Motorola Razr Fold Review: Pocket-Sized Tablet, Premium Price Tag

Motorola has entered the tablet-style foldable market with its new Razr Fold, a device boasting flagship specifications and an expansive display that surprisingly fits into a pocket. However, the ambitious design comes with a steep $1,900 price tag, placing it in competition with established players like Samsung and Google. While the company has refined its hinge technology, the Razr Fold grapples with practicality issues that may overshadow its innovative form factor.

The Razr Fold measures 10.1 mm when closed and 4.7 mm when open, positioning it as a slim contender among foldable phones. Its weight of 243 grams places it in the mid-range for devices of its kind. Motorola's extensive experience with foldable hinges is evident, providing a smooth, stable mechanism that can hold its position at nearly any angle without wobble. The device opens to a nearly flat surface, a notable achievement that surpasses some competitors. However, its durability rating of IP49 signifies water resistance but lacks protection against dust, a potential concern for a device with intricate moving parts.

Software and AI Features

Running on Android 16, the Razr Fold features Motorola's customized interface, which closely resembles stock Android but includes pre-installed bloatware such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. More significantly, the device integrates a suite of AI features from various vendors, including Google's Gemini, Microsoft Copilot Vision, and Perplexity's AI search. Features like "Pay Attention" for recording and summarization, and the "Catch Me Up" notification summarizer, are accessible through a dedicated AI button. This button, however, cannot be remapped, forcing users to either use Motorola's AI offerings or disable it entirely. Motorola's approach to integrating AI feels somewhat scattered, with many features duplicating existing functionalities within Gemini. While the core Android experience is solid, with well-implemented foldable features like easy split-screen app management and a taskbar, the AI integration may prove to be more of a distraction than a benefit for some users.

The external display measures 6.6 inches with a resolution of 2520 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 165 Hz, offering a usable surface for quick tasks. The internal 8.1-inch pOLED display boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate, 6,200 nits of brightness, and a resolution of 2484 x 2232 pixels. Despite its impressive specs, the internal screen is highly reflective, making outdoor readability a challenge even at maximum brightness. The plastic cover, while offering some flexibility, is susceptible to scratches from even a fingernail.

Motorola is also offering stylus support with the Moto Pen Ultra accessory, priced at $100 but included free with preorders. The stylus functions well, offering note-taking capabilities on both displays, and comes with a charging case. This inclusion attempts to add value, differentiating it from some competitors who have moved away from stylus support.

The Razr Fold's camera system includes a 50 MP wide lens, a 50 MP ultrawide lens, and a 32 MP outer selfie camera. The internal display also houses a 20 MP selfie camera. While the specs are competitive, real-world performance details are scarce in this initial review. Battery life is supported by a 6000 mAh cell, with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging capabilities, though the latter was unsupported during testing. Connectivity options are robust, featuring Sub-6 GHz 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Ultimately, the Motorola Razr Fold presents a compelling vision of what a compact, large-screened foldable can be. It refines the foldable experience with its hinge design and display quality. However, the premium price, the potential durability concerns related to dust ingress, and the somewhat unfocused AI strategy leave questions about its overall value proposition in the increasingly competitive foldable market.