Motorola Razr 60 review: Stick, twist, or fold?

Greatest Costs At the moment: Motorola Razr 60

If the Motorola Razr 60 Extremely and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 have taught us something, it’s that foldable cellphone producers are studying their classes – however solely very slowly.

They’re the 2 finest compact flip telephones but, however in addition they endure from the entire identical key flaws as earlier than to a sure diploma. Most notably, they’re each nonetheless very costly.

Final yr, the Motorola Razr 50 (and earlier than that, the Razr 40) provided a noteworthy various – a premium-ish flip cellphone with a worth nicely shy of £1,000/$1,000. The Razr 60 gives extra of the identical, and it’s now not such a singular proposition.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is now additionally available on the market, providing an analogous flip cellphone components at an solely barely dearer asking worth. Has Motorola completed sufficient to retain its Razr’s edge?

Design & Construct

• Vegan leather-based again is available in three colors
• Improved IP48 certification
• Responsive side-mounted fingerprint sensor

With out having the Motorola Razr 50 at hand for a direct comparability, I can’t be 100% sure, but when there’s any nice departure within the design of the Razr 60, I can’t instantly spot it.

That is a lot the identical flip cellphone design, with equivalent dimensions of 171.3 x 74 x 7.3mm (when open). It weighs the identical 188g, too. Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE weighs about the identical, however at 6.9mm thick, it comes up a bit of slimmer.

It is likely to be chunkier, however Motorola continues to pursue a softer, hotter design than its rival. Its rounded edges make the cellphone a bit of simpler to carry and far simpler to pry aside than the Z Flip 7 FE.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The rear panel continues to be coated in a pretend leather-based materials that lends further grip. It additionally lends extra confidence when positioning the cellphone on an abrasive floor for an impromptu group selfie that you just additionally need to be in.

Conversely, I discovered that this materials was extra vulnerable to marking up and marking. After an energetic weekend of consuming and consuming in London, I seen a distinguished stain on the rear cowl that was reluctant to budge, even with using cleansing wipes and loads of elbow grease.

This textured plastic, along with the aluminium body, is available in three colors. My mannequin is a Pantone Gibraltar Sea, which is a pleasant, deep navy blue. There’s additionally Pantone Spring Bud (a vibrant inexperienced) and Pantone Lightest Sky (a form of greyish tinge). There are distinct textures to accompany these recent colors, which is a welcome level of differentiation.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Motorola’s hinge mechanism is looser than that of its Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. This makes it tougher to prop up on a desk, however simpler to control.

Whereas the look of the cellphone is all however equivalent to its predecessor (new colors however), Motorola has made one necessary enchancment. Just like the Flip 7 FE, the Razr 60 is now IP48 rated, which implies it’s extra proof against mud particles.

We’re nonetheless ready for true mud resistance in a compact foldable, however for now, the Razr 60 is pretty much as good as something on this division. It additionally retains full, flagship-level water resistance, which means it’ll survive submersion in as much as 1.5m of water for as much as half-hour.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Motorola’s side-mounted fingerprint sensor, stashed beneath the ability button, is as responsive as I’d hope for. It’s additionally extra distinguished than Samsung’s resolution, which makes it simpler to really feel out and entry whether or not folded or unfolded. That’s necessary while you’re scrambling to faucet in on the tube throughout rush hour, or trying to make a cell cost in a crowded bar.

Speaking of which, I proceed to choose Samsung’s positioning of the NFC module. Motorola positions it within the decrease half, and it may be awkward to register when the cellphone is open.

Screens & Audio system

• 6.9-inch inside show
• Genuinely usable 3.4-inch cowl show
• 120Hz refresh fee

Motorola hasn’t modified its shows for the Razr 60, and it arguably didn’t must. Not when it outguns the dearer Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE in a few key metrics.

Each screens are larger right here than their counterparts. There’s an expansive 6.9-inch inside show with a just-so 1080 x 2640 decision (FHD+) and a 120Hz refresh fee. It will get to a stable 3000 nits of peak brightness.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

In every of these features, it falls in need of the Razr 60 Extremely’s essential display screen, however beats the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.

You’ll nonetheless discover a little bit of a ditch midway up the cellphone, the place the crease is, however it will fade into the background when the display screen is energetic.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The Razr 60 additionally retains its 3.6-inch cowl show, which made final yr’s mannequin far more usable when within the closed place. With a 1056 x 1066 decision, a design that encompasses the digicam, and a 90Hz refresh fee, the Razr 60’s cowl display screen is much extra spectacular than the Flip 7 FE equal.

That’s very true while you consider Motorola’s superior cowl UI, which helps you to run many apps on this shrink-wrapped format. You’ll nonetheless need to open the cellphone as much as get extra concerned duties completed, nevertheless it’s fairly viable to verify your messages or work together together with your chosen music app.

It’s good to see that Motorola has included stereo audio system right here, regardless of the restricted house in all foldables. Nevertheless, they proceed to underwhelm with their skinny output.

I’d all the time suggest connecting Bluetooth headphones or a speaker for a premium audio expertise, however that’s very true right here.

Specs & Efficiency

• Mediatek Dimensity 7400X isn’t a lot of an improve
• Solely 8GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• Comparatively poor efficiency for the cash

If there’s one stand-out weak level of the Razr 60 in comparison with different compact foldable telephones, it’s efficiency. Motorola has made a nominal improve by switching to the Mediatek Dimensity 7400X, however it might be a stretch to name this a generational enchancment.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Certainly, it has the identical fundamental make-up of cores and GPU because the Razr 50’s Dimensity 7300X. All that’s actually totally different, so far as I can see, is a barely sooner CPU clock pace.

Provided that we have been removed from impressed by the Razr 50’s mid-range (at finest) efficiency, it is a little bit of a disgrace. In spite of everything, you’re paying £799/$799 right here, which nonetheless counts as flagship cash in non-foldable phrases.

Paired with simply 8GB of RAM as customary, I can’t say that my time with the Razr 60 was lag- or stutter-free. There’s a way of lag all through the OS, and the odd delay when booting up an app or unlocking the cellphone, which speaks to this part being much less succesful than I’d like.

Motorola Razr 60 benchmarks

My benchmark assessments affirm this impression, barely rising above its predecessor, and falling nicely in need of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.

You’ll have the ability to play superior 3D video games like Genshin Impression, however not on the highest graphical settings. No less than, if you happen to want to preserve a playable body fee.

There’s solely the one mannequin of the Razr 60 on sale right here within the UK, so it’s good to see that it comes with a stable 256GB of storage. It’s the one space the place this spec feels nearly beneficiant.

Digicam

• 50Mp essential digicam
• 13Mp ultrawide
• 32Mp entrance, however essential digicam is means higher at selfies

Whereas the Razr 60 Extremely has taken issues up a notch on the digicam entrance, the plain Razr 60 retains issues the identical.

There’s the identical 50Mp 1/1.95″ essential sensor with OIS, accompanied by the identical 13Mp 1/3.0″ ultra-wide. These aren’t the biggest or most impressive-looking sensors you’ll discover in a £800/$800 smartphone.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Maybe extra worrying for Motorola, the primary sensor is sort of a bit smaller than that of its fairly priced foldable rival, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.

Mixed with that sub-par processor, the Razr 60 takes competent pictures however nothing extra. Purchase any equally priced non-foldable cellphone, and also you’ll probably acquire a lot better outcomes.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE takes higher photographs, particularly in low gentle. The Razr 60’s evening mode snaps come throughout as murky and vague by comparability.

Battery Life & Charging

• Bigger 4500mAh battery
• 30W wired charging assist
• 15W wi-fi charging

The largest {hardware} improve this yr pertains to the Razr 60’s battery, which has been scaled up from 4200mAh within the Razr 50 to 4500mAh. Provided that the Razr 40 gave us a 4000mAh cell, this marks main progress over the previous two years.

It’s additionally notable that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE solely packs in a puny 4000mAh cell. Nevertheless, regardless of the development, I can’t say that the Razr 60 outshone the Z Flip 7 FE within the stamina stakes.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

A day with average to heavy utilization (round 4 hours and half-hour of screen-on time) would depart me with about 30% left. That isn’t considerably higher than the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, if in any respect.

With that stated, lighter customers – which it’s important to assume most compact foldable house owners shall be – are taking a look at the opportunity of two days of use in between costs.

Right here’s one other barely perplexing truth: the Razr 60 scored considerably worse than the Razr 50 in our PC Mark 3.0 Battery check. At simply 8 hours and three minutes, it fell round 2 hours 40 minutes in need of its predecessor, and about 6 hours half-hour in need of the Motorola Razr 60 Extremely. However keep in mind, this doesn’t precisely mirror the true world.

Lighter customers are taking a look at the opportunity of two days of use in between costs

Recharging speeds aren’t spectacular, with 30W wired and 15W wi-fi assist retained from final yr’s mannequin. Even so, it retains the flexibility to tackle a full cost in just below an hour, which is means higher than the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.

Software program & AI

• Android 15
• Clear and stock-ish
• Three Android variations, 4 years of safety updates

Like its large brother, the Razr 60 Extremely, the Razr 60 runs Android 15 out of the field.

I like Motorola’s strategy to Android quite a bit. It’s nearer to Google’s personal Pixel UI than nearly the rest on the market, although it’s steadily taken by itself delicate look over current years, with bespoke widgets, menus and icons.

There’s nonetheless an excessive amount of bloatware right here, together with the Opera internet browser (on prime of Chrome), LinkedIn, Amazon Music (on prime of YouTube Music), and Fb. You possibly can rely some poor-quality video games in with these, too.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Motorola’s Moto app continues to be probably the greatest smartphone hub apps within the enterprise, providing an intuitive introduction to the cellphone’s key features. You possibly can soar into house display screen personalisation, basic ideas, and Motorola’s good gesture shortcuts from right here.

The double-twist gesture to carry up the digicam works superbly along with utilizing the primary digicam for selfies.

We’ve already talked about how Motorola’s cowl show implementation is far more concerned than Samsung’s. Basically, you’re getting a condensed model of Android that merely works in the way in which you’d count on, booting up tiny windowed variations of apps. It’s much less visually interesting than Samsung’s widget-heavy strategy, but in addition extra versatile and empowering.

I like Motorola’s strategy to Android quite a bit

Because it occurs, I don’t discover myself utilizing this display screen all that a lot past checking the time, climate, and monitoring incoming messages whereas out and about. However the slick, friction-free operation is way appreciated nonetheless.

By way of AI instruments, there’s no devoted AI button like on the Razr 60 Extremely. Motorola does, nevertheless, provide a floating AI management that may be moved at will – although I nonetheless discovered it getting in the way in which rather a lot, particularly when looking the net.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

This button grants entry to instruments reminiscent of ‘Replace me’, which can summarise your calls and notifications. ‘Picture Studio’ will generate pictures and stickers utilizing pure language, and is as spectacular and pointless as it’s on some other trendy Android cellphone since AI took maintain.

‘Bear in mind this’ is an fascinating one. It’ll learn no matter’s on display screen – whether or not textual content or picture – and save them for later, mining the screenshot for data. So, nothing groundbreaking on the subject of AI, however some doubtlessly helpful options.

The Razr 60 will get the identical three Android updates and 4 years of safety updates as its predecessor, which locations it at an on the spot drawback in comparison with the flat seven years of assist that Samsung guarantees for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.

It’s additionally unclear when the system will get the replace to Android 16.

You can buy it directly from Motorola, as well as from Amazon, although the latter is by way of an unknown third-party vendor.

It’s being offered within the US beneath the title of the Motorola Razr 2025. We do not know why the title must be modified. Maybe it’s to cowl up the truth that US clients are getting a way more keenly priced system at simply $699.99 (which works out to about £520). Even while you enable for tax, that’s means cheaper.

It’s out there within the US instantly from Motorola or by way of Amazon.

Taking the UK worth, this undercuts its closest rival, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, by a not inconsiderable £50. Nevertheless, information of that US worth takes the shine off such apparently aggressive pricing.

Must you purchase the Motorola Razr 60?

It’s a little bit of a disgrace to see so few significant enhancements to Motorola’s extra fairly priced foldable. Expanded battery and improved IP48 score apart, the Razr 60 appears to be like and handles an terrible lot just like the Razr 50 earlier than it, and doesn’t carry out a lot better both.

On one hand, it’s good to see the pricing stay equally constant – particularly provided that it undercuts Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. Nevertheless, it continues to rankle that clients within the US are getting a a lot better deal than these within the UK.

There have been no additional developments within the digicam division, which continues to take pretty middling photographs, however really glorious selfies if you happen to use that cowl show to its full potential.

And it’s these foldable attributes that basically rely right here. If you happen to don’t need to use your cellphone all that a lot and need it to vanish when not in use, this is among the most accessible options round.

Specs

• Android 15
• 6.9in, FHD+, OLED, 120Hz, flat show
• 3.6in, 1056 x 1066, OLED, 120Hz, show
• Facet-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Mediatek Dimensity 7400X
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• 50Mp, f/1.7 essential digicam
• 13Mp, f/2.2 ultra-wide digicam
• As much as 4K @ 30fps rear video
• 32Mp front-facing digicam
• Stereo audio system
• Twin-SIM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
• Bluetooth 5.4
• 4500mAh battery
• 30W wired, 15W wi-fi charging
• 171.3 x 74 x 7.3mm
• 188g
• Launch colors: Pantone Gibraltar Sea, Pantone Spring Bud, Pantone Lightest Sky