I relived my high school days and used the Motorola Razr+ for a week
The Motorola Razr+ has some solid features and comes in exciting colors. But the practicality and image quality aren't there.
Foldable phones aren’t exactly new on the market, but — as an iPhone user gradually being lured over to Android — I was pretty excited when I first heard about the Motorola Razr+. Previous editions of the Razr caught my attention when they were first announced, but lackluster reviews had me hesitating. Yes, I used (and loved) my Razr V3 back in high school, but a foldable phone in 2024? It seemed more like a gimmick than genuinely useful, but the updated Razr+ had me intrigued, so I decided to try it out for myself.
Using a foldable phone for the first time is weird
Straight out of the box, the 2023 Motorola Razr+ was a bit bigger than I expected. It’s more elongated than other smartphones I’ve seen — it’s over an inch longer than my iPhone 11 Pro, despite being nearly identical in width — which makes it feel slightly awkward in the hand. It’s also longer than other foldable phones I’ve seen on the market, like the 5.67-inch Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, despite having similar widths and identical thicknesses.
Folded, however, the Razr+ is a portable dream. It’s a slim 0.59 inches closed, making it easy to slip into any pocket, and I was shocked by how much I liked the form factor from the get-go. Is it weird the first time you fold it? Absolutely. But is it sturdy and durable? Surprisingly, yes.
The external display is also an immediate win, especially given its upgraded size. The 2023 Razr+ boasts a 3.6-inch pOLED display along with a 6.9-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED main display, both of which are colorful, bright, and responsive. The device itself runs on Android 13, and — with 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM — the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor makes this phone fast and fun.
The Motorola Razr+ helped me cut down my screen time
When I first heard about foldable phones, I had a sneaking suspicion that I would like them. Using the Motorola Razr+ proved me right…and then some. Not only is it incredibly portable and convenient, but the external display changed how I interacted with my phone on a regular basis. While you can customize the apps on the external display, I chose to limit what I placed on that screen, and I basically turned it into a modified “dumb phone.”
I could read text messages, make calls, view my calendar, listen to Spotify, and check the weather…but anything else required opening the phone itself. As a result, my phone usage plummeted. I wasn’t scrolling on social media, watching YouTube videos, or playing games as much as I used to, which made the Razr+ a much-appreciated companion to my work-from-home life.
The external display has clutch benefits
Even for those who aren’t trying to cut down on their screen time, the upgraded external display is wicked cool for a few other reasons. Not only is it almost a full inch bigger than the 2022 Razr, but that extra space actually makes sense. You can watch videos, play games, make payments, check email, and more — and it’s easy to customize the external display to your own preferences.
Beyond that, one of my favorite features was the ability to use the external display as an image preview for the back camera. Not only did it make taking selfies a breeze, but — as someone whose partner isn’t the best at taking flattering photos — I loved being able to pass him the phone, view the photo before he captured it, and adjust accordingly. Add in the ability to bend the phone at a 90-degree angle and place it on any surface without needing a stand or tripod? I can absolutely understand how a foldable phone is worth the hype, especially for content creators on the go.
The camera left something to be desired
While I loved how the external display changed the game when it came to taking photos or recording video, I found myself disappointed with one major area: the camera quality itself.
First things first, I’m definitely not an expert in this area. I have a background in portrait photography, so I know how to capture a great photo, but camera specs definitely aren’t my forte. However, I did some research and found that other users were similarly frustrated with the Razr+. It’s not that the camera quality is bad, but it’s just…OK.
The Motorola Razr+ (2023) comes with two rear cameras — a 12MP (f/1.5, 1.4µm) primary camera with optical image stabilization, as well as a 13MP ultra-wide (f.2/2, 1.12µm) — and a 32MP (f/2.4, 0.7 µm) front camera. There’s also an overwhelmingly large amount of camera software built in — including dual capture, live filters, auto night vision, pro mode, Google Lens integration, and more — but while some of it was fun to play with, none of it really wowed me.
Are the photos better than my old iPhone 11 Pro? Absolutely. But are they anywhere near as good as other smartphones on the market? Not in my opinion.
The video quality, in particular, was my biggest gripe. Even in good lighting, none of the cameras did a great job of capturing detail on my face, so my features were ever-so-slightly blurred. I tried switching to 4K — and snapped a quick selfie in the same lighting, which looked fantastic — but nothing seemed to work. Did it have great color balance? Yes. Was the sound quality better? Absolutely. However, I still found myself reaching for my iPhone to record video, especially if I was posting on TikTok.
I’m not sure the Razr+ can replace my iPhone
Unfortunately, those weren’t my only issues with the Razr+. The phone runs a little hot, the built-in speakers aren’t great, and the 3800 mAh battery doesn’t quite last as long as I’d hoped with heavy use. That being said, I did find myself using this phone less than normal — which was a huge plus in my book — so I was able to make the battery life stretch simply because I wasn’t on my phone as often.
Is the Motorola Razr+ worth it?
For casual users — or diehard fans of foldable phones — it’s definitely worth considering. Retailing at $999 (and frequently on sale), it’s definitely a better phone than any of its predecessors, enough so that it feels like a worthy opponent to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. The upgraded external display is fantastic, the phone itself is reliable and easy to use, and it comes in super fun colors, like the iconic viva magenta.
If you’re on the fence, or if you’re looking for a fantastic camera, then you might want to look elsewhere. It’s not that the 2023 Motorola Razr+ is bad, it’s just…not great, either. It’s a solid phone with some solid specs, but it’s solid — not spectacular. If solid is OK with you? Go for it. If you’re looking for spectacular, this probably isn’t it.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23318435/akrales_220309_4977_0232.jpg)
