Motorola's Razr lineup presents an intriguing choice for those interested in a nostalgic flip phone experience with contemporary features.
The company has recently introduced the Razr 50 in India, priced at Rs 69,999. Interestingly, last year’s Razr 40 Ultra was also launched at the same price but is now available for Rs 45,000.
So, which Motorola clamshell offers better value—the older model or the newest release? Let's explore and find out.
Display
Both phones feature nearly identical 6.9-inch main displays with high resolution, but the Razr 50 has a slight edge over the 40 Ultra in certain aspects. The main display of the Razr 50 boasts a brighter peak brightness of 3000 nits compared to the 40 Ultra’s 1400 nits. The new model also includes a slightly larger 3.6-inch display versus the 40 Ultra’s 3.2-inch panel, providing a more practical experience for checking notifications, using widgets, or composing quick messages without unfolding the phone.
When it comes to refresh rate, the Razr 40 Ultra takes the lead. Its main screen refreshes at 165Hz compared to the Razr 50's 120Hz, and the cover panel refreshes at 144Hz versus 90Hz on the Razr 50. While higher refresh rates result in smoother animations, this might not be crucial for most users as the Razr series is not targeted at gamers. Both models utilize an LTPO AMOLED panel and have HDR support with 10-bit color depth. The cover screens on both models are also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
Performance
Regarding performance, the Razr 50 is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X, a 4nm chipset, while the Razr 40 Ultra houses the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (also 4nm). The Snapdragon-powered Razr 40 Ultra clearly has the advantage here with its flagship CPU and GPU setup. Therefore, the Razr 40 Ultra delivers superior performance, even for some gaming. Additionally, it comes with faster LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, compared to the LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage on the Razr 50, ensuring smoother overall performance on the Ultra model.
Camera System
The Razr 50 features a dual camera system with a 50MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide sensor. The Razr 40 Ultra also has a dual camera setup but with a lower resolution 12MP main sensor and the same 13MP ultrawide sensor. The Razr 50 further stands out with a 50MP selfie camera, compared to the 12MP selfie camera on the Razr 40 Ultra.
Although the megapixel count isn’t the sole indicator of camera quality, the Razr 50 might offer a slight edge in capturing detail. However, it’s advisable to check reviews for a clearer assessment. It’s important to note that both phones lack a dedicated telephoto lens, a common omission in flip phones for now.
Battery and Charging
In terms of battery, the Razr 50 is equipped with a slightly larger 4200mAh battery compared to the 3800mAh battery in the Razr 40 Ultra. On paper, the Razr 50 should offer better battery life, thanks to its larger battery and more efficient mid-range SoC. However, this is something reviews would need to confirm. Both phones offer wired fast charging at 30W, but the Razr 40 Ultra lags with only 5W wireless charging compared to the Razr 50’s 15W.
Durability and Design
Both phones showcase a similar design language with a foldable display and premium build quality. The Razr 50 is slightly lighter and uses a more eco-friendly silicone polymer back compared to the Razr 40 Ultra’s glass back. The hinge is made of stainless steel on both devices, ensuring a durable folding and unfolding experience.
The Razr 50 also has an IPX8 water-resistant design, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. In contrast, the Razr 40 Ultra only has a water-repellent coating, making it less resistant to accidental splashes.
Software
The Razr 50 comes pre-installed with the newer Android 14. The Razr 40 Ultra was launched with Android 13 and is promised three major Android upgrades. It recently received one of those updates and now runs Android 14. However, Motorola is known for being slow with updates, affecting the Razr 40 Ultra as well. It only received the Android 14 update in August 2024. Hopefully, Motorola will improve this in the future. The Razr 50 also promises three years of updates.
Conclusion
The Razr 50 offers more practical upgrades compared to the Razr 40 Ultra, including a larger cover screen, bigger battery, and water resistance thanks to its proper IP rating. The Razr 40 Ultra still has strengths, such as a higher refresh rate for both the main and cover screens, along with a more powerful processor. However, in terms of practicality, the Razr 50 clearly comes out ahead. The Razr 40 Ultra's current price gives it an edge. At just Rs 45,000, it’s Rs 25,000 cheaper than the Razr 50, making it a great deal. So, if you’re looking to try a flip phone, the Razr 40 Ultra might be the better choice.
