Motorola’s Razr was one of the iconic phones of the early 2000s, but its modern take on a classic flip phone has become a hit in recent years.
The main difference, of course, is that modern Razr handsets don’t have a physical number pad. As foldable phones, they combine a foldable internal screen with a secondary cover display.
In 2023, Motorola released two versions for the first time: the Razr 40 (Razr (2023) in North America) and Razr 40 Ultra (Razr+ (2023) in North America.
A year later, the Lenovo-owned company is back with their successors, and there are some serious upgrades to talk about.
When will the Motorola Razr 50 be released?
Motorola officially announced the Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra at an event on June 25, 2024. As of July 2024, both phones are now available to buy in the UK.
Nothing has been revealed about US availability, although only the Ultra (rebranded Razr+ (2023)) launched there last year.
As a reminder, here are the release dates of the previous models:
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
However, that’s not all. Motorola is also reportedly working on a new addition to its Razr series, the Razr 50s, which has been spotted with HDR10+ certification (via MySmartPrice).
While no specific details or leaks have emerged about the device’s specs, the name suggests it could be an affordable variant of the Razr 50, possibly with downgraded features to bring down the price.
However, it’s not a model we’ve seen before in the Razr family and there’s also speculation that it could be an upgraded version.
How much does the Motorola Razr 50 cost?
So far we only have confirmed prices in the UK.
The regular Razr 50 starts at £799, which is exactly the same as the Razr 40 at launch. It will also be available on contract through Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone, although details are yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the Razr 50 Ultra costs £999, which is actually £50 cheaper than the Razr 40 Ultra. Giffgaff (from £37.06 per month), Vodafone (from £28 per month), Three (from £48 per month) and Carphone Warehouse/Currys (from £29.99 per month on iD Mobile) are all selling the phone at contract basis, with EE to be added on July 19.
For context, here are the launch prices of the previous models:
What specifications and features does the Motorola Razr 50 have?
Both the Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra have now launched, which means we know almost everything about them. Let’s start with the Ultra model.
Razr 50Ultra
In its attempts to beat Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Razr 50 Ultra is an ambitious release from Motorola. Compared to the Razr 40 Ultra, it’s an upgrade in several key areas.
Perhaps most notable is the cover display, which has increased in size from 3.6 inches to 4 inches. That’s in line with what Honor has included on its Magic V Flip, which remains exclusive to China at the time of writing.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Unlike the Galaxy Z Flip 5, there were no restrictions on the apps you could use on this cover display. But it’s now even more functional, with direct integration with the Google Gemini AI app (including three-month free trial of Gemini Advanced), which can be accessed by pressing and holding the power button (which still doubles as a fingerprint sensor ).
New dedicated Google Photos, Spotify and Bose panels have also been added to the cover screen, which now has a slightly higher resolution of 1272 x 1080. Inside, the 1272 x 1080 6.9-inch screen is largely unchanged, with both still featuring 165Hz AMOLED panels.
Another area that has seen significant improvements is the cameras. The main lens has been upgraded from a 12Mp sensor to a 50Mp sensor, while the 13Mp ultrawide has been replaced with a 50Mp 2x telephoto. For some people, the loss of the ultrawide will be a disappointment, but the quality of zoom shots should improve dramatically.
The cameras also benefit from a range of AI features built into Motorola’s version of Android 14. These include photo enhancements, better action shots and long exposure modes, alongside more general personalized summaries and reminder tools.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
At the top of the internal screen you get the same 32Mp lens as before, which also supports face unlock as a handy (if less secure) alternative to the fingerprint sensor.
As with almost every new phone, the chipset has also been improved. The Razr 50 Ultra is equipped with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which isn’t as powerful as Qualcomm’s flagship 8 Gen 3, but should be much better in performance and power efficiency than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Razr 40 Ultra.
Improvements in energy efficiency will likely benefit battery life, as will an increase in total capacity from 3800mAh to 4000mAh. It now also supports faster 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, plus the option to charge other Qi-enabled devices wirelessly at 5W.
The core design is largely the same, meaning you still get the option for a vegan leather finish on some models. And there are some vibrant colors to choose from: Midnight Blue, Forest Green, Hot Pink and Peach Fuzz.
You also get official water resistance for the first time, with an IPX8 rating ensuring it can survive in water up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes, although there’s no guarantee of dust protection.
Razr 50
While it has a lot in common with its more expensive sibling, there are a few key hardware differences from the more affordable regular Razr 50.
Displays are perhaps the most important, with a smaller 3.6-inch cover display that also has a lower resolution of 1056 x 1066 and a 90Hz refresh rate. The internal 6.9-inch panel is still a 1080 x 2640 AMOLED display, but with a 120Hz refresh rate instead of 165Hz.
Motorola
Motorola
Motorola
The Razr 50 also steps down to a less capable MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset, although day-to-day performance should still be strong. In addition to tweaks to the 50MP main lens, you still get a 13MP ultrawide here, albeit without a telephoto lens to support it.
Interestingly, the Razr 50 has a slightly larger battery capacity than the Ultra at 4200mAh, but that doesn’t necessarily mean battery life will be better. Wired charging is slower at 45W, while 15W wireless charging doesn’t involve reverse wireless charging.
However, aside from some differences in available colors, these are the only downgrades compared to the Razr 50 Ultra. Overall, it’s a significant upgrade compared to the Razr 40.
Will the Razr 50 and 50 Ultra be good enough to be considered among the best foldable phones you can buy? Time will tell, but based on first impressions, this is the phone entertainment editor Hannah Cowton dreamed of as a kid.
