In May of 2023, I acquired the Oppo Find N2 Flip device. I was eager to test out my first flip phone, which was this one. After using the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 as my first foldable smartphone, which I really liked, I decided to try a flip phone next. With its excellent set of cameras, the Find N2 Flip looked like a fantastic fit for my needs and goals. However, my experience with it was so negative that I came to the conclusion that flip foldables weren’t for me. I was so upset about the phone that I didn’t even write a review.
In February 2024, I received a Motorola Razr 40 on loan so that I could evaluate it. Naturally, this is hardly a brand-new gadget. It came out in May 2023, around the same time as the Oppo, but with less powerful cameras and, in certain aspects, worse hardware. Yes, I did get the Oppo rather than the Moto Razr, but I didn’t like it in the end. After using the Razr, though, I’m certain that I was misled and that I actually like flip phones. Thus, this is the reason.
The hinge is the most basic component of the hardware of a phone such as this one. Furthermore, the Razr 40’s hinge is superb. It can genuinely hold at whatever angle you may require (something the Oppo could not!). Extremely beautifully done, and when combined with the amazing internal screen—an LTPO AMOLED 1080p/144hz panel with 1400 nits of brightness and a hardly detectable crease—I was overjoyed. The phone’s back is covered with vegan leather, giving it a considerably more tactile feel. The power button has a side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into it. I wish all phones had this feature since it’s the fastest I’ve ever used.
You can see and feel that hardware, but what about the internals and software? This is where things become very interesting, only because the SoC differs greatly from the competition. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is a midrange processor used in the Razr 40. Owing to its lower performance, this SoC from Samsung Foundry has some of the same problems as the 8 Gen 1. It is not very efficient if you are gaming or performing any other heavy work. However, if you use your phone less often, there won’t be any issues at all. I found that the battery easily lasted me a whole day. That’s even when using Pokémon GO, which it has no trouble with, at 120 Hz.
Google Pixel 6 Pro, Moto Razr 40, and Pixel 8 Pro, from left to right
It’s quite enjoyable to use the program. Very similar to stock Android and has Motorola’s unique flavor, it feels a lot like using a Google Pixel or even a Sony Xperia. Amazing clock widget choices, a stylish typeface, and dynamic backgrounds. Simply said, I really liked it, and I think it’s my favorite version of Android.
Despite its modest size, the outside screen allows you to monitor important information, such as the weather and message alerts. Most of the time, you’ll need to open up the phone in order to perform any significant tasks, although you can read the messages and respond using the pre-set rapid reply choices. The ability to use that screen to take selfies with the primary camera was something I truly enjoyed. Now, more about the cameras.
These are all unaltered photos that were all captured with the stock camera app.
The cameras on the phone are, in my opinion, its weakest feature. Depending on the angle, there are two cameras on the back or front. a 13MP ultrawide and 64MP wide camera. On the interior screen is a 32MP selfie camera as well. Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) allows for 4K/30 frames per second video recording on all three of these cameras. Although the results might be a little uneven, overall they’re not too awful. Skin tones appear to be a special issue when using the external camera for photos, which is fairly simple to accomplish with a flip phone like this one. Strangely, despite having a poorer sensor, the selfie cam yielded considerably better results. To put that into perspective, consider the samples below, which contrast with far more costly phones. In the end, it’s unlikely that you will purchase this phone for its camera. Should that be your first priority when choosing a phone, you’re more likely to choose something like the Pixel 8.
The primary camera took the first selfie, while the selfie cam took the second.
After testing the Motorola Razr 40, I had just one question: to whom is this phone intended? It was also obviously not for me, as I enjoy having the greatest SoC and am quite interested in mobile photography. Why would someone spend $799 (RRP) for a phone when you could buy a slab phone with superior specifications for a much less money? That foldable screen is the key to everything. This will be the perfect gadget for anyone looking for a highly tiny communicator with a beautiful construction, an amazing inside display, and reliable performance. A gadget that disappears into the background and doesn’t constantly draw your attention to its screen. The outside screen worked really well for me since it prevented me from reaching for my phone and being sidetracked to open another app, which would cause me to put off tasks far longer than necessary.
The phone is now on sale for £599 here in the UK, which is a great price. I believe it was a difficult sell at the RRP of £799.99, but it is unlikely that you will find it for that much in 2024. With regard to all of Motorola’s phones, my only significant complaint is that the software support should go beyond the two years of OS upgrades. Patchy security upgrades are another issue that affects users and reduces their trust in the product, even though it’s not a big deal. If this is the specific experience you’re looking for, I can definitely suggest the Razr 40 even with ordinary cameras.