Motorola · Reviewed by Decoding Labs · Published 2026-07-24
Based on a review by Decoding Labs (accessed 2026-07-24).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about feels properly engineered and high-end, making the reviewer excited about smartphones again. — just accept limited 2026 fifa world cup edition design was not preferred by the reviewer..
The reviewer concludes that the Motorola Razr Fold, despite being Motorola's first book-style foldable and having a few minor compromises, offers the best camera and longest battery life in its category. He appreciates its hardware, software, and new use cases, finding it a compelling device that made him excited about smartphones again.
This review covers the Motorola Razr Fold, detailing the reviewer's experience after switching from an iPhone. It examines the phone's design, build quality, camera performance, battery life, software features, and its suitability for various use cases like reading and gaming.
The Motorola Razr Fold is a highly recommended foldable, providing a compelling reason for an iPhone user to switch due to its overall hardware and software integration. The phone survived a waist-height drop on concrete with minor scuffs and features a DXOMARK Gold Label camera, outperforming other foldables with its 50MP periscope telephoto lens and two-day battery life; however, the outer screen scratches easily, and the haptic engine feels cheap. If you desire a powerful, innovative foldable with an outstanding camera and battery life for daily use and content consumption, this phone is a strong contender. However, if absolute camera consistency for professional deadlines is your priority, an iPhone may still be a more reliable choice.
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reviewer_claimneutralt=0:18–0:25
The reviewer states he has been using the Motorola Razr Fold as his only phone for over a month, indicating extensive long-term usage.
comparisonpositivet=1:38–1:43
The reviewer notes that while the Razr Fold isn't the thinnest foldable overall, it is still thin enough, especially when compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
hands_on_demomixedt=1:44–1:51
The hinge feels sturdy, and while the crease in the middle is noticeable, the reviewer states it's nothing terrible. The phone feels great in hand when open.
reviewer_claimnegativet=1:59–2:17
The reviewer, with average-sized hands, finds the bottom button placement uncomfortable, noting they are too high and grouped together, leading to accidental locks when trying to adjust volume.
reviewer_claimpositivet=2:19–2:22
The fingerprint reader and power button are described as great, fast, and responsive.
hands_on_demopositivet=2:41–2:52
The reviewer accidentally dropped the phone from waist height onto concrete, resulting in only a few scuffs on the metal frame but nothing serious, suggesting good durability.
reviewer_claimnegativet=3:18–3:35
The outer screen is surprisingly easy to scratch, a problem the reviewer never experienced with an iPhone without a screen protector, especially as the phone often rests on this screen.
reviewer_claimnegativet=4:09–4:24
The haptic engine feels cheap and low quality, with a huge difference compared to iPhone vibrations.
comparisonnegativet=5:20–5:37
The Bose-collaborated speaker system sounds good but completely lacks depth, a quality present even on entry-level iPhones, which the reviewer suspects is due to the form factor.
hands_on_demonegativet=5:58–6:14
Despite a spec sheet claiming 6,200 nits peak brightness, the reviewer finds the inner display a bit dim in real life, particularly outdoors on a sunny day.
hands_on_demopositivet=7:18–7:35
The reviewer praises Motorola's unique handy gestures, such as shaking for the flashlight or twisting to launch the camera, finding them useful and using them frequently.
expert_opinionpositivet=9:51–10:25
The reviewer was blown away by the periscope telephoto camera, highlighting its 3x optical zoom, 50MP sensor, and the use of in-sensor cropping for lossless 2x and 6x zoom, resulting in crisp shots.
measurement_testpositivet=10:29–10:48
The Motorola Razr Fold earned a DXOMARK score of 164 and a Gold Label, making it the best camera on a foldable smartphone as of March 2026 testing.
comparisonpositivet=12:51–13:10
The Razr Fold features a 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery, noticeably larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (5,000 mAh) and Pixel 10 Pro Fold (5,015 mAh).
measurement_testpositivet=13:49–14:15
In Tom's Guide's battery drain test, the Razr Fold achieved 14 hours and 44 minutes, significantly outperforming the Z Fold 7 (10 hours and 55 minutes) and setting a record for book-style foldables.
The reviewer's own accidental drop test from waist height onto concrete resulted in only minor scuffs to the metal frame, indicating good overall build quality. However, the outer screen was found to be surprisingly easy to scratch, much more so than iPhones without a screen protector, especially since the phone often rests on this screen.
The camera system is considered excellent, especially the periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and in-sensor cropping for lossless 2x and 6x zoom. It achieved a DXOMARK score of 164 and a Gold Label, making it the top foldable camera as of March 2026. The main sensor is Pantone validated for accurate colors, though the ultrawide camera is noted as a weaker point, losing detail at the edges.
The phone boasts a 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery, significantly larger than competitors like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (5,000 mAh). The reviewer consistently achieved two days of use on a single charge. This is corroborated by Tom's Guide's battery drain test, where it lasted 14 hours and 44 minutes, making it the longest-lasting book-style foldable tested.
The software is praised for integrating well with the foldable design, offering handy gestures like shaking for a flashlight and twisting for the camera, along with effective dual window management. The UI is clean and sticks to a true Android look. However, the reviewer notes that AI features feel cluttered and the chip doesn't always perform at its full potential, an area where Motorola needs improvement.
The reviewer found himself reading more on the Razr Fold than on his Kindle or iPad, enjoying the experience of reading an entire book. For gaming, its large display and decent performance make it feel like carrying a mini-tablet, significantly increasing his mobile gaming time. The main drawback for gaming is that holding the phone can cover the speakers, and the massive camera bump can get in the way.
The reviewer points out several compromises: the power and volume buttons are grouped too high for comfortable one-handed use when folded, and the haptic engine provides cheap-feeling vibrations compared to iPhones. The inner display can appear dim outdoors despite high brightness specs. The ultrawide camera lacks detail, and the software's AI features are noted as cluttered. Additionally, MagSafe is missing, and the optional pen has no storage.
100/100 source quality
A long-time iPhone user details his switch to the Motorola Razr Fold after 20 years, finding himself unexpectedly hooked. He praises the phone's "properly engineered" hardware and software that integrates well with the foldable form factor. Key highlights include its surprisingly robust build quality after a drop, a camera system that earned a DXOMARK Gold Label, and exceptional two-day battery life. While noting minor issues like uncomfortable button placement, cheap-feeling haptics, and a dim inner display outdoors, the reviewer believes the Razr Fold sets a new standard for book-style foldables, especially for reading and gaming on the go.
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