A year after revitalizing Motorola’s most iconic phone, the company has launched the Razr+ – 2024 edition. This flip-style foldable device knocks it out of the park in almost every aspect, while retaining one of its best points. folding prices in 2024.
Motorola’s flip phone launch consists of two models, the Razr+ and the Razr. They are not to be confused with last year’s lineup, which consisted of the same models. This 2024 series brings a much more attractive set of phones, each of which have improved in their respective directions.
Redesigned hardware that just works
A screen duet like no other
One of the best things the Motorola Razr+ did in 2023 was bring a screen that covered almost the entire front panel of the phone and made it possible to use normal, everyday Android apps on it. Motorola brought the same concept to a Razr+ in 2024 and equipped the phone with a bigger and better screen.
The Razr+ 2024’s external display is actually a little over-engineered, to be honest. With a resolution of 1272 x 1080, the LPTO AMOLED display achieves a refresh rate of 165 Hz – something that would normally be a bit excessive for a 4-inch front display. However, Motorola designed this phone to be used in two ways – folded and unfolded. The former mode only works if the cover display panel is able to function in the same way that an internal display can.
The internal display has also been improved. It carries the same 6.9-inch profile, but has a much higher peak of 3,000 nits. Like the external display, it maintains a 165 Hz refresh rate and handles colors very well through the AMOLED panel. The resolution from 2023 to 2024 is unchanged, although it still looks very good in everyday use.
I’m completely taken aback by another aspect of the phone – the crease. I would have thought that Samsung or OnePlus would be the first companies to actually make good strides in hiding the dreaded folding wrinkle, but it’s Motorola.
The Razr+ has been folded by me hundreds of times, if not more. However, the crease on the inner screen is much less noticeable than on any of the Samsung or OnePlus phones. You have to really try to see the creases in the screen indoors, which makes for a much better experience – outdoors can be a different story. It also inspires a bit more confidence in the longevity of the screen itself, as it’s still foldable glass.
You wouldn’t even know the phone opens
Due to the better cover panel, which brings HDR10+, Dolby Vision certification and an impressive refresh rate, it can be used in the same capacity as the internal screen. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been focusing on using the flip screen as much as I can, even on days when I barely open the phone. The experience on the smaller outdoor screen is so good.
I’ve had success with every single app I’ve tried using the frontend. Everything from messaging apps like Google Messages and Discord to streaming like YouTube and Disney+ are all perfectly usable on the front end. By usable words, I don’t mean that sacrifices need to be made other than size. They all work as intended – just smaller.
Google Gemini even gets a default shortcut through the power key. The twins will appear on the cover screen in a native way, ready for any command or question. It’s a nice touch.
Motorola has done a phenomenal job merging its minimal version of Android with the size of the front screen. A simple home screen greets you when you turn on the phone. From there, you can swipe to get to the app drawer, calendar, widgets, and a dedicated game page. These windows can be moved and configured, which is a big improvement.
The cover screen also uses the Android gesture bar to quickly get to the home screen. In any app, tapping it will fully display the content. This little trick makes it so easy to use any third-party app on the front screen without obstructing the camera lens
However, the biggest improvement is the addition of always-on display functionality for the lid display. Believe it or not, the 2023 version didn’t have AOD, which was a big mistake. Its addition now means a massive improvement over last year’s variant. The always-on display screen has several clock styles to choose from. Themes are also available that really change how the welcome screen looks on the Razr+ 2024.
I also liked how Motorola handles notifications on the Razr+. From the home screen, a small tray to the left of the camera lens displays notification icons, which can be expanded with a single tap.
The Razr+ even feels like a better phone
One of our complaints with the Razr+ 2023 was the hinge. Sometimes it was cheap and unconvincing. This year, Motorola claims to have redesigned the entire hinge system. The new hinge is 30% smaller and more reliable. In use, it physically echoes that feeling, and I’ve noticed a difference over the years.
Opening the foldable feels pretty good. Motorola noted at its press conference that it’s even easier to open with one hand, though I didn’t feel that was the case. Even if the hinge doesn’t hold up that much, the phone rails are a shiny, slippery metal. While I don’t mind the look, it’s definitely a bit more precarious if you’re holding the foldable device with one hand.
The Razr+ has a textured back panel that I like, and depending on the color you get, you can see a different look. For example, my Midnight Blue Razr+ has a racing stripe down the back, while no other color does. Green Spring brings a tighter, somewhat clothier faux leather texture. In any case, Motorola put some effort into these trendy phones, and it shows.
A superior but unreliable software experience
Motorola insists on the minimal Android skin
From the cover display to the interior, the Motorola Razr+ runs a great version of Android that I never have a problem using.
Small tweaks are made throughout the phone that carry the Motorola name, like the customization menu when you hold a tap on the home screen. You’ll also see it in the notification tray or quick settings panel. However, no matter how much I use the phone, the experience never feels otherworldly or inherently difficult to use. The phone launches with Android 14, which means you’ll see a lot of newer features hacked into the OS.
The one thing I didn’t see and really wish I had was the Google Search Circle. It is not known when this device will see the last feature, but it would be the cherry on top.
Compared to other OEM skins, Motorola’s feels like one of the best so far. If you like running Android on the Pixel series, you’ll enjoy Motorola’s user interface.
The Razr+ has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. It’s not the latest and greatest, but I’ve had no problems with speed or processing. The entire phone, from the front panel to the interior, works very well, which surprised me somewhat.
A heavy reputation of support
Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Motorola Razr+, there is one thought that looms large. Motorola has recently been very bad at supporting newer versions of Android. The Motorola Edge+ 2023, for example, was a fantastic device to begin with. Unfortunately, it still runs Android 13 with no word on the promised Android 14.
As a reminder, Android 15 is about to be launched by Google.
So if the Motorola Razr+ 2024 launches with Android 14, when would Motorola upgrade it to Android 15? Well, it might be well after the version is actually released and then sometime after other OEMs create individual versions and skins of it for certain devices. Motorola promises 3 years of updates, although they cannot be guaranteed to be timely.
The camera is good now
This is another area of improvement over the past year. The Razr+ has a 50MP main sensor and 2x telephoto lens. Motorola has boasted its use of artificial intelligence throughout the phone and I think this is where it shines the most. Images are sharp, crisp and vivid 9 times out of 10. In fact, the images look like they’ve been processed in a very similar way to how Google handles Pixel images.
View the Google Photos album in full resolution here
Getting them is incredibly easy and the interface of the camera app is quite simple. One of the best features is Motorola’s camera mode, which lets you hold the phone like an old camcorder. Using your thumb, you can zoom in and out, kind of like using a physical zoom key. It’s fun and useful, even if it looks like a scam.
Of course, another big benefit to the Razr+ is its ability to take selfies with the main camera. When the phone is propped up, it’s also easy to take group photos.
Battery improvements all around
Even though the Razr+ 2024 brings an always-on display and a larger display up front, I had no problem putting it through a full day and then some. Capacity sits at 4,000mAh, and while it’s a bit better than the 2023 model, it feels like night and day – and then a bit more night.
Although sometimes I liked to use the phone only through the front screen, there were days when I really pressed it for power. That means capturing sessions, streaming, and anything else that can take the juice out of it. Even still, I was impressed with how the battery held up.
Final thoughts
I think the Razr+ 2024 is finally at a point where it’s recommendable – not just recommended, but encouraged.
The phone itself is physically better, with a bigger screen and better hinge. It brings a much better camera and telephoto lens and packs a stronger battery. Overall, it’s a flip phone that can handle itself very well.
Any quibbles I had with the device were minor at best. Maybe a little slippery, but that can be fixed with a case. Overall, the Razr+ 2024 is good.
At $999, the Motorola Razr+ 2024 keeps the same price as last year and sits on its throne as the best flip phone to date. The Motorola Razr+ will be available for pre-order starting July 10, right when Samsung will launch its flip competitor. On July 28, the phone will be released in full.
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