I have been utilizing the Motorola Razr Plus as my day by day driver for a couple of 12 months now, just about for the reason that gadget launched in June 2023. To say that this has been my favourite telephone to make use of is kind of an understatement. This telephone was my first foray into foldables and made me fall in love with flip telephones. I’ve since reviewed loads of different clamshells over the previous 12 months, however I at all times return to the Motorola Razr Plus.
It is not Motorola’s first foldable Razr for the reason that moniker was revitalized again in 2019, however this was an enormous leap ahead for the corporate, primarily solidifying it within the foldable market with a formidable and well-designed telephone. Its largest promoting level has been the large cowl display screen, which can also be the largest purpose why I selected the Razr Plus over the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Now, extra rivals are coming with bigger cowl screens, nice cameras, and different compelling specs that would give the Motorola Razr Plus a run for its cash. And with the subsequent Razr on its method very quickly, I need to take a look at how the present mannequin has fared over the previous 12 months in comparison with once I first reviewed the telephone.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Design and {hardware}
“Nonetheless, in contrast to its largest competitor…the Razr Plus embraces curves, with the rear panel seamlessly flowing into the body, which can also be rounded. The result’s a telephone that is fairly comfy to carry, devoid of any sharp edges digging into my fingers.”
The telephone’s curvy design was one in every of my favourite issues about it, and that continues to be true to at the present time. After reviewing the Galaxy Z Flip 5, returning to the Razr Plus felt like a candy aid to my hand, particularly my poor pinky finger.
General, the telephone is definitely fairly sturdy and has held up comparatively nicely within the 12 months I’ve had it. Yeah, there are just a few nicks right here and there on the aluminum body, and the ability button/fingerprint sensor is beginning to present its age, however all the things nonetheless works because it ought to.
The hinge has additionally held up, however not in addition to I’d hope. Sure, the telephone nonetheless opens and closes similar to it ought to, and it even retains the very smooth and satisfying sound whenever you shut it. Nonetheless, open the show at nearly any angle, and I discover it does not really feel fairly as sturdy as I keep in mind. It even wobbles fairly a bit, particularly once I put my finger on it, and the impact is much extra dramatic than what I’ve seen on different flip telephones just like the cheaper Motorola Razr 2023.
I can not say whether or not or not that is only a quirk with my explicit unit, however I additionally typically hear a creaking sound when opening the telephone. Not on a regular basis, however when it does happen, I get a bit of involved that the hinge is starting to falter. It ought to be capable to face up to as much as 400,000 folds, though we have seen one (reasonably excessive) case the place it did not fairly attain that quantity.
“Of the three coloration choices, it is the one one with a pretend leather-based again, including a pleasant smooth texture to the telephone. I would not say it feels premium, however it’s undoubtedly completely different from the all-glass or plain plastic telephones I am used to.”
Motorola has been leaning closely on vegan leather-based with its 2024 lineup, which could be very good to see on cheaper telephones just like the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024. I’ll say that since reviewing the cheaper Razr, I discover the end on that telephone feels lots higher, and I am curious to see how the subsequent Razr will observe up. Nonetheless, the vegan leather-based end is kind of a pleasant contact on the Razr Plus and has most likely saved me just a few occasions after dropping the telephone, though I might nonetheless suggest choosing up a Razr Plus 2023 case and a display screen protector for the duvet display screen whilst you’re at it.
Not all display screen protectors and case combos will work. I just like the first-party Motorola circumstances, however the display screen protector I used to be utilizing would prolong past the duvet display screen and onto the bezel above. Evidently, it is a part already coated by the case, and utilizing each on the identical time simply did not work, so I had to decide on which I’d preserve.
“Other than the fake leather-based again, the telephone is kind of shiny, which makes it look extra crimson than magenta and jogs my memory of the pink LG G8. It is a ravishing telephone that may absolutely stand out, particularly in the event you can snag this colorway.”
The telephone continues to be a head-turner and at all times will get seems each time I exploit it in public. Loads of strangers touch upon it, saying how cool it seems and that it resembles a Recreation Boy Advance SP. I discover that the people who find themselves most in awe after they see the Razr Plus are iPhone customers. Given the shortage of foldable telephones within the iPhone area, that is sensible, however it’s good to see them recognize the ingenuity of Android OEMs.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: {Hardware} and efficiency
“It is almost a 12 months previous, however the [Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1] continues to be fairly good and brings some stable efficiency to the Razr Plus.”
Motorola went with the marginally older Snapdragon chip within the Razr Plus, which is more likely to preserve prices down. This appeared very very similar to a sensible transfer on Motorola’s half, and efficiency has largely remained persistently good with the chip. Clearly, the draw back is {that a} 12 months later, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is now a technology and a half behind present flagship gadgets, and within the period of generative AI, it is beginning to present its age.
Nonetheless, total efficiency has held up nicely over the previous 12 months, though gaming could cause the telephone to warmth up fairly a bit. Because the backside half of the telephone is vegan leather-based, solely the highest half—glass and aluminum—will get sizzling, which might be fairly uncomfortable.
“I’ll say that the teardrop hinge mechanism on the Razr Plus appears to do wonders with the crease. It is not nonexistent — tilt the telephone excellent, and you will undoubtedly see it — however it’s not as jarring as I anticipated it to be.”
The foldable show has not failed me within the 12 months I’ve used the telephone. The crease continues to be extraordinarily minimal, particularly when in comparison with the Grand Canyon discovered on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. I’ll say that I’ve began to note very faint traces throughout the crease, which I think about are stress fractures which have gathered after flipping the telephone open and shut for a 12 months. I can not say I am notably involved about them, as they’re very laborious to see, and I can barely really feel them with my finger, however it’s price noting in the event you’re involved about longevity and sturdiness.
Mud and different particles will even accumulate in between the display screen protector and the show bumper, which I do not actually take care of.
The Motorola Razr Plus 2023 does not have the very best OLED show, and after a while, it begins to indicate its age.
The OLED show on the Razr Plus is not the best-looking show I’ve ever seen, particularly since reviewing extra flip telephones over the previous 12 months. The show’s Pure mode is simply too washed out, whereas the Vibrant mode is simply too vibrant for my liking. You possibly can alter the temperature, however this does not assist an excessive amount of. At one level, I attempted to get it as near the Galaxy S24 Plus as I may, as it is a a lot higher show, however nothing actually labored.
Nonetheless, the 165Hz refresh charge is sweet to have when viewing media and taking part in video games, at the very least indoors or away from direct daylight. I simply want peak brightness was brighter, because the show could be a little laborious to see outside, which I imagine is partly (or largely) due to the built-in display screen protector.
“What I really like in regards to the cowl display screen is that it makes it extremely straightforward to make use of the telephone whereas closed.”
This has not modified, and it is the first method I favor to make use of the telephone. The duvet display screen, whereas not as vivid as I might prefer it to be, continues to be essentially the most helpful implementation of a flip telephone exterior show that I’ve come throughout. The OPPO Discover N3 Flip appears like a wasted alternative with the vertical cowl show, and Samsung makes you undergo too many hoops to permit entry to your apps.
Because the telephone launched, Motorola has up to date the duvet display screen with extra performance, permitting customers to leap straight to the calendar, add extra panel shortcuts, entry extra information tales, and extra. My favourite addition is the power to rotate the duvet display screen, which might be useful when navigating sure apps like YouTube Music, which allows a special UI within the Now Taking part in display screen.
Sadly, there’s nonetheless no choice to regulate the decision or refresh charge of the duvet display screen, which I really feel may assist scale back battery consumption.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Software program and battery life
“The corporate guarantees to assist the telephone with three OS upgrades and 4 years of bi-monthly safety updates, which is nice for a telephone that prices this a lot. Let’s simply hope Motorola can truly reside as much as the promise.”
As everyone knows, Motorola has not been the very best on the subject of software program updates. Issues appear to have improved ever so barely, however it nonetheless stays a problem if you are going to contemplate a Motorola telephone. To its credit score, the corporate has been fairly constant in holding a bi-monthly replace cadence, which has been the case with the Razr Plus. A few of these updates have even included new UI tweaks and options, like Moto Unplugged and the brand new Good Join (which is one thing of a Prepared For rebrand).
Other than that, most of the updates are small and simply give the telephone a safety bump, normally with the earlier month’s patches. It is not phenomenal, however at the very least it is constant.
The issue is with Android 14. Most Android OEMs have rolled out the OS improve to all, if not most, of their gadgets by now. In the meantime, the replace has solely appeared on a small handful of Motorola gadgets, together with the Motorola Edge Plus 2023 and Stylus 5G 2023. The Razr Plus is in some way nonetheless with out Android 14, which is a bit ridiculous at this level.
Secure Android 15 is quick approaching, because the beta has simply reached platform stability. At this charge, the Razr Plus will obtain Android 14 when different gadgets begin getting Android 15, and it will be one more ready sport.
I will additionally notice that, for some purpose, the Motorola Razr Plus nonetheless does not have entry to the Gemini app.
“The telephone struggles to get via a complete day on a single cost, regardless of Motorola’s claims, so in the event you’re an influence person, be able to cost the gadget at the very least as soon as throughout the day and even perhaps twice inside 24 hours.”
I can not say everybody has had the identical expertise as I’ve on the subject of battery life, however it’s most likely my largest annoyance on the subject of the Razr Plus. Battery life has been persistently abysmal for me, and I will not even contemplate going out with out ensuring the telephone is absolutely charged. And even then, I am nonetheless anxious that it’s going to die, so I attempt to ensure I’ve a transportable charger on me.
Battery anxiousness like this could not occur in 2024.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Cameras
“Do not get me improper…the Razr Plus does not take unhealthy images. It simply does not take the very best images both, which, sadly, is par for the course on the subject of clamshell foldables.”
The cameras have been one other weak level for me and is the principle purpose why I’ve typically thought-about switching to the Galaxy Z Flip 5. That is additionally the explanation why I usually carry two telephones round with me (normally a Pixel), in order that I can at the very least get some respectable photographs wherever I am at. The Razr Plus digital camera is simply unreliable.
Motorola shocked me with an replace that addressed this. The telephone now has an choice to use AI-based Auto Improve by way of Google Pictures, which occurs routinely whenever you take a photograph. This provides images a great addition, and you may at all times toggle it off within the viewfinder if it is advisable to. That stated, it nonetheless does not do sufficient for me to depend on this telephone’s picture high quality, particularly when taking selfies.
Motorola Razr Plus 2023: Is it nonetheless price shopping for?
So, how has the Motorola Razr Plus held up within the 12 months that I’ve used it? Effectively, it is a bit of a blended bag. I nonetheless love this telephone sufficient to maintain it as my day by day driver, and I’ll boast loudly and proudly when folks ask me about it. The duvet display screen expertise continues to be the very best, and I nonetheless benefit from the versatility of a flip telephone. Plus, Motorola nonetheless has some issues going for it, like its helpful gestures and highly effective Good Join.
Nonetheless, my largest gripes with the telephone nonetheless stay. Atrocious battery life and cameras which are okay at finest can typically spoil the general expertise. For a few of you, I can see how these factors would deter you from shopping for the telephone.
To counter that, it is a telephone that value $999 when it launched and has since seen some unbelievable reductions. Now, you’ll be able to purchase the Motorola Razr Plus for as little as $650, which is about what you’d pay for the standard midrange telephone and is even cheaper than the Pixel 8. For that worth, I feel the negatives might be neglected, simply so long as you are keen to work a bit for picture and carry a transportable charger round with you.
Or, you’ll be able to wait to purchase the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, which is able to hopefully have addressed most of the issues I’ve had with its predecessor.
Our favourite flip telephone
The Motorola Razr Plus 2023 could also be a 12 months previous, however it’s nonetheless an excellent flip telephone with good efficiency and a big cowl display screen for utilizing apps and taking selfies. It is available in just a few fashionable colours and even has vegan leather-based choices for a extra premium contact.