If we roll back the pages of the history book, we will learn thatMotorolagave the world its first private handheld mobile phone in 1973. The American smartphone manufacturer debuted the widely popularRazr in 2004and users have a sentimental value associated with it. It was one-of-a-kind back in the day, and Motorola decided to leverage the nostalgia factor while releasing the Razr in 2019, followed by the updatedRazr+ in 2023. They tried to recreate the same foldable design that made the original version a sensation, but with a modern twist. The newer model was a hit like its predecessor, and while the prices have come down significantly, this latest 50% sale makes it a much better deal.
BestBuyhas the Motorola Razr+ (2023) for $500, which isexactly halfof what you’d have paid during its launch. The unique foldable design with two usable screens brought back memories for those who had the original Razr. This design was also perfected bySamsungover the years with itsGalaxy Z Fliplineup, but still holds its value at around a thousand dollars.
Examining the Motorola Razr+’s Specs
Powering this device is aSnapdragon 8+ Gen 1runningAndroid13 and is still a viable option as a mid-range SoC. It’s paired with8GBofLPDDR5 RAMand256 GBof UFS 3.1 storage. It also gets a3800mAh battery,with 30W wired charging and 5W wireless charging. The inside screen measures6.9 inchesdiagonally with an aspect ratio of 22:9 and a resolution of1080p at 165Hz. The pOLED display looks vibrant with deep blacks and the screen folds without producing a prominent crease. It’s still visible, but your brain starts to ignore it after a while.
The big change we see from the 2019 version is the sizable outer screen, which is basically a second screen with the full functionality of the main screen. Motorola has engineered the screen to accommodate the camera cutouts right on the screen and in person it looks the part. From receiving phone calls to sending messages to shooting selfies, you can control the entire device without even unfolding it. This feature helps save battery life for tasks that don’t need the main screen to be used. Things like glancing over text messages, checking the time, or changing tracks can easily be done through the secondary screen. Perhaps the most useful feature is using the second screen and the back cameras toclick high-resolution selfies.
Unfold the phone halfway, place it on a flat surface like it’s on a tripod, and click photos.
The phone isIP52 water and dust-resistant, which isn’t impressive but gets the job done. You get a12MP main shooterwith a 13MP optically-stabilized wide-angle camera. Both are capable of capturing realistic colors with plenty of detail and decent image processing. When compared with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Razr+ lags behind a bit with its washed colors, but makes up ground inlow-light photography. The video quality is poor compared to that of the Galaxy, as you get slightly more blurry footage and paler colors. Motorola almost needs to go back to the drawing board for their cameras. However, the utilitarian secondary screen and the foldable design of the Motorola Razr+ 2023 edition isa solid package for just $500.
