The smartphone release calendar usually looks like this: new Android flagships come out at the beginning of the year, then mid-range phones in the spring, followed by foldables in the summer and iPhones in the fall. We’re currently in phase three, with Motorola kicking things off this week by announcing two new flip phones, 2024 Razr and Razr Plus.
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The two phones look similar to last year’s models, and the Razr and Razr Plus are also priced the same at $699 and $999, respectively, but three notable differences make them even more worthy of a look in 2024.
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1. Large external displays on both models
Perhaps the most logical (and unsurprising) upgrade with this year’s Razr models are the larger external displays, with the standard Razr going from a 1.5-inch OLED to a 3.6-inch one, while the Razr Plus goes from a 3.6-inch OLED to a 4 inches.
Both were bright enough to drive under the afternoon sun in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the smoothness of the Razr Plus’s 165Hz panel was particularly pleasing. I’m just wondering how the high refresh rate display will affect the phones’ batteries, which are 4000 mAh (plus) and 4200 mAh (standard).
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The Plus model’s smaller battery may be due to the larger 4-inch display, which gives it the title of having the largest external display of any flip-style phone, surpassing the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (and possibly the Z Flip 6’s ) 3.4-inch panel. Does 0.4 inches make a difference in user experience? Not significantly, but maybe enough to motivate me to use the external display more often.
2. I’m cautiously optimistic about Moto AI
It can’t be a 2024 phone without AI features. Both Motorola Razr models come with the Google Gemini app pre-installed, accessible by long-pressing the power button. Given how practical the shortcut proved to be when I tested the Pixel 8a just a month ago, I expect this kind of integration to continue to help expand my use of mobile AI tools.
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The AI features of the more expensive and more powerful Razr Plus model go beyond what Google can offer, however, but Motorola is rolling out new Moto AI capabilities in the coming months, including voice prompts like “Catch me up” to summarize notifications, Pay attention’ to start a voice recording with a transcription and summary, and ‘Remember this’ to capture what’s on the screen and store it for future recall.
This last feature is similar to Microsoft’s Recall, which takes screenshots every few seconds so the system can retrieve any text or visual information you might want in the future. However, with Microsoft delaying Recall due to privacy and security concerns, the same concerns may plague Motorola’s Remember This. When asked about how it keeps user information secure, the company says the Razr Plus will only store what’s on the screen when prompted by the user, and all information is stored on the device. We’ll have to see the feature for ourselves when it arrives later this fall.
3. The textured liner is here to stay
Motorola has seemingly toned down the dual-textured back covers, and I’m not mad about it. Aside from the bright new colors that the Razr phones come in, including “Hot Pink” for the Plus model, which is a callback to the old Motorola Razr V3, they’re finished in a grippy vegan leather (or suede) material. Coupled with the phone’s contoured edges, I wouldn’t expect these devices to slip out of your hand or pocket.
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If they do, both models now feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and a 30% smaller hinge design, which the company says improves dust protection (from last year’s IP54 to this year’s IPX8), reduces creases, and makes the devices more comfortable to hold. use.
The 2024 Razr and Razr Plus will be available for pre-order from July 10th and officially arrive in stores on July 24th.
Some goodies…
- Both models come with 256GB base storage and configurable RAM (8GB or 12GB).
- The Razr Plus features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (hence the Moto AI exclusivity), while the Razr has a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X processor.
- New AI-powered camera features include the Photo Enhancement Engine, which automatically optimizes detail, clarity, highlights, shadows, bokeh effects, and more.
- The Razr Plus no longer has an ultra-wide camera. Instead, there’s a 50MP main and a 50MP telephoto lens, the latter of which Motorola says is more popular with Razr users.
- On the other hand, the Razr does they have an ultra-wide camera, even though it’s only a 13MP sensor.
- Both phones support 15W wireless charging.
- Motorola promises three operating system upgrades and four years of security updates.
- The external display will now show always-on graphics when phones are folded at an angle.
- Motorola won’t include a charging brick in the box — just a USB-C to USB-C cable.
