Motorola Razr 2023 Review: The Best Foldable You Could Get for $700

8.0 Motorola Razr 2023 Like
Solid and svelte construct high quality

Great predominant digital camera

Fun foldable performance

Good worth
Don’t like
128GB onboard storage is proscribed

Outer display screen could be very small

3 years of OS updates is lower than rivals
The $1,499 Motorola Razr made its debut in 2019 as the primary clamshell foldable cellphone, although months later, the $1,380 Samsung Z Flip got here out. Since then, the manufacturers have iterated on their designs and lowered their costs to reach at this 12 months’s Razr Plus 2023 and Z Flip 5, each of which value $1,000; each nonetheless past the price range of most individuals. But now Motorola has launched the $700 Razr 2023, the world’s most inexpensive foldable cellphone, which I’ve been testing for the previous 12 days.Phone-makers like TCL have been working towards cheaper foldables for years, however Motorola is the primary to broadly launch a foldable that has a premium feel and look at a considerably cheaper price than its clamshell foldable rivals.Motorola made some compromises to get a cheaper price, together with a smaller entrance show and fewer superior specs than its pricier counterparts. These are comprehensible tradeoffs, however more durable to swallow is the one configuration of 128GB of storage that is not expandable — in order for you more room, you may both must depend on a cloud resolution or pay up for the $1,000 Razr Plus 2023, which has 256GB of included storage (and is not expandable both).But in order for you a neat and compact cellphone, you may must make some sacrifices for the Razr 2023, which Motorola has discounted to $600 at launch. 
Motorola Razr 2023: A $700 Foldable That Trades Features for Style
See all images DesignAt first look, the Motorola Razr 2023 is perhaps mistaken for a Galaxy Z Flip 5 as each have adopted a parallel design evolution. The Razr deserted its eccentric flip cellphone design roots to seemingly observe Samsung’s lead with a extra modern vibe. The Razr 2023 seems like an everyday cellphone that folds within the center. When unfolded flat, there is a nominal crease within the show on the midpoint that I did not discover when it or by operating my finger over the display screen. All in all, the Razr 2023 feels good to carry. Its strong construct high quality feels reassuringly dense — I folded it up and did a number of take a look at drops on my carpeted ground with out worrying that the halves would come aside. The cellphone closes with a satisfying snap, and when unfolded, the 2 halves come collectively within the again to satisfy seamlessly over the hinge cowl. While the gadget is just a little robust to open one-handed given extra resistance within the hinge, that additionally means the Razr stays partially unfolded at any angle — nice for video calls or selfies utilizing the inside display screen’s digital camera. James Martin/CNETFolding apart, the design seems premium, with a sophisticated aluminum body and hinge cowl, whereas the vegan leather-based again cowl provides some wanted texture — I’m used to a full-size cellphone, so a folded-up clamshell has half the footprint and took time to get used to holding. The glass strip on the highest half of the again of the cellphone covers each the exterior twin cameras and the small outer show, which seems svelte. Unfolding the cellphone reveals the tall and slender 6.9-inch OLED show (2,640×1,080 pixels) with a variable refresh price as much as 144Hz, which reveals sharp and vivid particulars similar to different 1080p Full HD decision telephones. The Razr’s as much as 144Hz variable refresh price makes looking the web or navigating the house display screen buttery clean. In having a completely practical inside show, the Razr 2023 is on par with different clamshell foldables, however the outer display screen is one other story. James Martin/CNETInstead of the bigger outer show of its Razr Plus 2023 sibling, the Razr 2023 has a 1.5-inch OLED exterior display screen that is too small to point out far more than the time, app notifications, and a handful of shortcuts to climate, calendar occasions, contacts, voice recording and extra. It’s about as helpful as checking my smartwatch for snapshots of notifications and texts to triage whether or not I must open my cellphone, and it is useful to take selfies with the rear cameras (far sharper than the one above the inside show), nevertheless it usually leaves me wanting extra. James Martin/CNETThe smaller outer show is the Razr 2023’s most evident compromise to get to the cheaper price — the pricier Razr 2023 Plus’ foldable’s 3.6-inch outer show is giant sufficient to suit a keyboard to sort on, although most customers will in all probability solely use it primarily as a notification and app preview display screen, in addition to to preview selfies. Note that there is not a digital camera shortcut on the outer show — as an alternative, you may want to make use of Motorola’s signature gesture shortcut to open the digital camera (twist your wrist twice whereas holding the gadget), which is fortunately dependable. And sure, the model’s gesture shortcut to activate the flashlight (making a chop movement twice) additionally works whereas the Razr is folded or unfolded. James Martin/CNETPerformance and batteryThe Razr 2023 additionally takes a dip in {hardware} for a cheaper price, packing a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset that was launched in mid-2022. The Razr 2023’s efficiency benchmarks are noticeably decrease than telephones rocking the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 discovered within the Razr Plus 2023 alongside different main Android telephones from this 12 months. See the graph under:Geekbench V.6.0 (Single-core) Motorola Razr 2023 1,057Motorola Razr Plus 2023 1,756Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 1,999Oppo Find N3 Flip 1,321 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Geekbench V.6.0 (Multi-core) Motorola Razr 2023 3,063Motorola Razr Plus 2023 4,318Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 5,116Oppo Find N3 Flip 3,350 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMark – Wild Life Extreme Motorola Razr 2023 830Motorola Razr Plus 2023 1,687Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 3,512Oppo Find N3 Flip 3,128 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
That would not instantly translate to a poorer person expertise, and I used to be capable of flip by way of the cellphone, swap apps, play intensive video games and pop open the digital camera with out a lot delay. But it does imply barely decrease graphical capabilities in video games like PUBG Mobile, which will not let me decide the best graphics setting (my Galaxy S22 Ultra can). The 8GB of RAM appears ample, although the 128GB of onboard storage is probably not sufficient for people who take a number of images or obtain multi-gigabyte video games. Regrettably, the Razr 2023’s storage is not expandable, which is similar for clamshell foldables, nevertheless it’s much less of a hindrance for the Razr Plus 2023 (256GB), Galaxy Z Flip 5 (256GB/512GB) or Oppo Find N3 Flip (256GB/512GB). The Razr 2023 comes with Android 13 out of the field, and can get three years of Android working system upgrades (and 4 years of safety patches). Android 14 launched for Google Pixel units in early October, and can come for Motorola telephones someday later. Motorola’s software program improve dedication falls behind Samsung (4 years of OS and 5 years of safety) and Apple (round six years of iOS), however Google simply raised the bar by committing to seven years of OS and safety updates with its Pixel 8 sequence.The battery life does appear higher than older clamshell foldables lasting a full day. Its 4,200-mAh capability is bigger than batteries on the pricier Razr Plus (3,800 mAh), Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (3,700 mAh) and Oppo Find N3 Flip (4,000 mAh). While some producers have argued that the outer screens present sufficient information for fast checks that might save battery drain of illuminating a whole predominant show. It’s a doubtful complete financial savings in battery, however I am unable to deny that the Razrs small outer show is ideal for checking the time and climate shortly.In our 45-minute utilization take a look at simulating heavy use, the Razr 2023 dropped from 100% all the way down to 91%, which is simply 2% decrease than the Razr Plus 2023 — maybe owing to the higher effectivity from the pricier cellphone’s higher-end chipset. Yet that is not the entire image, because the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 ran by way of the identical take a look at ending at 90%, a virtually an identical consequence. Standard (flat) telephones with larger-capacity batteries are likely to do higher on the take a look at, possible owing to their higher capability, however the smaller batteries on clamshell foldables result in extra drain (by comparability, the just-launched Oppo Find N3 Flip drained from 100% all the way down to 89% in the identical take a look at). But on the brilliant aspect, the 30-watt charger included within the field recharges the cellphone from 0% to 72% in half-hour. The 5-watt wi-fi charging was much less spectacular, juicing the cellphone up from 72% to 86% in half-hour. While the {hardware} for the Razr 2023 achieves good efficiency throughout a wide range of duties, its cameras are much more uneven.  James Martin/CNETOf the rear cameras, we do have a favourite youngsterWhile most telephones on the mid-range and premium ranges have an array of cameras that seize images of comparable high quality, the Razr 2023’s two rear shooters are drastically totally different. I’ll title my less-favored youngster up entrance: the 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera takes far blurrier images. The upside is that the 64-megapixel predominant digital camera is nice throughout. It takes sharp images in a wide range of environments, from brilliant daylight to darkish interiors. So lengthy as you needn’t zoom in or out — because the outdated photographer’s adage goes, to “zoom together with your legs” — the primary digital camera is ok. Shot with the primary digital camera. David Lumb/CNETIt captures sharp particulars and good colour, as will be seen on this pic of a suitably vibrant salad. Main digital camera. David Lumb/CNETThe ultrawide does present utility in brilliant daylight, however struggles in any moodier setting, as low-light photographs are noticeably — even painfully — blurry. Here’s an apt comparability of an inside lit with dim, heat lighting, beginning with the ultrawide digital camera: Ultrawide digital camera. David Lumb/CNETNow take a look at the identical room shot by the primary digital camera: Main digital camera. David Lumb/CNETThe Razr does use the ultrawide for a macro mode to take up-close photographs, which end up properly, capturing element and vivid colours (in my case, a close-up on the vegan salad with elements spanning the colour spectrum).  Ultrawide digital camera (in macro mode). David Lumb/CNETThe Razr 2023 would not have a telephoto lens, and would not give customers an choice for digital zoom — taking a predominant digital camera picture and cropping in is the one choice. Most clamshell foldables, together with the Razr Plus 2023 and Z Flip 5, lack zoom lenses and miss out on distance images — although the Oppo Find N3 Flip managed to pack one in. Main digital camera. David Lumb/CNETThe final digital camera on the Razr 2023 is a 32-megapixel shooter above the primary show, and solely used when the gadget is unfolded. While one may take selfies with it, given the outer display screen reveals previews for the 64-megapixel predominant digital camera when the cellphone is folded up, the inside show digital camera will in all probability solely be used when taking video calls. The outer show is just too small to preview every thing the primary digital camera can seize, however the sharper high quality is value it.  James Martin/CNETCompare a shot by the inside 32-megapixel selfie digital camera: David Lumb/CNETNow take a look at a shot with the outer 64-megapixel predominant digital camera: David Lumb/CNETThere are quirks to taking selfies with the primary digital camera by way of the outer show — as you’ll be able to see above, it appears you’ll be able to solely take them in 4:3 ratio (which is annoying for 16:9 diehards like myself). But you may additionally must be very intentional about how the cellphone is oriented when taking selfies: the thumbnail show is a horizontal rectangle, but taking images with the cellphone right-side up leads to images oriented vertically. If you need a huge selfie, you may must counter-intuitively rotate the cellphone in order that the show rectangle is skinny and tall. Motorola telephones aren’t notably identified for their evening images, and the identical is true within the Razr 2023 — by which I imply, do not count on a number of the AI software program miracles that premium Apple, Samsung and Google telephones pull off to light up pitch-dark areas. That mentioned, the Razr 2023’s 64-megapixel predominant digital camera makes probably the most of any mild within the space and nonetheless produces sharp element in zones which are lit sufficient.  Main digital camera David Lumb/CNETUltimately, the Razr 2023’s digital camera suite makes it really feel extra midrange than premium — however as long as customers solely must shoot distant or panorama photographs, the primary digital camera serves simply high quality. And given its front-facing and selfie choices, it is a cellphone suited for the form of informal and social photographers which are possible drawn to a clamshell foldable anyway, particularly one at this worth level. If people need a extra camera-focused cellphone, they will go along with a Galaxy S23 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro Max or Google Pixel 8 Pro — and pay quantity extra for it. James Martin/CNETRazr 2023 remaining ideasThere are actually people who the Razr 2023 shall be excellent for, however they might fall in two camps: those that do not fairly have the price range to pay $1,000 for a Razr Plus 2023 or Galaxy Z Flip 5, and those that need the enjoyable clamshell format and are high quality passing on the higher images taken by and the AI-powered modifying instruments within the equally priced $700 Google Pixel 8.The Razr 2023 challenges the concept customers aren’t shopping for foldables as a result of they’re too expensive. Will they present up for probably the most accessible flexible-display cellphone but? Or will the market phase that may pay $700 proceed shelling out round $1,000 for the latest-and-greatest in cellphone tech? The Razr 2023 makes a pair questionable decisions in its checklist of compromises, however is general shrewd in trimming options to get to a considerably cheaper price level than its rivals. It’s enjoyable to make use of, seems enticing and trickles down cool improvements to the higher cusp of the midrange market, nevertheless it stays to be seen if customers need type over cameras as a lot as a reviewer like me does.Motorola Razr 2023 vs. Motorola Razr Plus 2023 vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Motorola Razr 2023Motorola Razr Plus 2023Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Cover: 1.5-inch, OLED (194 x 368 pixels); inner: 6.9-inch (2,640 pixels x 1,080) Cover: 3.6-inch OLED (1,066 x 1,056 pixels); inner: 6.9-inch (2,640 pixels x 1,080)Cover: 3.4-inch AMOLED (728 x 720 pixels); inner: 6.7-inch AMOLED (2,640 x 1,080 pixels), 1-120HzCover: 282 ppi, inner: 413 ppi Cover: 413 ppi, inner: 413 ppiCover: 306 ppi, Internal: 425 ppiOpen: 2.91 x 6.73 x 0.29 in.; closed: 2.91 x 3.47 x 0.62 in. Open: 2.91 x 6.73 x 0.28 in.; closed: 2.91 x 3.48 x 0.59 in.Open: 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 in.; closed: 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59 in.Open: 73.95 x 170.82 x 7.35mm; closed: 73.95 x 88.24 x 15.8mm Open: 73.95 x 170.83 x 6.99mm; closed: 73.95 x 88.42 x 15.1mmOpen: 165.1 x 71.88 x 6.89mm; closed: 85.09 x 71.88 x 14.99mm189 g (6.65 oz.) 189 g (6.64 oz.)187 g (6.6 oz.)Android 13 Android 13Android 1364-megapixel (predominant), 13-megapixel (ultrawide) 12-megapixel (predominant), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)12-megapixel (predominant), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)32-megapixel 32-megapixel10-megapixel4K 4KTBDSnapdragon 7 Gen 1 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1Snapdragon 8 Gen 28GB + 128GB 8GB + 256GB8GB + 256GB/512GB None NoneNone4,200 mAh 3,800 mAh3,700 mAh (dual-battery)Side SideSideUSB-C USB-CUSB-CNone NoneNoneIP52, 5G-enabled, foldable show, 30W wired charging, 5W wi-fi charging IP52, 5G-enabled, foldable show, 30W wired charging, wi-fi charging5G-enabled, IPX8 water resistance, 25W wired charging, wi-fi charging, wi-fi energy share, twin SIM$699 $1,000$1,000Converts to £575 Converts to £780£1,049Converts to AU$1,099 Converts to AU$1,475AU$1,649 How we take a look at phonesEvery cellphone examined by CNET’s critiques crew was really utilized in the actual world. We take a look at a cellphone’s options, play video games and take images. We study the show to see if it is brilliant, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construct to see how it’s to carry and whether or not it has an IP-rating for water-resistance. We push the processor’s efficiency to the extremes utilizing each standardized benchmark instruments like GeekBench and 3DMark, together with our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and taking part in graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.All the cameras are examined in a wide range of circumstances from brilliant daylight to darkish indoor scenes. We check out particular options like evening mode and portrait mode and examine our findings towards equally priced competing telephones. We additionally try the battery life by utilizing it every day in addition to operating a sequence of battery drain assessments.We consider extra options like assist for 5G, satellite tv for pc connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus assist, quick charging speeds, foldable shows amongst others that may be helpful. And we after all steadiness all of this towards the worth to provide the verdict on whether or not that cellphone, no matter worth it’s, really represents good worth. While these assessments might not at all times be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary overview, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/motorola-razr-2023-review-the-best-foldable-you-could-get-for-700/

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