Motorola Razr 40 review
The Motorola Razr 40 is a compact flip phone that uses foldable screen tech to hide a typical size smartphone within a clamshell form factor. While it doesn't bring the top chipset or large cover screen, its design and build quality are impressive, with a grippy vegan leather backing, aluminum frame, and stainless steel hinge. The Razr 40 also boasts a mid-range processor, decent cameras, and long battery life, making it a solid alternative to Samsung's foldable phones that won't break the bank.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Razr 40 is a compact flip phone that boasts a sleek design, making it an attractive option for those seeking a unique smartphone experience. Upon closer inspection, the device's build quality and design are notable aspects of its overall package. One of the standout features of the Razr 40 is its foldable screen technology, which enables the phone to be folded completely flat without a gap, and stay open at various angles. This hinge mechanism is sturdy and allows for seamless transitions between the phone's folded and unfolded states. The device's body is made from high-quality materials, with a premium feel that belies its relatively affordable price point. The Razr 40's design aesthetic is distinct from other flip phones on the market. Its thin and lightweight profile makes it easy to carry around, while its compact size ensures it fits comfortably in pockets or purses. The phone's edges are rounded, providing a comfortable grip when held in one hand. The power button and volume rocker are conveniently placed on the right edge of the device, making them easily accessible. The rear of the Razr 40 features a subtle texture that adds to its premium feel. The camera bump is minimal, and the phone's overall symmetry makes it visually appealing. In terms of build quality, the Razr 40 feels like a solidly constructed device that should withstand daily wear and tear. While some may argue that the Razr 40's design is somewhat conservative compared to other flagship smartphones, its unique flip form factor sets it apart from the competition. The phone's overall package, including its build quality and design, makes it a compelling option for those seeking a compact and feature-rich smartphone experience.
Battery Life
The Motorola Razr 40 is a great alternative to Samsung's foldable phones, but it doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by its premium counterparts. One area where the Razr 40 fares decently well is battery life. With a capacity of 4,400 mAh, the Razr 40's battery life is still respectable, although not exceptional. In our tests, we found that it lasted around a day and a half with moderate use, which includes browsing, social media, and some light gaming. However, if you're an avid user who streams videos or plays games extensively, you may find the battery life to be slightly shorter. The Razr 40 supports fast charging at up to 30W, which is a welcome feature. We were able to top up from 0 to 57% in just half an hour, making it suitable for busy users on-the-go. Wireless charging is also supported, although we didn't test its speed. While the battery life may not be exceptional, it's still decent considering the device's compact size and flip design. However, if you're looking for a phone with incredible battery life, there are other options available in the market that might be worth exploring. Overall, the Motorola Razr 40's battery life is a respectable feature, but it's not its strongest suit. If you're considering this device, just keep your expectations in check, and you'll likely find it to be a solid choice for those who value compactness and a decent camera.
Display
The Motorola Razr 40's display is an impressive feature that makes the most of its compact flip design. The external screen, measuring 1.5 inches in OLED with a pixel density of 282 PPI and a 60Hz refresh rate, serves as a useful notification and quick settings hub. It's small compared to the large cover screens found on other premium flagships, but it gets the job done. When folded out, the Razr 40 reveals its main display, featuring a 6.2-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2520 x 1128 pixels. This is where things get more impressive, as the screen boasts vibrant colors and deep blacks, making for an engaging viewing experience. The HDR10+ support also ensures that content looks its best. One of the standout features of the Razr 40's display is its seamless integration with its folding design. When folded closed, the screen's bezels shrink to almost nothing, creating a sleek and compact package. This innovative design allows for an impressive 6.2-inch screen to fit into such a small space. In terms of performance, the Razr 40's display holds its own against other flagships in its price range. The OLED panel delivers smooth color accuracy and high contrast ratios, making it ideal for watching videos or gaming on the go. Overall, the Motorola Razr 40's display is an excellent feature that showcases the phone's unique design capabilities. While it may not match the specifications of some top-tier flagships, its compact design and seamless folding mechanism make up for any shortcomings.
Camera
The Motorola Razr 40 is a compact flip phone that uses foldable screen technology to hide a typical size smartphone within a clamshell form factor. While it may not have the top-of-the-line specs or cover screen of its competitors, it's a great alternative for those looking for a solid device without breaking the bank. One of the standout features of the Razr 40 is its camera system. The primary camera is a 64MP unit that takes excellent photos with low noise and realistic colors. Despite some pixel bending, the images are detailed and well-exposed, with an adequate dynamic range. Selfies taken with the main camera are also great, with plenty of detail and sharpness. The main camera's portrait mode offers proficient subject separation, likable blur, and excellent exposure, colors, and dynamic range. However, in low-light conditions, the detail level leaves more to be desired. The Razr 40 can automatically use its night vision processing, which takes a couple of seconds for each shot. The results are quite likable, with detailed and well-exposed images, good contrast, and low noise. The ultrawide camera is a 13MP unit that doesn't impress, but still produces above-average photos. The colors are slightly desaturated, and the detail looks overprocessed from up close. However, the detail level is enough, and there's gentle noise reduction, good contrast, and wide dynamic range. 4K videos taken with the main camera are exceptional, with a high detail level, no noise, and lively colors. Electronic stabilization does a decent job to smooth out smaller movements, but sudden or extreme movements can still be left behind in low light. Selfies taken with the dedicated 32MP front-facing camera are excellent, with plenty of detail and sharpness, low noise, and good exposure. The colors are lovely, and the dynamic range is wide too. Overall, the Motorola Razr 40 has a solid camera system that's capable of taking great photos and videos, especially in bright conditions. While it may not be perfect, it's a great alternative for those looking for a reliable flip phone without breaking the bank.
Price and Value
Motorola Razr 40 Review: A Flip Phone that Offers Great Value for Money The Motorola Razr 40 is an intriguing flip phone that has garnered attention in the market with its sleek design and foldable screen technology. As a mid-range device, it's essential to consider whether this phone offers great value for money. One of the significant advantages of the Razr 40 is its price point. At a lower cost than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 or the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, this flip phone provides an excellent alternative for those looking for a solid device without breaking the bank. While it may not boast a high-powered chipset like its competitors, the Razr 40 still delivers impressive performance in everyday tasks. The camera system is also commendable, producing well-exposed images with good detail and contrast. Considering the price, the Motorola Razr 40 offers great value for those seeking a reliable flip phone that won't strain their budget. While it may not be perfect, its design and overall package make it an attractive option for those looking for a solid mid-range device. In comparison to other flip phones on the market, the Razr 40 stands out as a more affordable alternative without compromising too much on performance. If you're in the market for a reliable flip phone that won't break the bank, the Motorola Razr 40 is definitely worth considering.
Performance
One of the most notable omissions in the Motorola Razr 40 is its mid-range performance. Equipped with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, it's a far cry from the class-leading processors found in other flagship foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 5. In benchmarks, the Razr 40 trails behind flip devices running older chipsets, such as the Snapdragon 888. While this doesn't necessarily mean the phone is slow, it does indicate that you won't be able to enjoy the same level of performance as more premium devices. Tasks like gaming and multitasking will still run smoothly, but you may notice some lag in intense scenarios or with demanding apps. In everyday use, the Razr 40's performance is decent, if unremarkable. It handles general tasks like browsing, email, and social media without any issues, and even supports 4K video playback. However, when pushed to its limits, the phone can feel a bit sluggish. The Razr 40 also falls short in terms of charging speed, which takes around an hour to fully charge from 0-100%. Wireless charging is supported, but it's not as fast as some other devices on the market. In conclusion, while the Motorola Razr 40 has its strengths in design and camera capabilities, its mid-range performance holds it back from truly competing with top-tier flip phones. If you're looking for a solid alternative to Samsung's flips that won't break the bank, the Razr 40 is still worth considering. However, those seeking top-notch performance may want to look elsewhere. 6/10 * Mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset * Decent performance in everyday use * Can feel sluggish when pushed to its limits * Supports 4K video playback and wireless charging * Charging speed takes around an hour from 0-100%
Pros
1. The 40 mechanism and design are Top Notch
2. The rest of the package is nice too, with a compact and foldable screen, wireless charging, and decent camera performance
3. The phone's main camera takes great photos with low noise and realistic colors, even in low light conditions
4. The ultrawide cam also produces good photos with gentle noise reduction and wide dynamic range
5. The selfie camera takes excellent photos with plenty of detail and sharpness
Cons
1. It lacks a large cover screen, which is a notable feature in top flagship models
2. The phone's main Cam portrait mode leaves more to be desired in low light conditions
3. The ultrawide cam's photos are not super impressive but still above average
4. 4K videos from the ultrawide cam have soft and noisy corners and limited detail
5. The phone's price is comparable to Samsung's Galaxy Z flip 4, which also has a powerful chipset