Testing the Motorola Razr 2022: it works pretty well

Michelle Brändle

1-12-2022

Translation: Megan Cornish

The Razr 2022 is Motorola’s third foldable smartphone. The hardware promises significant improvement. The flip phone only shows a few weaknesses when it comes to everyday use.

A lot about Motorola’s Razr 2022 has changed compared to its predecessor. The external display has handy features so you can use the phone for a number of things even when it’s closed. When opened, it impresses with the latest hardware.

From the outside

Motorola’s latest flip phone has undergone a visual overhaul. I like the new design much more. The space-consuming bevel on the front has gone and its angular shape sits comfortably in the hand.

The Razr needs to slim down a little and be a bit shorter to fit my small hands. The back has a matte surface, which still shimmers a bit depending on the light. I like this kind of finish. It looks classy.

The case that comes with it is a nice touch. What bothers me is that the openings for the connections and speakers don’t fit the phone exactly. It doesn’t look nice, but it doesn’t prevent you from using it.

When closed, I can put it in the side pocket of my backpack or in my trouser pocket much more easily than a normal smartphone.

Specifications: good hardware needs space

The flip phone weighs 200 grams and is 167 millimetres long when unfolded. It’s 80 millimetres wide and 7.6 millimetres thick. It has 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of internal storage, and you can register an e-SIM instead of the regular SIM card.

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor is currently the latest on the market. The smartphone does well in a general performance test using the Geekbench 5 software, racking up 1,294 points for the single core and 4,112 points for the multi core. The previous model got a score of around 580 in the single-core test and 1,600 in the multi-core test.

The battery has been boosted to 3,500 mAh compared to its 2,800 mAh predecessor and, according to Motorola, charges twice as fast. A full charge using the 30-watt power adapter provided takes about 45 minutes and that lasts me almost three days with regular use. Even with gaming and Netflix, I can easily make it last a day.

Smartphones

Motorola Razr 22

256 GB, Satin Black, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G

17

The two displays

The main display has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED panel made of flexible plastic. The technology behind it delivers rich colours and a deep black. The refresh rate is factory set at 144 Hertz, but I can take it down to 60 Hertz to save power.

The Motorola also has HDR10+ certification. This allows the display to show darker and brighter scenes in films in an optimised way. Shadows are displayed in more detail, there’s a higher maximum brightness and the picture appears more vivid in general.

Motorola calls the 2.7-inch display on the front of the closed smartphone the Quick View display (QVD). You can add unlimited individual apps and shortcuts for contacts and customise the clock face.

I can do a lot with the QVD even when it’s closed. That’s why I have to unlock the external display with a fingerprint sensor or code.

I can then call my most important contacts straight away, send them short answers on WhatsApp using the small touch keyboard or record a voice message.

Since the display is quite small, I prefer not to type chat messages on it. It’s really fiddly, even with small fingers. In addition, in contrast to the main display, the touchscreen only reacts with some pressure. Voice messages are a better option and the exterior microphone makes them sound good. I also always have an eye on the time, and the display shows it to me as soon as I move the phone.

The folding mechanism

I can open the smartphone with an infinitely adjustable stainless steel hinge. I can set it up at any angle and I don’t need a tripod for photos. It also frees my hands for video calls or following YouTube tutorials.

And I can open it with one hand, but, with my small hands, I need some practice. So, it should definitely get a little easier.

The «fold»

I’m interested in how well the locking mechanism works. The hinge solves the problem well by bending the display less tightly than I experienced on the Samsung Z Flip 4. The dent on that bothers me when I run my finger over it, but not here. I can only feel it slightly. The Razr 2022 also closes flush, which isn’t the case with the Flip 4.

The display itself looks a bit ugly when viewed from the side. The entire surface appears uneven. But I only notice it in direct light. If I look at the display from the front, everything looks fine.

Gaming – including on the exterior display

The pre-installed game «Astro Odyssey» works wonderfully on the front display. But it’s also optimised for the Quick View display. So, I was curious and downloaded more games to my smartphone. If I open them on the front display, the smartphone warns me of possible complications.

«Flappy Dragon» is very well suited thanks to simple touch controls. Games with more detail, a lot of text and extensive controls are less suitable. But they can still be opened because the phone scales them accordingly. Navigating is also possible, but it’s always fiddly because the screen is so small and the touch function is slow to react.

For these reasons, «Tamagotchi» is pretty mediocre on the QVD, since the details that I want to click on are often too small to see clearly.

Computing-heavy games can be played well thanks to the fast processor and high-resolution interior display.

The camera

You can take beautiful photos with the 50-megapixel main and 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. The 32-megapixel selfie camera is good for video calls.

The fact that I can also use the high-resolution main camera for selfies thanks to the external display is a big advantage of the Razr. The quality of the photos is generally at the current high standard level. You can also take dual photos – a photo or video with the main camera and the selfie camera at the same time – where one image then appears as a small rectangle in the other. The digital zoom function is less recommended. Even using triple zoom, I can see major flaws in the details.

I was particularly excited about taking a selfie with the main camera. I took the photo with my phone closed so I could hold it with one (small) hand, so it saved the result in a square format. This is very practical for a profile photo on WhatsApp. I don’t need to crop it and the image section is fine. The quality is also impressive.

I also tested the macro function. With the constant wind and rain, it was quite a challenge, so I’ve factored that into my evaluation of the photos. The camera focus is still good with my floral subject and the visible details emphasise the structure of the leaf and blossom.

Verdict: pretty flipping good

In my two weeks of testing, I grew fond of the Motorola Razr. It reminds me of my first experiences with flip phones, so it has nostalgic value for me. When opened, its main display offers a generous surface area and a great picture. The fold only bothers me to a limited extent. I hardly feel it and only notice it in certain light.

The big plus of the exterior display for me is the multiple options. I can use the phone to a large extent even when it’s closed. Motorola can still improve a lot here. I’d rather have a less sluggish reaction to the touchscreen and more adapted games. I had fun with «Astro Odyssey».

My small hands put me at a disadvantage: I’d need the phone to be a bit narrower to use it perfectly in everyday life.

I don’t have to do without a good camera, but the zoom function still has room for improvement. Last but not least, the processor is state-of-the-art. However, all this has its price: 1,164 francs or 1,149 euros. If you don’t want to do without good equipment, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 from competitor Samsung is no cheaper.

Current flagship smartphones are quite expensive even without a big flip design. If you like the flexibility and you have big hands, I can recommend the Motorola Razr 2022. You don’t have to do without anything and you’ll get more out of it. I just hope that the folding function will continue to do what it promises in the long run.

Michelle Brändle

Editor

Michelle.Braendle@digitecgalaxus.ch

In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee. more

These articles might also interest you