Motorola Razr 50 review
Motorola have a long history of producing excellent phones, with many of its products – particularly the classic clamshell handsets – being a key part of the industry’s growth. The company was also at the forefront of a significant shift towards the end of the 2010s with its Razr line, and that is the merging of flip phone design with modern smartphone technology.
In this review, we’ll be breaking down the Motorola Razr 50 and assessing what it offers compared to other phones.
Pick up the Razr 50 in Koala Grey or Spritz Orange, packed with 256GB storage space.
Specs
• Dimensions – 73.99 x 171.30 x 7.25mm (flipped open)
• Weight – 188g
• OS – Android 14
• Display – 6.9” FHD+ OLED (main display); 3.63” OLED (cover screen)
• Resolution – 2640 x 1080 (main display); 1050 x 1066 (cover screen)
• Processor – MediaTek Dimensity 7300X
• RAM – 8GB
• Storage – 256GB
• Rear cameras – 50MP; 13MP
• Front camera – 32MP; 12.6MP (cover screen)
• Battery – 4200mAh
• Water and dust resistance – IPX8
• Connectivity – 5G; 4G; 3G; Bluetooth 5.4
Design
Motorola’s pedigree when it comes to clamshell-design phones was apparent on previous phones in the series, such as the Razr 40 Ultra. The Razr 50 borrows from its premium cousin in several ways, evidenced most clearly on the front cover screen.
Moving from a tiny 1.5” screen to a much larger 3.63” display is one of the Razr 50’s defining features, and the impact is incredibly significant on the overall experience. Not only is this 3.63” screen more aesthetically pleasing, it can showcase more information as a result such as the weather, time and battery life. Functionally, it really changes up how a flagship Motorola Razr phone can be used.
The core design of the Razr 50 is also, like other phones in the range, superb. Motorola have nailed how to implement the clamshell design of old, drawing from its decades of experience to create modern flip phones that feel fantastic to use. The crease where the screens fold over is basically non-existent - an issue which plagued some of the earlier flip phones – and the entire handset is reinforced by high-strength aluminium to give it extra durability against knocks. As an additional cherry on top, the rear of the Razr 50 is coated in comfortable vegan leather, and the front display in Gorilla Glass Victus.
As you can see, the sleek look of the Razr 50 is backed up by some excellent features that protect it for longer. If we’re judging this phone then on design alone, the Razr 50 is one of the best flip phones around.
Display
If you were a fan of the Razr 40’s displays, you’ll be right at home on the Razr 50. It includes the same 6.9” OLED main screen, with a 2640 x 1080 resolution and HDR10+ for greater colour levels. However, a key difference that separates the Razr 50 from the pack is peak brightness; we’re looking at a jump from 1400 on the Razr 40 to 3000 nits. This has a huge impact on clarity, enabling you to more easily see the Razr 50’s screens in low-light settings and when outside.
Moving onto the cover screen, for sheer size alone it is a winner; look under the surface, though, and you’ll find some additional features that shape it into a stunning display. The inclusion of HDR10 makes this cover screen far more vibrant than the small pillbox-style screens on previous Razr phones, and you’re also getting a more diverse 10-bit colour range (equivalent to 1.07 billion possible shades).
These features are only scratching the surface of this superb cover screen. The 90Hz refresh rate is a significant jump from the Razr 40’s 60Hz, which helps the Razr 50’s display respond quickly and smoothly. When playing games in particular, the increase in refresh rate is a literal game-changer; everything feels silky-smooth with minimal stutter.
Performance & software
In terms of raw horsepower, the Razr 50 performs very well and can handle games, multitasking apps and photography with ease. This is largely thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X processor under the hood, but the 8GB RAM also plays its part by reducing the processor’s workload.
The improved silicon has another key role: ensuring that features like Flex Mode work efficiently. The Razr 50’s flip form factor means you can position it at 90° to take photos or watch a video, but without a powerful processor underneath, the Flex Mode feature can stutter and fall apart. Thankfully, this isn’t the case on the Razr 50, as the 7300X CPU is more than up to the task.
Another significant addition to the Razr 50’s arsenal is Android 14, a version of Google’s operating system with a huge focus on customisation. With it, you can create AI-generated wallpapers and enhance photos with Ultra HDR; music to the ears of photographers everywhere.
Cameras
Taking the Razr 50 out into the world for some photography, we came away very impressed by the quality of photo it produced. This is largely due to the excellent 50MP main camera, which captures scenes and subjects with incredible detail. When taking a picture of someone, features like Auto Smile and Gesture Capture help ensure that everyone looks their best.
The 32MP front camera is no slouch either, and things get really interesting when putting the Razr 50 in Flex Mode at 90°. This mode is a great way to capture group photos hands-free, all without having to awkwardly balance the Razr 50 against some furniture.
Flex Mode is also excellent for recording videos, and this is another area where the Razr 50 excels. Videos can be recorded in stunning 4K at 30FPS, or full-HD at 60FPS; either way, the results are beautiful, crisp and clear.
Battery
On the battery front, the Razr 50 possesses some small improvements on paper, but they should not be underestimated. One of these is in recharge speed, with the Razr 50 able to be charged up via the 15W wireless charging support. This is a 10W increase over the Razr 40, and the impact can really be felt when travelling or during the commute.
If you want to plug the Razr 50 in to charge up the 4200mAh battery, 30W TurboPower recharging will certainly do the trick. These aren’t charging speeds that will topple the very best handsets, but nonetheless, they are more than enough for most tasks thrown the Razr 50’s way.
Summary
All in all, the Motorola Razr 50 is one of the finest flip phones around. Key to its greatness is how it packs in many of the best features found on modern clamshell phones, yet at a more affordable price. This ultimately makes the Razr 50 one of the best ways to introduce yourself, or someone else, to the world of flip smartphones.
If you’re thinking of picking up the Motorola Razr 50 and want to move your Android data across, we have a handy guide to show you how to do just that.