I have been utilizing the Motorola Razr Plus as my every day driver for a couple of yr now, just about for the reason that machine launched in June 2023. To say that this has been my favourite cellphone to make use of is kind of an understatement. This cellphone was my first foray into foldables and made me fall in love with flip telephones. I’ve since reviewed loads of different clamshells over the previous yr, however I all the time return to the Motorola Razr Plus.
It is not Motorola’s first foldable Razr for the reason that moniker was revitalized again in 2019, however this was an enormous leap ahead for the corporate, primarily solidifying it within the foldable market with a formidable and well-designed cellphone. Its largest promoting level has been the huge cowl display, which can be the largest motive why I selected the Razr Plus over the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Now, extra rivals are coming with bigger cowl screens, nice cameras, and different compelling specs that might give the Motorola Razr Plus a run for its cash. And with the following Razr on its means very quickly, I wish to have a look at how the present mannequin has fared over the previous yr in comparison with after I first reviewed the cellphone.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Design and {hardware}
“Nonetheless, not like its largest competitor…the Razr Plus embraces curves, with the rear panel seamlessly flowing into the body, which can be rounded. The result’s a cellphone that is fairly comfy to carry, devoid of any sharp edges digging into my fingers.”
The cellphone’s curvy design was one in every of my favourite issues about it, and that continues to be true to today. After reviewing the Galaxy Z Flip 5, returning to the Razr Plus felt like a candy reduction to my hand, particularly my poor pinky finger.
General, the cellphone is definitely fairly sturdy and has held up comparatively effectively within the yr I’ve had it. Yeah, there are just a few nicks right here and there on the aluminum body, and the facility button/fingerprint sensor is beginning to present its age, however every thing nonetheless works because it ought to.
The hinge has additionally held up, however not in addition to I might hope. Sure, the cellphone nonetheless opens and closes identical to it ought to, and it even retains the very smooth and satisfying sound once you shut it. Nonetheless, open the show at nearly any angle, and I discover it would not really feel fairly as sturdy as I bear in mind. It even wobbles fairly a bit, particularly after I put my finger on it, and the impact is way extra dramatic than what I’ve seen on different flip telephones just like the cheaper Motorola Razr 2023.
I can not say whether or not or not that is only a quirk with my explicit unit, however I additionally typically hear a creaking sound when opening the cellphone. Not on a regular basis, however when it does happen, I get a little bit involved that the hinge is starting to falter. It ought to be capable of stand up to as much as 400,000 folds, though we have seen one (moderately excessive) case the place it did not fairly attain that quantity.
“Of the three coloration choices, it is the one one with a fake leather-based again, including a pleasant smooth texture to the cellphone. I would not say it feels premium, however it’s positively totally different from the all-glass or plain plastic telephones I am used to.”
Motorola has been leaning closely on vegan leather-based with its 2024 lineup, which could be very good to see on cheaper telephones just like the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024. I’ll say that since reviewing the cheaper Razr, I discover the end on that cellphone feels rather a lot higher, and I am curious to see how the following Razr will comply with up. Nonetheless, the vegan leather-based end is kind of a pleasant contact on the Razr Plus and has in all probability saved me just a few occasions after dropping the cellphone, though I might nonetheless suggest selecting up a Razr Plus 2023 case and a display protector for the duvet display when you’re at it.
Not all display protectors and case mixtures will work. I just like the first-party Motorola instances, however the display protector I used to be utilizing would prolong past the duvet display and onto the bezel above. Evidently, this can be a part already lined by the case, and utilizing each on the similar time simply did not work, so I had to decide on which I might hold.
“Apart from the fake leather-based again, the cellphone is kind of shiny, which makes it look extra crimson than magenta and jogs my memory of the purple LG G8. It is a gorgeous cellphone that may certainly stand out, particularly in case you can snag this colorway.”
The cellphone remains to be a head-turner and all the time will get seems to be every time I take advantage of it in public. Loads of strangers touch upon it, saying how cool it seems to be and that it resembles a Sport Boy Advance SP. I discover that the people who find themselves most in awe after they see the Razr Plus are iPhone customers. Given the shortage of foldable telephones within the iPhone house, that is sensible, however it’s good to see them recognize the ingenuity of Android OEMs.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: {Hardware} and efficiency
“It is practically a yr previous, however the [Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1] remains to be fairly good and brings some strong efficiency to the Razr Plus.”
Motorola went with the marginally older Snapdragon chip within the Razr Plus, which is prone to hold prices down. This appeared very very like a sensible transfer on Motorola’s half, and efficiency has principally remained constantly good with the chip. Clearly, the draw back is {that a} yr later, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is now a technology and a half behind present flagship gadgets, and within the period of generative AI, it is beginning to present its age.
Nonetheless, total efficiency has held up effectively over the previous yr, though gaming may cause the cellphone to warmth up fairly a bit. Because the backside half of the cellphone is vegan leather-based, solely the highest half—glass and aluminum—will get sizzling, which could be fairly uncomfortable.
“I’ll say that the teardrop hinge mechanism on the Razr Plus appears to do wonders with the crease. It is not nonexistent — tilt the cellphone good, and you will positively see it — however it’s not as jarring as I anticipated it to be.”
The foldable show has not failed me within the yr I’ve used the cellphone. The crease remains to be extraordinarily minimal, particularly when in comparison with the Grand Canyon discovered on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. I’ll say that I’ve began to note very faint strains throughout the crease, which I think about are stress fractures which have collected after flipping the cellphone open and shut for a yr. I can not say I am notably involved about them, as they’re very laborious to see, and I can barely really feel them with my finger, however it’s price noting in case you’re involved about longevity and sturdiness.
Mud and different particles may even accumulate in between the display protector and the show bumper, which I do not actually take care of.
The OLED show on the Razr Plus is not the best-looking show I’ve ever seen, particularly since reviewing extra flip telephones over the previous yr. The show’s Pure mode is just too washed out, whereas the Vibrant mode is just too vibrant for my liking. You may alter the temperature, however this does not assist an excessive amount of. At one level, I attempted to get it as near the Galaxy S24 Plus as I might, as it is a a lot better show, however nothing actually labored.
Nonetheless, the 165Hz refresh charge is sweet to have when viewing media and taking part in video games, a minimum of indoors or away from direct daylight. I simply want peak brightness was brighter, because the show generally is a little laborious to see outside, which I consider is partly (or principally) due to the built-in display protector.
“What I really like concerning the cowl display is that it makes it extremely simple to make use of the cellphone whereas closed.”
This has not modified, and it is the first means I want to make use of the cellphone. The duvet display, whereas not as shiny as I might prefer it to be, remains to be probably the most helpful implementation of a flip cellphone exterior show that I’ve come throughout. The OPPO Discover N3 Flip looks like a wasted alternative with the vertical cowl show, and Samsung makes you undergo too many hoops to permit entry to your apps.
Because the cellphone launched, Motorola has up to date the duvet display with extra performance, permitting customers to leap straight to the calendar, add extra panel shortcuts, entry extra information tales, and extra. My favourite addition is the power to rotate the duvet display, which could be useful when navigating sure apps like YouTube Music, which permits a special UI within the Now Enjoying display.
Sadly, there’s nonetheless no choice to regulate the decision or refresh charge of the duvet display, which I really feel might assist cut back battery consumption.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Software program and battery life
“The corporate guarantees to assist the cellphone with three OS upgrades and 4 years of bi-monthly safety updates, which is nice for a cellphone that prices this a lot. Let’s simply hope Motorola can really dwell as much as the promise.”
As everyone knows, Motorola has not been the very best with regards to software program updates. Issues appear to have improved ever so barely, however it nonetheless stays a difficulty if you are going to think about a Motorola cellphone. To its credit score, the corporate has been fairly constant in retaining a bi-monthly replace cadence, which has been the case with the Razr Plus. A few of these updates have even included new UI tweaks and options, like Moto Unplugged and the brand new Good Join (which is one thing of a Prepared For rebrand).
Apart from that, lots of the updates are small and simply give the cellphone a safety bump, often with the earlier month’s patches. It is not phenomenal, however a minimum of it is constant.
The issue is with Android 14. Most Android OEMs have rolled out the OS improve to all, if not most, of their gadgets by now. In the meantime, the replace has solely appeared on a small handful of Motorola gadgets, together with the Motorola Edge Plus 2023 and Stylus 5G 2023. The Razr Plus is by some means nonetheless with out Android 14, which is a bit ridiculous at this level.
Steady Android 15 is quick approaching, because the beta has simply reached platform stability. At this charge, the Razr Plus will obtain Android 14 when different gadgets begin getting Android 15, and it will be yet one more ready recreation.
I am going to additionally be aware that, for some motive, the Motorola Razr Plus nonetheless would not have entry to the Gemini app.
“The cellphone struggles to get by way of a complete day on a single cost, regardless of Motorola’s claims, so in case you’re an influence consumer, be able to cost the machine a minimum of as soon as throughout the day and maybe even twice inside 24 hours.”
I can not say everybody has had the identical expertise as I’ve with regards to battery life, however it’s in all probability my largest annoyance with regards to the Razr Plus. Battery life has been constantly abysmal for me, and I will not even think about going out with out ensuring the cellphone is totally charged. And even then, I am nonetheless anxious that it’ll die, so I strive to ensure I’ve a transportable charger on me.
Battery anxiousness like this could not occur in 2024.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Cameras
“Do not get me fallacious…the Razr Plus would not take dangerous photographs. It simply would not take the very best photographs both, which, sadly, is par for the course with regards to clamshell foldables.”
The cameras have been one other weak level for me and is the principle motive why I’ve usually thought of switching to the Galaxy Z Flip 5. That is additionally the explanation why I usually carry two telephones round with me (often a Pixel), in order that I can a minimum of get some respectable pictures wherever I am at. The Razr Plus digital camera is simply unreliable.
Motorola stunned me with an replace that addressed this. The cellphone now has an choice to use AI-based Auto Improve by way of Google Pictures, which occurs mechanically once you take a photograph. This offers photographs a fine addition, and you’ll all the time toggle it off within the viewfinder if it is advisable to. That mentioned, it nonetheless would not do sufficient for me to depend on this cellphone’s picture high quality, particularly when taking selfies.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Is it nonetheless price shopping for?
So, how has the Motorola Razr Plus held up within the yr that I’ve used it? Properly, it’s kind of of a blended bag. I nonetheless love this cellphone sufficient to maintain it as my every day driver, and I’ll boast loudly and proudly when folks ask me about it. The duvet display expertise remains to be the very best, and I nonetheless benefit from the versatility of a flip cellphone. Plus, Motorola nonetheless has some issues going for it, like its helpful gestures and highly effective Good Join.
Nonetheless, my largest gripes with the cellphone nonetheless stay. Atrocious battery life and cameras which might be okay at greatest can typically damage the general expertise. For a few of you, I can see how these factors would deter you from shopping for the cellphone.
To counter that, this can be a cellphone that value $999 when it launched and has since seen some unimaginable reductions. Now, you should buy the Motorola Razr Plus for as little as $650, which is about what you’d pay for the standard midrange cellphone and is even cheaper than the Pixel 8. For that worth, I feel the negatives could be missed, simply so long as you are prepared to work a bit for a great photograph and carry a transportable charger round with you.
Or, you’ll be able to wait to purchase the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, which can hopefully have addressed lots of the issues I’ve had with its predecessor.
Our favourite flip cellphone
The Motorola Razr Plus 2023 could also be a yr previous, however it’s nonetheless an ideal flip cellphone with good efficiency and a big cowl display for utilizing apps and taking selfies. It is available in just a few fashionable colours and even has vegan leather-based choices for a extra premium contact.