Motorola just fixed my biggest foldable problem — and Samsung should be taking notes
The Razr Fold finally fixes what Samsung broke
Motorola is missing the biggest shift in foldable design
Wider foldables are what we want
The Motorola Razr Fold follows the same design language as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series. This would be fine if the Razr Fold had launched two or three years ago, but foldables are about to undergo a substantial design change. The Razr Fold looks dated, even before it’s become widespread.
The change is simple. Foldables are becoming wider, embracing an aspect ratio similar to tablets. Leaked renders of Apple’s upcoming foldable have indicated that this is the design it will take, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is named for its similarly wide aspect ratio.
This change isn’t just an aesthetic one. A wider main screen is more suitable for media, gaming, and split-screen multitasking. When folded, the cover display is a more practical smartphone-like ratio; it’s easier to handle than the skinny form of “traditional” foldables.
The Razr Fold embraces a square aspect ratio, and it’s a shame. The tablet-style look is far more useful, and if I’m to buy a foldable, it’ll look like that.
The Razr Fold doesn’t offer the value for money the brand is known for
It has too much competition among other foldables
Perhaps the biggest mistake with the Razr Fold is the price. I understand that foldables are expensive, but Motorola has made a name for itself in recent years by producing affordable flip phones and brilliant-value mid-range devices. The Razr Fold diverges from this trend with a $1,899 starting price. Cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 but more expensive than the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it’s clear that Motorola is targeting a different audience.
Early rumors suggested that the Razr Fold would retail for closer to $1,500, which would fit neatly with the brand’s identity. This isn’t to say that the phone is poor value for money, far from it. However, it doesn’t matter how good a phone is; $1,899 is an absurd price tag.
We’ve become used to the price tags of foldables in recent years, but it’s worth returning to reality for a moment. $1,899 is too much money for a phone. This is why I was so excited to hear about the Razr Fold, because I thought Motorola might finally make foldables viable for those of us with normal incomes.
I firmly believe that Motorola could have made a foldable for cheaper without sacrificing quality. The company is making moves to compete with the big names, and while that could be good for the consumer, I worry we’re in danger of losing sight of what made Motorola special in recent years.
But I digress. The point is that the Razr Fold is too expensive. I’m seriously considering a Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, but even then, it’ll take a substantial trade-in deal to lure me in.
I want to stick with the Motorola devices I can trust
A foldable device needs long-term testing
If I were to buy a foldable, I need to make sure it’ll last me for at least five years. While Motorola has finally promised longer software support, that’s not what I’m worried about. Durability is a crucial factor in deciding on a foldable, and the Razr Fold needs long-term testing to prove itself.
Motorola has shown that its clamshell Razr devices can survive for years, but the structure of a foldable is an entirely different challenge. It doesn’t matter how careful Motorola has been, because I’ve seen the problems that crop up in first-generation devices months down the line. Yes, Motorola will probably iron out the most glaring issue on its next foldable, but that just gives me even more reason to skip this device.
Buying a Razr Fold right now feels risky
Motorola has made an excellent device with the Razr Fold. But with an already-dated design and no long-term test results, it doesn’t inspire confidence like the Motorola Razr 70. The next generation of Razr Fold will be the one I’ll be looking out for, or instead, I’ll just settle for the brilliant Motorola Razr 2025 at a fraction of the price.
