Final yr, Motorola jumped again into the flip telephone recreation in a extremely large approach with a duo of Razr fashions that adopted a extra fashionable and fashionable design with a number of enjoyable touches. The 2023 Razr Plus was certainly one of our favourite telephones of the yr, and now Motorola is again with a pair of sequels that might make a good larger splash.
Whereas the premium mannequin has gained some highly effective new specs, the Razr 2024 is the extra attention-grabbing of the pair, as Motorola has given it an entire makeover that significantly narrows the hole between the 2 fashions. There’s a stunning new cowl display screen on the usual Razr, a brand new hinge design, and a slew of latest AI options. Is that sufficient to make it a compelling improve for homeowners of final yr’s Razr 2023? Let’s have a look.
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: specs
Razr 2024 | Razr 2023 | |
---|---|---|
Dimension |
Open: 73.99 x 171.30 x 7.25mm |
Open: 73.95 x 170.82 x 7.35mm Closed: 73.95 x 88.24 x 15.8mm |
Weight | 188 grams | 188.6 grams |
Display screen |
Primary: 6.9-inch pOLED LTPO show with 120Hz refresh charge and three,000-nit brightness Cowl: 3.6-inch pOLED LTPS show with 90Hz refresh charge and 1,700-nit brightness |
Primary: 6.9-inch pOLED LTPO show with 120Hz refresh charge and 1,400-nit brightness
Cowl: 1.5-inch OLED show with 60Hz refresh charge and 1,000-nit brightness |
Display screen decision | Primary: 2640 x 1080 pixels at 413 pixels-per-inch
Cowl: 1056 x 1066 pixels at 413 pixels-per-inch |
Primary: 2460 x 1080 pixels at 413 pixels-per-inch
Cowl: 194 x 368 pixels at 282 pixels-per-inch |
Working system | Android 14 | Android 13 |
Storage | 256GB | 128GB |
MicroSD card slot | No | No |
Processor |
MediaTek Dimensity 7300X |
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Cellular Platform |
Digital camera | Rear: 50-megapixel (MP) f/1.7 most important (huge), 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide/macro
Entrance: 32MP f/2.4 |
Rear: 64-megapixel (MP) f/1.7 most important, 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide/macro
Entrance: 32MP |
Video | 4K at 30 frames per second (fps)
1080p HD at 30/60fps |
4K at 30 frames per second (fps)
1080p HD at 30/60fps |
Mobile | 5G (sub-6GHz), twin eSIM + bodily SIM | 5G (sub-6GHz), twin eSIM + bodily SIM |
Bluetooth model | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
Water resistance | IPX8 | IP52 |
Battery | 4,200mAh 30W TurboPower charging 15W wi-fi charging |
4,200mAh 30W TurboPower charging 5W wi-fi charging |
Colours | Koala Gray, Seashore Sand, Spritz Orange | Sage Inexperienced, Vanilla Cream, Summer time Lilac, Cherry Blossom |
Worth | $700 | $700 |
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: design
Final yr’s Motorola Razr 2023 was a standout amongst flip telephones for its enjoyable and fashionable design, and the Razr 2024 isn’t any exception. If something, it takes that up a notch.
You’ll get the identical distinctive vegan leather-based end on the again, which nonetheless feels nice, however this yr, it’s accessible in an assortment of much more whimsical colours: Koala Gray, Seashore Sand, and Spritz Orange.
At a look, the Razr 2024 is almost equivalent to its predecessor in each approach however one: This yr’s mannequin will get a bigger and way more helpful cowl display screen, which we’ll speak about extra within the subsequent part. From the “again,” nonetheless, you’ll be hard-pressed to inform the 2 fashions aside until you’re accustomed to their distinctive shade palettes.
Nevertheless, that similarity hides one other essential distinction: Motorola has upped its hinge recreation this yr with a completely new design that’s each smaller and smoother. The Razr 2024 is simpler to flip open, and the crease on the interior display screen is much more delicate than final yr’s Razr 2023, which already did a greater job hiding it than most different flip telephones.
Each fashions nonetheless characteristic Gorilla Glass Victus on their cowl shows, though the Razr 2024 will get a pleasant water resistance improve, now boasting an IPX8 ranking. That’s a big soar from the IP52 of the Razr 2023. Technically, the lack of the 5 right here means this yr’s mannequin could also be much less proof against mud and sand, nevertheless it’s exhausting to say because the “X” doesn’t imply it’s not dust-resistant — merely that Motorola hasn’t examined it. Nonetheless, foldables have by no means been nice in that space anyway. We expect it’s truthful to say that water resistance is way more essential for most folk, and IP52 to IPX8 is an enormous enchancment.
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: show
One compelling motive to go for Motorola’s pricier Razr Plus mannequin final yr was its extra expansive cowl display screen. Nevertheless, that larger price ticket was too wealthy for some folks’s blood, and plenty of settled for the 2023 Razr’s smaller 1.5-inch panel.
The excellent news is you gained’t need to make that selection this yr, as the usual Razr 2024 has made the leap to a 3.6-inch display screen on the surface with a 90Hz refresh charge — roughly the identical display screen discovered on the 2023 Razr Plus. Motorola’s newer premium mannequin has a canopy display screen that goes up a slight notch from that, however the two are far nearer than they had been final yr, to the purpose the place we don’t assume anybody is settling by choosing the Razr 2024.
The brand new cowl display screen isn’t simply larger, it’s additionally way more helpful. Whereas final yr’s Razr was primarily a glorified smartwatch show, the 2024 Razr now has an always-on show that may present full-sized widgets, run any app, and even allow you to faucet out replies to messages utilizing the on-screen keyboard. Meaning you’ll be flipping this one open a lot much less usually.
Nevertheless, whenever you do open it up, you’ll be greeted by a 6.9-inch most important show that’s just about the identical on each fashions, though the Razr 2024 is extra good, now reaching 3,000 nits of peak brightness. As with final yr’s fashions, that is practically equivalent to what Motorola makes use of on the dearer Razr Plus, with the one actual distinction being the refresh charge: 120Hz versus 165Hz.
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: efficiency and battery
Motorola swapped chip households this yr, powering the 2024 Razr with a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chip as a substitute of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 present in final yr’s mannequin. Each are 4nm chips with eight CPU cores that run as much as 2.5GHz, so this could translate to no less than comparable efficiency. Nevertheless, MediaTek’s chip is sizzling off the fabrication line, so we’ll have to attend and see the way it holds up underneath real-world situations. We’ll have extra as soon as we’ve put it by its paces in our assessment.
The Razr 2024 will get a pleasant increase in storage capability to 256GB — twice as a lot as final yr. That’s essential, contemplating Motorola solely sells the Razr in a single storage configuration. Each fashions nonetheless have solely 8GB of RAM.
Each fashions will probably be evenly matched in battery life since they pack in the identical 4,200mAh cell, though the Razr 2024 could profit from energy effectivity enhancements in MediaTek’s new chip. We’ll have to attend and see on that entrance, however the brand new cowl display screen might additionally make a distinction because you gained’t have to flip the Razr 2024 open and use the extra power-hungry most important show practically as usually.
Wired charging stays at 30W. The Razr 2024 will get a lift to extra normal 15W wi-fi charging speeds, in comparison with 5W on the Razr 2023.
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: cameras
Cameras have by no means been the principle motive to go for any Motorola telephone, however these within the Razr lineup do noticeably higher than a lot of the remainder of the pack. In our testing, the 2023 Razr usually captured colourful and balanced images that had been greater than appropriate for informal use and sharing on-line. The most important draw back we discovered was that the outcomes could possibly be considerably inconsistent, with some images feeling a bit of tender and washed out.
The jury is out on whether or not the Razr 2024 will enhance on that since a lot of the ability comes from the picture sign processor, and the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X on this yr’s mannequin is an entire new ballgame. Within the restricted hands-on time we had with the brand new Razr, the cameras present some promising outcomes, however we’ll have to attend for correct comparisons earlier than we might be certain.
It’s value mentioning that the principle digicam has dropped to a 50-megapixel (MP) sensor this yr, in comparison with 64MP on the Razr 2023. We’re assuming that Motorola is making up for that with improved processing, however you’re usually capturing pixel-binned 12.5MP and 16MP images with these telephones anyway, so the distinction is fairly delicate. The 13MP ultrawide/macro and 32MP selfie cameras have the identical specs on each fashions.
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: software program and particular options
The Razr 2024 will ship with Android 14 out of the field, and fortunately, it appears Motorola is sticking with a frustration-free strategy for its higher-end telephones: including minimal cruft to the inventory Android expertise as a substitute of the bloatware nightmare it dropped at the Moto G collection earlier this yr.
Essentially the most important change is a brand new “Moto AI” layer that represents the corporate’s first foray into AI. It’s not a lot an Android pores and skin as a set of instruments to enhance pictures. Most of those are restricted to the extra premium Razr Plus, though the usual Razr will get AI Auto Smile Seize, a Fashion Sync characteristic that may create AI-generated wallpapers from any photograph, and a Magic Canvas AI image-generation app.
Google Gemini can also be built-in into the 2024 Razr proper out of the field and might be referred to as up straight from the duvet display screen by urgent and holding the ability button. Motorola is providing three months of Gemini Superior for brand spanking new patrons. The duvet display screen additionally options an optimized Google Images app and particular panels for Spotify and Bose.
A number of different AI options will come to the Razr 2024 down the highway, equivalent to summaries of notifications and textual content conversations. Nevertheless, in contrast to Samsung, Motorola has no plans to carry Moto AI to its older telephones, so that you’ll want a 2024 Razr if you wish to benefit from these options.
In the meantime, the Razr 2023 shipped with Android 13 final yr, and most homeowners have but to see an Android 14 replace. That’s par for the course for Motorola, which has all the time been very gradual with its updates; for those who really need Android 14, you could be higher off simply shopping for this yr’s mannequin. Nonetheless, Motorola guarantees three years of Android updates for each, even when they take an excessively very long time to reach. The Razr 2023 will finally make it to Android 16, whereas this yr’s mannequin ought to attain 2026’s Android 17 launch, though it may not present up for Motorola homeowners till 2027.
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: value and availability
The Motorola Razr 2024 has the identical $700 MSRP as final yr’s Razr 2023, though you’re getting twice the storage for that value, because it now is available in a single 256GB configuration. If the corporate continues previous developments, we’ll probably see some good reductions within the weeks following its launch. Preorders for the Razr 2024 begin on July 10, and it ought to be accessible in service shops and elsewhere on July 24. It’s accessible in Koala Gray, Seashore Sand, and Spritz Orange.
In the meantime, the 128GB Motorola Razr 2023 might be had proper now for $450 from Motorola’s web site, Amazon, Greatest Purchase, and certain just a few different retailers. Whereas that’s technically a sale value, we don’t think about it is going to return up after the Razr 2024 hits the streets. Shade choices listed here are Sage Inexperienced, Vanilla Cream, Summer time Lilac, and Cherry Blossom.
Motorola Razr 2024 vs. Razr 2023: do you have to improve?
There’s little doubt that Motorola has made some very good year-over-year enhancements in its 2024 Razr. The considerably higher cowl display screen alone is sufficient to justify the improve for anybody who discovered final yr’s too limiting, and it actually makes it a a lot simpler selection to avoid wasting cash by choosing the usual Razr slightly than the pricer Razr Plus.
That’s a giant enchancment, however the different modifications on this yr’s Razr are smaller quality-of-life enhancements. The brand new hinge is sleeker, and the Moto AI options are attention-grabbing, if a bit of sparse proper now. These add as much as issues that undoubtedly make the brand new mannequin the higher selection for most folk shopping for their first flip telephone, however aren’t sufficient to justify an improve from the 2023 Razr.
In any case, many different issues right here will probably develop into incremental modifications at greatest. The digicam system, efficiency, and battery life could also be barely higher, however from the specs, we’re not anticipating any important variations in any of these areas. You’re additionally nonetheless getting solely three years of software program updates, and so they’ll probably arrive on the regular glacial tempo.
That doesn’t imply the Razr 2024 isn’t a strong telephone. It’s nonetheless the most effective in its class, and for those who’re in search of a flip telephone on a funds, it’s even tougher to go mistaken with this yr’s Razr. Nevertheless, it’s a harder name for those who’re nonetheless fortunately toting final yr’s mannequin until you really need that higher cowl display screen.