The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra: Leading the Flip Phone Market with Innovative Features

Motorola’s latest Razr 40 Ultra is a follow-up to earlier Razr models. the same series, which is a revival of the company’s iconic clamshell that set tongues wagging and markets on fire back in the day. Aside from spec upgrades, the new model includes modifications and refinements, as well as a few world-firsts.

While it may not appear significantly different from its predecessor, the Razr 40 Ultra marks the pinnacle of Motorola’s design prowess, with an exquisite design, premium materials, and one of the least noticeable creases I’ve seen so far. It can also perform everyday use and when taking images.

For those who are curious, the Razr 40 Ultra is identical to the Razr 40 Plus in the United States, with the same design and specifications – it is only marketed differently.

Price when reviewed: €713.68 | Check price at Amazon

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra KEY FEATURES

The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra is a notable item on the flip side of the foldable smartphone market. The design has mostly altered, which is significant given that today’s foldable are aimed primarily at a design-conscious audience. Before the geek inside you scoffs, the hardware modifications are worth noting. Motorola has modified the hinge, which reduces the gap between the two halves of the chassis when closed; they’ve also cut the main display’s bezels, making the creaseless noticeable; and finally, they’ve added a useable outside display.

The 3.6-inch outside screen isn’t just for checking messages or other contextual information. Motorola collaborated closely with app providers, so a few apps, including Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify, are optimized to run on the cover display. It also serves as a great viewfinder for the main camera. However, there is also a selfie camera on the inside.

The Razr 40 Ultra’s retains the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, the gadget replaces its previous display with a quicker and larger one. The 6.9-inch primary display can now run at 165Hz, while the secondary one runs at 144Hz. The battery capacity has also doubled to 3,800 mAh. This year, however, the 40 Ultra will receive wireless charging, which is a must-have feature in the luxury segment. The Razr 40 Ultra is built for binge, including a foldable 6.9-inch pOLED panel with a refresh rate of 165Hz, LTPO compatibility, and HDR10+. The larger battery, paired with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 battery efficiency and LTPO display technology, can provide all-day battery life – but not for more than one day.

MOTOROLA RAZR 40 ULTRA UNBOXING

The device is shipped in conventional packaging that includes the typical user instructions, a 30W TurboPower wall charger with USB-A, and a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging and data transfer. However, the charger is not included in the box for North American purchasers. There is also a two-piece protective case with a hard and clear casing.

CAMERA

The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra’s dual 12MP rear camera may not be able to compete with the Oppo Find N2 Flip on paper, but cameras are about much more than just megapixels. Interestingly, the highest resolution sensor appears to be the internal selfie camera—aka the one users will use the least—clocking in at 32MP. The main 12MP camera performs admirably in well-lit situations, like as the below photos of Madrid’s streets, with amazing vibrancy and abundance of light thanks to the wide f/1.5 aperture and OIS capabilities. The camera can also pick up on tiny details in photos, such as individual stands of my dog Luna’s hair.

Colors are often bright but not overpowering, however, this varies depending on the photo. Some shots, such as those of my flower basket, the greens of the grass, and the blues of the sky, may appear overly colorful, but this is a frequent trait among smartphone photographers. According to research, bright colors enhance social media photos. The f/1.5 aperture also offers a more natural bokeh to close-up photographs than much of the competition, resulting in a more subtle effect than the OTT blur available in the phone’s specialized Portrait mode.

I wasn’t anticipating much in terms of low-light performance given the phone’s tiny proportions and very low megapixel count, which prevents it from adopting pixel-binning technology to boost overall levels of light and detail, but I was pleasantly surprised. Even in situations with little to no light, such as my garden, which has a few low-brightness LED lights, there is adequate detail available.

My only concern is that, although having PDAF focusing technology, it occasionally misses the mark in low light, producing soft shots. In my experience, that does not happen with technology such as Laser Autofocus, which is interestingly accessible on the cheaper regular Razr 40.

Ultrawide images are good in well-lit locations, but some shots appear a little too soft, despite the substantial noise reduction technology on display. Don’t expect much in low light, though, as the f/2.2 aperture produces significantly darker, muddier, and overall softer photographs than the main sensor. If you don’t like the notion of using rear-facing cameras to snap selfies, or if you spend a lot of time chatting on video calls, the 32MP internal selfie camera should suffice. My selfies are generally sharp and lack the washed-out color palette found in Motorola selfie cameras.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

When it comes to foldable smartphones, particularly those with a flip form factor, one of the most important considerations is design. And I have to admit that Motorola has nailed it with the Razr 40 Ultra. This is one of the nicest and sleekest phones I’ve ever used. Its design, slimness, and rounded edges make it a little slippery. It’s worth noting that the hinge is solid and stiff, which means that the phone can stay open at any angle, and unless you do some fine hand movements and finger gymnastics, you’ll need both hands to open the flip.

Most notably, due to the type of hinge used, the Razr 40 Ultra has no obvious gaps in the middle when folded, and when opened, there is scarcely a crease on the main display. Everything only contributes to the elegance it emits. There is also an IP52 classification, which means the phone is splash-resistant, but you should avoid spilling big amounts of liquid or using it in severe rain.

The bottom part of the rear has a lush, satin texture, and the top has a mirror finish. Despite the existence of the two camera rings, this section takes up nearly the entire screen. This cover screen is the largest I’ve seen on a folding flip phone, measuring 3.6 inches and featuring a 1:1 (square) aspect ratio. Furthermore, the cover screen has specs that are better or on par with most primary screens on other phones: it’s AMOLED, supports HDR10+, can reach a peak brightness of 1100 nits, is coated in Gorilla Glass Victus, and has a stunning 144Hz refresh rate.

When unfolded, the Razr 40 Ultra’s rounded sides are only 7mm thick. On top of the right spine, there are a few separate volume keys, as well as a power button with a fingerprint scanner. It is worth noting that because the edge is rounded, the power key is small and slightly curved, but the fingerprint scanner still functions properly. In reality, it is both accurate and speedy.

Opening the phone exposes a 6.9-inch foldable AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,640 x 1,080, a peak brightness of 1,400 nits, and a refresh rate of up to 165Hz, at least on paper. The 10-bit panel supports HDR10+, has a tall 22:9 aspect ratio, and can go as low as 1Hz owing to LTPO to save battery life. It is a capable display.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

Motorola phones are known for their clean, bloatware-free, near-stock Android implementation, and the Razr 40 Ulta takes the same approach. It runs Android 13 and has a slew of trademark Motorola features that can come in handy. Aside from a variety of customization options, three-finger snapshot, and swipe to split, there’s Moto Secure, which includes a secure folder and other essential security features. The Moto app also incorporates gestures and features such as attentive display. We’ve also grown to love the camera’s quick launch and chop-chop actions for turning on the flashlight over time.

Performance will not be an issue thanks to the 4nm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 12GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. The SoC may not be the most recent flagship, but we all know it has adequate power and can perform any task with ease. The benchmark numbers indicate how quick it is, and real-world performance reflects that as well. This is not a gaming phone, but it can handle graphics-intensive titles, however, the tiny form factor and small battery may not be ideal for this use case. Aside from that, it flies and glides through apps with ease, so no complaints there.

The 3,800mAh battery capacity is little in comparison to other smartphones on the market today, yet it is adequate for a flip foldable. With minimal use, you should be able to obtain a day’s worth, but otherwise, you may find yourself searching for the charger by the end of the day.

The PCMark battery test timed 12 hours and 30 minutes, which is a reasonable result for this battery. The usage varies greatly depending on how you utilize the cover display. If you can go through your day without unfolding your phone and instead use the cover screen most of the time, you may be able to get greater battery life from it. The 30w wired charging option can recharge the phone in just over an hour, but the 5w wireless charging capability is simply too slow to be effective.

Buy it if...

• Nice design, with some intrusion protection.
• Excellent primary display with an inconspicuous wrinkle.
• Excellent external display that impresses and supports full-fledged applications.
• Polished software with three years’ worth of important updates.
• Excellent selfie performance and ultrawide camera.

Don't buy it if…

• Despite the 165Hz rating, the main display is typically limited to 120Hz.
• Thermal throttling is aggressive while under load.
• Average battery life with slow wired and wireless charging.

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