The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is the latest in Motorola’s iconic Razr series, which has seen a resurgence in recent years with the advent of foldable smartphone technology. This review delves into the intricacies of the Razr 50 Ultra, examining its design, performance, display, camera, battery life, software, and overall user experience. By the end of this article, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of whether this device is worth your investment.
Design and Build Quality
Aesthetics and Form Factor
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra continues the legacy of the original Razr with its sleek and stylish design. The phone features a clamshell form factor, reminiscent of the classic Razr, but with modern touches that make it stand out in the crowded smartphone market. The exterior is crafted from high-quality materials, including a combination of glass and aluminum, giving it a premium feel. When folded, the Razr 50 Ultra is compact and pocket-friendly, while unfolding it reveals a large, vibrant display.
Hinges and Durability
One of the critical aspects of any foldable phone is the hinge mechanism. The Razr 50 Ultra boasts a robust and innovative hinge design that ensures a smooth folding and unfolding experience. Motorola claims that the hinge has been tested for over 200,000 folds, promising durability over extended use. The hinge also minimizes the crease in the display, a common issue in foldable smartphones, providing a more seamless viewing experience.
Ergonomics
In terms of ergonomics, the Razr 50 Ultra is designed to fit comfortably in hand, both when folded and unfolded. The phone’s slim profile and rounded edges contribute to its overall ergonomic appeal. The fingerprint sensor is conveniently placed on the side, allowing for easy and quick access.
Display
Main Display
The primary display of the Razr 50 Ultra is a 6.7-inch P-OLED panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. This display is vibrant, offering deep blacks and rich colors, thanks to OLED technology. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and an enhanced visual experience, whether you’re browsing the web, playing games, or watching videos. The display supports HDR10+, providing an excellent dynamic range for compatible content.
External Display
When folded, the Razr 50 Ultra features a 2.7-inch Quick View display on the exterior. This secondary display allows you to perform various tasks without unfolding the phone, such as checking notifications, replying to messages, controlling music playback, and even taking selfies. The Quick View display is also an OLED panel, ensuring consistent color quality and brightness.
Display Quality and Usability
The overall display quality of the Razr 50 Ultra is impressive. The main display’s colors are vivid, and the contrast is excellent, making for an enjoyable viewing experience. The external display, although smaller, is highly functional and adds to the device’s convenience. The only downside is that, like all foldable displays, there is a slight crease visible at certain angles, but it does not significantly detract from the overall experience.
Performance
Processor and RAM
Under the hood, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, paired with 12GB of RAM. This combination ensures top-tier performance, handling multitasking and demanding applications with ease. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or running multiple apps simultaneously, the Razr 50 Ultra delivers a smooth and responsive experience.
Benchmark Scores
In benchmark tests, the Razr 50 Ultra scores impressively, with results on par with other flagship devices. In Geekbench 5, the phone achieves a single-core score of around 1,100 and a multi-core score of approximately 3,500. These scores reflect the device’s ability to handle intensive tasks and deliver a high-performance user experience.
Gaming Performance
For gaming enthusiasts, the Razr 50 Ultra offers a robust performance. Games like “Genshin Impact,” “PUBG Mobile,” and “Asphalt 9” run smoothly at high settings, thanks to the powerful GPU and ample RAM. The 120Hz refresh rate further enhances the gaming experience, providing fluid visuals and quick response times.
Camera
Main Camera Setup
The Razr 50 Ultra features a versatile camera setup. The primary camera is a 50MP sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and an aperture of f/1.8, ensuring sharp and detailed photos even in low light conditions. Accompanying the main sensor is a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens with a 123-degree field of view, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
Camera Performance
The camera performance of the Razr 50 Ultra is commendable. In daylight, the primary camera captures images with excellent detail, accurate colors, and good dynamic range. The ultra-wide-angle lens allows for creative shots, capturing expansive landscapes and group photos with ease. The telephoto lens performs well for zoomed-in shots, maintaining clarity and detail.
Low-Light Photography
In low-light conditions, the Razr 50 Ultra’s primary camera excels, thanks to the large sensor and OIS. The Night Mode further enhances low-light photography, reducing noise and bringing out more detail in shadows and highlights. The ultra-wide and telephoto lenses also perform decently in low light, although not as impressively as the primary sensor.
Selfie Camera
The front-facing camera is a 32MP sensor, which is more than capable of taking high-quality selfies. The camera app offers various beauty modes and filters, allowing users to customize their selfie experience. The Quick View display can also be used as a viewfinder for selfies, making it easier to frame shots and use the rear cameras for higher quality photos.
Battery Life
Battery Capacity and Charging
The Razr 50 Ultra is equipped with a 3500mAh battery, which is decent but not exceptional for a flagship device. However, the phone supports 30W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, allowing for quick top-ups throughout the day. In our tests, the phone charges from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes with the included charger.
Battery Performance
In terms of battery life, the Razr 50 Ultra performs adequately. With moderate use, including social media browsing, video streaming, and light gaming, the phone comfortably lasts a full day on a single charge. Heavy users might need to top up the battery in the evening, especially if using the main display extensively.
Software
Operating System and UI
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra runs on Android 13 with Motorola’s My UX skin on top. My UX is known for its near-stock Android experience, with a few useful additions that enhance usability without overwhelming the user. The interface is clean, intuitive, and highly customizable.
Unique Software Features
Motorola has included several unique features to take advantage of the Razr 50 Ultra’s foldable design. The Quick View display offers various functionalities, including app shortcuts, customizable widgets, and interactive notifications. The main display supports multi-window mode, allowing users to run two apps simultaneously, which is particularly useful for productivity tasks.
Software Updates
Motorola promises regular software updates and security patches for the Razr 50 Ultra. Historically, Motorola’s track record for updates has been decent, although not as prompt as some competitors like Google and Samsung. However, with the Razr 50 Ultra being a flagship device, we expect timely updates for at least a couple of years.
Connectivity and Additional Features
5G and Network Performance
The Razr 50 Ultra supports 5G connectivity, ensuring fast and reliable internet speeds. In our tests, the phone performed well on both 4G and 5G networks, with stable connections and impressive download and upload speeds. The phone also supports Wi-Fi 6E, providing faster and more reliable connections on compatible networks.
Audio and Multimedia
For audio, the Razr 50 Ultra features stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, delivering clear and immersive sound. The phone also retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a welcome feature for audiophiles and those who prefer wired headphones.
Security Features
The Razr 50 Ultra offers multiple security features, including a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and facial recognition. Both methods are quick and reliable, ensuring your data remains secure. Additionally, Motorola includes various software-based security enhancements to protect against malware and other threats.
User Experience
Day-to-Day Usage
In day-to-day usage, the Razr 50 Ultra proves to be a versatile and reliable device. The foldable design adds a layer of convenience, allowing users to switch between a compact form factor and a large screen as needed. The performance is consistently smooth, and the software is user-friendly.
Build and Finish
The build quality of the Razr 50 Ultra is top-notch. The phone feels solid and well-constructed, with no noticeable gaps or weak points. The hinge mechanism is smooth and reassuring, indicating durability over time. The overall finish of the device is elegant and sophisticated, making it a pleasure to use and show off.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Innovative and durable foldable design
- High-quality main and secondary displays
- Powerful performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 12GB RAM
- Versatile camera setup with excellent low-light performance
- Clean and intuitive software experience
- Supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and retains 3.5mm headphone jack
Cons:
- Battery life could be better
- Slight crease visible on the main display
- Premium price point
Conclusion
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is a standout device in the foldable smartphone market, combining innovative design with top-tier performance. Its blend of nostalgia and cutting-edge technology makes it an appealing choice