Motorola Razr Plus hands-on: A return to form

After largely skipping North America with the launch of the Razr 2022, Motorola is lastly making its foldable comeback within the United States and doing so in an enormous approach (or small, relying on the way you wanna body it) with the brand new Razr+ (or Razr 40 Ultra should you’re outdoors the United States). I acquired a short second to mess around with the telephone whereas in New York City, and I need to say, I like what the corporate has carried out right here.While Google has drummed up loads of hype for its new Pixel Fold, Motorola is retaining its foldables small by launching clamshell foldables, one thing I want Google had carried out. It’s an strategy that proved in style with the Galaxy Z Flip line, and despite the fact that Motorola launched the primary commercially obtainable foldable telephone, the corporate’s efforts have not fairly caught on within the United States. However, the Razr+ exhibits that Motorola shouldn’t be out of this struggle.Motorola Razr+: The cowl display is begging for use(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)The headlining characteristic of the Razr+ is the brand new cowl display. At 3.6 inches, the pOLED panel is massive and in cost, beating out different competing foldables just like the OPPO Find N2 Flip. The display takes the very best half about clamshell foldables and blows it up into one thing fairly helpful. Users get entry to as much as 9 “panels” that may include a sequence of widgets or apps, together with Spotify, Google Fit, Calendar, and nearly no matter you want. You can shortly entry these by swiping throughout the display or swiping right down to entry fast settings.But past the widgets, you possibly can entry almost any app that you’d use the principle show for on the duvet display. That means navigation, rideshares, video games, and social media apps will be pulled up on the smaller display while not having to open the telephone. This makes it straightforward to scan your airport move with out opening the telephone, as an illustration. And Motorola says apps do not must be optimized for the display and will simply work, though you will discover a “small percentage” of apps that won’t perform when making an attempt to open in panorama.There’s little or no you possibly can’t do with the duvet display on the Razr+.When there’s content material on the display that is obstructed by the twin digital camera setup when the app takes up the total panel, tapping and holding the navigation bar will shift the app content material up and out of the way in which so in order that the precise app takes up much less of the display. Still, you can see no matter content material the cameras have been blocking. Otherwise, the exterior display can act as your principal display for many interactions.Motorola has some built-in video games that benefit from the duvet display. I performed the marble sport that requires customers to navigate a sequence of mazes, and I’ve to say, I used to be sort of obsessive about it. It makes nice use of the show and actually exhibits off the telephone’s fairly first rate haptics.Image 1 of 3(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)If you are utilizing an app on the principle show and shut the telephone, a notification will seem which you could faucet to proceed no matter you might be doing on the exterior display. Frankly, I’m fairly impressed, and issues like this make me suppose Motorola actually put thought into making the telephone’s software program fairly seamless.And, in fact, you need to use the outer show to do issues like take selfies with the 12MP main digital camera or 13MP ultrawide, verify notifications, reply to texts and emails, and rather more. Motorola actually desires you to have the ability to do something you need with this massive cowl display. The aim was to make it “immersive, functional, personal, and fun,” and with simply my brief time dealing with the telephone, it looks as if that was achieved.Motorola Razr+: A design that stands out(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)But past the duvet display, Motorola has carried out some spectacular issues with the remainder of the telephone, with a design that leaves me in awe each time I take a look at it. The Razr+ feels robust and sturdy, because of the “aircraft-grade aluminum” that makes up the body. Gorilla Glass Victus additionally retains the telephone protected on the back and front, and Motorola has a redesigned, dual-axis hinge that has been examined to face up to 400,000 folds, which is greater than Samsung checks for with its foldables.When the telephone is totally shut, it is fully shut with no gaps, which is an efficient strategy to hold mud and issues away from the principle show. At 15.1mm when folded, Motorola says it is the thinnest clamshell foldable, which helps hold issues compact because you’re primarily doubling its thickness.It additionally simply feels extremely stable in hand, whether or not open or closed, and it has a pleasant heft to it. At 188g (or 184g, relying on the colour), it isn’t precisely gentle, however not notably heavy both.When open, the 6.9-inch pOLED show does have a little bit of a crease, nevertheless it’s not too noticeable except you are on the lookout for it. When touching the show, it positively feels totally different from a typical smartphone show, nevertheless it’s very slight.Image 1 of 4(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)The Full HD+ LTPO show additionally appears nice, and it is helped by not solely the HDR10+ help but in addition the 165Hz refresh charge, which (to my information) is the quickest on a foldable telephone. Everything is simply buttery clean, however I’ll need some extra time with the telephone to essentially get a really feel for the show (actually). It’s additionally fairly vibrant at 1400 nits, though it appeared a bit of heat for my liking and a bit of arduous to view in sure lighting circumstances. Again, I’ll should spend extra time with it to essentially check out the show.The exterior display can also be a 144Hz panel, which appears like overkill, nevertheless it will get the job carried out.Opening the telephone does take a little bit of effort, however that is primarily because of the new hinge. The Razr+ was designed “with content creators in mind,” and it is pretty inflexible to permit the telephone to stay at anyplace from 45° to 130° when in Flex View mode. If you’ve got used and even seen a Galaxy Z Flip 4, this equally permits customers to make use of the cameras to seize content material while not having a tripod.Motorola hopes options Flex View, twin seize, Night View mode for movies, and Horizon Lock will assist seize the youthful viewers, particularly as TikTok use continues to develop.(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)The telephone was additionally designed to face out. Aside from the big exterior display, the telephone sports activities is available in three colorways, together with Infinity Black, Glacier Blue, and Viva Magenta. The final one was Pantone’s shade of the yr for 2022 and was featured on the Edge 30 Fusion. It’s fairly placing, particularly in hand, because of the vegan leather-based end on the again, whereas the opposite two colorways characteristic a delicate matte end that is nonetheless fairly good in hand.Motorola Razr+: A couple of considerations(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)There’s quite a bit to love about this telephone, however there are some issues that make me squint. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is the least amongst them, because it’s nonetheless an incredible chip that is rather more environment friendly than its predecessor. However, the telephone’s battery shouldn’t be precisely massive, sitting at 3,800mAh. While it is bigger than the Galaxy Z Flip 4, the battery life on that telephone is not precisely stellar, and Motorola has a a lot bigger exterior show to energy and a higher-refresh-rate inner show.It’s possible Motorola is banking on homeowners utilizing that exterior show a lot of the time, which might be why it is so massive, nevertheless it stays to be seen how that interprets to precise real-life use and longevity. Fortunately, there’s 30W wired charging, and whereas wi-fi charging is sweet to see, the 5W wi-fi charging would not sound encouraging.(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)And talking of real-life use, I stay in Seattle, the place it is recognized to be wet and moist. More OEMs are launching foldables with substantial water resistance, whereas the Motorola Razr+ solely has an IP52 score. Granted, the presence of mud resistance is sweet to see, however the water resistance score is fairly weak and leaves me involved about simply how properly it’s going to stand up to inclement climate.I additionally want there have been extra storage choices than 256GB. I personally do not want extra, however given the absence of a microSD card slot, this may be good for customers on the lookout for extra storage for movies and content material.Of course, software program help is at all times a priority in relation to Motorola telephones. Fortunately, the corporate is getting higher with that and guarantees three OS upgrades together with 4 years of bi-monthly software program updates. Still, that is simpler stated than carried out, so I will not maintain my breath for well timed updates.There’s quite a bit to love concerning the Razr+, however the telephone is not good.Lastly, it is probably not a priority, however the digital camera system provides me cause to squint (metaphorically). Motorola is not the very best at picture high quality, and whereas that is additionally bettering with latest telephones just like the Motorola Edge+ (2023), I wasn’t precisely blown away by the pictures I snapped on the telephone.That stated, clamshell foldables, on the whole, aren’t recognized for having probably the most superior cameras. I’ll should mess around extra with the telephone earlier than I can actually give the cameras my full judgment, notably with low-light photos. Still, with Motorola specializing in that giant cowl display, the rear cameras are going to be enjoying double responsibility with selfies, too, so that they must be good.Motorola Razr: Foldable on a finances(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)You is likely to be noticing I’m lacking the “+” in that header. That’s as a result of Motorola can also be launching the Razr, a extra reasonably priced model with a smaller exterior show. You can nonetheless work together with it to verify notifications, work together with widgets, and different issues “at a glance,” however you have got quite a bit much less display actual property with the 1.5-inch panel.At 1000 nits, it isn’t precisely the brightest display round, however as a result of it is so small, it is possible you will not work together with it as a lot as you’ll the principle show. Still, you possibly can swipe by panels and even entry fast settings, which is sweet.This telephone has a couple of variations from its flagship sibling. The battery is bigger at 4,200mAh, the first digital camera is a 64MP sensor, and the telephone is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. The principal show is a 144Hz panel, and all colours include a vegan leather-based end. Otherwise, it has a lot of the identical mechanical {hardware}, with a versatile hinge design rated for long-term use.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryMotorola Razr+/40 UltraMotorola Razr/40OSAndroid 13Android 13Show (inner)6.9-inch, pOLED, FHD+ (2640 x 1080), 165Hz LTPO, 1400 nits, 22:96.9-inch, pOLED, FHD+ (2640 x 1080), 144Hz LTPO, 1400 nits, 22:9Display (exterior)3.6-inch, pOLED, 1066 x 1056, 144Hz, 1100 nits, 1:11.5-inch, OLED, 194 x 368, 60Hz, 1000 nits, 2:1ChipsetSnapdragon 8+ Gen 1Snapdragon 7 Gen 1RAM8GB LPDDR58GB LPDDR4XStorage256GB, USF 3.1128GB, USF 2.2Rear Camera 112MP large, f/1.5, 1.4μm, OIS64MP large, f/1.7, 0.7μm (1.4μm Quad Pixel), OISRear Camera 213MP ultrawide + macro, f/2.2, 1.12μm, 108°13MP ultrawide + macro, f/2.2, 1.12μm, 108°Front-Facing Camera32MP, f/2.4, 0.7μm | 8MP, f/2.4, 1.4um, Quad Pixel32MP, f/2.4, 0.7μm | 8MP, f/2.4, 1.4um, Quad PixelAudio3 mics, stereo audio system, Dolby Atmos3 mics, stereo audio system, Dolby AtmosConnectivity5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFCSecurityFingerprint sensorFingerprint sensorProtectionIP52, Gorilla Glass VictusIP52, Gorilla Glass VictusBattery3800mAh, 30W wired charging, 5W wi-fi4200mAh, 30W wired charging, 5W wirelessDimensions (open)73.95 x 170.83 x 6.99mm73.95 x 170.82 x 7.35mmDimensions (closed)73.95 x 88.42 x 15.1mm73.95 x 88.24 x 15.8mmWeight188.5g, 184.5g (Viva Magenta)188.6gColorsGlacier Blue, Infinity Black, Viva MagentaSage Green, Vanilla Cream, Summer LilacAside from the smaller cowl display, the Razr really feels almost similar to its flagship sibling, and I anticipate efficiency ought to maintain up fairly properly with the Snapdragon chip. Motorola says the Razr is “designed with digital minimalists in mind,” that means customers that won’t need a big cowl display to distract them. It will launch with an 8GB/128GB configuration as an alternative of the 256GB we see on the Razr+, which also needs to assist hold prices down a bit.Speaking of prices, Motorola hasn’t disclosed how a lot the Razr will likely be, however it is going to be “meaningfully cheaper” than the $999 MSPR of the Razr+ when it launches within the coming months.(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Overall, I’m very impressed with what Motorola is bringing to the desk. Being in a position to work together with a canopy display for notifications and the like is the rationale why I like clamshell foldables, as a result of I needn’t open the telephone. Motorola is leaning into that in one of the simplest ways doable with the Razr+ whereas actually nailing the design and the software program.We’ve seen numerous foldable telephones launching this yr, however thus far, solely the Pixel Fold is taking up Samsung within the United States. With the Razr+ and Razr, Motorola has what it takes to carry the struggle to Samsung’s hottest foldable telephone and pull much more customers in with a good cheaper mannequin to undercut the competitors.After enjoying with the brand new Razr telephones and seeing different latest flagship launches just like the ThinkPhone, I’ve to agree with Android Central’s Nicholas Sutrich: Moto acquired its groove again. With the Razr+, all the pieces is there… I simply hope the execution can actually stay as much as expectations.