Motorola Razr Ultra and Razr+ review: I tested both. I loved one of them.

If 2025 was the year of ultra-thin phones, then 2026 is the year of foldable phones. And the new Motorola Razr line arrives with a big head start. Motorola has been making flip-style foldables since 2020, and its first foldable was also revealed this year.

Of course, being first is not always the wisest strategy. Just look at Apple, which is building huge hype around the first folding iPhone.

But we’re not here to talk about Apple. It’s for Android users (and Android-curious).

I’ve put the new Motorola Razr Ultra and Motorola Razr+ to the test, and while the Razr+ has some issues, I’m liking the Razr Ultra so far.

Verdict: The Motorola Razr Ultra is an expensive but impressive flip phone

What I liked: The flagship Razer Ultra has a great display, great battery life, and true Smorgasburg of AI features. I love that it fits in my pocket, and I also like the design of the phone.

What I hated: The price of this phone is $1,499.99. There was some lag in the less-capable Razr+.

According to the numbers:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform

• Battery: 5000mAh battery / 36 hours

• Display: 4-inch AMOLED cover display / 7-inch AMOLED inner display

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP internal camera

• Charging: 68W charging, reverse charging, 24 hours battery in 8 minutes

• Special Features: Pantone validated display, HDR peak brightness of 5,000 nits, 10-bit color, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3

The Motorola Razr Ultra is a true flagship device

Now, I still need to spend more time with the Razer Ultra before I can decide on a review score. I plan to update this review twice. First, after spending a few more weeks with the device, and then in July or August, after the Samsung Galaxy Flip 8 arrives.

But if you need a new phone right now, I think you can buy this phone with confidence. I’ve said repeatedly that the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) was the most underrated phone of the year, and the new model is even better.

When I first picked it up, I thought it was thinner than last year’s version, but my eyes told me otherwise. However, the dimensions proved me right. Motorola has shaved a few millimeters off the design, and the phone is slightly thinner than last year. The phone also has a new textured back panel, which I think was a smart upgrade for both visual appeal and protection in your hand.

The screens are also slightly larger and have a slightly higher resolution. The HDR10+ AMOLED display delivers 10-bit color and looks incredible. Both the main and external displays now offer a 165Hz refresh rate and significant brightness upgrades. The main display has 5,000 nits, and the rear display has 3,000 (an increase of 2,000 and 1,300, respectively).

Finally, the battery has been upgraded from 4,500 mAh to 5,000 mAh. The battery was a standout feature last year, easily delivering over 24 hours on our video playback test. This year’s battery is rated for a powerful 36 hours.

But the big question here is: are all these improvements worth the $200 price increase? Last year’s excellent Razer Ultra already cost $1,299, but this year’s RAM-ageddon has bumped the price up to $1,499.99.

Let’s talk about that price

Most US phone buyers do not pay full retail price. Typically, we get a trade-in offer, or you take advantage of carrier deals that can drop the price to $0 (with conditions, of course).

Motorola has raised prices due to the lack of AI-fueled memory. I strongly recommend that you take advantage of every deal and launch offer.

It’s not that the phone isn’t worth it. The $1,500 price tag is likely to be the new standard in this category. But it still hurts.

The Motorola Razr Ultra is a pleasure to use

What I really like about this phone: It’s fun to use.

There’s something gratifying about a flip phone, especially one that can offer so many neat tricks. I love snapping perfect selfies on an external display, shooting video in webcam style or bringing up apps without even opening the phone. And as someone who hates Big phones, I like how they fit in my pocket and hand. It still feels like a two-handed phone when opened, but the size is a big draw for me.

The everyday experience will be familiar to Android users, although Motorola offers additional AI tools like Perplexity, CoPilot, and Moto AI (more on this in a moment).

Even foldable phones are so new that they still look cool. And the phone looks good too. The colors and designs of the phones this year are very impressive.

Motorola’s AI strategy: all of the above

Here are the AI ​​tools you get with the new Razer lineup:

• Gemini

• distress

• Microsoft Copilot

• moto ai

Frankly, it’s a bit much. I found that I completely connected with Gemini. At CES 2026, Lenovo and Motorola laid out their vision for Moto AI – a personal AI that acts as your personal assistant. And, in theory, it has some great features. But am I ready to hand over my email, photo library, browsing history, and Google Drive to another tech company? Not enough. I’m already nervous about how much Google knows about me, and how it’s using my data.

This is also a phone made for AI superusers. Here’s an example: Long press on what Needed Be the power button, and it brings Gemini live. Long press the side button (the Razer+ has no extra side button), and it turns on Moto AI. When I needed to turn off the Razer+, it took me a very long time to find the power off option.

Of course, you can change these settings, but this is a phone that wants to have the AI ​​constantly at your fingertips. This is either beneficial or bad, depending on how much you use a tool like Gemini.

That said, being able to get a Gemini to answer questions quickly is helpful at times. I also made good use of Android’s circle to search feature. After bringing the flowers home, I used Circle Two Search to identify them. Another time, I asked if it was safe to use two household cleaners together. (Spoiler alert: It wasn’t!)

The Motorola Razr+ is a huge step forward

With a new starting price of $1,099, the Razr+ will be a very nice phone, but my initial testing has been disappointing. Once, the camera app refused to open. At other times, the phone was noticeably laggy. I sometimes found that apps or features were slow to display.

Instead of the Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Razer+ has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 mobile platform, and unfortunately I can feel the difference. As you’ll see in the camera test, image processing also has an impact. Photos were oversaturated and the phone struggled a bit in bright sunlight.

So, is the Motorola Razr+ worth it? While I can happily endorse the Razer Ultra, I’m not sold on the Razer+.

A word of warning: handle your foldable with care

Finally, I should note that there have been complaints from users on Reddit and the Motorola website about the durability of the Razer Ultra (2025). Users report that the hinges and displays begin to break after about 12 months of use. However, the phone Needed Be absolutely fine, just like me.

I suspect there is some user error involved here, as flip phones are inherently more fragile. Be careful that your foldable doesn’t get wet, and avoid applying too much pressure to the hinge.

For its part, Motorola has equipped the Razr+ with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus; The Razer Ultra features the brand new Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, which debuts with this foldable phone.

Motorola Razr+ and Razr Ultra: camera test

As a reminder, here’s the camera array with each phone:

• Razer Ultra: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP internal camera

• Razer+: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 32MP inner

Foldables aren’t known for having the best cameras, but the Razer Ultra is better than best. For camera testing, I took macro, portrait, digital zoom and selfie photos. All the photos you see here are unedited.

Overall, I found that the Razer Plus sometimes oversaturated my photos, which is one of my dislikes. In some cases, the Razer Ultra clearly took better photos. In the pictures with the slider, you’ll find the Razer Ultra version on the left. Thanks to the elite processor, the Razer Ultra handled color better, and photos taken in bright sunlight weren’t too washed out.

best selfie mode

Foldables may not have the best cameras, but taking the perfect selfie using an external display is incredibly satisfying.

Finished Result:

Overall, the Razer Ultra took surprisingly good photos for a foldable. The Razer+ didn’t have bad cameras by any means, and I took a lot of photos I liked, even though the Ultra clearly has the edge.

I also went to my local flowers-and-skateboarding store — the most Brooklyn store ever — to test color fidelity. (Thanks to Park Daily Flower Shop, which is not affiliated with Mashable or Motorola in any way.)

Finally, I get to show off my latest origami creations.

Motorola Razr Ultra: Would I buy it?

So, would I spend my money on the Razer Ultra? I have to admit, I’m still an iPhone user, possibly due to peer pressure. But the Motorola Razr Ultra is the phone that really inspired me to make the switch, and I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve spent with this phone.

While the new $1,499.99 price tag is a big shock, the phone’s feature set, display, and design are all typical for the category. If you can take advantage of some launch offers or trade-ins, I think you’ll be very happy with this trendy little flip phone, too.