The Motorola Razr Plus and Razr are again for 2024 full of upgrades and enjoyable options. The Chicago-based firm (owned by Lenovo) introduced the brand new foldable telephones with new colours, finishes, upgraded cameras, bigger cowl screens, Moto AI and Google Gemini. I received to see and use the brand new Motorola Razr Plus and Razr for about half-hour at a press occasion in Brooklyn and what stood out to me was how a lot enjoyable is packed into these new flip telephones.
And I really feel that was the largest a part of Motorola’s announcement: these Razrs are supposed to strike a stability between being trendy, enjoyable and progressive. In a world of telephones with drab titanium colours, blacks and grays, every Razr is available in a rainbow of coloration choices which might be as enjoyable to take a look at as they’re to carry. The large information on that entrance, is that the Razr Plus now is available in pink which is a direct name again to the unique 2004 Razr V3 flip telephone that was obtainable in pink – y’know, the one Paris Hilton had!
However are trendy telephones sufficient to woo clients into shopping for their first foldable telephone? In a time the place foldable telephone shipments account for a sliver of all telephones bought, what appears to have labored for Motorola is providing each a premium Razr Plus at $1,000 and a extra reasonably priced Razr at $700 like the corporate did final yr. No different telephone maker has taken this strategy.
Motorola shipped 1,473% extra Razrs within the first three months of 2024, than it did throughout the identical time-frame in 2023 in keeping with analysis knowledge agency Counterpoint. Clearly one thing about Motorola’s methodology is working. So it is sensible for the corporate to construct on that momentum by launching two new variations of the Razr on the identical worth factors as final yr with main upgrades.
Whether or not Motorola has discovered the correct mix of enjoyable, vogue and expertise to get folks to take an opportunity on a foldable telephone in 2024 stays to be seen. However I look ahead to reviewing and testing each Razrs quickly.
Watch this: First Look: The 2024 Motorola Razr and Razr Plus Come With Colourful Upgrades
Motorola Razr and Razr Plus design
Each the Razr and Razr Plus have numerous similarities. The telephones forgo the glass again slabs we count on on different gadgets and have comparable vegan leather-based backs that we noticed final yr however this time in a wide range of fake leather-based textures and even a fake suede. Within the quick time I had with every telephone, holding them was a pleasure. Each Razrs really feel like they’re fitted with a modern and plush case that is constructed proper into the telephone. And the fake leather-based stripe on the again of the two-tone midnight navy Razr Plus actually caught my eye in-person.
Motorola is de facto pushing this trendy feel and appear however the design can be progressive. Each the Razr and Razr Plus have a brand new hinge that is 30% smaller than final yr’s fashions. A smaller hinge has fewer shifting elements which must be good for long run sturdiness. The smaller hinge additionally signifies that there are fewer locations for mud to get in. What’s curious is that final yr’s Razrs had a modest ranking for water resistance however had been the one foldables to be rated for mud resistance.
The 2024 Razr and Razr Plus are rated IPX8 for water resistance, which means it may survive being submerged beneath water for half-hour – placing it on par with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip. The “X” within the ranking signifies that there is not an official mud ranking this yr.
One other advantage of the smaller hinge is that the display screen crease is diminished. Oh, it is nonetheless there, however it’s a lot much less seen. I additionally seen that the telephone is simpler to open and shut than earlier fashions.
The inner display screen on each telephones is brighter (as much as 3,000 nits) which must be useful when open air. Each the interior and canopy screens on each telephones now have Motorola’s new water contact expertise that enables the telephone to reply to faucets, touches and swipes even when utilizing the telephone within the rain – like we noticed on the OnePlus 12.
Motorola’s New Razr and Razr Plus Look Downright Stylish in Vegan Leather-based
One space the place the variations between the 2 telephones begin to present up is in the principle 6.9-inch show’s refresh charge. The Razr Plus’ inner display screen has a refresh charge that tops out at 165Hz, whereas the common Razr’s show can go as much as 120Hz – which continues to be spectacular. Within the half an hour I used the telephones, it was laborious to inform any noticeable change in refresh charges from one telephone to the opposite. However I do know gamer buddies who shall be excited to have that further 45Hz that the Razr Plus gives.
Maybe the largest adjustments on every telephone are the quilt screens. The Razr Plus has a brand new 4-inch cowl display screen. That is the identical measurement because the Honor Magic V Flip’s cowl show that launched in China earlier this month.
The common Razr inherits the 2023 Razr Plus’ 3.6-inch display screen. On the briefing I attended, it is laborious to inform the distinction between the 2 telephones simply from the quilt display screen, however one clue is that the common Razr has a tiny strip of vegan leather-based throughout the highest of the quilt display screen.
The duvet display screen software program and interface have been up to date. You’ll be able to open any Android app on it and there are improved software program panels which might be simpler to navigate together with a brand new “all panels view” which you set off by pinching and swiping outward.
Motorola Razr and Razr Plus cameras
The Motorola Razr and Razr Plus in circumstances with straps. Each telephones have two exterior cameras constructed into the quilt display screen.
Each telephones have two exterior cameras embedded within the cowl display screen. I actually like the way in which this seems to be, it’s extremely hanging. The principle digital camera on every telephone has a brand new bigger sensor with 50 megapixels and optical picture stabilization. The common Razr retains the identical 13-megapixel ultrawide digital camera from final yr.
However the Razr Plus swaps out final yr’s ultrawide digital camera for a brand new 2x telephoto 50-megapixel digital camera. Motorola advised me that the reasoning behind the change was the corporate discovered that its customers took extra zoomed-in pictures than they did ultrawide ones. Personally I like each telephoto and ultrawide lenses, and it would be laborious for me to decide on one over the opposite. However I might in all probability lean towards having a telephoto lens.
Motorola Razr and Razr Plus battery and processor
Rounding out every machine, the Razr Plus runs on a Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 chip and has a 4,000 mAh battery that helps 45-watt wired charging, 15-watt wi-fi charging and 5-watt reverse wi-fi charging. Against this, the common Razr runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 7300x chip, has a 4,200 mAh battery and helps 30-watt wired charging and 15-watt wi-fi charging. These numbers do not imply a lot by themselves; we’ll see how their battery life fares in our exams.
Moto AI on the Razr Plus
4 totally different colours of the Motorola Razr Plus: (left-to-right) Spring inexperienced, midnight blue, sizzling pink and peach fuzz.
It would not be a 2024 telephone launch with out a point out of AI. The Razr Plus runs Moto AI which is completed each on machine and within the cloud and can supply digital camera options equivalent to improved portraits, autofocus in movies, and lengthy publicity photographs. I’m notably excited to check out the Razr Plus’ new cameras to see how and if the brand new {hardware}, Snapdragon chip and Moto AI enhance issues.
There can even be options like “Pay Consideration” the place the Razr Plus will document and transcribe a dialog, when requested, and a characteristic referred to as “Type Sync” that generates authentic wallpaper to your telephone that matches or compliments the garments that you simply’re carrying which simply appears enjoyable — once more that phrase.
The Razr Plus will include Google Gemini built-in and will be accessed completely by the quilt display screen if wanted. You will additionally get three months freed from Gemini Superior with the acquisition of the Razr Plus.
Moto AI will not be coming to older fashions and is proscribed to only the Razr Plus. Motorola says that extra Moto AI options shall be added within the coming months and years.
This can be a good time to say that each the Motorola Razr and Razr Plus run on Android 14 and that the corporate guarantees main OS software program assist for 3 years and bi-monthly safety updates for 4 years. This can be a first rate dedication on Motorola’s behalf however falls quick by a yr of Samsung’s 4 years of main Android software program updates and 5 years of safety updates on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The Moto Tag received gasps
The Moto Tag is a bluetooth tracker with assist for extremely wideband that works with Android telephones — not simply Motorola gadgets.
Maybe one of the shocking issues Motorola is saying is the Moto Tag which really received an audible gasp from the handful of reporters in my briefing. It really works on Google’s Discover My Gadget community, helps extremely wideband and is suitable with all Android telephones with bluetooth.
The Moto Tag will be discovered with any Android telephone paired with it, however it additionally has a button built-in that you simply press to find your telephone. However the identical button can be utilized as a distant shutter button to take a photograph – once more, one other enjoyable characteristic. The Moto Tag is available in two colours, inexperienced and blue, and can launch within the US on Aug. 2 for $30.
Motorola Razr and Razr Plus pricing and launch
The Motorola Razr 2024 in seashore sand (left), spritz orange (proper) and a Razr Plus in midnight blue.
The brand new Motorola Razr Plus shall be obtainable for pre-order at T-Cellular, AT&T, Motorola’s web site, Amazon and Greatest Purchase on July 10 for $1,000. The common Motorola Razr is offered to pre-order at T-Cellular additionally on July 10 for $700, after which shall be obtainable unlocked on Amazon, Greatest Purchase and Motorola on July 24.
I’ve received at hand it to Motorola, the corporate actually made a splash with what it added and improved on the Razr and Razr Plus. I look ahead to testing every quickly to see how these new additions and options really carry out and whether or not Motorola was capable of prime final yr’s glorious Motorola Razr Plus. However one thing tells me I am going to have numerous enjoyable through the course of.
