Moto Razr 50 Review: A Flip Phone for the Future with a Touch of Nostalgia

The Moto Razr 50 revives the iconic flip phone design for the modern era. While not as feature-packed as the Razr 50 Ultra, it offers a compelling blend of style, functionality, and affordability. Here’s my experience after using it:

Design & Build:

The Razr 50 feels incredibly sleek and compact when folded. It easily slips into a pocket or small bag. The vegan leather back feels nice to the touch, and the aluminum frame adds a touch of durability. The hinge mechanism is smooth and feels solid. Unfolded, the phone is slim and comfortable to hold.

Display:

The 6.9-inch pOLED main display is vibrant and sharp, with a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming. The colors are accurate, and it gets bright enough for outdoor use. The crease in the middle of the display is noticeable, but it doesn’t significantly impact the viewing experience. The 4-inch cover display is also a nice touch, allowing you to check notifications, control music, and even take selfies without opening the phone.

Performance:

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 chip, combined with 8GB of RAM, delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks. Apps open quickly, and multitasking is generally seamless. However, it’s not the fastest chip out there, and demanding games might push its limits.

Camera:

The 50MP main camera takes decent photos in good lighting, with good detail and dynamic range. The 13MP ultrawide lens offers additional flexibility, but image quality isn’t as good as the main sensor. Low-light performance is a bit underwhelming, with noticeable noise and softness. The 32MP front-facing camera is good for selfies and video calls.

Battery Life:

The 3800mAh battery is smaller than most non-folding phones, but it’s well-optimized for a foldable device. With moderate use, it can last a full day. However, heavy users might need to top it up before the day is over. The 30W wired charging is reasonably fast, but there’s no wireless charging.

Software & User Experience:

The Razr 50 runs Android 13 with Motorola’s My UX interface. It’s a clean and near-stock Android experience with a few useful additions, like Moto Actions and Ready For (desktop mode). The software is well-optimized for the foldable form factor, with apps smoothly transitioning between the cover and main displays.

Connectivity & Additional Features:

The phone supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. It has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that’s fast and reliable. There’s no headphone jack, but the phone comes with a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter in the box.

Buying Recommendation:

Who’s it for? The Moto Razr 50 is ideal for users who want a stylish and unique foldable phone without breaking the bank. It’s perfect for those who value portability, a large cover display, and the nostalgia of the flip phone design.

Pros:

• Sleek and compact flip design
• Large and functional cover display
• Smooth 144Hz pOLED main display
• Decent performance for everyday tasks
• Relatively affordable (compared to other foldables)

Cons:

• Average camera performance, especially in low light
• Below-average battery life for a non-folding phone
• No wireless charging or headphone jack

Overall:

The Moto Razr 50 is a compelling entry into the foldable phone market. It offers a stylish design, a large cover display, and decent performance at a more accessible price than its flagship sibling. While it has some shortcomings, particularly in the camera and battery departments, it’s a fun and functional phone that stands out from the crowd.