Motorola Razr 50 Ultra review
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is an exciting evolution in flip phone design. Building on the success of its predecessor, this device boasts improved battery life, faster charging capabilities, and enhanced camera quality. While thermal management may not be up to par with other flagships, the Razr 50 Ultra shines as a well-rounded and expertly crafted modern foldable phone. With its sleek design and robust feature set, it's an excellent choice for those seeking a unique smartphone experience.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra boasts an exquisite build quality that is sure to impress. The device's exterior is crafted from premium materials, giving it a sturdy and luxurious feel in the hand. The foldable design, which has become synonymous with the Razr series, is executed flawlessly, with seamless seams and precise hinges that ensure a smooth folding experience. When unfolded, the phone reveals a stunning 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display that boasts vibrant colors and crisp details. The bezels are minimal, allowing for an immersive viewing experience that's perfect for watching videos or gaming on the go. When folded, the device transforms into a compact and stylish clamshell design that's easy to slip into a pocket or purse. The Razr 50 Ultra's build quality is not just about looks; it's also engineered to withstand daily wear and tear. The phone's reinforced frame and durable materials ensure that it can withstand accidental drops and bumps, giving users peace of mind when using their device on the go. One of the standout features of the Razr 50 Ultra's design is its attention to detail. From the subtle texture on the power button to the precision-crafted hinge mechanism, every aspect of the phone's design has been carefully considered to ensure a premium user experience. Overall, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra's build quality and design are truly exceptional. The device exudes style and sophistication, making it an attractive option for those who value both form and function in their mobile devices. Whether you're a fan of foldable phones or just looking for a high-end smartphone, the Razr 50 Ultra is definitely worth considering.
Battery Life
One of the most significant upgrades in the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is its battery life. The device boasts an increased capacity of 4,000mAh, a notable jump from its predecessor's 3,800mAh. This change translates to improved performance, allowing users to enjoy their phone for longer periods without needing to recharge. Our tests revealed that the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra can easily last a day with moderate use. We observed a very good active use score of 12 hours and 5 minutes, which is comparable to other modern smartphones. This means you can expect around 22 hours of voice calls, 10 hours of web browsing, 15 hours of video streaming, or about 8 hours of gaming without worrying about running out of juice. The phone's ability to charge quickly is also a welcome feature. With the included 68W charger, we were able to top up the battery from 0 to 78% in just half an hour. A full charge took around 47 minutes, which is faster than last year's model. Additionally, the device supports 15W wireless charging, providing even more convenience. While not the most impressive battery life on the market, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra's upgraded capacity and charging capabilities make it a significant improvement over its predecessor. This change, combined with other notable upgrades like improved camera quality and faster charging, makes the device an excellent choice for those seeking a modern flip phone experience.
Display
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra boasts an impressive display that is both a highlight and a challenge in this unique form factor. The primary screen measures 6.7 inches, offering a crisp and vibrant visual experience. With a resolution of 1440 x 2632 pixels, details are well-preserved, and colors are accurately represented. One of the standout features of the Razr 50 Ultra's display is its ability to seamlessly transition between the main screen and the secondary outer display. This allows for intuitive use cases like checking notifications or controlling music playback without needing to open apps. The secondary outer display also serves as a viewfinder, enabling users to take selfies with the rear cameras. This feature is particularly useful, especially when using the dedicated 32-megapixel selfie camera embedded within the inner screen. However, the display's performance is not without its quirks. The Razr 50 Ultra's thermal management issues can lead to a slight increase in temperature during prolonged use, which may result in reduced display brightness or overall system performance. Additionally, the Razr 50 Ultra's main camera's photos and videos, while excellent for their class, do not always match the quality of other flagships. This is particularly noticeable in certain lighting conditions, where colors may appear slightly off or contrast could be improved. Overall, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra's display offers a unique blend of convenience and visual quality that sets it apart from other devices. While some minor drawbacks exist, the Razr 50 Ultra remains an excellent choice for those seeking a modern flip-folding smartphone experience.
Camera
The camera on the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is a significant improvement over its predecessor. The device boasts a 50-megapixel main camera paired with a 50-megapixel telephoto camera, which offers 2x optical zoom. While there's no ultra-wide-angle lens, the main camera delivers excellent results during the day. Photos taken by the main camera have accurate exposures and wide dynamic range, along with great contrast and detail. The colors are well-saturated, although in some outdoor scenes, the white balance can be slightly off. In low-light conditions, the Razr 50 Ultra's main camera takes very good photos, with nicely balanced exposures and preserved highlights. The 4K videos captured by the main camera have a warmish white balance and decent color saturation. However, the detail could be better, as there is some softness noticeable in the footage. Electronic stabilization does help to iron out some of the shake, but it's not the smoothest we've seen. The telephoto camera performs well too, with 2x optical zoom shots being plenty sharp and having good detail. The colors are vibrant, and white balance is more often on point compared to the main camera. When shooting at 4x digital zoom, the results are decent, although the detail isn't pin-sharp. Low-light videos taken by the telephoto camera have some noise but still deliver respectable results in terms of dynamic range and color rendition. Zoomed 4K videos captured by the telephoto camera also show great detail for its class, with more accurate white balance compared to the main camera. Selfies taken using the rear cameras (main cam) come out nice, with a good close framing and natural separation from the background. However, there isn't an option on the cover screen to toggle between the main cam and telephoto cam when taking selfies. The dedicated 32-megapixel selfie camera embedded within the inner screen produces decent results, although they're slower quality than those taken by the main camera. Overall, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra's cameras offer solid performance, particularly in good lighting conditions. While there are some limitations, especially in low light or when shooting video, the device still provides excellent results for its class.
Price and Value
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is the latest iteration in the flip phone revival trend, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and modern convenience. As with any premium device, the question remains: does it deliver on its promise of value? Priced at around $1,500, the Razr 50 Ultra is certainly not for the faint of heart. Its high-end price tag puts it squarely in the same league as flagship smartphones from major manufacturers. However, considering its innovative design and feature set, it's arguable that the Razr 50 Ultra offers a unique value proposition. The device's battery life has seen significant improvement over its predecessor, with Motorola claiming up to 12 hours of active use. This, combined with faster charging capabilities, makes it a more practical choice for daily users. The camera performance is also noteworthy, offering good low-light results and impressive detail in well-lit conditions. In terms of value, the Razr 50 Ultra's premium price tag may be off-putting to some. However, for those who appreciate its distinctive design and feature set, it offers a level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that's hard to find in more mass-market devices. Ultimately, whether or not the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra represents good value depends on individual preferences and priorities. If you're willing to pay a premium for a unique and well-crafted flip phone experience, then this device is certainly worth considering. However, if budget is a concern or you prefer the more traditional smartphone format, there may be other options available that better suit your needs.
Performance
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is an excellent flip phone that improves in many ways over its predecessor. However, when it comes to performance, the device has some notable shortcomings. Despite packing a punchy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and up to 12GB of RAM, the Razr 50 Ultra's thermal management leaves much to be desired. In our stress tests, the device exhibited significant thermal throttling, with temperatures soaring to around 50% above normal levels. This is not uncommon in small foldable devices like this one, but it's still disappointing. In terms of actual performance, the Razr 50 Ultra feels snappy and responsive, with smooth multitasking and heavy gaming a breeze. However, our benchmarking tests revealed that the device lags behind its competitors, including last year's Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. This is likely due to the Razr 50 Ultra's optimized power management for battery life, which sometimes prioritizes endurance over raw performance. Battery life has improved significantly with the new device, boasting a capacity of up to 4,000mAh and delivering around 12 hours of active use time in our testing. Charging speeds have also increased, reaching up to 45W with the supplied charger (although wireless charging remains at 15W). In terms of gaming performance, the Razr 50 Ultra is capable but not outstanding. We experienced some minor frame drops and stuttering during more demanding titles, although these issues were largely mitigated by adjusting graphics settings. Overall, while the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra's performance is adequate for everyday use, it falls short in terms of raw power and thermal management compared to its competitors. However, its improved battery life and faster charging capabilities make up for some of this shortfall, making it a solid choice for those seeking a modern flip phone experience.