Motorola has carved out a distinctive place in the foldable phone market by reviving one of its most iconic brands, the Razr. Rather than competing directly with the book-style foldables from Samsung and Google, Motorola’s folding phones focus almost entirely on the clamshell format, offering a compact, pocketable device that opens into a full-size smartphone.
The Motorola Razr range
Motorola’s modern Razr lineup typically spans three tiers each generation: a standard Razr, a mid-tier Razr often labelled with a plus or similar suffix, and a top-tier Razr Ultra with the most powerful chipset and premium materials. Across the range, the defining feature is the large external cover screen, which is significantly bigger than the cover displays found on most rival foldables and allows many tasks, from replying to messages to browsing social media, to be done without ever opening the phone.
Design and durability
Modern Razr phones use improved hinge mechanisms and stronger materials than earlier folding phones, and Motorola has worked to reduce the visible crease on the inner display over successive generations. Water resistance has also improved, though most folding phones still fall short of the full dust and water protection found on non-folding flagships, so it is worth checking the specific rating of any model before exposing it to heavy rain or splashes.
Battery life on Motorola foldables
Battery life has historically been a weak point for compact foldables, since the clamshell design leaves less room for a large cell. Motorola has addressed this in recent generations with more efficient chipsets and, on higher-end models, silicon-carbon battery technology that packs more capacity into the same space. The Razr Ultra range in particular has been noted for offering some of the strongest battery life of any foldable phone currently available, a notable achievement given its compact folded size.
How they compare to other foldables
Compared with book-style foldables from Samsung and Google, which unfold into a small tablet, the Motorola Razr prioritises pocketability and a familiar phone shape over extra screen space. This makes it a better fit for anyone who wants a distinctive, compact device rather than a productivity-focused mini tablet. Anyone wanting maximum inner screen size for multitasking, note-taking or reading may prefer a book-style foldable instead.
Price and value in the UK
Motorola typically prices its standard Razr models more competitively than rival foldables, making it one of the more accessible entry points into folding phone technology in the UK. The top-tier Razr Ultra sits closer to flagship pricing but still generally undercuts the most expensive book-style foldables on the market.
Caring for a Motorola foldable long term
Foldable phones generally need a little more care than standard smartphones. Avoid pressing hard on the folded display, keep the hinge area free of dust and grit where possible, and consider a case specifically designed for foldable devices rather than a generic phone case. Most manufacturers, including Motorola, also recommend against extreme temperature exposure for extended periods, since this can affect both battery performance and the flexible display over time.
It is also worth checking whether a specific Razr model is sold with an official screen protector already fitted, since replacing this protective film correctly is important for maintaining the inner display’s durability, and improperly fitted third-party alternatives can sometimes cause visible bubbling or reduced touch sensitivity over time.
Insurance is also worth thinking about separately from the standard warranty, since foldable phones are generally more expensive to repair than standard smartphones if the hinge or inner display is damaged outside of warranty. Many UK insurers now offer specific foldable phone cover, which can be a sensible addition given the higher repair costs involved.
Final thoughts
Motorola’s folding phones offer a genuinely distinctive alternative to conventional smartphones, combining a compact, pocket-friendly form factor with a surprisingly capable large cover screen. For buyers who want to try a foldable without committing to the price or size of a book-style device, the Razr range remains one of the most practical options on the UK market.