Motorola Razr 40

Motorola Razr 40 Review: Dipping a Toe into the Foldable Future

I've spent the better part of the last few weeks with the Motorola Razr 40, and it's been quite the experience. Foldable phones still carry a certain novelty, and this one, with its more accessible price point, feels like a significant step towards mainstream adoption. Putting it through its paces – from daily commutes and photography sessions to evenings unwinding with some streaming – has given me a pretty clear picture of what this phone brings to the table. My initial impression? It's a stylish head-turner with a few compromises made to hit that price. Let’s dive into the details and see if those trade-offs are worth it for you.

Market Context: A Foldable for the Rest of Us?

The Razr 40 feels like Motorola is strategically aiming for a wider audience with a foldable. They've traditionally played in the mid-range and value segments, and this phone fits that mold while still offering that coveted foldable form factor. In a market dominated by candy-bar smartphones, the Razr 40 makes a statement. It's a clear attempt to democratize the foldable experience, and honestly, I think the price point is a key factor here. It undercuts many of its direct competitors, making the dream of owning a foldable phone a tangible reality for more people. Whether this strategy will pay off remains to be seen, but from my perspective, it's a smart move that could carve out a unique niche for Motorola in the foldable space.

Design & Hardware: Pocketable Panache

Picking up the Razr 40 for the first time, the immediate thought was: "This is surprisingly compact when folded." It genuinely feels like half a phone in your hand, easily slipping into pockets that would laugh at most modern smartphones. The review unit I’ve been using in Vanilla Cream is genuinely eye-catching and feels premium, though I do wonder about the long-term durability of the finish. Unfolding it reveals that expansive 6.9-inch display, and while the hinge feels solid, there’s a definite awareness that this isn't your typical slab of glass and metal. In hand, unfolded, it’s a big phone, no doubt about it. I found myself doing that familiar balancing act when trying to use it one-handed, especially for typing. But the sheer joy of snapping it shut after use – that satisfying click – is something you just don’t get with a standard phone.

Display: A Visual Treat, Crease and All

That unfolded 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED screen is undeniably gorgeous. The colors are vibrant, the blacks are deep, and the 144Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through feeds and navigating the interface an incredibly smooth experience. Binging a few episodes of my favorite show was a genuinely immersive experience, the HDR10+ content really popping with detail. Outdoor visibility was also decent, though direct sunlight could still pose a challenge, as with most smartphones. Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the crease. It's there, you can feel it when you swipe across the middle of the screen, and you can sometimes see it at certain angles. Honestly, most of the time, it faded into the background, especially when consuming content. It's a characteristic of foldable technology right now, and while it’s not invisible, it didn’t detract significantly from my enjoyment of the display. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor, integrated into the power button, is snappy and reliable, which is a welcome touch for quick unlocking.

Performance: Smooth Sailing for Everyday Tasks

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor handles everyday tasks with ease. Navigating apps, browsing the web, and juggling social media feeds were all smooth and responsive in my testing. While I'm not a hardcore mobile gamer, I did throw a few graphically demanding titles at it to see how it would cope. It handled them surprisingly well, though there were a few occasional stutters during particularly intense moments. For the typical user who isn't pushing the graphical limits constantly, the performance is more than adequate. I didn’t experience any significant overheating during my time with the phone, even during extended gaming sessions, which is a plus.

Camera System: Capturing Everyday Moments

The Razr 40 boasts a 64MP main camera, and in my experience, it's a capable shooter for capturing everyday moments. Taking photos in well-lit conditions, like my weekend trip to the park, yielded crisp images with good color reproduction. The details on the flower shots were pleasing, and the overall image quality was certainly shareable. The 13MP ultrawide lens is useful for capturing wider scenes, though as expected, there’s a noticeable drop in sharpness compared to the main sensor. The 32MP front-facing camera takes clear and detailed selfies. Video recording goes up to 4K at 30fps, and the electronic image stabilization (EIS) does a decent job of keeping things steady. While it’s not going to compete with the flagship camera phones, the Razr 40’s camera system is competent and will satisfy the needs of most casual users.

Battery & Charging: A Day’s Worth, Just About

Battery life on the Razr 40, with its 4200mAh battery, is generally decent. On days with moderate usage – browsing, social media, some light video watching – I could typically make it through the day. However, on heavier days, involving more gaming or extended camera use, I found myself reaching for the charger by early evening. The 33W fast charging is appreciated and gets you topped up reasonably quickly, but it’s not the fastest in the market. The inclusion of 8W wireless charging is a nice bonus for convenient overnight charging.

Software: Clean and Unobtrusive

Running Android 13 with Motorola’s near-stock My UX skin is a breath of fresh air. It’s a clean, uncluttered experience with minimal bloatware, which I always appreciate. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. Motorola has committed to three major Android updates, up to Android 16, which is reassuring for long-term usability. I particularly like Motorola’s “Ready For” feature, which allows you to connect your phone to an external display for a desktop-like experience, though I didn’t use it extensively in my testing. The overall software experience is smooth, responsive, and avoids getting in your way.

Value Analysis: The Price of Foldable Fun

The real question is: does the Motorola Razr 40 offer good value? Considering its foldable nature and the price point, I’d say it does. You're getting a stylish and unique phone with a great display and competent performance for everyday tasks. The compromises are there – the crease is noticeable, the camera isn't class-leading, and the battery life is adequate rather than exceptional. This phone is perfect for those who prioritize style and the foldable form factor without breaking the bank. If you're a photography enthusiast or a power user who demands top-tier performance and all-day battery life, you might want to look elsewhere. In the competitive landscape, the Razr 40 occupies a sweet spot for those curious about foldables but hesitant to pay flagship prices.

Conclusion: A Compelling Entry into the Foldable World

The Motorola Razr 40 is a compelling entry point into the world of foldable smartphones. It’s not without its quirks, but the stylish design, enjoyable display, and solid everyday performance make it a worthy contender, especially at its price. If you’ve been intrigued by foldables but put off by the high cost, the Razr 40 offers a more accessible route into this exciting technology. It’s a fun phone that definitely turns heads and offers a different smartphone experience. Ultimately, I recommend the Motorola Razr 40 for anyone who wants a stylish, eye-catching phone with a unique form factor and is willing to accept a few compromises to get it. It's a solid step forward in making foldable technology more attainable.