Hello Moto!

Hello Moto! No, it’s not 2004. The Motorola Razr is back and poised to make a splash in the foldable phone market. Motorola’s Razr is the third major foldable phone on the market today after the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X (which is only available in China). What sets the Razr apart from other foldable phones is its sleek design. The first of its kind, the Razr is a tall, narrow, vertically flipping device instead of a tablet that opens like a book.

Motorola’s new take on the Razr could help pave the way for foldable phones as we know it. While it doesn’t go on sale until January 9, 2020, Motorola hasn’t left us completely in the dark. We know that it costs a pricey $1,500 and how its specs match up against those of the Samsung Galaxy Fold. We also know just what compelled Motorola to make a foldable phone in the first place. But our knowledge ends there. We still have quite the wait ahead since pre-orders don’t start until December 26th.

Let’s get into the physical aspects of the Razr. The Razr uses a plastic OLED (P-OLED) with a hard plastic coating on top. Plastic isn’t as firm as glass which makes it more susceptible to damage. Motorola claims its work on a plastic hard coat for the screen guarantees it a better place than the Galaxy Fold. Many early Galaxy Fold reviews reported screen damage. While it isn’t certain just how well the Razr will stand against the stress of repeated opening and closing throughout its lifetime, we’re also unsure how it’ll stand against normal wear and tear or even accidental damage.

Motorola claims that the 2,501mAh will carry enough power to last a whole day but we won’t be sure until we get a chance to use the Razr for ourselves. Even without testing, a 2,501mAh battery is too small to power two screens, the camera, and all the other bells and whistles. The Samsung Galaxy S10E has a 5.8 inch screen and a 3,100mAh battery while the much larger Galaxy Fold is powered by a 4,380mAh battery. The Razr’s total battery capacity problem is rooted in the fact that it is divided into two parts. The design helps keep the device balanced but using two batteries has been proven to be less efficient than using just one which has been proven with the Galaxy Fold.

While the Razr isn’t rated for being waterproof, Motorola promises that it is splash-proof nonetheless. The foldable phone has been coated inside and out with nanocoating, which helps protect internal electronic components from water damage. The Galaxy Fold came with a long list of care instructions that included limited exposure to liquids so we’ll have to wait and see how well the Razr fairs against stray rain drops and such.

Now, I know what you’re probably asking yourself. Is the Razr really worth the amount of its price tag? Is it practical for everyday use or is it just a collector’s item for tech enthusiasts? Is it durable to live out the typical lifespan of other smartphones on the market? Unfortunately, these questions can only be answered after it has been tested and reviewed. So just hold tight until its official release on January 9, 2020.