorola has created a foldable phone that raises the same old question: Why pay $1,000 for a mediocre folding phone when you can get the best phone on the market for the same price? In the end, all the compromises Motorola’s $1,000 folding phone brings mean this one might actually have a really limited target audience – people specifically interested in an Android folding phone with a large cover display, ready to ignore the major compromises that come with the form-factor.
The Target Audience
The compromises Motorola made to create the Razr+ mean that it might appeal only to people interested in an Android folding phone with a large cover display, even though the phone has major compromises.
Making Foldables Mainstream
Motorola’s recipe for a clamshell foldable might not be the one to help make foldables “mainstream”. At least not now.
FAQs
1. What is the price of the Motorola Razr+?
The Motorola Razr+ has a price tag of $999.
2. What is the new feature in the Motorola Razr+?
The new feature in the Motorola Razr+ is the XXL 3.5-inch cover display that wraps around the cameras of the phone.
3. What is the downside of the large cover screen of the Motorola Razr+?
The downside of the large cover screen of the Motorola Razr+ is that it holds the phone back, and the list of sacrifices Motorola had to make to fit the Razr+ with a large cover display includes last year’s chip, the average battery life, and an ancient camera with lost potential.
4. Is the camera of the Motorola Razr+ good?
No, the camera of the Motorola Razr+ is not good. It brings a pretty ancient 12 MP 1/2.55-inch camera sensor, which would be considered small even in 2018, let alone today.
5. Who is the target audience for the Motorola Razr+?
The target audience for the Motorola Razr+ might be people specifically interested in an Android folding phone with a large cover display, ready to ignore the major compromises that come with the form-factor.
