Hello, Moto.
We can bet good money that your inner voice read the iconic Noughties slogan in the very same, vaguely European and slightly robotic accent as the original Motorola adverts. After all, it wasn’t too long ago that Motorola’s flip phones were the must-have accessory among the fashion-conscious and celebrity elite.
Paraded by stars including Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian back in the day, bright pink Motorola Razrs were often seen clipped to the front pocket of a pair of skin-tight, low-waisted True Religion jeans or hanging from a pair of scandalous knee-high boots. They were a must-have accessory which provided instant access to selfies, texting and Myspace.
20 years later, the digital landscape may look vastly different, but Motorola has learned to adapt. While many individuals have been reverting to old-school block and flip phones in an effort to digitally detox, others are seeking vintage-inspired and aesthetically beautiful tech with a modern edge. This is where the Razr 50 Ultra comes in. Designed to be equal parts technical powerhouse and fashion accessory, it’s being marketed as a phone for the contemporary content creator, business owner and young professional.
There seems to be innate reluctance among iPhone users to even consider a smartphone powered by Android, but if any brand was going to convince us to trade-in an Apple device for a high-octane, high-tech fashion statement, it’s Motorola. We put the latest Motorola flip-phone to the test, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. Keep scrolling for an in-depth review.
Buy now: Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, £999, John Lewis
Key Specifications
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- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 7300X
- OS: Android™ 14
- Memory: 12GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Battery size: 4200mAh non-removable
- Charger: 30W TurboPower charging
- Dimensions: Open: 73.99 x 171.30 x 7.25mm, Closed: 73.99 x 88.08 x 15.85mm
- Speakers: Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos® featuring Spatial Sound
- Microphones: 3
- Rear camera: Main: 50MP (f/1.7, 0.8μm or 12.6MP, 1.6μm Quad Pixel) | OIS | Instant-all Pixel Focus, Second: 13MP (f/2.2, 1.12μm) | Ultra wide / macro | FOV 120°
- Front camera: 32MP (f/2.4, 0.7μm) | 8MP (f/2.4, 1.4μm) Quad Pixel
User-friendliness
When it comes to competing with the innate user-friendliness of the iPhone, the Razr 50 Ultra stands up extremely well. Android users will find the switch an absolute breeze, but iOS transfers would benefit from a little bit of patience before the movements, settings and general unlocking/locking motions become second nature.
Since the device comes pre-downloaded with all the Google apps you could possibly need, as well as the uber-fast and secure browser Opera, all you need to do is log into your Google account for instant access to all of your important documents, emails, photographs and more. If you’re switching from an iPhone, you can set up your Razr 50 Ultra with your last iPhone backup with the click of a button. Android truly isn’t giving us any excuses not to make the switch.
Whether you’re restoring from a backup or not, setting up is incredibly easy, with simple prompts guiding users to create the perfect, highly customised home screen and half-screen for when the phone is closed. I particularly love how you can easily grant access to your favourite apps to display content and allow interaction even on the phone’s half-screen. Watching TikTok discretely on the Tube and sending quick text responses has never been easier.
Key features
The Razr 50 Ultra is equipped with impressive IPXA underwater protection which allows the use of the touch screen even when the phone is wet. The hinge on this foldable phone is extra small which provides a creaseless internal display, even when you’ve had your phone in standing ‘flex view’ for a while.
Thanks to the fact that the outside of the phone is made from smooth vegan leather and the glass is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, you can be sure that your expensive piece of tech won’t smash and splinter if dropped.
The ‘camcorder’ mode offers anachronistic brilliance. When you shake the Razr 50 it immediately enters camera mode. Then, when you fold the device and hold it like a traditional, old-school camcorder, the device provides a countdown before starting video recording. I loved how this meant I’d never again have to struggle with understanding whether my phone was actually capturing video or not, meaning I’d never miss a moment.
The Razr 50 Ultra is also powered by Moto and Gemini AI. The former works to improve the content-capturing experience through features including photo enhancement and adaptive stabilisation, while the latter functions as a kind of built-in Chat GPT to help users with everyday tasks and queries.
Design
The chic, sleek, sophisticated and colourful design is and always has been the selling point of the Motorola Razr, and the 50 Ultra is no different. The latest colourways for both the Razr 50 and the Razr 50 Ultra have been developed with Pantone to ensure in-vogue and dopamine-boosting aesthetics.
The Razr comes with a phone case in a vibrant, matching hue but the supposedly protective cover is wildly flawed. Not only does the glue on the sides refuse to properly adhere to the phone resulting in the folding mechanism becoming jolty and oftentimes stuck, but when the case is removed a sticky residue is left on the otherwise beautiful finish of the phone.
Though it’s a necessary vehicle for the uber-cool phone straps and other accessories, I far preferred the feeling of the phone without the flimsy case. More importantly, it closes smoother without it, allowing for the all-important dramatic flip.
Buy now, John Lewis
Verdict
I was pleasantly surprised by the chic aesthetics, content capture ability and speedy AI-powered software of the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. It’s incredibly impressive that the brand has managed to maintain the retro feeling of the highly dramatic, flippable OG Razr while imbuing it with all the necessary high-tech features that modern consumers require and desire.
The return and re-vamp of Motorola’s iconic flip phone is sure to pique interest among the fashion-conscious and tech-savvy. Whether it will usurp the iPhone’s iron throne, only time will tell.
