If 2025 was the year of the ultra-thin phone, then 2026 is the year of the foldable phone. And the new Motorola Razr line arrives with a big head start. Motorola has been making flip-style foldables since 2020, and it also has the first foldables on the scene this year.

Of course, being first isn't always the wisest strategy. Just look at Apple, which has been building monumental hype around the first folding iPhone.

But we're not here to talk about Apple. This one's for Android users (and the Android-curious).

I put the new Motorola Razr Ultra and Motorola Razr+ to the test, and while the Razr+ has some problems, I'm loving the Razr Ultra so far.

The verdict: The Motorola Razr Ultra is a pricey but impressive flip phone

What I loved: The flagship Razr Ultra has a gorgeous display, a killer battery life, and a true smorgasburg of AI features. I love that it fits in my pocket, and I love the phone's design.

What I hated: This phone costs an obscene $1,499.99. The less-capable Razr+ had some sluggishness.

By the numbers:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform

• Battery: 5000mAh battery / 36 hours

• Display: 4-inch pOLED cover display / 7-inch AMOLED inner display

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP inner camera

• Charging: 68W charging, reverse charging, 24 hours battery in 8 minutes

• Special features: Pantone Validated display, HDR peak brightness of 5,000 nits, 10-bit color, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3

The Motorola Razr Ultra is a true flagship device

Now, I still need to spend more time with the Razr Ultra before we lock in its review score. I plan to update this review twice. First, a couple of weeks after spending more time with the device, and again in July or August, after the Samsung Galaxy Flip 8 arrives.

But if you need a new phone now, I think you can purchase this phone with confidence. I've said repeatedly that the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) was the most underrated phone of the year, and the new model is even better.

When I first picked it up, I thought it was thinner than last year's version, but my eyes told me otherwise. The dimensions proved me right, however. Motorola shaved off a few millimeters from the design, and the phone is just a smidge thinner than last year. The phone also has a new textured back panel, which I think was a smart upgrade for both visual appeal and security in your hand.

The screens are also a little bigger and have a slightly higher resolution. The HDR10+ AMOLED displays offer 10-bit color and look incredible. Both the main and external displays now offer 165Hz refresh rates and deliver significant brightness upgrades. The main display has 5,000 nits, and the rear display has 3,000 (a 2,000 increase and a 1,300 increase, respectively).

Finally, the battery has been upgraded from 4,500 mAh to 5,000 mAh. The battery was a standout feature last year, easily offering more than 24 hours on our video playback test. This year's battery is rated for a mighty 36 hours.

But here's the big question: Are all those improvements worth a $200 price increase? Last year's excellent Razr Ultra was already pricey at $1,299, but this year's arrives with a RAM-ageddon price hike to $1,499.99.

Let's talk about that price

Most U.S. phone shoppers don't pay full retail price. Typically, we get a trade-in offer, or you take advantage of carrier deals that can drop the price to $0 (with conditions, of course).

Motorola has raised prices across the board because of the AI-fueled memory shortage. I strongly recommend taking advantage of every deal and launch offer you can.

It's not that the phone isn't worth it. The $1,500 price tag is likely going to be the new standard in this category. But it still hurts.

The Motorola Razr Ultra is a joy to use

Here's what I really like about this phone: It's fun to use.

There's just something satisfying about a flip phone, especially one that can pull off so many neat tricks. I love lining up the perfect selfie on the external display, shooting a camcorder-style video, or bringing up an app without opening the phone. And as someone who hates big phones, I love how it fits in my pocket and hand. It still feels like a two-hand phone when opened, but the size is a huge attraction for me.

The everyday experience will be familiar to Android users, though Motorola offers additional AI tools such as Perplexity, Copilot, and Moto AI (more on this in a moment).

Foldable phones are also novel enough that they still feel cool. And the phone looks cool, too. The colors and design of the phones are very impressive this year.

Motorola's AI strategy: All of the above

Here are the AI tools you get with the new Razr lineup:

• Gemini

• Perplexity

• Microsoft Copilot

• Moto AI

Frankly, it's a bit much. I found myself sticking entirely to Gemini. At CES 2026, Lenovo and Motorola laid out their vision for Moto AI — a personal AI that acts as your personal assistant. And, in theory, it has some cool features. But am I ready to hand over my email, photo library, browsing history, and Google Drive to yet another tech company? Not quite. I'm already nervous about how much Google knows about me, and how it's using my data.

This is also a phone built for AI superusers. Here's an example: Long-press what should be the power button, and it brings up Gemini Live. Long-press the side button (the Razr+ has no extra side button), and it fires up Moto AI. When I needed to power off the Razr+, it took me a ridiculous amount of time to find the power off option.

You can change these settings, of course, but this is a phone that wants to put AI constantly at your fingertips. That's either a pro or a con, depending on how much you use tools like Gemini.

That said, being able to quickly fire up Gemini to answer questions is helpful at times. I also made good use of Android's Circle To Search feature. After bringing home the flowers, I used Circle To Search to identify them. Another time, I asked whether it was safe to use two household cleaners together. (Spoiler alert: It was not!)

Motorola Razr+ is too big a step down

With a new starting price of $1,099, the Razr+ better be a damn fine phone, but my early testing has been frustrating. Once, the camera app simply refused to open. At other times, the phone was noticeably sluggish. I sometimes found that apps or features were slow to appear.

Instead of the Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Razr+ has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, and I could feel the difference, unfortunately. As you'll see in the camera test, image processing also takes a hit. Photos were oversaturated, and the phone struggled a bit in very bright sunlight.

So, is the Motorola Razr+ worth it? While I can happily endorse the Razr Ultra, I'm not sold on the Razr+.

One word of warning: Treat your foldable with care

Lastly, I should note there have been user complaints on Reddit and the Motorola website about the durability of the Razr Ultra (2025). Users report that hinges and displays begin to fall apart after about 12 months of use. However, the phone should hold up just fine, as mine has.

I suspect there's some user error involved here, as flip phones are inherently more delicate. Be careful not to get your foldable wet, and avoid overstressing the hinge.

For its part, Motorola has outfitted the Razr+ with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus; the Razr Ultra has the brand-new Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, which debuts with this foldable phone.

Motorola Razr+ and Razr Ultra: The camera test

As a reminder, here are the camera arrays with each phone:

• Razr Ultra: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP inner camera

• Razr+: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 32MP inner

Foldables aren't known for having the best cameras, but the Razr Ultra's are better than fine. For the camera test, I took macro, portrait, digital zoom, and selfie photos. All of the photos you see here are unedited.

Overall, I found that the Razr Plus sometimes oversaturated my photos, which is a pet peeve of mine. In some cases, the Razr Ultra clearly took the better photo. In the photos with sliders, you'll find the Razr Ultra version on the left. Thanks to the Elite processor, the Razr Ultra handled color much better, and photos taken in bright sunlight weren't super washed out.

The ultimate selfie mode

Foldables may not have the best cameras, but it's incredibly satisfying to line up the perfect selfie using the external display.

The finished result:

Overall, the Razr Ultra took surprisingly good photos for a foldable. The Razr+ didn't have bad cameras by any means, and I took a lot of photos I liked, even if the Ultra clearly has the edge.

I also went to my local flower-and-skateboarding store — the most Brooklyn store ever — to test the color fidelity. (Shoutout to Park Deli flower shop, which isn't affiliated with Mashable or Motorola in any way.)

Finally, I have to show off my latest origami creations.

The Motorola Razr Ultra: Would I buy it?

So, would I spend my money on the Razr Ultra? I have to admit, I'm still an iPhone user, possibly due to peer pressure. But the Motorola Razr Ultra is the phone that really tempts me to make the switch, and I enjoy every minute I spend with this phone.

While the new $1,499.99 price tag is a major blow, the phone's feature set, display, and design are all elite for the category. If you can take advantage of some launch offers or trade-ins, I think you'll also be very happy with this trendy little flip phone.