The Motorola Razr Plus is an exciting new addition to the world of folding phones. While it may not be fully ready for mainstream adoption, it offers a unique and rewarding experience for tech enthusiasts. The standout feature of the Razr Plus is its 3.6-inch outer display, which is larger than any other flip-style foldable phone on the market. This display opens up a whole range of possibilities and use cases that I discovered while using the phone.
In terms of overall performance, the Razr Plus offers a relatively average flagship phone experience. But considering its price point of $999, it provides excellent value compared to previous foldable phones. While you can get more features and power from a traditional slab-style device at the same price, the Razr Plus doesn’t compromise on battery life or day-to-day performance. It feels like a regular phone until someone notices you folding it in half, sparking curiosity and conversation.
However, the Razr Plus isn’t quite ready for widespread adoption. It requires some fiddling to get the most out of the cover screen, and there may be occasional bugs and limitations. Additionally, long-term durability is still a question mark, as the Razr Plus is not as robust as other phones in the same price range when it comes to dust- and water-resistance.
The cover screen, which is an OLED panel, serves as the main attraction of the Razr Plus. It features a homescreen with notifications, time, and shortcuts to various full-screen “panels.” While these panels are functional, they are not as interactive as one might hope. For example, the calendar panel allows you to switch between daily or monthly views, but tapping on events doesn’t provide any further functionality. Similarly, the Spotify panel is designed for music control, but it can be unreliable, often showing an offline status when connected.
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However, the app panel is where the cover screen truly shines. While there are only a few pre-populated suggestions, you can launch full apps on the cover screen, even if they are not officially supported. This provides a unique experience for gadget enthusiasts who enjoy exploring new possibilities. Typing on the cover screen feels less overwhelming than facing the entirety of your phone’s interface, and answering texts becomes quicker and more effortless.
Of course, the cover screen does have its limitations. Some content may be lost behind camera cutouts, user interfaces may break, and occasional text options may be difficult to tap. However, these limitations can also be seen as advantages, as they prevent mindless scrolling and encourage users to commit to either opening the phone or moving on with their lives.
When unfolded, the Razr Plus features a familiar 6.9-inch OLED display. It offers a high refresh rate and is bright enough to combat direct sunlight. The phone also comes with a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, which is a significant improvement over the previous placement.
Under the hood, the Razr Plus is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which offers improved battery efficiency and slightly cooler performance compared to its predecessor. Paired with 8GB of RAM, the phone handles day-to-day tasks smoothly, although it may struggle with demanding games. Despite heating up during video recording or portrait mode photos, the performance remains uncompromised.
In conclusion, the Motorola Razr Plus is an exciting folding phone that offers a unique user experience. While it may not be perfect for mainstream adoption, it caters to tech enthusiasts who are willing to explore new possibilities. With its impressive outer display, average flagship performance, and reasonable price point, the Razr Plus is a device worth considering for those eager to embrace the future of smartphones.
