Motorola Razr (2020) Review: A Foldable Phone with Unique Design

The Motorola Razr (2020) is a unique foldable phone that's sure to turn heads.

Its sleek and compact design makes it easy to slip into a pocket or purse, and the 6.2-inch foldable display is perfect for watching videos or browsing the web.

One of the standout features of the Razr is its 16-megapixel camera, which takes great photos in a variety of lighting conditions.

The phone's battery life is also impressive, with up to 12 hours of talk time and up to 24 hours of internet use.

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The Motorola Razr's design is a masterclass in minimalism and practicality. It's a handsome phone with curved glass, aircraft-grade aluminum, and a svelte chin bezel that gives it a clamshell look.

The phone's hinge is a marvel of engineering, designed to prevent a permanent crease on the screen, unlike the Galaxy Fold. You can even make out the edges of the steel plates used to reinforce the back of the screen when watching a video.

Folded, the Razr measures 3.6 by 2.9 by 0.6 inches and weighs 6.7 ounces, making it a compact and lightweight device. The Zero Gap hinge has a gap about as thick as a playing card, and several times, I opened the phone to discover the interior screen covered in lint and dust.

The Razr's hinge system is the source of a creak, a muffled crunching sound when folded.

In November, a few of us at CNET spent the better part of a day with three different preproduction Razrs and didn't notice any creaking sounds.

Motorola says the sound is natural from the mechanical movement of the phone and doesn't affect the quality of the product.

The sound is not "record skip" loud, but it's not great either.

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The folding screen of the Motorola Razr has its imperfections, but they're not deal-breakers. Not like the Galaxy Fold, the Razr doesn't have a crease on the screen due to its special hinge design.

You can make out the edges of the steel plates used to reinforce the back of the screen when watching a video, but the middle of the screen doesn't have this backing, giving it a slightly delicate feel.

The Razr is surprisingly durable, surviving snow, airplane trips, and even a house with a cat, but it's impossible to determine its long-term durability in just a week.

The screen can feel a bit voidy when scrolling up and down, but it doesn't affect the overall experience. You can feel the space behind the middle of the screen, but it's not a major issue.

The Razr's Zero Gap hinge has a small gap, about as thick as a playing card, which can collect lint and dust over time. Several times, the interior screen was covered in lint and dust after opening the phone.

The Razr's tall 6.2-inch screen can be a challenge to use one-handed, especially when trying to reach the top of the screen. However, the onscreen keyboard is more narrow when held vertically, allowing for faster typing with two hands.

Buttons are important, especially on a foldable phone like the Motorola Razr. The fingerprint reader is located on the raised chin below the main screen, and it's a convenient feature.

The onscreen home button above the fingerprint reader can be used with Moto Actions, but it's not ideal. You have to reach over the fingerprint reader to tap and swipe the home button, which can be awkward.

The volume rocker and sleep-wake button are well-placed, considering the phone's unique design. However, they're tiny and sometimes hard to distinguish, even with the wake button's texture.

The buttons are more difficult to find when the phone is closed, and they could benefit from more travel or a clicky feel.

The Motorola Razr's performance is quite respectable, especially considering its size. The phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, which is smaller and more energy-efficient than some other processors on the market.

In everyday use, the Razr handles tasks with ease, even with multiple apps and tabs open at once. I was able to play Alto's Odyssey for nearly two hours without encountering any lag or skipped frames.

The Razr's battery life is also noteworthy, lasting a respectable 13 hours, 3 minutes in a looped video test. This is comparable to the Moto G7, which has a larger 3,000-mAh battery.

However, the Razr's battery life can vary depending on usage, and I found myself needing to plug in around dinner time to top it off.

The Geekbench v.4.0 single-core score for the Razr 5G is 616, which is significantly lower than the Galaxy Z Fold 2's score of 980.

The Razr's score is still respectable, and it's worth noting that benchmarks don't always reflect real-world performance.

In my experience, the Razr handles everyday tasks with ease, even with multiple apps and Chrome tabs open at the same time.

Motorola made a deliberate choice to balance power and performance, and it shows in the Razr's overall performance.

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The new Motorola Razr's battery life is a mixed bag. It has two batteries, one on either half of the phone, which offer a combined 2,510 mAh of power.

In a looped video test, the Razr lasted a respectable 13 hours, 3 minutes, which is comparable to the Moto G7 with a 3,000-mAh battery.

The Razr got through most of a day in daily use, but I had to plug it in around dinner time to top it off.

The new Motorola Razr has a bigger 2800mAh battery, which should improve battery life.

If you're considering the Motorola Razr (2020), you might also want to take a look at its competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and the Huawei P30 Pocket.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip has a similar foldable design, but with a different hinge mechanism that allows for a more seamless crease-free fold.

One key difference is that the Galaxy Z Flip has a smaller 6.7-inch screen compared to the Razr's 6.2-inch screen.

The Huawei P30 Pocket, on the other hand, offers a more compact design with a smaller 6.1-inch screen, but still packs a punch with its powerful Kirin 990 5G chip.

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The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a unique take on a folding phone. It's essentially a Galaxy S10 turned into a folding device.

The Galaxy Fold has premium specs, which is impressive. It also comes with six excellent cameras, which is a significant upgrade from the Motorola Razr's two cameras.

You'll need two hands to use the Galaxy Fold, which can be a bit cumbersome. The phone is thick but tall, making it difficult to handle with one hand.

The exterior display on the Galaxy Fold is awkwardly proportioned for its size. It tries to do too much, but ultimately falls short.

On the Galaxy Fold, you can open nearly all Android apps on the outside and use them. This feature is a great convenience, but it's not always practical.

If you're looking for alternatives to the popular product, there are several similar options on the market. One option is the XYZ Brand, which offers a similar feature set at a slightly lower price point.

The ABC Model is another similar product that boasts impressive performance and a sleek design. It's worth noting that the ABC Model has a slightly longer battery life than the original product.

For those who prioritize portability, the DEF Portable is a great option. Weighing in at just 2 pounds, it's easy to take on the go.

The GHI Model is similar to the original product in many ways, but it has a few key differences. Notably, it has a slightly larger screen and a more advanced camera system.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the JKL Brand is a great choice. It offers many of the same features as the original product at a significantly lower price point.

The Motorola Razr (2020) has some fantastic features, but like any device, it's not perfect.

One of the standout pros is its gorgeous design, which is sure to turn heads.

The exterior display is also super useful, providing additional information and features without having to open the phone.

The 48MP camera is another highlight, delivering excellent image quality and capturing life's special moments.

Solid sub-6GHz 5G connectivity ensures you stay connected with fast data speeds.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider.

The phone lacks an IP rating, which means it's not water or dust resistant.

Battery life could be better, so you might need to charge it more often throughout the day.

The device has some really great features. One of the standout pros is its gorgeous design.

The exterior display is also very useful, making it easy to access important information at a glance.

The camera is another strong point, with an excellent 48MP sensor that captures high-quality photos.

Another plus is the solid sub-6GHz 5G connectivity, which provides fast and reliable data speeds.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. For one thing, the device lacks an IP rating, which means it's not protected against dust or water.

Battery life could also be better, so you may need to charge it more frequently throughout the day.

Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons:

The Razr's durability has been a topic of discussion, particularly after CNET's fold test. The phone was folded multiple times, but the results were inconclusive.

Motorola claims that SquareTrade's FoldBot, the machine used for the test, is not designed to test the Razr's dynamic clamshell folding system. This led to undue stress on the hinge, making the test inaccurate.

The Razr did undergo extensive cycle endurance testing during product development. This testing is meant to simulate real-world use.

Motorola offers a decent warranty on the Razr, covering display defects incurred during normal use. If your display has defects, Motorola will repair or replace your device for free.

You can have displays replaced for $299 if not covered by the warranty.

The Motorola Razr (2020) boasts impressive 5G capabilities thanks to its Snapdragon 765G processor. This enables support for both T-Mobile's 600MHz and 2.5GHz 5G networks.

You can expect fast data speeds and seamless connectivity with the Razr 5G. The phone supports 5G, but it's worth noting that mmWave 5G is not supported.

With its 5G capabilities, you can enjoy a wide range of features, including faster downloads, improved streaming, and enhanced online gaming experiences.

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The new Motorola Razr will launch at T-Mobile this fall in Blush Gold and Polished Graphite colors.

The phone will have a full retail price of $1,399.99, which is $100 less than the first Razr.

Motorola has upgraded the Razr with a Snapdragon 765G processor, enabling 5G support.

T-Mobile says the Razr will support both its 600MHz and 2.5GHz 5G, but mmWave 5G will not be supported.

The new Razr has a bigger 2800mAh battery.

The phone now comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage.

The cameras have gotten significant upgrades, with a 48MP rear camera that uses Quad Pixel tech for better low-light sensitivity.

The rear camera also features optical image stabilization and laser autofocus tech.

The 20MP selfie camera is located at the top of the 6.2-inch foldable display.

The display has a 21:9 aspect ratio and can withstand up to 200,000 flips.

The screen also has a special coating to protect it from scratches and a water repellent barrier.

A 2.7-inch QuickView display is located on the outside of the new Motorola Razr.

You can use the QuickView display to check notifications and even grant app permissions to run on it.

The QuickView display supports Android 10-style gestures, such as swiping up to access the home screen.

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The Motorola Razr 5G is a game-changer in the world of folding phones.

It's an improvement upon its predecessor in every way, with faster performance, better cameras, longer battery life, 5G, and more. This makes it a great option for those looking for a stylish and functional phone.

The Razr 5G is a more affordable option compared to other high-end phones, with a price that's within reach of those looking to spend $1,000 on a phone. It's worth noting that Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra offers faster performance and millimeter-wave 5G, but it doesn't fold.

The Motorola Razr 5G has the potential to change the way you use your phone with its innovative Peek Display. It's a stylish folding phone that improves on its predecessor in every way.

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