Although it is hard to believe, there is life beyond the folding Samsung. Oppo, for example, has an ideal device; the Find N, although it is only sold in the Asian market. Xiaomi also has its alternative, as well as Huawei with its Pocket S. Motorola also enters the category of folding mobiles, which has also begun to market its devices with this type of screen globally. His latest addition? The Motorola Razr 2022.
The 2022 Razr is precisely the renewal of the Motorola Razr that the Lenovo-owned company announced in 2019, and that nods to the brand’s most classic “shell-type” devices. This new model, therefore, arrives to solve those weak points of its predecessor, and add, of course, more powerful specifications, such as the latest from Qualcomm or a more advanced camera.
It is also the first Motorola folding mobile to arrive in Spain, and it does so mainly to compete with the popular Galaxy Z Flip 4. Their weapons? A more robust design, an apparently more useful outer screen and a flexible inner panel with an aspect ratio more similar to traditional mobiles.
Now, is this enough to deal with Samsung’s foldable? And what is more important: Is this Motorola Razr 2022 a good option for those looking for a folding mobile?
Design and screen: apparent robustness
One of the most differential points of this Motorola Razr 2022 is its design, and not simply because it is a folding mobile. Account, in fact, with a somewhat different appearance than what we see, for example, in the Huawei P50 Pocket or in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, despite the fact that they have the same “shell-type” format. That is to say, it is a mobile whose flexible panel opens in vertical format.
For starters, the Motorola Razr it is somewhat wider than its main competitorthe Samsung Z Flip 4, because its panel has a 20:9 aspect ratio vs. 22:9 on the Z Flip. It also has somewhat thicker bezels compared to other models. It is also apparently more robust. Mainly because of that extra width, but also because of its materials. The terminal is surrounded by an aluminum bezel that even invades a small part of the rear of the terminal. The mobile also has a glossy finish on the top, as well as a matte tone on the bottom. It also stands out for its large hinge.
Now I have to confess that the feeling of robustness is only at a glance. Once you hold the device and start to unfold and fold the folding screen, that visual feeling – to call it something – changes. In hand, the sensation is of holding a fragile mobile. This happens, especially, the first times. After a week you can get used to it. However, I still think that the way the screen folds is too “sharp”. It doesn’t stay in the air, but falls and hits the bottom of the screen.
And speaking of the screen; that of the Motorola Razr 2022 is 6.7 inches. It is a flexible AMOLED panel with a Full HD + resolution, as well as a refresh rate of 144 Hz. It is, in general, a very good screen. It has a correct interpretation of the colors, except for the whites, which are too cold for my taste and even come to be perceived as slightly bluish. The fluidity of the screen also makes the user experience much more satisfying.
Do you notice the wrinkle that the hinge creates? Not fortunately. It is barely noticeable to the touch. Not as much, at least, as in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. The screen also does not create such pronounced reflections, something that is greatly appreciated.
The Motorola Razr also has a 2.7-inch second outdoor screen, which is used to view notifications or other relevant information, such as the weather, calendar events, etc. It is considerably larger than the one we see in the Galaxy Z Flip 4, and it even allows access to some useful applications. Among them, the calculator or the recorder. Motorola also allows you to customize the background and widgets that appear on that screen.
How is the experience with this folding mobile?
One of the advantages of folding phones is the versatility they can offer compared to conventional smartphones. And it is that the possibility of folding the screen, in fact, can give a lot of play.
For example, the Motorola Razr Z can be placed at an angle of 90 degrees to make the lower part of the rear rest on a flat surface and thus, for example, use it as a tripod to take photos or make video calls.. The smartphone also supports the ability to split the screen.a to use an app in the upper area, and another in the lower area. However, and in my opinion, access to the split screen is very unintuitive.
The grace is that an app can be divided just by sliding from one side to the other in the central area of the screen, but almost never works properly, and forces you to repeat the gesture on different occasions. The mobile, in addition, is not capable of detecting when the screen is slightly folded to adapt the application, as is the case with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
In any case, Motorola does manage to fulfill one of the advantages of folding mobiles; that these are more compact when, for example, they are in the pocket. The Razr 202 is decently thick when fully folded, and its weight is also very convincing. The outer screen also it is really useful to visualize important information without having to unfold the terminal.
To all this, we must add excellent performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, one of the most powerful SoCs today, and that allows you to run any game without any problem. The interface, and Motorola’s non-existent customization layer, help make the user experience much more fluid. Everything moves like a charm, and it is appreciated that, finally, we practically have Android without additions in a folding mobile.
Regarding autonomy, the Motorola Razr 2022 has a 3,500mAh battery which, based on my experience, is insufficient. It’s very difficult to get to the end of the day even with medium usage or by limiting some features, like the screen refresh rate. With intensive use and taking advantage of its functions, the terminal barely lasts a full morning.
How are the cameras of the Motorola Razr 2022?
The Motorola Razr 2022 has a double camera on its back, which is made up of a s50-megapixel primary sensor and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle cameraresolution. It is a somewhat similar configuration to the Galaxy Z Flip 4 which, in this case, also indicates that the photographic section is not the strong point of the smartphone. In fact, the results with both cameras reflect it.
They are not bad. In fact, the main sensor of the Motorola Razr 2022 manages to capture good detail in acceptable lighting conditions. It sins, yes, in the interpretation of colors, which is something very dull for my taste. The ultra-wide sensor also offers good detail when the light is good. Again, with some dull colors, but with a decent exposure. They are not, yes, better than those of any other conventional smartphone that is around 500 euros.
Motorola’s foldable also allows capture images in macro mode thanks to the ultra wide angle camera. The quality, therefore, is very similar to what we get with this sensor, with the difference that it captures more detail at a short distance.
One of the attractions of the Motorola Razr 2022 camera, however, is the versatility offered by having a flexible panel. Also that of having an outside screen. The terminal is capable of adapting the interface of the camera app when we place it at an angle of 90 degrees, so that it shows the preview in the upper area, and the controls in the lower part. It also has a mode to activate a preview on the outer screen and thus allow the subject to be seen when taking the photo or even taking selfies.
Is the Motorola Razr 2022 worth it?
The Motorola folding is available in Spain at a price of €1199 for its version of 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. The Galazy Z Flip 4, its main competitor, can also be had at a similar price on Amazon; for about 1159 euros.
However, Which folding is more worth it? The truth is that both have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing between one and the other – if what you want is a folding mobile with these characteristics – will depend on what you prioritize or not.
The Motorola Razr Z is an ideal choice for those who want a foldable with a comfortable design, a good screen and excellent performance. These are, in fact, the three strengths of this terminal. Its panel leaves a very good taste in the mouth, and not only because of its quality, but also because of its hinge, which is less noticeable than in the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The ratio of its screen also makes it much more comfortable of using and viewing content, although I must confess that I have really missed some software modifications to take advantage of the possibility of folding the panel at different angles.
The Motorola Razr Z, yes, sins considerably in battery. It is, in fact, its main negative point. Its camera, in addition, although it is not bad, is not up to the Galaxy Z Flip 4. In fact, both the camera and the autonomy are the points in which the Samsung smartphone wins against the Motorola one, so If they are important to you, you should opt for the South Korean foldable, which also has a very attractive design and more software options for its folding screen.
Even so, the Motorola Rarz 2022 has managed to demonstrate a good maturity in this category of smartphones. It is, in fact, an important generational leap compared to its predecessor, and further proof that folding phones have a good future.