Motorola is again with its yearly replace for its Razr collection. The brand new Razr 50 Extremely will not be out to vary the clamshell foldable however is extra about including a number of enhancements in its try to refine its foldable formulation. Whereas final 12 months’s foldable perfected the quilt show with a radical and daring design, it fell behind with its cameras and was additionally plagued with heating points.
This 12 months’s Razr 50 Extremely seems acquainted to final 12 months’s mannequin. However there are a ton of {hardware} upgrades on the within that make a giant distinction with this 12 months’s mannequin. After utilizing it for greater than every week, I can conclude the identical. So, learn on to search out out why it must be your first foldable.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Evaluate Design: You win some, you lose some
- Dimensions – Closed – 73.99 x 88.09 x 15.32mm
- Dimensions – Open – 73.99 x 171.42 x 7.09mm
- Weight – 189 grams
Whereas its total look and design have remained primarily the identical because the Razr 40 Extremely, there are some refined modifications that not everybody could discover. When closed, the clamshell foldable is now a few millimetres thinner, which supplies it a cross-section (when folded) simply as thick as most smartwatches. That is primarily right down to the brand new hinge, which, other than promising higher reliability (with fewer shifting components) can also be compact.
Based on Motorola, the hinge, other than offering a smoother opening and shutting expertise, additionally protects in opposition to mud. Nonetheless, the cellphone will get an IPX8 score this time, which is on par with the older Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, however loses in opposition to the brand new Galaxy Z Flip 6’s IP48 score, which works for each mud and water. Paradoxically, Motorola’s Razr 40 Extremely supplied an IP52 score.
The brand new hinge lets the Motorola Razr 50 Extremely lie completely flat when open
The brand new hinge refines the skills of the earlier mannequin. Whereas Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip is all about delivering excessive hovering angles, it nonetheless wants two palms to be opened. Oppo’s Discover N3 Flip is the precise reverse, with a easy but easy-to-open hinge that has a smaller candy spot (45-120 levels) for hovering. Motorola’s Razr has at all times been about flipping the highest half open. It has a small hovering vary (past which the cellphone folds shut or opens flat), making it one of many best foldables to flip open and shut shut with one hand.
Regardless of having a smaller hovering vary, the Razr 50 Extremely can maintain up one-half of the show nicely at this V-shaped angle. Motorola has taken benefit of this with some sensible software-based options.
There is a Sleep show function which prompts the quilt show’s AOD function. This mode prompts when the highest half (with the cameras and the quilt show) is angled at a slant (round 70 levels) within the Stand place. It exhibits a daily white over black AOD display with all the mandatory particulars, however you may wake it up (to the lockscreen) by tapping the show or simply bringing your hand nearer to it when on this mode.
The brand new leather-based rear panel, other than feeling nice, additionally provides loads of grip
The second function, the Desk show, takes benefit of the quilt display’s low refresh price (LTPO). It really works in each Tent or Stand positions and exhibits preselected images out of your gallery or customized photos from Motorola (like Hey Moo or Hey Moto). Pictures could be accompanied by customized textual content as nicely, turning the quilt show right into a digital picture body, which barely sips energy (1-2 % an hour) when in use and may stay on on a regular basis supplied it’s set to Tent or Stand positions.
The rear panel now will get the vegan leather-based remedy for all finishes. These finishes have a minor distinction due to how they’re spliced. The Spring Inexperienced unit we acquired for evaluation had high quality vertical grooves, which supplies the cellphone a stable grip. In actual fact, it has a lot grip I virtually mistook it for supporting the brand new Qi 2 requirements (which it doesn’t).
Desk show turns the Motorola Razr 50 Extremely’s massive cowl show right into a mini picture body
I want to see a real always-on-display mode (like on an iPhone 14/15 Professional) used for the Razr’s cowl show. Because it basically covers the entrance half of the clamshell, it may well double up as a colour-changing customisable entrance panel that may present an identical print design and extra. However nicely, perhaps subsequent time!
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Evaluate Shows: A notch above the remaining
- Cowl show – 4.0-inch, 1,272 × 1,080 pixels, 165Hz
- Principal show – 6.9-inch, 2,640 × 1,080 pixels, full-HD+, 165Hz
- Show kind – pOLED (LTPO)
Whereas I used to be blown away by the Razr 40 Extremely’s cowl show, the Razr 50 Extremely’s bigger 4.0-inch panel has higher cutouts for the 2 floating cameras and the LED flash unit, making it seem extra polished. The quilt show, with a peak brightness of three,000nits, is loads shiny outdoor and can also be HDR10+ licensed, which is sweet for scrolling by way of images, capturing images and when watching supported content material on the quilt show when in tent mode (which I surprisingly did).
The brand new bigger cowl show with its floating cameras is a deal with to take a look at
Color copy of the principle show is kind of good supplied you set it to the Pure color mode. The brilliant show can also be fairly tall or broad (22:9 side ratio) when viewing movies, so I did find yourself with some letter-boxing on the perimeters when streaming the exhibits within the traditional 16:9 format, nevertheless it works completely nicely when watching motion pictures with their wider cinema codecs. The utmost 300Hz contact sampling price (220Hz regular) is just accessible whereas taking part in video games, nevertheless it’s nearly proper for some high-end FPS gaming in case you are into it.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Evaluate Software program: A high quality stability
- Software program – Hey UI
- Model – Android 14
- Newest – Safety Patch: 01 Could, 2024
The software program expertise with Motorola current Hey UI is kind of good within the sense that it is not reached the purpose the place it feels overwhelming for the consumer neither is it slowing down the {hardware}. There are some preinstalled third-party apps (that may be uninstalled), and Motorola has additionally began including a number of of its personal which can’t be uninstalled, however most of those are helpful (Household House and so forth.) In brief, it doesn’t have that near-stock really feel of the previous Motorola telephones however provides a ton of personalisation with themes, fonts, AI wallpapers and extra.
Motorola permits you to invert the orientation of the quilt show relying in your app’s structure when in full-screen mode
As with each clamshell foldable today, Motorola nonetheless stays on the forefront (now that Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 6 is out) on the subject of the capabilities of its cowl show. Its larger measurement immediately makes it extra helpful and I typically discovered myself beginning and finishing duties on the quilt show itself. Motorola additionally goes all weapons blazing by supporting Google’s Gemini AI on the quilt show, and it is as helpful because it claims it’s. And when you get your outcomes, you may also copy paste these between apps on the quilt show itself since there’s a full-width keyboard accessible. And since you may entry any app on the quilt show with out points (in full display that too), all of this makes the quilt show on the cellphone as helpful because the one inside.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Evaluate Efficiency: A little bit of a hothead
- Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
- RAM – 12GB, LPDDR5X
- Storage – 512GB, UFS 4.0
When it comes to uncooked efficiency, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 we examined final 12 months remains to be finest in school. Regardless of its odd moniker, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor will not be as highly effective because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. So, this places it in step with final 12 months’s Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (we anticipate the Z Flip 6 to carry out higher), which has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoC as you may see from the benchmark scores within the desk beneath.
| Benchmark | Razr 50 Extremely | Oppo Discover N3 Flip | Galaxy Z Flip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu v10 | 1,283,736 | 1,027,655 | 1,287,359 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 18,011 | 9,824 | 15,150 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,926 | 1,116 | 1,998 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,950 | 3,325 | 5,176 |
| GFXB T-rex | 120 | 60 | 120 |
| GFXB Manhattan 3.1 | 120 | 60 | 111 |
| GFXB Automobile Chase | 87 | 60 | 94 |
| 3DM Slingshot Excessive OpenGL | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Slingshot | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Wild Life | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Wild Life Limitless | 12,050 | 12,769 | 12,923 |
When it comes to on a regular basis usability, I confronted no problem or notable bugs with every thing working easily and flawlessly as one would anticipate from a Motorola system, regardless of the model’s inclination so as to add extra native apps 12 months after 12 months. The transition of apps from the quilt show to the principle show and again nonetheless works nicely and is one thing different producers have but to perform efficiently.
One space that also stands out is heating. The cellphone doesn’t get as sizzling whereas taking part in demanding video games and doesn’t warmth up with common use, however I did discover it warming up fairly a bit when utilizing the digital camera. I couldn’t really feel the warmth on my fingers when holding up the system, however it may be felt on the interior folding show. One can even inform that one thing’s unsuitable as a result of the digital camera interface begins to lag after about 5-10 minutes of blended utilization. That is most noticeable when recording video, the place the animation of the recording button itself slows down.
The Razr 50 Extremely’s essential show is rather a lot more durable than the earlier one and has an almost invisible crease
For individuals who like to play video games, I really like the straightforward cowl show video games which have good haptic suggestions and make good use of the floating cameras nicely. For critical players, the cellphone will likely be able to working Name of Obligation: Cellular at Medium graphics and Extremely body price with no issues and the identical applies to Excessive graphics and Max body price as nicely. The UTG display safety additionally lastly appears to be robust sufficient to withstand scratches whereas taking part in video games.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Evaluate Cameras: New cameras, previous issues
- Principal Digital camera – 50MP (OIS), f/1.7 aperture, AF
- Telephoto Digital camera – 50MP, 2x optical zoom, f/2.0 aperture, AF
- Selfie digital camera – 32MP, f/2.4 aperture
Motorola has achieved away with the standard ultra-wide-angle digital camera and gone with a telephoto digital camera this 12 months. This certainly appears to be a great transfer, and the first digital camera (wide-angle) is often sufficient for many common taking pictures eventualities, leaving room for a wonderful telephoto shooter with 2x optical zoom.
The first digital camera captures barely saturated colors (whether or not or not you might have AI Shot optimisation switched on in Settings) and exhibits good dynamic vary with sufficient particulars within the shadows and the brilliant areas. Autofocus was fast whereas capturing images however a bit gradual when recording video. Outcomes are fairly good in low mild, with noise nicely beneath management and loads of element within the textures.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Daylight Digital camera Samples. High: Major digital camera, Center: 2X Telephoto digital camera, Backside: 4X digital zoom (faucet photos to develop)
As for the brand new telephoto digital camera, it serves its function nicely in daylight and indoor lighting. Images pack good element so long as your topic is regular. The telephoto is primarily utilized in portrait mode, and the outcomes are detailed and sharp. It can be used to zoom right into a body and the ends in daylight as much as 4X (digital crop) are fairly usable with simply sufficient element. The photographs captured in dim mild or low mild come out a bit delicate and blurry primarily as a result of it lacks optical picture stabilisation (OIS), which is current on the first digital camera.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely selfie digital camera samples: High: Selfie digital camera, backside: selfie from the first digital camera by way of a canopy show (faucet photos to develop)
The built-in selfie digital camera identical to final 12 months’s mannequin is not nice. Daylight selfies are satisfactory by way of high quality and element, however low-light selfies have a special color tone and are available out fairly delicate and blurry. Fortunately, this can be a foldable. In order that 4.0-inch cowl show can be utilized with the first digital camera to seize some clear low mild selfies when folded shut which have good pure bokeh lowering the necessity to fireplace up the Portrait mode even at evening.
Video captured at 4K 30fps or 4K 60fps exhibits good element with barely restricted dynamic vary. Stabilisation when strolling and panning is sweet supplied the cellphone has not heated up until then or you might be blessed with nice or windy climate. As soon as the cellphone heats up, you’ll discover the continued video recording showing fairly stuttery on-screen. The cellphone’s {hardware} clearly can’t sustain with the digital camera, so the digital camera’s software program interface additionally step by step slows down.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely low-light digital camera pattern (major digital camera)
Fortunately, the recorded footage appears higher regardless that it, too, struggles with bitrate points because of the built-up warmth when taking pictures. In low mild, 4K 30fps footage hits the candy spot with good element and stabilisation. 1080p video recordings appeared a bit delicate and scaled-down, so it is not perfect to shoot at this decision, particularly in low mild.
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Evaluate Battery: Pretty much as good because it will get
- Battery Capability – 4,000mAh
- Wired Charging – 45W (68W in-box charger)
- Wi-fi Charging – 15W
Battery outcomes are actually spectacular even with the always-on-display function (AOD) switched on
The quilt show being as helpful because the one inside, routinely ends in higher battery life. Regardless of utilizing the AOD (black and white) function, I discovered that the cellphone can simply final an entire day with heavy utilization (together with digital camera and gaming classes) and could be stretched to the following afternoon with informal use. In our video battery loop take a look at, the cellphone managed to final a formidable 20 hours and 28 minutes. The cellphone additionally fees up rapidly going from 0 to totally charged in 51 minutes. It additionally provides 15W wi-fi Charging when positioned on its proprietary charging dock (bought individually).
Motorola Razr 50 Extremely Evaluate Verdict
Foldable clamshell smartphones certainly have discovered a candy spot within the compact flagship phase which at all times struggled with restricted choices to select from. Presently it is simply the Samsung Galaxy S24 (Rs. 74,999) and the Google Pixel 8 (Rs. 61,999) in India.
Whereas beforehand riddled with fixed heating points, poor battery life and lacklustre digital camera efficiency attributable to their slim designs, clamshell foldables have now lastly reached a degree of refinement the place they are often really useful as every day drivers as a substitute of compact and even plus-sized flagships.
That stated, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra could be your first foldable. Not like final 12 months’s mannequin, Motorola has remodelled the Razr (in a great way), and it checks the lengthy listing of bins with options that patrons anticipate from such a tool. This features a succesful set of cameras, a compact kind issue (when folded) and a big show when opened with good software program, good battery life and quick charging as nicely. Motorola even throws in a premium pair of its Buds+ (Review) TWS earphones within the field to sweeten the deal.
The corporate even jumped onto the AI bandwagon and supplied Google’s Gemini on the big and practical cowl show, which in itself is one thing to take a look at. Oppo’s Find N3 Flip (Review comes shut because it provides a great set of cameras, whereas Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 (Review) and the brand new Galaxy Z Flip 6 (First Impressions) are excessive on AI. However Motorola’s cowl show and glorious software program integration nonetheless makes it the clamshell foldable to beat.
