Motorola Razr 40 review
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. It's similar in design to the premium Razr 40 Ultra, with a grippy vegan leather backing, aluminum frame, and stainless steel teardrop hinge that allows the phone to fold completely flat without a gap. The Razr 40 has a small external screen with a pixel density of 282 PPI and a 60Hz refresh rate. The main camera is a 64MP sensor with a 13MP ultra-wide camera, producing excellent photos with low noise and realistic colors. The portrait mode offers proficient subject separation, likable blur, and excellent exposure. The Razr 40 can take selfies with the main camera, which produce great results with detailed subjects and wide dynamic range. In low-light conditions, the phone's night vision processing takes a couple of seconds for each shot, producing photos that are detailed and well-exposed. Video recording is also impressive, with 4K resolution from both the main and ultra-wide cameras. Electronic stabilization does a decent job to smooth out smaller movements, but can struggle with more sudden or extreme movements in low light. The Razr 40's design and mechanism are top-notch, making it a solid alternative to Samsung's flip phones without breaking the bank. While it may not be perfect, the phone is worth considering for those looking for a reliable flip phone at an affordable price. Overall, the Motorola Razr 40 is a great option for those seeking a compact flip phone with impressive camera capabilities and a unique design.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Razr 40 is a great flip phone that boasts top-notch build quality and design. The phone's compact size, achieved through the use of foldable screen tech, makes it perfect for those who want a smartphone in a clamshell form factor. The device's design is remarkably similar to the premium Razr 40 Ultra, with the same size, shape, and weight. The leather finish gives it a premium feel, making it stand out from other flip phones on the market. One of the standout features of the Razr 40 is its innovative 40 mechanism, which allows for seamless unfolding and folding of the phone. This design aspect makes the device incredibly durable and resistant to wear and tear. The phone's build quality is also impressive, with a sturdy metal frame that provides excellent structural integrity. The display is protected by a durable glass, adding an extra layer of protection against scratches and drops. While some may argue that the Razr 40's design is not as flashy as some other flagship models, its understated approach to design makes it a solid alternative for those who want a reliable flip phone without breaking the bank. Overall, the Motorola Razr 40's build quality and design are top-notch, making it a great option for anyone looking for a durable and feature-rich flip phone.
Battery Life
In our review of the Motorola Razr 40, we took a closer look at its battery life, one of the most important aspects of any smartphone. The Razr 40 boasts a larger 4,400 mAh battery capacity compared to its predecessor, which promises extended usage on a single charge. However, in our testing, we found that the Razr 40's endurance rating was surprisingly similar to its predecessor's. We were able to get around 11 hours of moderate use from a single charge, with some heavy usage thrown in for good measure. While this is still respectable, it falls short of what we expected given the larger battery size. On the plus side, charging times are decent, with 30W fast charging capable of topping up from 0 to 57% in just half an hour. Wireless charging is also supported, which adds a layer of convenience for users. In terms of specific usage scenarios, our tests revealed that the Razr 40's battery life holds up well under normal usage patterns. We were able to browse the web, send emails, and make phone calls without any issues, even with some background app activity. However, if you're a heavy gamer or video watcher, you may find yourself needing to top up your charge more frequently. The Razr 40's battery life isn't spectacular, but it gets the job done. If you're looking for a solid alternative to foldable phones that won't break the bank, the Razr 40 is still worth considering.
Display
The Motorola Razr 40 is a compact flip phone that boasts a foldable screen technology to hide a typical size smartphone within a clamshell form factor. The device's design is nearly identical to its premium counterpart, the Razr 40 Ultra, with the same aluminum frame, stainless steel teardrop hinge, and grippy vegan leather backing. One of the most notable differences between the two devices is the display. While the Razr 40 Ultra features a larger cover screen, the Razr 40 has a more conventional design with a smaller external display. However, the main display itself is quite impressive, offering vibrant colors, good contrast, and an adequate dynamic range. The main display measures 6.2 inches in size, which is slightly smaller than some other flagships on the market. Despite this, it manages to deliver crisp visuals, making it ideal for watching videos, browsing the web, or streaming your favorite shows. The pixel density of 373 pixels per inch ensures that text and images are sharp and clear. In terms of resolution, the Razr 40's main display boasts a Quad HD+ panel with a whopping 3,000 x 1,440 pixels. This means that you get to enjoy stunning visuals, making it perfect for those who want an immersive viewing experience. One notable aspect of the display is its use of OLED technology, which provides excellent contrast and color accuracy. The colors are rich and vibrant, with good brightness levels, even in direct sunlight. However, some users may find the screen a bit too reflective at times, but this is a minor complaint. Overall, the Motorola Razr 40's display is a highlight of the device, offering great visuals, decent brightness levels, and an adequate dynamic range. While it may not match the quality of some other flagships on the market, it is still a solid performer that should satisfy most users' needs.
Camera
The camera on the Motorola Razr 40 is a highlight of this flip phone, offering impressive results despite its mid-range silicon. The primary camera boasts a 64MP sensor that takes high-quality photos with low noise and realistic-looking colors. The dynamic range is adequate, and the detail level is enough to make for some great shots. When taking selfies, the main camera produces excellent results, with detailed and exposed images. The subject is well-defined, and there's no intrusive noise or over-processing. 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. One notable feature of the Razr 40's camera is its night vision processing, which takes a few seconds per shot but produces impressive results. Photos taken with this mode are detailed, well-exposed, and have a wide dynamic range, with low noise and lively colors. When night vision is turned off, photos are softer, darker, and have a narrower dynamic range. The camera's video capabilities are also worth mentioning. 4K video capture is supported by the main camera, producing exceptional results with high detail levels, absent noise, and lively colors. Electronic stabilization is optional but does a decent job of smoothing out smaller movements. However, more sudden or extreme movements can still be jarring. The ultrawide camera takes photos that aren't super impressive but are still above average. Colors are slightly desaturated, and the detail looks overprocessed from close up, but there's gentle noise reduction, good contrast, and a wide dynamic range. The ultrawide camera also has autofocus, allowing for macro shots of close-up subjects. Selfies taken with the dedicated 32MP front-facing camera produce excellent results, with plenty of detail, sharpness, low noise, and good exposure. Colors are lovely, and the dynamic range is wide too. Overall, the Motorola Razr 40's camera offers some great results, making it a solid option for those looking for a flip phone with a capable camera system.
Price and Value
In a market dominated by foldable smartphones from Samsung, the Motorola Razr 40 offers an alternative that won't break the bank. Priced lower than its competitors, this flip phone delivers a solid package without sacrificing too much. One of the standout features of the Razr 40 is its design. The compact form factor, achieved through foldable screen technology, makes it easy to carry around. The 40 mechanism and design are top-notch, providing a seamless user experience. While it may not have the large cover screen or high-powered chipset of flagship models, it still manages to offer impressive specs at an affordable price. At its current price point, the Motorola Razr 40 offers great value for those looking for a reliable flip phone without the hefty price tag. It's worth noting that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is also priced similarly, but is now a year older and lacks the leather trim of the Razr 40. For users seeking an affordable alternative to Samsung's flagship foldables, the Motorola Razr 40 should be considered. While it may not have all the bells and whistles, its compact design and surprising value make it a compelling choice. Ultimately, the Motorola Razr 40 is a great option for those who want a reliable flip phone without breaking the bank. Its price and value proposition make it an attractive alternative to more expensive foldable smartphones on the market.
Performance
The Motorola Razr 40's performance is its most notable compromise. It's powered by a mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip, which falls short compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 5's class-leading Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. In benchmarks, the Razr 40 lags behind even older flip devices with the Snapdragon 888. While we didn't encounter any performance issues in everyday use, this isn't a phone designed for heavy gaming. The thermal management is stable, but it's clear that the hardware is not optimized for demanding tasks. Charging speeds are decent, with 30W wired charging and wireless charging support. Camera-wise, the Razr 40 has a 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide lens. Photos from the main camera have low noise and realistic colors, but the detail level is softer than what we've seen on other recent phones. Pixel bending occurs when using the high-quality setting, producing 16MP photos. The main camera's portrait mode is proficient in subject separation, with likable blur and excellent exposure, but detail levels are less impressive in low-light conditions. The night vision processing feature does improve results, though. The ultra-wide lens produces decent photos, but at 13MP resolution, they're not super impressive. When it comes to video recording, the main camera delivers exceptional 4K footage with high detail and minimal noise. Electronic stabilization is optional and works well for smoothing out smaller movements, but can't compensate for sudden or extreme movement in low light conditions. Overall, while not perfect, the Motorola Razr 40's performance and camera capabilities make it a solid alternative to Samsung's flagship flip phones at an affordable price point.