Motorola Razr: The unbelievable $500 folding phone Samsung never made has a tiny problem

Motorola Razr: The unbelievable $500 folding phone Samsung never made has a tiny problem،

Unlike tablet-style foldables which give you extra screen real estate for multitasking and a more immersive gaming and media experience, the only perceived advantage of flip-style foldable phones over a “normal” smartphone is that they can fold in half.

But one thing that makes flip-style foldables “better” than larger foldables is the price. So let’s focus on the aspect of foldable phones that makes/breaks them, but has nothing to do with durability…price.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Whereas $1,000 gets you some of the best flagship phones on the market, with some of the best screens, cameras, endurance and extra features, paying the same $1,000 for a foldable phone that isn’t as powerful and capable seems… stiff. But that’s where the Motorola Razr 2023 comes in.

You can read our full Motorola Razr 2023 review here, but the most important update to the review is that something very important has changed since we tested the Razr 2023, and that’s the price of the phone.

The Razr 2023 launched at $700 in the US, making headlines as the most affordable foldable phone (ever) available in America. But I’ll be honest with you… If I was writing this story a month ago, I would have told you that the Razr 2023 isn’t quite the bargain it seemed to be. Not at $700.

But perhaps Motorola saw the criticism coming and quickly (and seemingly permanently) slashed the price of the new Razr 2023 to just $500, which certainly changes the value proposition significantly. In fact, if you’re trading in an old but functional iPhone 8 (among other phones), you can get a Motorola Razr for less than $400 from Motorola. Of course, some carriers in the US will sell you a Razr for as little as $200 for your autograph on their contract.

So yes… The foldable phone market is finally accessible to the vast majority of people used to paying “normal” prices for “normal” phones, and this is true whether you are in the United States, Europe or the United Kingdom. United.

Only if there wasn’t a small problem that keeps me from recommending the $500 Motorola Razr to some people…

Motorola Razr 2023: The cheapest foldable phone ever changes the market forever, but it has one major problem that I just can’t ignore

The flagship Motorola Razr+ (right) has the largest screen cover among clamshell foldables. The $500 Motorola Razr…not so much.

If you’re a regular PhoneArena reader, you know that I’ve previously called for a low-cost mid-range foldable phone from Samsung. And although the South Korean company hasn’t (yet) responded to my request, Motorola did instead. with a mid-range chip (the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1) and a rather mediocre camera set.

I even had to rethink my initial idea of the ideal mid-range foldable… What is it: a foldable phone that is as cheap as possible, or one that makes the right compromises?

However, as you can see, the Motorola Razr 2023 now starts at $500, making my criticism of the mid-range SoC relatively undeserved. For what? Well, for example, the Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2, which is similarly priced to the Motorola Razr (and doesn’t fold), isn’t noticeably faster than the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 – if at all. I make this analogy only because I think that Pixel 7a is the obvious and easiest to recommend “normal phone” alternative to the Razr.

But of course, if you stuck to “normal” Pixel 7ayou’d benefit from Google’s superior cameras in daylight, night, and video – it’s hard to argue for the Razr here.

That being said, if the camera is the only major drawback of the Razr 2023 compared to a “normal” $500 phone, I say it’s still a great deal considering you get the new form factor, a glossy screen. and decent battery life.

Does the Motorola Razr 2023’s breakthrough price make up for its barely useful cover screen

Can you read this?

If we stopped here, I’d actually recommend the $500 Motorola Razr 2023 to anyone who isn’t crazy about the best camera and wants to experience a new way to interact with your smartphone.

You see… Ironically, there’s another phone that gives me a whole new level of appreciation for foldable phones and that’s my (huge) iPhone 15 Pro Max.

My first iPhone “Max” seemed big and difficult to use one-handed, making me wish for a foldable iPhone more than ever. So to think you can get it for $500 or less is pretty good.

However, this immediately reminds me of something I don’t like about the Motorola Razr and that is the lack of a full-fledged cover screen… As I said, my iPhone 15 Pro Max is difficult to use with one hand, which means my main reason for requesting a foldable version of Apple’s flagship would be a large screen cover that allows me to use the phone when folded – with just one hand.

Unfortunately, unlike its more premium sibling, the Motorola Razr+ and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Motorola Razr doesn’t offer this. Instead, you get a small, elongated 1.5-inch cover screen, which is ideal if all you want to do is control your music, glance at a few widgets, etc.

If I bought a foldable clamshell today, the first reason would most likely be because I want to use it one-handed when it’s closed, and have a nice, big interior screen when I need it. to do more. And at least for now, the Motorola Razr’s small cover screen ruins what would otherwise be a good deal.

Of course, the positive side is that some people will be perfectly happy with the Motorola Razr’s small cover screen (which, remember, is not much different from that of the Galaxy Z Flip 4). So I highly recommend you try it if you want a low-cost foldable. Ultimately, you can always return the phone if you think it’s not for you.

Mid-range foldable phones are a good idea if phone makers can get the balance right – Samsung doesn’t think it’s possible

If it’s not Samsung’s, maybe Oppo’s next foldable can match the Motorola Razr in terms of price? Honor is also reportedly making its first foldable flip phone.

I would like to end on a good note… Not just for fun, but because I truly believe that the $500 Motorola Razr is an important phone that does two very important things for the foldable phone image:

This changes the perception of the price of a foldable phone, which will (sooner or later) push other phone makers to lower foldable phone prices and compete with Motorola – especially if the Razr manages to return a few units.

More importantly, the $500 Motorola foldable gives the average consumer the chance to experience a truly innovative device that makes smartphone use a little more exciting. I really think foldables are fun and practical, and I believe a lot of “normal” and non-technical people will too

That’s a real shame, because Samsung’s supposed mid-range foldable phone would have helped shake up the market even more than Motorola’s. But maybe one day, Samsung?

So, I guess the Motorola Razr 2023 will be the $500 foldable phone champion for a while? Be sure to check out our full Motorola Razr review here.