Motorola Razr Plus review: Best flip phone yet
Samsung and Motorola have released a few flip form factor phones, but it wasn't until the Razr+ landed that I was able to make it my daily driver.
Hyperdrive Hits
5/5 Medals of Yavin: Highly recommended for people who want a flip form factor that is easy to carry and a joy to use
Lovely design and Viva Magenta color
Fully functional outer display
Expensive without carrier offers
Over the past few years I have purchased every iteration of the Samsung Galaxy Fold and currently have a Z Fold 4 in my collection. I’ve tried the smaller Flip devices, but the limited use of the outer display, rather poor battery life, and $1,000 price kept me from using them for longer than the review period.
I’ve used Motorola phones since the days of the StarTac, but my first smartphone from Motorola was the Motorola Q in 2006. I went through a few Droids and still have a custom Moto X that was assembled in Texas. Other than a few mid-range Moto phones, it’s been a while since I’ve tried a Motorola flagship and I never did get a chance to try one of the newer Razr flip phones.
When the Motorola Razr Plus was announced, T-Mobile offered a trade-in deal that made the Razr Plus almost free so I dug up an old phone, made the trade, and have been using it for a couple of months. Despite also have an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and other phones available, I keep going back to the Razr Plus for several reasons. It was a perfect phone for the summer when I live in shorts since it folds up into such a compact form factor made for the pockets of anything I wear.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Motorola Razr Plus five (5) Medals of Yavin. No matter which flagships I test that provide better photo results, have longer battery life, and sport other advanced functions, I keep putting my primary T-Mobile SIM back into the Razr Plus. The phone is fun, it folds up and fits in any pocket, the big display works well, the cameras provide what I need from a phone, and the outer display is very capable.
The Good and the Bad
It’s pretty rare for me to not find something that can be improved with a product so here is my summary of the phone.
Pros
Excellent build quality, fit, and finish
Folds into an easily pocketable form factor
Moto gestures and software utilities
Ample RAM and storage
Fast wired and standard wireless charging support
Decent cameras
Excellent T-Mobile trade-in offer
Cons
Expensive
Battery life is good, but not great
Experiences
I cannot compare the Motorola Razr Plus to the previous Razr Android flip phones since I never had a chance to try them out, but just looking at other reviews it is clear that Motorola hit a home run with the 2023 Razr Plus. It beat Samsung to market with a flip form factor that folds without a gap and has a cover display that takes up nearly the entire outer display area. It feels stunning in the hand and realizing I picked it up for free, after 24 monthly credits, makes it an even better device.
Even though I have a Z Fold 4, Pixel 7 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and other phones, I just cannot put down the Razr Plus. It is so easy to fold it up and go running, slip it into my shorts, and take it anywhere without thinking about the size. The color and rear vegan leather back panel are stunning and I love the look and feel.
Samsung and OnePlus are the best when I test phones for reception, but Motorola performs just about the same with the Razr Plus. After using the Google Pixel 7 Pro, I get frustrated by loss of reception on a regular basis so end up with my SIM in the Razr Plus and then carry the Pixel 7 Pro just for phone photos.
The outer cover display is awesome and I enjoy triaging Gmail messages, communicating with my family, controlling my Spotify playback, and even playing games optimized for the display. One trick when using apps is to launch the task switcher and then tap on Full Screen to see more of your selected applications on the cover display. I have several apps selected to use the outer display and love leaving the phone closed to get things done.
The right side fingerprint sensor/power button is also my absolute favorite security method and it works flawlessly. The two right side volume buttons are also well defined and easy to activate.
The large inside display supports adaptive refresh rates up to 160 Hz and looks great with the OLED brilliance and vibrancy. I barely notice the center hinge crease and like the upper center hole punch design for the 32MP camera.
Two camera lenses are on the lower right corner of the outer display and can be used in a number of ways. These flip form factors are great for propping up the phone to function as a tripod. I’ve been satisfied with the results from the cameras in good lighting and they work well for my daily needs.
Motorola has long provided a fairly low level of water resistance and continues to do so with the IP52 rating of the Razr Plus. Even phones with an IP68 rating shouldn’t regularly be used underwater and phones are too expensive today to push that capability. It’s nice to know you can use the phone in light rain and if it gets splashed it won’t die.
Motorola has always impressed me with its fairly stock Android experience that incorporates several Motorola enhancements and utilities. Tap on the Moto app to discover ways to personalize the phone, control it with fun gestures (double chop for flashlight or quick twist to launch the camera), use your outer display to the fullest, and more. There are not bloatware apps on the phone and Motorola continues to offer one of my favorite software experiences.
Motorola stated that it will provide three years of Android OS updates and four years of bi-monthly Android security updates. This is pretty solid and to be honest the processor may not support reliable performance further out than that. Samsung offers four years of Android updates, but three is plenty for a flip phone that has hardware that may be pushing it after three years.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
Main Foldable Display: 6.9-inch, 2640 x 1080 pixels, 165Hz adaptive refresh rate
Outer Display: 3.6-inch, 1066 x 1056 pixels, OLED
Operating system: Android 13
RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
Internal storage: 256GB
Cameras: 12MP main, 13MP ultra-wide, and 32MP selfie camera
Battery: 3800 mAh with 30W fast wired charger and 5W wireless charging
Open Dimensions: 170.83 x 73.95 x 6.99 mm and 184.5 grams
Closed Dimensions: 88.42 x 73.95 x 15.1 mm
Colors: Viva Magenta, Infinite Black, Glacier Blue
Bottom Line
If you have been waiting for a reliable flip form factor phone then this Motorola Razr Plus is the one for you. It checks all of the boxes and is a sheer joy to use. If you can find it on your carrier for a deal, then it’s a no-brainer to pick one up.
I am getting monthly credits for 24 months and also bought the two-year protection plan for Motorola with the intent to use this as my primary flip phone for at least two years. Despite the presence of other flagship phones, the Motorola Razr Plus continues to steal my primary T-Mobile SIM and I just can’t seem to put the phone away.