The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is the company’s latest clamshell foldable flagship and succeeds last year’s Razr 40 Ultra. The Razr 50 Ultra brings some notable upgrades to the clamshell foldable, such as a new chip, new cameras, and more.
The Razr 50 Ultra competes with the Galaxy Z Flip6 at a slightly more affordable price. But, is it worth buying? In this review of the Razr 50 Ultra, we’ll see if these upgrades are worth it and if you should buy the Razr 50 Ultra or not. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Price & Availability
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra comes in the following RAM and storage configurations:
- 12 GB RAM + 512 GB Storage: ₹99,999
Motorola ships the Motorola Buds+ (worth ₹9,999) for free.
It can be purchased via Amazon, Motorola.in, and other retailers. It is available in three colorways: Spring Green, Phantom Black, and Arctic White.
Pros
- Sleek and lightweight
- Good display
- Fast 45W charging
- Good battery life
- Good cameras
Cons
- Thermal throttling
- Occasional software bugs and glitches
- Heating issues impact camera performance
- USB 2.0 port
- No IP48 rating like competitors
- No real always-on display
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Review – Design & Build
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is a sleek and slim foldable device, measuring 7.1 mm when unfolded and 15.3 mm when folded, and weighing just 189 grams.
The inner screen is, of course, made of plastic, while the device’s frame is aluminum and the hinge is stainless steel. The back is made of silicon polymer, which we call vegan leather.
The cover display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. It boasts an IPX8 water resistance rating, which falls short compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s IP48 rating.
The phone feels sleek in the hand and comes in three colorways: Spring Green, Phantom Black, and Arctic White. Overall, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra looks and feels nice, but a better IP rating would have been preferable.
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Review – Display and Speakers
When it comes to the display, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra really shines. Inside, you get a 6.9-inch, LTPO AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 165 Hz and a whopping 3,000 Nits of brightness.
It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, with a screen-to-body ratio of 84.9%. The colors are vibrant and punchy and you will have no problems using this machine outdoors.
The cover display is a 4” LTPO AMOLED with the same 165 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,400 Nits. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, with a resolution of 1272 x 1080 pixels, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. This cover display is also very functional—you can do a lot of things on it and even use a set of apps.
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra’s speakers are pretty solid. You get stereo sound with dual speakers that pump out decent volume and clarity.
They’re not the loudest around, but they handle games, music, and videos well. If you’re into deep bass, though, you might want to pair it with the included Motorola Buds+ or a speaker for the full experience.
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Review - Software and Haptics
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra runs on Hello UI based on Android 14. The software is clean and user-friendly, striking a balance between stock and custom features. You get some bloatware that can be removed.
Motorola’s customizations add useful touches like AI wallpapers and theme options without bogging down performance. However, the software is nowhere as refined as the Galaxy Z Flip6. There are some AI features too but, again, they are not as refined as Galaxy AI.
Motorola promises 3 years of OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates for the Razr 50 Ultra. However, their track record on timely updates hasn’t been stellar, so consider this if you’re planning on keeping the phone for the long haul.
Additionally, the software has a few bugs, particularly on the cover display, likely due to optimization issues. If smooth performance is crucial for you, this might be something to keep in mind. There is also no full-fledged AOD on this phone.
The haptics are top-notch, with precise feedback that feels satisfying whether you’re typing or navigating. The vibrations are strong but not overpowering.
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Review – Performance
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, coupled with 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
While this configuration delivers solid performance, it lags behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in the Galaxy Z Flip6. The Galaxy Z Flip6 also has a vapor chamber cooling system that helps maintain performance and control heat. The Razr 50 Ultra does not have that.
Consequently, the Razr 50 Ultra struggles with heat management, particularly during intensive tasks like gaming or using the camera. This leads to performance throttling and worse photo quality when the device heats up.
On Geekbench, the Razr 50 Ultra scores 1791 in the single-core test and 4392 in the multi-core test. On AnTuTu, we got a score of 1,131,482, which is considerably lower than what an average 8s Gen 3 phone scores.
In everyday use, though, the phone performs smoothly without major issues, making it suitable for regular tasks. However, Motorola would benefit from using better cooling solutions in future models to address these thermal issues.
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Review – Cameras
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra features a dual-camera setup on the rear. The main camera is a 50 MP 1/1.95” sensor with OIS, which captures detailed and vibrant photos in various lighting conditions. It’s paired with a 50 MP 1/2.76” 2x telephoto lens for portraits and close-ups.
The camera system delivers good quality images overall, but it does struggle a bit with low-light performance, showing some noise and softness. The thermal throttling mentioned earlier also impacts photo quality when the device heats up.
For video, the Razr 50 Ultra supports 4K recording, though the quality may not be as consistent as competitors. It supports 4K video recording at 30/60fps and 1080p at up to 960fps for slow-motion videos.
For selfies, it has a 32 MP wide lens with an f/2.4 aperture which gives out clear and vibrant self-portraits. This camera, too, struggles in low light. It can record in 4K at 30/60 fps, though, which is a good thing.
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Review – Battery Life and Charging
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is equipped with a 4,000 mAh battery, which is on the average side for a foldable phone. Battery life is generally adequate for a day’s use under normal conditions but may need more frequent charging with heavy use, such as gaming or extensive camera use.
Charging is supported at 45W via wired connection, which means relatively quick top-ups. There is also support for 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging. And yes, the charger comes inside the box.
The 4,000 mAh battery takes about 30 minutes for a 70% charge and about 45 minutes for a full charge, which is good. You can use the 15W wireless charger for overnight charging or car charging.
Review Verdict: Should You Buy the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra?
Smartprix Rating: 3.5/5
Design and Build
Display and Speakers
Software and Haptics
Performance
Camera
Battery Life and Charging
While the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra might seem like a budget-friendly alternative to the Galaxy Z Flip6, it’s worth noting that its software and performance can be a letdown. The camera quality degrades with prolonged use due to heating, and Motorola’s software updates have been inconsistent.
If a smoother software experience and reliable updates are important to you, spending a bit more on the Galaxy Z Flip6 could be worth it. However, if you’re looking for a more affordable clamshell foldable and can handle some compromises, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is still a solid option.
First reviewed in July 2024.
