Motorola‘s second-generation foldable is here — the Motorola Razr 2 or, as it’s being officially named, the Motorola Razr 5G.
The phone is a follow up to the Motorola Razr, which reached the market earlier this year. It features a refined design, expanded functionality, and 5G to set it apart from the first-gen product.
Available this Fall at a price of $1,399, do these changes go far enough to make the Razr 5G worth lots of your hard-earned dollars?
We have all the basics covered in this Android Authority buyer’s guide to help you on your decision-making journey.
Motorola Razr 5G: What is it?
The Motorola Razr 5G is a new foldable, though technically it’s a sequel to a sequel. It doesn’t stray far from the idea behind the original, which was to merge nostalgia for the flip phones of old with the folding display technology of 2020. The phone is a compact device when folded and a normal-sized smartphone when opened. It has at least one direct competitor in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and tertiary competitors in other folding phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and, to a certain degree, the LG V60 and LG Velvet.
Motorola’s goal with this phone was to create a desirable, premium device that appeals to those who hold a fondness in their hearts for the personality of phones from ages past. But Motorola is also trying something new here. The folding form is in its infancy and none of the products in the market have truly found their footing.
So what is the Motorola Razr 5G? It’s a refined experiment, a second take, a chance to get things (more) right while serving as the shiny hero of Motorola’s lineup.
Who is it for?
The Razr 5G is as much a phone of the future as it is of the past. While it steals its basic approach from the famous 2005 smash hit, it showcases some of the latest innovations from Motorola and beyond. Despite having been in the market a full year now, folding screens are still fresh tech. They have yet to scale down from pricey showpieces to more mainstream, affordable fare.
The Motorola Razr 5G is for people who are bored with current phone designs, who long for something different and new, who want something to show off to their friends in order to stir discussion. At $1,400, it’s a high-end purchase that’s out of reach for most people. That makes the Razr 5G a luxury item.
It’s also for people willing to take chances. The first Razr was widely panned for its creaky hinge. Motorola says the hinge of its new phone has been completely redesigned and is stronger than ever. As always, that will need to bear out in the real world before we believe what Motorola is pitching. Moreover, folding display tech has yet to prove itself of real value to consumers. This could be a fad that fades into oblivion — or it could be the next big thing. We just don’t know yet.
Whatever your reasons for ditching the standard slab, the Motorola 5G is first and foremost for those who can afford it.
What are the Razr 5G’s features?
The Motorola Razr 5G sports a folding design with two displays: a 2.7-inch outer “quick view” display and the main inner screen. Motorola is one of the only phone makers to bestow such a powerful external display on its foldable. The Microsoft Surface Duo and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, for example, have no such screen. On the Razr 5G, the external screen allows you to access small snippets of apps such as your messages, music player, and Google Maps. Up to eight apps can be pinned to the quick view screen for easy access. The 6.2-inch inner screen is a more traditional Full HD+ affair, but it’s decidedly low on pixels at less than Full HD.
A chin sets the design apart. Motorola says it tapered the chin on this second-generation product to make it easier to grip and interact with when it comes time to balance the phone. (The company moved the fingerprint reader from the chin to the rear of the phone, which makes it easier to reach and interact with.) The chin holds the phone’s four 5G antennae. Speaking of 5G, the phone adds support for sub-6GHz 5G, which means it is compatible with the current 5G networks of AT&T and T-Mobile.
Motorola is excited about the 48MP camera, which can be used as the main camera or a high-end selfie shooter. There’s also a dedicated selfie camera for when you’re holding the phone normally. The Razr 5G can record video at a maximum 4K at 60fps.
In order to keep costs down, Motorola opted for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. This is not the 865 premium chip that powers most other modern flagships. Instead, it’s a more affordable option that Motorola says still delivers plenty of performance across the board. Some potential owners may be disappointed by this spec, but keep in mind there’s balance in everything. Rounding out the chipset, you’ve got an Adreno 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
Last there’s the battery. The phone has a meager 2,800mAh power cell inside. That’s not a lot by modern standards. Most flagships have battery in the 4,000-5,000mAh range. Hopefully the more frugal 765G combined with the Full HD+ resolution will keep power demands to a minimum.
Motorola Razr 5G specs
| |
Motorola Razr 5G |
| Display |
Main: 6.2-inch P-OLED, Full HD+
External: 2.7-inch G-OLED |
| Processor |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Adreno 620 GPU |
| RAM |
8GB |
| Storage |
256GB |
| Battery |
2,800mAh
15W TurboPower charging |
| Camera |
Rear:
48MP Quad Pixel for 12MP output, f/1.7 aperture, 1.6μm pixel size, OIS
Front:
20MP Quad Pixel, f/2.2 aperture, 1.6μm pixel size
Video:
UHD (30fps) @ 16:9 or 21:9
FHD (60/30fps) @ 16:9 or 21:9
Slow motion FHD (120fps)
Slow motion HD (240fps)
|
| Connectivity |
5G: NR Sub-6GHz
4G: LTE (DL Cat 18)
3G: UMTS / HSPA+
2G: GSM / EDGE
Bluetooth 5
Wi-Fi 6
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
| Dimensions and weight |
Unfolded: 72.6 x 169.2 x 7.9mm
Folded: 72.6 x 91.7 x 16mm
192g |
| Colors |
Polished Graphite, Liquid Mercury, Blush Gold |
Competition and alternatives
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G is the most direct competitor to the Motorola Razr 5G. Samsung’s Flip first reached the market in February. Similar to the Razr, it’s a modern-day slab that bends in half at the waist to reduce its size to something more pocketable. The Z Flip is available in standard and 5G variants; the 5G version is the newer and more widely available of the two. The Razr’s biggest advantage over the high-quality Z Flip is the outer display. The Z Flip is limited to a tiny window that’s not good for much more than checking the time and incoming notifications.
The Z Fold 2 is a separate type of folding device in that it starts out the size of a normal phone and expands into a tablet when opened. LG’s Dual Screen-capable V60 and Velvet don’t have bending screens, per se, but do offer a two-screen experience with the accessory screens. LG’s devices are the most affordable of the bunch.
Where to buy the Motorola Razr 5G
Motorola will offer the Motorola Razr 5G unlocked in North America via Motorola.com and the rest of the world later this fall priced at $1,399. Motorola says other retailers will eventually sell the device, including Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H. It will also be sold at AT&T and T-Mobile stores.
In the UK, the Motorola Razr 5G will be sold via Amazon, Carphone Warehouse, and John Lewis for £1,399. It will also be available through carriers O2 and Vodafone.
In India, the phone is available for pre-order over at Flipkart. The phone is priced at Rs. 1,24,999 (~$1700) and goes on sale starting October 12.Stay tuned to Android Authority for details on preorders!
Top Motorola Razr 5G questions and answers
Q: Does the Motorola Razr 5G support 5G?
A: It’s in the name! But not all 5G is equal. The Razr 5G supports sub-6GHz 5G, which means it will work with the mid-band networks from AT&T and T-Mobile at launch.
Q: Does the Motorola Razr 5G have a headphone jack?
A: No, there is no headphone jack on the Razr 5G. You will need to use Bluetooth headphones or USB-C wired headphones with the phone. The good news is that a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter is included in the box.
Q: Does the Motorola Razr 5G support wireless charging?
A: No, it doesn’t. It charges at a speed of 15W via USB-C cable and the in-box power supply.
Q: Does the Motorola Razr 5G have dual-SIM capabilities?
A: Technically, yes. The unlocked variant of the Razr 5G supports both a physical nano-SIM and an eSIM. It does not support two physical SIM cards.
Q: Does the Motorola Razr 5G have a microSD card slot?
A: No, the phone does not support expandable storage.
Q: What storage variants is the phone available in?
A: The phone comes in just a single 8GB/256GB variant.
Q: Does the device have stereo speakers?
A: No, the Motorola Razr 5G has a single bottom-firing speaker.
Q: What colors will the Motorola Razr 5G be available in?
A: The phone will come in three colors: Polished Graphite, Liquid Mercury, Blush Gold. There’s no word if any of those colors will be exclusive to certain regions or markets.
Q: Will there be protective cases for the Motorola Razr 5G?
A: We can only assume that third-party case makers will deliver for the phone. Nothing ships in the box.
Q: What’s in the box with the Motorola Razr 5G?
A: You’ll find the Motorola Razr 5G, an 15W power supply, a USB-C cable, a SIM tool, a headphone adapter, and the usual paperwork.
That’s everything you need to know about the Motorola Razr 5G. We’ll keep this post updated with any new info as soon as we have it. In the meantime, what do you make of the “Razr 2”? Vote in the poll below and let us know in the comments.
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