A year after revitalizing Motorola’s most iconic phone, the company has released the Razr+ – the 2024 edition. This flip-style foldable phone exceeds nearly all expectations while maintaining one of the best foldable price points in 2024.
Motorola’s flip phone launch consists of two models, the Razr+ and the Razr. These are not to be confused with last year’s lineup, which consisted of the same models. This 2024 series brings a much more compelling set of phones, each upgraded in their own way.
Redesigned hardware that just works
A unique display duo
One of the best things the Motorola Razr+ did in 2023 was bring a display that took up nearly the entire front of the phone, allowing you to run normal, everyday Android apps on it. Motorola brought that same concept to the Razr+ in 2024, giving the phone a bigger, better display.
The 2024 Razr+’s outer display is actually a bit overdesigned, to be honest. Featuring a resolution of 1272 x 1080, the LPTO AMOLED screen hits a 165Hz refresh rate – something that would normally be a bit much for the 4-inch display on the front. However, Motorola has designed this phone to be used in two modes – folded and unfolded. The former only works if the cover display panel can perform in a similar manner to an internal display.
The internal display has also been improved. It has the same 6.9-inch profile, but has a much higher peak of 3,000 nits. Like the external display, it retains a 165Hz refresh rate and handles colors very well via its AMOLED panel. The resolution is unchanged from 2023 to 2024, though it still looks very good in day-to-day use.
I’m also honestly surprised by another aspect of the phone: the fold. I would have thought Samsung or OnePlus would be the first companies to actually make big steps in hiding the dreaded fold, but it’s Motorola.
The Razr+ has been folded by me hundreds of times, if not more, and yet the crease on the internal display is far less noticeable than on any of the Samsung or OnePlus phones. You really have to try to see the crease in the display indoors, which makes for a much better experience – outdoors, that might be a different story. It also instills a bit more confidence in the longevity of the display itself, since it’s still foldable glass.
You wouldn’t even know the phone is opening
Because of the better cover panel, which offers HDR10+, Dolby Vision certification, and an impressive refresh rate, it can be used in the same way as the inner screen. Over the past two weeks, I’ve made a point of using the cover screen as much as possible, even on days when I barely opened the phone. The experience on the smaller outer screen is just that good.
I’ve had success with every app I’ve tried using on the front end. Everything from messaging apps like Google Messages and Discord to streaming apps like YouTube and Disney+ are all perfectly usable on the front end. By usable, I don’t mean any sacrifices other than size. They all work as intended – just smaller.
Google Gemini even gets a standard shortcut via the power button. Gemini appears on the cover display in a native way, ready for any command or query. It’s a nice touch.
Motorola has done a phenomenal job of combining its own minimal version of Android with the size of the front display. A simple home screen greets you when you turn on the phone. From there, you can swipe through to reach an app drawer, calendar, widgets, and a dedicated games page. These windows can be moved around and configured, which is a huge improvement.
The cover display also uses the gesture bar in Android to quickly go to the home screen. In any app, tapping it will display the content in full screen. That little trick makes it so easy to use any third-party app on the front display without the camera lenses getting in the way
The biggest improvement, however, is the addition of always-on display functionality for the cover display. Believe it or not, the 2023 version did not have AOD, which was a major miss. The addition of it now marks a huge improvement over last year’s variant. The always-on display screen has a few clock styles to choose from. There are also themes available that really customize how the welcome screen looks on the 2024 Razr+.
I also liked how Motorola handles notifications on the Razr+. From the home screen, a small tray to the left of the camera lenses displays notification icons, which can be expanded with a tap.
The Razr+ even feels like a better phone
One of our complaints about the Razr+ 2023 was the hinge. It was sometimes loose and didn’t inspire confidence. This year, Motorola claims to have redesigned the entire hinge system. The new hinge is 30% smaller and more reliable. In use, it physically reflects that feeling, and I’ve noticed a change over the years.
Opening the foldable feels pretty good. Motorola noted during its conference that it’s actually easier to open with one hand, though I didn’t find that to be the case. Even though the hinge offers less resistance, the phone’s rails are shiny, smooth metal. While I don’t mind the look, it’s definitely a bit more dangerous when you’re holding the foldable with one hand.
The Razr+ has a textured back panel, which I love, and depending on the color you choose, you might see a different look. For example, my Midnight Blue Razr+ has a racing stripe across the back, while no other color does. The Spring Green has a tighter, slightly fabric-like leatherette texture. Either way, Motorola put some effort into these fashionable phones, and it shows.
A superior but unreliable software experience
Motorola nails the minimal Android skin
From the front display to the internal screen, the Motorola Razr+ runs an excellent version of Android, which I’ve always found easy to use.
There are small tweaks to the phone that bear the Motorola name, such as the personalization menu when you tap the home screen. You’ll also see it in the notification bar or Quick Settings panel. But no matter how much I use the phone, the experience never feels alien or inherently difficult to use. The phone does launch with Android 14, which means you’ll find a lot of newer features hacked into the operating system.
The one thing I didn’t see that I really wanted to see was Google’s Circle to Search. No word on when this device will see the recent feature, but it would be the icing on the cake.
Compared to other OEM skins, Motorola’s feels like one of the best yet. If you’re happy with stock Android on the Pixel series, you’ll appreciate Motorola’s UI.
The Razr+ has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. It’s not the latest and greatest, but I didn’t experience any issues with speed or processing. The entire phone, from the front to the internals, works very well, which surprised me a bit.
A rocky reputation of support
While I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Motorola Razr+, there’s one thought that’s hanging over my head. Motorola has been pretty bad at supporting newer versions of Android lately. The 2023 Motorola Edge+, for example, was a fantastic device when it launched. Unfortunately, it’s still running on Android 13, with no word yet on the promised Android 14.
As a reminder, Android 15 is coming soon from Google.
So if the 2024 Motorola Razr+ does launch with Android 14, when would Motorola upgrade it to Android 15? Well, that could be long after the version actually launches and then only after other OEMs create individual versions and skins of it for certain devices. Motorola promises 3 years of updates, but there’s no guarantee they’ll arrive in time.
The camera is now good
This is another area of improvement over last year. The Razr+ has a 50MP main sensor and a 2x telephoto lens. Motorola has been bragging about using AI throughout the phone, and I think this is where it shines the most. 9 times out of 10, images are sharp, bright, and vibrant. In fact, images appear to be processed in a similar way to how Google processes Pixel images.
View the full Google Photos album here
Creating one is incredibly easy, and the UI of the camera app is pretty straightforward. One of the best features is Motorola’s camcorder mode, which lets you hold the phone like an old-fashioned camcorder. You can zoom in and out with your thumb, kind of like using a physical zoom button. It’s fun and useful, even if it seems like a gimmick.
Of course, another big advantage of the Razr+ is the ability to take selfies with the main camera. When the phone is upright, it is also easy to take group photos.
Battery improvements across the board
Despite the 2024 Razr+ having an always-on display and a larger front display, I had no problem making it through a full day and then some. It has a capacity of 4,000mAh, and while it’s only slightly better than the 2023 model, it feels like night and day – and then some.
While I enjoyed using the phone exclusively via the front display at times, there were days when I really pushed it to the limit for power. That meant recording sessions, streaming, and just about anything I could squeeze out of it. Still, I’m impressed with how the battery held up.
Final thoughts
I think the Razr+ 2024 is finally at a point where it can be recommended. Not just recommended, but recommendable.
The phone itself is physically better, with a bigger screen and a better hinge. It has a much better camera and telephoto lens, and has a sturdier battery. Overall, it is a flip phone that can handle itself just fine.
The complaints I had about the device were minor at best. Maybe it’s a bit slippery, but that can be fixed with a case. Overall, the Razr+ 2024 is good.
At $999, the Motorola Razr+ 2024 retains the same price tag as last year and continues to sit on its throne as the best flip phone to date. The Motorola Razr+ will be available for pre-order on July 10, coinciding with Samsung’s own flip competitor. The phone will make its full launch on July 28.
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