Motorola has established itself as a significant player in the affordable smartphone market. Their latest offering, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, aims to solidify their reputation by bringing an array of new features and improvements over its predecessor, the Razr 40 Ultra. In this extensive review, we will delve into the various aspects of the Razr 50 Ultra to see what new goodies Motorola has packed into this flip phone.

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Design and Build Quality

The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is a flip-style foldable phone, maintaining a compact clamshell form factor when folded and transforming into a typical-sized smartphone when unfolded. This design offers both portability and a full-screen experience, catering to users who prefer a smaller device but still want the functionality of a larger screen.

Compared to the Razr 40 Ultra, the Razr 50 Ultra boasts several notable improvements. The most apparent enhancement is the cover screen, which now occupies a larger portion of the back when the phone is folded. This larger display allows for more functionality and ease of use without needing to unfold the phone constantly. The rest of the back is covered in vegan leather, adding a touch of elegance and providing a comfortable grip.

The frame of the Razr 50 Ultra is made from 7,000 series aluminum, known for its strength and durability. The glossy hinge cover, crafted from stainless steel, adds a premium feel to the device. Overall, the Razr 50 Ultra is stylish, grippy, and feels great in hand.

One of the significant upgrades is the water protection, rated at IPX8. This rating means the phone can withstand immersion in water, adding a layer of durability and peace of mind for users. The hinge mechanism has also been improved, making it smaller and more compact. When the phone is open, the crease on the screen is minimal and barely noticeable unless it catches the light. The hinge can hold the phone open at various angles, which is particularly useful for tasks like vlogging or taking selfies.

Screen Specifications and Features

The Razr 50 Ultra features a 6.9-inch foldable LTPO OLED main display with a 1080p resolution and an impressive 165Hz refresh rate. The cover display is also an LTPO OLED, matching the main display’s refresh rate and resolution at 4 inches. This consistency in screen technology ensures a seamless user experience when switching between the two displays.

Both displays have a maximum brightness of around 540 nits with the manual slider, which can boost up to over 1,250 nits in auto mode when in bright conditions. However, it’s worth noting that you need to open the phone to enable auto brightness mode on the cover screen. While both panels are capable of 165Hz, they typically operate at 120Hz during regular use, which still provides smooth swiping and scrolling experiences. The LTPO technology allows the refresh rate to drop to as low as 1Hz when idling, conserving battery life.

The screens support 10-bit color, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, providing vibrant and high-quality visuals. However, there is a slight quirk when switching between screens during video playback—the ability to fit the video to the screen is lost on the inner display. Despite this minor inconvenience, the transition between screens is generally smooth and efficient.

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Cover Screen Functionality

Beyond video playback, the cover screen offers a wide range of functionalities. Users can access supported apps, calendar, weather updates, and widgets, similar to the inner screen. Swiping down on the cover screen brings up quick toggles, and swiping up opens the task switcher. To save space, there is a shortcut for accessing notifications directly from the cover screen.

While not all apps are natively supported on the cover screen, several key apps like Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Maps can run here. Additionally, other apps can work in widget form, providing a level of flexibility. The integration of the Google Gemini app on the cover display allows for AI-driven features on the fly.

Audio Quality

The Razr 50 Ultra comes equipped with stereo speakers that deliver an excellent audio experience. In loudness tests, the speakers performed admirably, producing clear and crisp sound with well-presented highs and robust bass. Whether you’re listening to music, watching videos, or engaging in video calls, the audio quality is more than satisfactory.

Biometric Security

The phone features a side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. This placement is convenient and allows for quick and responsive unlocking. The fingerprint reader is fast and reliable, providing secure access to your device.

Storage Options

The Razr 50 Ultra offers two storage configurations: 256GB and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This ample storage space ensures you have enough room for all your apps, photos, videos, and other files. However, it’s worth noting that the storage is not expandable via microSD, so choose the storage option that best suits your needs.

Software and User Interface

Running on Android 14 with Motorola’s new Hello UI on top, the Razr 50 Ultra offers a near-stock Android experience with some additional customizations. The Moto app, which has been restyled for Hello UI, organizes these extra features. Users can enjoy customization options, gestures, dynamic wallpapers that animate when you flex the phone, and even AI-generated wallpapers.

Motorola’s Smart Connect (previously known as Ready For) allows you to connect the Razr 50 Ultra to a PC or an external monitor, enhancing productivity. While the exact software support for the Razr 50 Ultra is not specified, Motorola has a history of promising three years of OS updates and four years of security patches for their recent devices, so similar support can be expected for this model.

Performance and Thermals

The Razr 50 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. While not the top-tier chip from Qualcomm, it still delivers flagship-grade performance. In benchmarks, the Razr 50 Ultra shows a modest improvement over the Razr 40 Ultra, which featured the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. However, it falls slightly behind last year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Despite this, the Razr 50 Ultra packs enough power for smooth multitasking and heavy gaming. However, as with most small foldable devices, thermal management is a challenge. During prolonged stress tests, the Razr 50 Ultra exhibited significant thermal throttling, reducing performance by around 50%. This issue is common in flip phones due to their compact form factor, but it’s something to be aware of if you plan to use the device for intensive tasks.

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Battery Life and Charging

One of the notable improvements in the Razr 50 Ultra is the increased battery capacity, now at 4,000mAh compared to the 3,800mAh of its predecessor. This larger battery translates to better endurance. In active use tests, the Razr 50 Ultra achieved a very good score of 12 hours and 5 minutes. This includes about 22 hours on voice calls, over 10 hours of web browsing, over 15 hours of video streaming, or about 8 hours of gaming.

The phone ships with a 68W charger, but it supports up to 45W charging. While this is an improvement over the 30W charging of last year’s model, it doesn’t fully utilize the potential of the included charger. Nevertheless, with the 45W charger, the phone can charge from 0 to 78% in half an hour, with a full charge taking 47 minutes. Additionally, the Razr 50 Ultra supports 15W wireless charging, adding another layer of convenience.

Camera Specifications

The camera setup on the Razr 50 Ultra includes a 50MP main camera and a 50MP two-times telephoto camera. Notably, there is no ultra-wide camera, which may be a drawback for some users. However, the main camera is an upgrade over last year’s model, and the dedicated zoom lens is a welcome addition.

Main Camera: Photo and Video Quality

In daylight conditions, the main camera of the Razr 50 Ultra captures impressive photos with accurate exposures, wide dynamic range, and great contrast. The detail is good, and while the rendition may not be the most natural, it avoids looking overly artificial. Colors are well-saturated, though the white balance can be slightly off in some outdoor scenes.

In low light, the main camera performs admirably, producing photos with nicely balanced exposures, bright enough shadows, and preserved highlights. The color saturation remains consistent, and while the detail can occasionally appear heavily sharpened, it is generally acceptable.

For video recording, the main camera can shoot in 4K resolution. The videos have a bit of a warmish white balance, similar to the stills, but the color saturation and dynamic range are pleasing. The detail could be better, as there is a general softness, but electronic stabilization helps iron out most shakes, though not entirely.

Telephoto Camera: Photo and Video Quality

The telephoto camera delivers sharp and detailed two-times zoom shots with vibrant colors and more consistent white balance compared to the main camera. Four-times zoom shots are decent, with acceptable detail, though not pin-sharp.

In low light, the telephoto camera maintains good detail and dynamic range, with balanced exposures. The white balance can occasionally be off, particularly with warm string lights, but overall performance is solid. Zoomed 4K videos also exhibit great detail and better white balance than the main camera, though still slightly off.

Selfie Camera: Photo and Video Quality

One of the advantages of a foldable phone is the ability to use the main cameras for selfies by utilizing the secondary screen as a viewfinder. Selfies taken with the main camera have a nice close framing and natural separation from the background, thanks to the shallow depth of field. The detail is good, with

well-reproduced skin tones and lively colors. However, when using the main camera for selfies, there isn’t a toggle on the cover screen to access the telephoto camera, which might limit some framing options.

For more traditional selfies, the Razr 50 Ultra is equipped with a dedicated 32MP selfie camera embedded within the inner screen. While these selfies lack the autofocus capability and depth of field control of the main camera, they still deliver respectable results. The detail is decent, and colors are accurate, making this camera more than adequate for video calls and quick snaps.

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Conclusion

The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is an excellent flip phone that brings significant improvements over its predecessor, the Razr 40 Ultra. Key enhancements include a better cover screen, improved water protection, faster charging, and upgraded camera quality. These changes make the Razr 50 Ultra a compelling option in the modern flip phone market.

The design and build quality of the Razr 50 Ultra are top-notch, with its stylish appearance, comfortable grip, and premium materials. The larger cover screen is not only more functional but also adds to the phone’s aesthetic appeal. The improved hinge mechanism and minimal crease ensure a seamless user experience, whether the phone is open or closed.

The display technology in the Razr 50 Ultra is impressive, with both the main and cover screens offering high refresh rates, excellent brightness levels, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The seamless transition between screens, despite a minor quirk with video playback, enhances the overall usability of the device.

The functionality of the cover screen is a standout feature, allowing access to various apps, widgets, and notifications without needing to unfold the phone constantly. The inclusion of key Google apps and the ability to use AI-driven features on the cover screen add to the convenience.

The audio quality of the Razr 50 Ultra is excellent, thanks to its stereo speakers. Whether you’re consuming media or on a call, the sound is clear and well-balanced. The side-mounted fingerprint reader offers fast and reliable biometric security, and the generous storage options ensure you have ample space for your files, though the lack of expandable storage might be a consideration for some.

Running on Android 14 with Motorola’s Hello UI, the Razr 50 Ultra provides a near-stock Android experience with useful customizations. Features like dynamic and AI-generated wallpapers, Smart Connect, and organized Moto app functionalities enhance the user experience. Motorola’s commitment to software updates and security patches ensures that the Razr 50 Ultra will stay up-to-date for years to come.

Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset delivers flagship-grade power, handling multitasking and gaming with ease. However, the device does face thermal management challenges, a common issue among flip phones. During extended use, the Razr 50 Ultra experiences significant thermal throttling, which could impact performance under heavy loads.

The battery life of the Razr 50 Ultra is commendable, with its increased capacity providing better endurance compared to its predecessor. The inclusion of faster wired and wireless charging options further adds to the convenience, though the phone doesn’t fully utilize the potential of the included 68W charger.

The camera setup on the Razr 50 Ultra is impressive, with the main and telephoto cameras delivering high-quality photos and videos. While the absence of an ultra-wide camera might be a drawback for some, the dedicated zoom lens and the ability to use the main camera for selfies are significant advantages. The low-light performance and video quality are solid, making the Razr 50 Ultra a versatile device for photography enthusiasts.

Overall, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is a well-rounded and well-crafted device that offers a blend of style, functionality, and performance. It addresses many of the shortcomings of its predecessor and stands out in the competitive foldable phone market. If you’re in the market for a modern flip phone, the Razr 50 Ultra deserves a strong recommendation.

Alternatives

If you’re considering alternatives to the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, there are a few options worth exploring. The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, the predecessor to the 50 Ultra, remains a solid choice with many of the same design features and a slightly lower price point. However, it lacks some of the improvements found in the Razr 50 Ultra, such as the enhanced cover screen, better water protection, and upgraded camera quality.

Another notable competitor is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, it offers slightly better performance and superior thermal management compared to the Razr 50 Ultra. Samsung’s foldable also features an ultra-wide camera, which some users might prefer. However, the Razr 50 Ultra’s unique design elements, such as the larger cover screen and premium build materials, give it a distinct appeal.

For those who prioritize a non-foldable design but still want flagship features, the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the iPhone 15 Pro offer top-tier performance, excellent cameras, and a robust ecosystem of apps and accessories. These devices are not foldable, but they provide a more traditional smartphone experience with cutting-edge technology.

Final Thoughts

The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is a testament to how far foldable phone technology has come. With its stylish design, robust build quality, impressive display technology, and versatile camera setup, it offers a premium experience in a compact form factor. While it does have some limitations, such as thermal management issues and the lack of an ultra-wide camera, the overall package is highly appealing.

Motorola has successfully addressed many of the criticisms of its previous models, making the Razr 50 Ultra a compelling choice for anyone looking for a modern flip phone. Whether you’re drawn to its sleek design, advanced features, or the nostalgia of the Razr brand, the Razr 50 Ultra is a device that stands out in the crowded smartphone market.

Thank you for reading this comprehensive review of the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. If you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to share them. For more reviews and comparisons, be sure to check out our coverage of the Moto Razr 40 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. See you in the next review!

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