The Motorola Razr flip phone defined an era in the history of mobile phones. After that comeback, came a promising a mix of nostalgia and cutting-edge folding tech. Now, lining up next in this iconic series is the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, powered by a beast of a processor, and housing a more refined hinge and display, coming very close to being creaseless. But does it really deliver a flagship-level foldable experience? Let's open up the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra and find out.
The Razr 50 Ultra delivers on the same DNA of being stylish and compact when folded. With its polished metal frame and a vegan leather back, it oozes a quality feel reminiscent of the classic Razr. It comes as quite a surprise, being comfortable to hold when folded, and slipping easily into pockets without any bulk.
Open it up, and you'll find a beautiful 6.9-inch LTPO OLED with a 1080p resolution and a super-smooth refresh rate of 165Hz. But the real stunner here is the significantly reduced crease. While far from invisible, it's nowhere near as pronounced as it was on previous Razr iterations, and that means it's far less distracting when watching videos or playing games. You can find a small punch-hole camera at the top, but it's unobtrusive, and doesn't get in the way of what you're viewing.
The hinge of this phone, the most critical component of foldables in general and the Razr 50 Ultra in particular, has been resolved. It has a smooth and solid feel to it that enables the device to be held open at different viewing angles, thus creating the perfect positioning for easy multitasking or video calls. And unlike some of the competition, it doesn't leave a gap between the halves when it closes, improving the prettiness quotient a bit more.
This outer display—now sporting a 4-inch LTPO OLED with a 1080p resolution and a refresh rate of 165Hz—is huge and a much-needed upgrade over the previous Razr devices. Off the top of your head, it enables you to do much of everything from regularly used functions without you having to unfurl the phone, for example, checking notifications, response messages, or music control. All in all, this improves one-hand usage in convenience and usability.
The Razr 50 Ultra packs quite a wallop. It possesses the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor that gives smooth functioning with no lags, even for the heaviest of loads. Multitasking is not a problem, and heavy users will find it responsive enough. Users get 12GB of RAM and an ultra-quick 512GB for storage space, leaving them with plenty of room for apps, games, and media.
The graphically demanding games and applications that we tested out on the Razr 50 Ultra ran with ease. We heat-tested it, and pretty much the phone remained cool after prolonged heavy use. This stellar performance makes the Razr 50 Ultra viable for gamers, content creators, and just about anyone looking to squeeze a ton out of their smartphone.
At the back, the Razr 50 Ultra comes with a dual-camera system. The primary sensor is rated at 50MP with OIS, working alongside a 50MP ultrawide sensor. This isn't the most versatile camera setup in the segment, but in the department, it does a really fine job if you take pictures in good lighting. The pictures taken are very clear with good colors to represent a lifelike scene. This OIS feature calms blur. However, with regard to low-light performance, it still is one of the most efficient because there is barely any noise and a slight loss of details.
Running the beauties of selfies and video calls is a Super 20MP front camera placed in the punch-hole of the main display of the device. On the whole, the system of cameras in the Razr 50 Ultra is capable, but far from impressive. The photos turned out sharp with good color reproduction, and OIS helps in killing blur in low-light situations. Low light performance could still be better; some noise and losses in details creep in.
The 20MP selfie camera, positioned inside the main display's punch-hole, is pretty decent at delivering results for selfies and video calls. Overall performance of the camera system cannot be placed higher than competent on the Razr 50 Ultra, and it certainly won't bless the heart of many photography enthusiasts either.
The Razr 50 Ultra is equipped with a 4000mAh battery. Though it is not the greatest capacity among any device, it should suffice most casual users through a whole day without any qualms. Heavy-duty users may find themselves reaching for their charger before the day is out, though. It supports fast charging up to 30W, which will be very helpful in keeping users going with a quick boost in times of need.
The Razr 50 Ultra will run near-stock Android 14, with minimal customizations done by Motorola. This type of integration is intended for enhanced cleanliness and a bloatware-free experience, offering a full suite of the latest features and up-to-date security patches.
Performance in this device will be sleek and responsive with the powerful processor, while the screen will offer smooth refreshes at its high refresh rate.
Moreover, the unfolded form factor is also great for productivity in multitasking. Thanks to the split-screen feature, you can have two apps open side by side. Some apps also take advantage of the foldable format, displaying large real estate.
It's quite a leap forward with the aesthetic values of the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, barring its powerful processor that guarantees effortless performance beside this near-creaseless display, which adds to the on-the-go user experience. The improved hinge and a larger outer display add more functionality and convenience.
But for sure there is a scope for improvement here and there. The camera system is pretty decent but could make it fall short for some good photography. The battery life could be better with something heavier, and 30W Fast Charge, though handy, is not one of the quickest in the market. The starting price of the phone alone is also high, making this a premium offering.
What is it going to be the price starting from for the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra?
For the lone variant of 12GB RAM + 512GB storage, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is bound to come at Rs. 99,999.
What colors will this Razr 50 Ultra be available in?
This Razr 50 Ultra will be available in three breathtaking Pantone-curated hues: Midnight Blue, Spring Green and the Color of the Year 2024 - Peach Fuzz.
Does this mean the Razr 50 Ultra has a stylus that fits right into the phone?
No, the Razr 50 Ultra is not on sale with a stylus, but anyway, since the phone is foldable, it is kind of comfortable to hold in one hand. All the general touchscreen styluses should work well with the Razr 50 Ultra, though.
How big is the main display on the Razr 50 Ultra?
The major display in the Razr 50 Ultra is a huge 6.9-inch LTPO OLED panel that is able to hit a full 1080p resolution with a silky-smooth 165Hz refresh rate.
Is the crease on the main display invisible?
The crease on the major display is drastically reduced compared to previous Razr generations. It is not fully invisible, but far better now and theoretically should not be very distracting for your eyes either.