I reviewed the Motorola Razr (2026), and I’m glad to leave it behind

6/10

SoC

MediaTek Dimensity 7450X

Battery

4,800mAh

Cover screen

3.6-inch AMOLED 90Hz

Main screen

6.9-inch AMOLED 120Hz

The Motorola Razr (2026) isn’t a big update over the 2025 version, and relies on its compact folding design and cool Pantone colors to initially attract attenfion.

Pros & Cons

• Durable design
• Cover screen has lots of functionality
• Vibrant main camera photos

• Lacks performance
• Bloatware and missing launch features
• Inner screen’s plastic cover ruins tactility
• Main camera photos lack detail

Price, specs, and availability

Motorola makes life difficult with its naming conventions. In the US, this phone is called the Motorola Razr (2026), but elsewhere, including in the UK, it’s called the Motorola Razr 70. The phone is identical regardless of the name, and for clarification, I’m using the Razr 70.

It costs $799, which is the same as the 2025 model. There’s a single 256GB version available in the US, and a choice of four different Pantone colors. Pantone Sporting Green, which you can see in our photos, is joined by Violet Ice, Hematite, and Bright White.

It competes with Motorola’s own $1,099 Razr+ (2026) and $1,499 Razr Ultra (2026), and with Samsung’s $900 Galaxy Z Flip 7. It makes the basic Razr (2026)/Razr 70 the cheapest way into compact flip phone ownership.

If you’re not set on a compact folding phone and have around $800 to spend, the Google Pixel 10, Galaxy S26, and OnePlus 15 are all considerably more technically impressive than the Razr 2026.

Motorola Razr (2026) design

The best thing about it

People complain about Samsung not changing designs very much, but Motorola hasn’t changed the Razr (2026)’s design over the Razr (2025) at all. It has exactly the same dimensions, it’s the same weight, and it looks and feels identical. If there are any changes, they’re tiny and inconsequential.

The argument will be that there was nothing that needed changing, but it’s probably also a lot more cost-effective to use a very similar design when it comes to manufacturing, and Motorola may argue any design alternations it may have made would be change for change’s sake.

It being a repeat shouldn’t concern you too much, as the shape is excellent. I love how convenient the compact folding phone style is, and how easy it is to slip in a small pocket or bag, where it’s barely noticeable. Sure, it’s thicker than the average non-folding phone, but this matters less when the overall footprint is so modest.

An IP48 dust and water resistance rating joins a new MIL-STD-810H toughness certification, and the titanium hinge has had some small alterations, too. It’s silent, there are no off-putting creaks, and it closes with a pleasing thunk. It all feels solid and reliable.

There’s a fingerprint sensor in the power key, and it’s exceptionally accurate for something so small, to the point it only needs the merest brush to unlock the phone. A face unlock feature works on both the cover and inner screen, but requires a tap on the cover screen to activate.

If the Razr (2026) is basically the same as the Razr (2025), what makes it stand out? Motorola’s partnership with Pantone continues to be a winner. The colors are varied, vibrant, and different. The way they’ve been combined with different textures elevates the experience further.

The Sporting Green model’s pattern adds welcome grip, so it’s never in danger of slipping off smooth surfaces. The Hematite’s woven finish looks great, and the Bright White’s geometric pattern lifts the phone beyond being “just” a white finish.

If you liked the look of the last two Razr phones, you’ll like the Razr (2026), and for good reason. It’s stylish, well-made, and sized in a way that makes it easy to manage whether it’s open or closed.

Motorola Razr (2026) screens

One great, the other less so

There are two screens on the Razr (2026). A 3.6-inch, 90Hz, 1056 x 1066 pixel AMOLED cover screen and a 6.9-inch, 120Hz, 2640 x 1080 pixel LTPO AMOLED inner screen when you open the phone up. They appear to be identical to the Razr (2025)’s screens.

Motorola wins in the world of compact foldables by making the cover screen genuinely useful right out of the box, with no need to modify the software. It runs apps, shows notifications, acts as a camera viewfinder, and even has special modes if you put it in “tent” mode.

Amazingly, despite not putting the feature on many of its non-folding phones, the cover screen has a genuine always-on screen. I use it all the time, and it adds to the Razr (2026)’s usefulness, as well as showing off the bright cover screen.

The inner screen isn’t quite so successful. The plastic cover attracts fingerprints and smudges, and isn’t all that tactile to swipe, but worse is the amount of reflection it attracts. It makes it hard to view in sunlight or even moderately bright outdoor conditions.

I’ve found myself moving the phone around a lot more than other devices to try and find the sweet spot when I’m outside, or just seated inside with a window behind me, but unfortunately, it’s rarely there at all.

The crease running across the center of the screen isn’t all that noticeable under your finger, but visually, it affects the screen even further. Due to often having to move the phone around to minimize reflection, I find I notice the crease a lot more than on other, less reflective folding screens.

Motorola has nailed the cover screen, giving it a reason to be there beyond showing the time, but the inner screen suffers alongside non-folding phones. It’s a compromise you’ll have to accept if you want the Razr (2026).

Motorola Razr (2026) camera

Colorful photos, just don’t look closely

There are two 50-megapixel cameras on the Razr (2026), covering the main and the wide-angle camera, and while there’s a 2x shortcut in the camera app, it does not have a telephoto or lossless zoom feature.

All the photos I’ve taken with the Razr have automatically activated HDR, and it gives them a striking, colorful, and high-contrast style. It’s not going to be for everyone, but there’s no doubt they’ll attract attention when you share them online.

However, look closely at the photos, and they lack detail, are heavily smoothed, and smearing is obvious. This is not a camera for the enthusiast.

The dual 50MP cameras mean there’s good consistency between the main and wide-angle, but be aware that the quality drops when you use the 2x zoom in the camera app. There’s a macro mode that can be fun, though.

The cover screen comes into its own again when you use the camera. Leaving aside Motorola’s gimmicky twist-to-zoom feature when recording video (you don’t want to zoom much with this camera), selfies look great because they use the main camera, and the “tent mode” allows you to compose them properly without the help of another person.

Motorola has also included a new feature called Frame Match. It’s a bit like Google’s Add Me, just even more niche. It lets you frame the photo you want, then give the phone to a friend to take the actual photo when you’re in it, when the viewfinder shows an outline of how you want the photo framed. No more leaving it to chance, I suppose.

Motorola Razr (2026) performance

Cheaper phones do it better

For 2026, Motorola has put the MediaTek Dimensity 7450X processor inside the Razr, upgrading it from the 7400X in the 2025 model. Is it an upgrade? According to MediaTek, the main differences come in 5G connectivity and some AI improvements you may notice when using the camera. Otherwise, things are the same as before.

It has done everything I have asked. It opens apps, plays relatively simple games without getting hot, and it has been reliable. Unfortunately, it never feels like it’s happy doing it. It hesitates, there are dropped frames in animation, and some slowness when opening the phone and jumping straight into the camera.

I came to the Razr (2026) from the Samsung Galaxy A57, and its Exynos 1580 processor felt snappier, and it was no fire-breathing monster. Perhaps the phone would benefit from more than the LPDDR5X 8GB of RAM.

Take a look at the Geekbench 6 benchmark performance scores to see where the Razr (2026) stumbles when compared to cheaper, non-folding phones. I do think demanding users will notice, but perhaps those who never play games or push their phone hard won’t worry too much. Motorola’s decision not to dramatically update the processor or RAM for 2026 may bite it when it comes to sales.

The Dimensity 7450X is supposed to boost 5G connectivity, and I’ve had no issues with holding a 5G signal in the UK on the EE network. Calls also sound excellent, and the speaker is loud and clear. The Wi-Fi connection has also been rock solid.

Motorola Razr (2026) software

Missing new features

Android 16 comes installed on your new Razr, and Motorola has committed to just three years of operating system updates and five years of security updates. This is several years less than you’ll get with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Not much has changed over the Razr (2025), meaning there’s a host of unwanted games pre-installed, along with Copilot, Perplexity, and Gemini. It’s keen to send unwanted notifications too. For example, unless you turn it off, the Games app will recommend games to download.

The Razr is the first phone to feature Google Photos Wardrobe, which is a digital mix-and-match outfit generator, all based on photos of your existing clothes. It’s not for me personally, but I can see how others will really enjoy it, plus it’s a good demonstration of how Google’s AI-driven image recognition can be used for fun.

Unfortunately, it’s not available on my review phone yet, a no-show that joins Daily Drops, Moto’s version of Samsung’s Daily Brief. Both were announced with the Razr 2026 and are still coming soon. I am using the phone ahead of its full release, so a software update may introduce them before the phone reaches stores.

On the AI side, there’s a Memory function where you can save personal details that the phone will use for “personalized responses” in the future. There’s also an AI image studio app, a meeting recorder and transcription feature, and a notification summary feature. It’s all optional, and what we’ve seen from Moto AI before.

Motorola Razr (2026) battery and charging

Decent, but not outstanding

The 4,800mAh silicon-carbon battery is an upgrade over the previous model, and it’s great to see both 30W wired and 15W wireless charging.

In general, the battery lasts two days on a single charge with about three hours of screen time per day without gaming. A 30-minute YouTube video at 1440p over Wi-Fi took just 3%, a 40-minute Google Maps navigation took 8%, and the 20-minute 3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark stress test took 7%.

Using an Anker Prime charger, 50% battery charge comes up in around 35 minutes, and a full charge in around 80 minutes. Solid performance, but the battery life itself doesn’t set it apart from the crowd.

Should you buy the Motorola Razr (2026)?

The only genuine reason to buy the Motorola Razr (2026) is its compact folding phone design, and the fact that it’s the cheapest way to try out what is a great style. The cover screen and Motorola’s implementation of the software on it is also the best you can get, and the phone feels well-made and durable.

However, this is really where the good stops, and the compromises begin. They stack up pretty quickly, too. The performance is lackluster for an $800 phone, and non-folding phones that cost much less feel snappier and more willing to multitask.

The main camera’s colorful vibrancy appeals, but look closely at the photos, and the detail just isn’t there. The software isn’t supported for as long as many of its rivals, the inner screen’s plastic protector lets it down, and the battery life and charging don’t stand out either.

If you own a 2025 Razr or even the 2024 Razr, there’s no reason at all to upgrade. If you’re really keen on a compact folding phone, I’d recommend saving a little longer to get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7.

If you want a reasonably priced phone that handles the day-to-day but can still impress, anything from the Pixel 10a to the Galaxy A57 offers better value and more long-term support than the Razr (2026).

Motorola was likely put in a tough spot with the Razr (2026). Upgrade it with meaningful changes and increase the price, or keep things basically the same and avoid it. The route it chose has led to a phone with what feels like outdated performance wrapped up in a modern, convenient body that, at $800, feels too expensive to recommend.

6/10

SoC

MediaTek Dimensity 7450X

Rear camera

50MP main / 50MP wide-angle

Cover screen

3.6-inch AMOLED 90Hz

Main screen

6.9-inch AMOLED 120Hz

The Motorola Razr (20260’s price sounds modest at first, but unless you’re set on getting a compact folding phone, there are better performing non-folding phones available for a lot less, and this really hurts the Razr (2026)’s appeal.