This $700 Motorola flip phone is better than flagships that cost hundreds more – here's why

The Motorola Razr series has undergone a radical change over the years. Once a flip phone with an iconic ultrathin design, it has transformed to become the company’s premier foldable phone line. I recently had the opportunity to try out the Motorola Razr (2025). After my testing, I’m starting to consider ditching my single-panel phone for this foldable.

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Motorola stuck very closely to the design of the 2024 Razer Plus. This new model has the exact same dimensions as the older phone, measuring 73.99 x 88.08 x 15.85 mm and weighing about 188g. 

The first major design change is the new set of Pantone-validated colors. These hues give the phone a stylish and bold look. Four options are available. My review unit was in Spring Bud, a shade of green that reminds me of mint ice cream. Around the back of the device is a “nylon-inspired finish” that’s so soft I actually thought it was cloth.

The second significant design change is more subtle: a titanium-reinforced hinge, which gives the foldable a noticeably sturdy feel. The upper half of the phone doesn’t flop around, and closing it produces an audible (and satisfying) thump.

Going back to similarities, the Razr (2025) has the same type of panels as the Razr Plus. It sports a 6.9-inch pOLED touchscreen that runs at Full HD+ resolution (2,640 x 1,080 pixels) and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The external display is a 3.6-inch pOLED screen running at a resolution of 1,056 x 1,056 pixels and a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz.

A screen like this allows the foldable to deliver excellent visual output. For testing, I watched Ozarks on Netflix to see how well the inner panel displays content. The first thing I noticed is that the screen is really good at capturing subtle lighting and the intricate details in scenes. It adds a lot to the immersion. Moreover, I can’t forget the Dolby Atmos speakers, which output impressive audio.

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I also have to give Motorola kudos for the barely noticeable crease in the middle of the main display. You can’t see it unless you hold the phone at a certain angle.

The external screen has a wide range of uses, from simple functions like checking notifications to more complex actions like watching YouTube videos and playing a video game. The latter is done by directly adding shortcuts to the Apps section. However, since the display only measures 3.6 inches diagonally, it’s not a very immersive experience. At least, the novelty is fun. 

By far, my favorite aspect of the Motorola Razr is its camera system. Around the back, there is a 50MP main lens, a 13MP ultrawide plus macro vision camera, and a 32MP selfie lens. A setup like this isn’t anything extraordinary; I’ve seen plenty of other smartphones with a similar camera array.

But two features propel it to excellence: the Photo Enhancing Engine and Adaptive Stabilization. The former utilizes Moto AI to enhance the quality of pictures while the latter ensures images and videos look smooth — for the most part. Videos can look a little choppy. I believe the performance problem is a side effect of the stabilization software 

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Below is an image I took of a local beach without any tweaks to the settings. I think it looks great for a non-flagship phone. Colors are vibrant and slightly saturated. Images are highly detailed with little noise, at least in most well-lit environments.

The Razr’s flexible form factor also allows for engaging photo ops. You can fold the phone slightly and use the bottom half as a pseudo-stand. If you keep that half-closed state and turn it 45 degrees, you activate Camcorder Mode.

The moment it’s flipped, the smartphone automatically begins recording a video. On the left is the camera’s view. On the right are touchpad controls. For example, swiping up and down lets you zoom in or out. To pause, all you have to do is tap the secondary screen. It’s an easy-to-use feature. I had a lot of fun trying out Camcorder Mode; it was definitely a highlight of my experience.

Inside Motorola’s Razr is a MediaTek Dimensity 7400X paired with 8GB of RAM. The chipset is fine for the most part, and you can enjoy a solid browsing experience. However, the hardware stumbles when you begin to push it. Playing Honkai Star Rail causes stuttering, and activating Camcorder Mode makes the phone overheat a little.

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I ran Geekbench 6 to see how it ranks alongside other smartphones. It got a top score of 2,992. According to Geekbench’s Android benchmarks page, this places the Razr below the OnePlus 9R, a device from four years ago. I did see other Razrs reach higher scores on Geekbench’s charts, although it’s not a big leap.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Motorola Razr (2025) is currently on sale for $700 on the company’s official website. In addition to Spring Bud, other colors include PANTONE Gibraltar Sea (blue), Parfait Pink, and Lightest Sky (silver). It is a great alternative to high-end foldables like Galaxy Z Flip 6, delivering an engaging user experience without breaking the bank.

However, if you want a high-end phone, the company also launched the Motorola Razr Ultra. It’s similar to the base Razr, albeit with better hardware, from the camera to the stylish colors.