Motorola's Razr Ultra and Razr Are Gorgeous Folding Phones With a Few Imperfections
The Moto X from 2013 was one of my favorite smartphones of all time. Motorola, owned by Google back then, debuted a build-a-phone workshop that let you customize the handset's design, from changing the color on the front and back to adding different accents for the buttons. You could even throw in a signature for an extra dose of personalization.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
That kind of playful nature remains elusive in the smartphone world, but there are glimpses thanks to companies like Nothing and Motorola. Case in point: the new Razr 2025 family, consisting of the Razr Ultra, Razr+, and Razr. Motorola could have taken the Samsung approach and kept the ordinary glass-slab design we're used to for its folding phones, but no. The Razr Ultra lets you choose between Alcantara, wood, leather-inspired, and satin-inspired designs. The base Razr comes in bright, punchy colors, with acetate, nylon, or leather-inspired finishes.
I have the Pantone Spring Bud Razr, a leather-inspired mint green color—my wife's eyes lit up when she saw it (and asked if she could take a bite, naturally). Even my hard-to-impress dad stoically said, 'It's a nice color.' I love the FSC-certified Pantone Mountain Trail on the Razr Ultra even more, which is a real wood back that exudes class. Guess what? The original Moto X had a wood back, too. They might not be customizable like the Moto X, but these Razrs look great, feel great, and there's nothing that looks like 'em. Refined Edges
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
The Razr 2025 lineup is not wholly different from last year's models. Quite literally, the Razr+ 2025 ($1,000) is almost the same as the Razr+ 2024, now with the titanium-reinforced hinge plate for better durability. Its specs are identical, which is likely why Motorola didn't bother sending a review unit. Instead, I've been testing the Razr 2025 ($700) and the Razr Ultra ($1,300).
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