Motorola introduced the Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra in June this year, branding them as the Motorola Razr 50 and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. There are now rumors that Motorola is looking to broaden the Razr 50 series with two new models: the Motorola Razr 50s and Motorola Razr 50s Ultra.
Similar Design Features
The Razr 50s Ultra has been seen on two certification platforms recently—Wireless Power Consortium and SGS Fimko Testing & Certification Services. According to 91mobiles, the Razr 50s Ultra, identified by the model number XT2451-6, shares a design closely resembling the Razr 50 Ultra. It showcases a rounded middle frame and a generous external display, as well as two distinct cutouts for its rear camera arrangement.
The inner display features a centrally located punch-hole for the selfie camera, with slim bezels that match other devices in the Razr 50 series. On the right side, you’ll find the volume rocker and power button, while the SIM tray is located on the left side. At the bottom, there are USB Type-C charging ports, speaker vents, and a microphone. The lower part of the device has a leather-like finish, with the recognizable Motorola logo and Razr branding.
Charging Capabilities
The listing on the Wireless Power Consortium indicates that the Razr 50s Ultra will support 15W wireless charging. For comparison, the Razr 50 Ultra offers 45W wired charging alongside 15W wireless charging, while the base Razr 50 has slightly reduced specs with 30W wired charging and 15W wireless capabilities.
The SGS Fimko Testing & Certification Services listing shows that there are six variants of the Razr 50s Ultra—ranging from XT2451-1 to XT2451-6. Interestingly, the “Technical data” on the SGS Fimko listing mentions ’11V 4A’, suggesting support for 44W fast wired charging.
Performance Insights
The Razr 50s has made an appearance on Geekbench, showcasing impressive scores of over 1000 for single-core and 3000 for multi-core. This could likely be attributed to the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset, which also powers the standard Razr 50.
Samsung has just introduced the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, which is pricier and considered more luxurious than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The launch of this higher-end model may confuse those looking for a budget-friendly Galaxy Z Fold. Sadly, it seems that a more affordable option isn’t on the horizon anytime soon.
No Plans for Lower-Priced Foldable
In a report from SamMobile, a Samsung executive shared that there are currently no intentions to develop a less expensive version of the Galaxy Z Fold. The official, who chose to remain anonymous, stated: “Rather than considering it (Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition) a premium product, it’s a product released to expand your options. You can choose according to your taste. As of now, we have no plans to release a separate product with a lower price.”
Competing in a Crowded Market
Even though Samsung was one of the pioneers in the foldable smartphone market, it now finds itself in a competitive race. Other brands like Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus have introduced foldable devices that often provide better value and are less expensive than Samsung’s models.
Alternatives in the Foldable Space
While Samsung has closed the door on a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold, they haven’t commented on the possibility of a more budget-friendly Galaxy Z Flip. The company is up against strong competition in this area, with other brands offering superior hardware at lower prices.
For instance, Motorola offers the Razr 50 Ultra/Razr+ 2024, available on Amazon.de for €1,199, along with the budget-friendly Razr 50/Razr 2024, currently listed on Amazon for $449. This means that consumers wanting a foldable device without spending a fortune still have options to choose from.
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.
Motorola is gearing up to introduce its new flip-phones in the Razr 50 series soon. The lineup will feature two models: a high-end Razr 50 Ultra and the Razr 50. The latter has recently been fully unveiled through its appearance on China’s TENAA certification.
The listing shows that, unlike its predecessor, the Razr 40, the Razr 50 will come with a cover display measuring 3.6 inches with a resolution of 1056 x 1066 pixels. This will be an OLED panel featuring a 10-bit color depth.
Display and Performance
Inside, the phone will have a 6.9-inch OLED display with a Full HD+ (1080 x 2640 pixels) resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. According to TENAA, the device will be powered by an octa-core chip clocked at 2.5GHz.
In terms of cameras, the Razr 50 will feature a dual-camera setup on the cover display, with a primary sensor of 50MP and a secondary sensor of 13MP. The inner display is expected to house a 32MP front-facing camera for selfies.
The device will be powered by a dual-cell battery with a combined capacity of 3949mAh, which will likely be marketed as 4200mAh. Charging capabilities will be at 33W, as per the 3C certification.
Dimensions and Sensors
Weighing in at about 188 grams, the Razr 50 will measure 171.3 x 73.9 x 7.2mm. The TENAA listing also confirms the presence of standard sensors such as a gravity sensor, distance sensor, light sensor, fingerprint recognition, and face recognition.
