Foldable device season is back and Motorola is leading the way with new versions of its Razr Plus and Razr flip phones. They launch next month in some pool-ready colors and with improved screens – a large Upgrade in the case of the 2024 Razr – and IPX8 ratings for complete resistance to submersion in water. And you know what’s also pretty hot? Prices haven’t gone up.
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 still starts at $999 and comes with a Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of RAM. The cover screen now measures four inches, a significant upgrade from the previous generation’s 3.6-inch panel. It’s an LTPO display with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz; the inner screen is still a 6.9-inch 1080p OLED. The main camera on the back has an updated 50-megapixel sensor, and the previous model’s ultra-wide-angle lens has been swapped for a 2x telephoto lens.
Honestly, the standard 2024 Razr might be the more compelling device this time around. It still costs $699 and has a 6.9-inch interior screen, but its new 3.6-inch deck screen is now the same size as last year’s Razr Plus. The previous-generation Razr had a small 1.5-inch screen that severely limited its functionality. It was the cheapest flip-style foldable sold in the US, but that didn’t mean much when the deck screen was so limited. This time around, with a larger deck screen — and more water resistance — it looks like a really good deal. And that splash orange color option? So cute.
The Razr makes some concessions – there’s a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset and 8GB of RAM. Wired charging maxes out at 30W (still pretty fast), compared to the Razr Plus’s 45W, though both models get a welcome upgrade to 15W wireless charging, up from 5W on last year’s models. The Razr also gets the new 50MP main camera, but keeps the 13MP ultra-wide camera, which wasn’t very good on last year’s model.
Both models use a new hinge that is supposedly better protected against dust. Motorola has also made some improvements to the cover screen’s software. There’s a new widget panel that seems to be a handy addition, and now you can zoom out to see all your panels at once. There’s a clever new desk display mode that lets you set your phone up in Flex mode and play a photo slideshow on the cover screen, which sounds like StandBy.
There is now support for an always-on display, which is great. And in other great news for me personally, you can now download Google’s Gemini Assistant and run it on the cover screen, which is handy if you want to turn the Razr into a Humane-style wearable AI device (don’t). If you Do Make this foldable device a portable device. The pink and spring green color options are sure to make a statement.
Staying on trend for 2024, Motorola also announces a number of new AI tools that sound helpful but aren’t shipping yet. It’s one thing. You can say “pick me up” to get an AI-generated summary of high-priority notifications — that sounds familiar. Or you can say “remember” to have the phone capture something on the screen that you want to come back to later.
There’s also a “Pay attention” command that automatically records a conversation, transcribes it, and provides a summary. The company also intends to make everything contextual, so responses are customized based on location and activity. Sounds nice, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
The Motorola Razr and Razr Plus 2024 can be pre-ordered from July 10th and will go on sale on July 24th.