Foldable phones have now evolved to their second generation and we are noticing several meaningful improvements all around. Motorola recently introduced the second generation of its slick razr, which was also the first clamshell-style foldable smartphone in the world.
Motorola razr is simply meant to be a phone. There is no attempt here to forcefully add any experimental or transitional productivity and creativity angle to your Android experience. Instead, Motorola focuses on making your transition to Foldables as seamless as possible while also delivering a phone that’s a distinct luxury and a conversation starter.
In the second iteration, Motorola has concentrated on aspects that actually matter to the consumers in this segment and has refined almost all aspects of the razr experience.
The only other clamshell competition as of today is Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip which also recently evolved to its second-generation with Galaxy Z Flip 5G. So, which one of the two is better? Let’s stack the Motorola razr 5G against the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G and find out.
Design and durability
Clamshell foldables are all about their fascinating design that makes them veritable head turners.
As is true for all sorts of foldable devices, the magic starts with the hinge. Motorola has engineered an innovative soft-fold, zero-gap hinge where the display rolls into a dew-drop shape within the hinge when folded. There is no crisping whatsoever thus resulting in a screen that remains crease-less even after a period of usage and a phone that shut close without any visible gap between the two folds.
The razr hinge offers just the right amount of resistance which means you can flip the phone open and shut it close single-handedly (and with a gratifying snap). This simple ability or flippable design helps users emotionally connect in a better way and thus makes a huge difference to the end-user experience.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G, on the other hand, looks and functions like a regular phone with a flexible display and hinge. The display folds with a hard crease and there is a very noticeable gap between the two folded halves. The hinge is stiffer and it takes two hands to fold open or close the phone – something that needs to be done repeatedly in the absence of a functional cover display (more on that in a bit).
The Motorola razr 5G uses 3D formed glass on both front and back which makes it feel more premium than the Z flip which has a plastic front. The razr 5G is the only clamshell foldable to have p2i nano-coating that protects it against accidental spills and splashes. It has also been tested for 200,000 flips.
The razr 5G is relatively compact and slimmer (16m) than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G (17.3mm) when folded.
Display
The razr 5G takes a dual display approach and that’s an important differentiation that lends it a massive edge over the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G.
The primary flex view display is an OLED screen with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a 21:9 aspect ratio. The choice of aspect ratio makes the display ideal for cinematic viewing and is also optimized for comfortable one-hand usage.
Flexing foldable screens is cool, but it gets annoying if you have to do it every time even for basic tasks. That’s precisely why the cover display is extremely important to foldable experience.
The secondary, 2.7-inch Quick View display on the razr 5G lets you do almost everything without ever having to open the phone. You can view notifications, make calls, take selfies, reply to messages, control music playback, get directions, converse with Google Assistant, and more whereas the Z Flip and Z Flip 5G’s 1.06” screen on the outside can only show time and basic notifications.
The quick-view display on the Motorola razr has gesture navigation. A right swipe takes you to the selfie camera and you may swipe left from the home screen to access the app tray. Swiping further left takes you to quick shortcuts to call or text your friends. The display supports a host of apps and a full-fledged keyboard that you can conveniently type on without opening your phone.
Camera and Software
The cover display also allows razr 5G to efficaciously use the primary 48MP camera with bright f/1.7 aperture lens, OIS, and Laster AF as both rear and front camera. The quad-pixel sensor manages excellent details and wide dynamic range, and Motorola’s image processing software is intelligent enough to understand tricky lighting and make required adjustments.
When using the 48MP sensor as a rear camera, the quick view display can be used to reproduce instant previews so image subjects can see the photo before it’s captured. Dual LED flash and Night mode come in particularly handy while shooting images in dark ambiance.
The Z flip 5G, on the other hand, comes with only a dual 12MP camera setup with a single LED flash. The teeny tiny cover display makes the rear cameras unfit for use as front cameras.
There is another 20MP f/2.2 sensor on the inside of razr 5G that can be used for selfies and video calling when the razr is in its unfolded state. In comparison, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G has a 10MP f/2.4 aperture inner camera.
Coming to the software, the razr 5G enjoys the near-stock Android advantage. The software is clean and bloatware-free Android experience. Motorola’s My UX app ads several refinements and experiences without changing the way android works or creating any unnecessary overlays. These include chop-chop for flashlight, double twist for camera, as well as a variety of new features, letting users take music, videos, and games to the next level with custom settings and advanced controls.
The Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Flip 5G come with standard One UI 2.5 which is clearly not as smooth as a clean android experience.
Hardware and Battery
Due to design and space constraints, getting a full day battery mileage out of foldable clamshells can be quite challenging.
Motorola tackles the said challenge with aplomb. The razr 5G is powered by a power-efficient 7nm Snapdragon 700 series chipset and is equipped with a 2800mAh battery which is 12% larger as compared to its predecessor.
The handy cover display can reduce primary display usage by over 40 percent. And since the display is one of the most exacting components, this less demanding secondary screen helps significantly reduce battery drain. Further, the optimized and light stock Android software helps with more prudent use of available resources.
In comparison, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G houses a relatively bigger 3300mAh battery capacity but it also employs a more demanding Snapdragon 800 series chipset and has no cover display to shoulder the burden. As a result, the battery performance is not better than the razr 5G in any way.
The Motorola razr 5G supports 5G in over 25 markets and also supports carrier aggregation for blazing-fast 5G performance. Samsung does not claim global band support or carrier aggregation for Galaxy Z Flip 5G.
Motorola razr 5G Vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G: Which is better?
When it comes to clamshell foldable phones, consumer priorities are well sorted. These are phones targeted at people who value compact design and are looking for a standout phone that creates differentiation for them, imparts that luxurious feel, and instantly grabs attention.
And Motorola razr 5G is certainly the best clamshell phone as of today. Its biggest advantages over the Galaxy Z Flip 5G include a more premium design, a functional quick-view cover display that lets you do almost everything without unfolding the phone, its innovative hinge that successfully avoids annoying crease while allowing for one-hand flipping, excellent camera performance, and the clean software.
When it comes to the ultra-premium foldable segment, price differences don’t matter as much as consumers tend to prioritize more evolved experience.
The Z Flip 5G is yet to be launched in India but the global pricing indicates that it would be priced higher than the Galaxy Z Flip.
The razr 5G comes at an effective price of Rs. 1,14,999 including a 10,000 Instant Discount (Online) and (Cashback) offline on HDFC Credit Cards and Debit & Credit Card EMI Transactions. In addition, razr 5G users get a No Cost EMI schemes of up to 12 months (EMIs starting 10,417/month only) from all leading banks and a special double data, double validity benefit with Reliance Jio 4,999 recharge that implies savings of approximately Rs. 14,997.
The razr 5G is available for pre-order from Flipkart and retail stores across India and will go on sale, starting 12th October.
I hope to buy Moto Razr soon.