I flipped, I folded: Choosing between the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr Plus

This yr, I used my first foldable telephones. After years of watching Samsung dominate the house with the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip, Motorola threw us all for a loop by launching the brand new Razr Plus. It’s a surprisingly good cellphone, particularly contemplating the corporate’s earlier efforts. It’s so good, in actual fact, that I discover myself loving it greater than the objectively higher Galaxy Z Flip 5.Let me simply say that whereas I knew I’d be impressed with the Motorola Razr Plus, I absolutely supposed on making the Galaxy Z Flip 5 my day by day driver. That’s as a result of I’ve been utilizing Galaxy smartphones for the previous few years, and I really actually like One UI much more than the Pixel-like “stock” -ish UI that Motorola makes use of. There are plenty of issues about it that I’ve grow to be so accustomed to utilizing, so switching to the Razr Plus was slightly formidable to me.However, even whereas I used the Z Flip 5, I discovered myself lacking the Razr Plus, which truthfully shocked me. And when my Z Flip 5 evaluate was accomplished, I instantly went again to utilizing the Razr. Why, do you ask? Here are a couple of explanation why I desire the Razr over the Flip.The cowl display, duh (Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)With the Motorola Razr Plus, utilizing the duvet display feels nearly as pure as utilizing the primary display. Sure, apps are scrunched down as they’re on the Flip 5, however the expertise is enabled out of the field, and there are a lot fewer limitations than on the Flip. Notifications work as they need to, I can change between apps within the current apps view, app continuity works when opening or closing the cellphone, and I can use Google Wallet. Motorola actually needs you to make use of the duvet display, and it exhibits the sheer variety of issues you’ll be able to accomplish with out even opening the cellphone.Unfortunately, that is not the case for the Galaxy Z Flip. I wrote about my expertise utilizing the duvet display on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the way it looks like an afterthought to Samsung, with its software program holding it again. Samsung clearly has its concentrate on widgets, which might be okay if the corporate provided extra first and third-party choices. And whereas the widgets are nicer than those on the Razr Plus, they nonetheless really feel simply as restricted.Image 1 of 6(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Full apps can run on the Z Flip’s cowl display, however you must bounce via hoops to activate them. Once you get full apps to work, they perform simply tremendous, however the expertise nonetheless feels half-baked. You cannot even open the current apps view to change between open apps on the duvet display, which is simply annoying. Also, interacting with notifications is inconsistent, even when full apps are activated on the duvet display. Some notifications will simply open the app, some you’ll be able to work together on to reply to a message, and others will do nothing.It’s total baffling how little effort Samsung put into the duvet display, given it is the primary improve over its predecessor. Meanwhile, Motorola, who has had much less success within the foldable house, has merely nailed this side of the Razr Plus.Motorola’s finest options (Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)While I get pleasure from One UI, there are some issues about utilizing a Motorola cellphone which might be very straightforward to overlook whenever you change to one thing else. The greatest factor for me is the gestures. Sure, you may discover some pretty widespread ones, like the faucet again to open an app, one thing out there on Pixels and Galaxy telephones. But Motorola telephones usually include a set of gestures that I bear in mind utilizing again after I owned a Moto X Pure Edition, and the truth that they’re nonetheless right here helps set them aside from different telephones.Twist the cellphone twice in your hand, and you will open the digital camera. Twist it once more, and you will change to the front-facing digital camera. I really like this as a result of whilst you can at all times set to double-press the ability button to open the digital camera, twisting your hand simply feels a bit extra pure.Make a double chopping movement, and you will activate the flashlight, a function that I do not at all times use however is useful after I want it. I’m slightly embarrassed to confess this, however I generally wish to faux I’m a wizard and say “Lumos” to mild up my wand — or on this case, my cellphone — after which “Nox” after I flip it off.Samsung has a couple of gestures on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, however most are fairly widespread, like Lift to wake and tapping the display to show it on and off. There’s additionally a again faucet gesture on the Z Flip 5, however that’s sadly hidden behind Good Lock, similar to all the higher cowl display options, so comfortable digging.(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)As I stated earlier, I get pleasure from One UI, however I can even acknowledge that there are some issues which might be annoying about it, and the primary factor is bloatware. There are a ton of duplicate Samsung apps that I simply do not ever need to see, just like the ever-intrusive Samsung Wallet, which occurs to work simply tremendous on the duvet display although Google Wallet does not. Many of those apps simply really feel superfluous as a result of I find yourself defaulting to or downloading Google apps anyway. This makes establishing a Galaxy cellphone annoying as a result of I’ve to eliminate all of the Samsung issues.Meanwhile, Motorola typically leaves its bloatware for its mid-range telephones just like the Moto G 5G (2023), so you do not actually have to fret about that on the Razr Plus. The solely choice I used to be left making when establishing the cellphone was whether or not I needed to make use of the Google Phone app or Motorola’s, however it does not appear to matter which you select.Samsung’s One UI 5 software program is nice… however provided that you’re taking the time to make it nice.Lastly, Motorola and Samsung each have their very own desktop-like expertise that they embrace with lots of their gadgets. For Samsung, it is referred to as DeX, whereas Motorola’s is awkwardly named Ready For. Both supply methods to attach your cellphone to an exterior show to offer a desktop UI ultimate for multitasking and getting work accomplished. We love utilizing DeX mode on our Samsung gadgets, however sadly, Samsung nonetheless omits the function from the Flip, regardless of giving it an upgraded USB-C port.Meanwhile, Motorola contains Ready For assist on the Razr Plus, regardless of solely with the ability to connect with a show wirelessly. So should you wanna get stuff accomplished, you is perhaps higher off with the Razr Plus.Design is vital(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)This one’s a bit extra subjective, however after utilizing each telephones, I really feel as if the Razr Plus each appears to be like and feels higher. That’s to not say the Z Flip 5 is ugly, however the boxy design is not actually doing it any favors. The Razr’s cowl panel properly curves into the body, which not solely makes it look thinner (they’re the identical thickness when closed), however it feels higher within the hand.Unfortunately, you do not get as many colour choices as you do with the Flip, however the ones that Motorola provides you’re very good. The Obsidian Black is tremendous elegant, the Glacier Blue appears to be like cool, and the Viva Magenta is an absolute looker. The first two colorways have a frosted glass again, which feels a lot better than the extra shiny end on the Flip. Then there’s the vegan leather-based possibility, which simply provides the Viva Magenta possibility such a definite feel and appear that you simply will not discover on a Samsung cellphone.(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)There are different {hardware} and design selections that I discover are simply higher on the Razr Plus. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is raised in order that it is simpler to unlock the cellphone. On the Galaxy Z Flip 5, the sensor feels extra flush with the physique and is far stiffer, which makes it troublesome to search out and use and causes a number of misreads to the purpose that I’ve to make use of the PIN to unlock the machine.The inside folding show on the Razr Plus additionally has a smoother crease, which is far much less noticeable than the deep crevasse that’s the Galaxy Z Flip 5 crease. Lastly, the Razr Plus has a extra reflective cowl panel, and whereas that may accumulate fingerprints simply, it additionally makes for a fantastic mirror as a result of, sure, I’m useless.Overall, I discover the Motorola Razr Plus to be a a lot better-looking cellphone than the Z Flip 5, and it appears to do a greater job at capturing the eye of curious eyes at any time when I’ve it out and about.The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the higher cellphone total (Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Despite my causes for choosing the Motorola Razr Plus over the Galaxy Z Flip 5, there is no denying that the Flip is admittedly the higher cellphone total. After all, the Flip is extra highly effective, has a equally giant cowl display, extra mature foldable software program, and extra constant cameras. This is apparent whenever you examine the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr Plus side-by-side.When I first obtained my palms on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, I felt like I used to be again in acquainted territory. The aspect panels, the short panel, Good Lock, widget stacks, the Gallery app, and Samsung Music… I felt at dwelling with the Flip 5. Not to say I used to be coming off the excessive of utilizing my first foldable, so I used to be absolutely anticipating to like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 much more than the Razr Plus as a result of it was a brand new and thrilling type issue for me however mixed with the software program expertise I used to be used to.However, utilizing the Flip 5 feels a bit like taking a step again after utilizing the Razr Plus. The items are there, however someway, Samsung simply could not actually get all of it collectively, which is shocking for an organization that completely dominates the Android and foldable house.Overall, I select the Razr Plus as a result of it affords a greater expertise, even when the Galaxy Z Flip 5 affords higher specs. That stated, maybe at some point I’ll change my thoughts and change again to the Z Flip 5. It’s simply that proper now, it does not excite me within the least, at the least not till Samsung makes some adjustments.But hey, do not simply take my phrase for it. Check out this piece from Pranob Mehrotra of XDA-Developers explaining why they selected the Motorola Razr Plus over the Galaxy Z Flip 5.