Motorola Razr Plus Review: Retro Foldable Reborn
In the fast-paced world of smartphones, where slab-style devices dominate, foldables like the Motorola Razr Plus bring a nostalgic twist to modern tech. Remember the iconic Motorola Razr V3 from the early 2000s—the sleek flip phone that Paris Hilton made famous? The Motorola Razr Plus 2025 revives that retro charm with a clamshell design that's been reborn for today's demands. Priced at $999.99, this foldable flip phone blends vintage vibes with cutting-edge features, making it a standout in the competitive foldable market.
Whether you're eyeing the best foldable phones of 2025 or just crave a device that's as stylish as it is functional, this Motorola Razr Plus review dives deep into its design, performance, camera, battery life, and more. Spoiler: It's not just a gimmick—it's a genuine contender against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Google Pixel Fold 2.
A Design That Screams Nostalgia, Built for the Future
The Motorola Razr Plus 2025 nails the retro aesthetic while addressing the foldable pitfalls of yesteryear. At 6.75 inches tall when folded, it's pocket-friendly and lightweight at just 188 grams, slipping easily into jeans without bulk. The vegan leather back in eye-catching colors like Hot Pink, Midnight Blue, and the trendy Mocha Mousse (Pantone's 2025 Color of the Year) gives it a premium, grippy feel that's worlds away from the slippery glass slabs of traditional phones.
What sets this retro foldable reborn apart? A titanium-reinforced hinge that's four times stronger than previous stainless steel versions, reducing the visible crease on the inner display to near-invisibility. It's the first Razr to earn an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance—surviving splashes, light rain, and even brief submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. No more babying your foldable; this one's ready for real life.
The standout feature? That massive 4-inch LTPO cover screen. Unlike competitors' glorified smartwatch displays, Motorola's outer panel feels like a legit mini-phone. Run full apps, reply to texts, control Spotify, or even snap selfies without unfolding. It's a game-changer for one-handed use, turning downtime into productivity—or endless scrolling—without the hassle.
Display: Dual Screens That Dazzle
Foldables live or die by their screens, and the Razr Plus 2025 excels here. Unfold it to reveal a 6.9-inch LTPO pOLED inner display with a 22:9 aspect ratio, 1,080 x 2,640 resolution, and a buttery-smooth 165Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness hits 3,000 nits, making it visible in direct sunlight, while Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support deliver cinematic colors for Netflix binges or gaming sessions.
The cover screen steals the show: 4 inches of 165Hz glory with the same HDR perks. Motorola's Hello UX optimizes it for foldables, with customizable widgets, Flex View for tent-mode multitasking, and seamless app integration. Want to watch YouTube hands-free or edit photos in tent mode? It's all effortless. Compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 7's smaller outer display, the Razr Plus feels more versatile and fun.
Performance and Software: Snappy, But Not Without Throttles
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset (the same as last year's model), 12GB of RAM, and 256GB storage, the Motorola Razr Plus 2025 handles everyday tasks like a champ. Geekbench scores hover around Pixel 9 Pro levels for single-core speed, making app launches and multitasking zippy. Gaming? Titles like Genshin Impact run smoothly at medium settings, though prolonged sessions trigger aggressive throttling—dropping to 65% performance after five minutes to manage heat.
Software-wise, Android 15 with Motorola's Hello UX is clean and bloat-free, promising three years of OS updates and five years of security patches. Moto AI shines with Perplexity-powered search, gesture controls (like a wrist flick for the camera), and upcoming features like notification summaries. Circle to Search and Gemini integration add smarts without overwhelming the retro simplicity. It's not Samsung's seven-year promise, but it's solid for a foldable.
Camera: Solid Shooter for Social Snaps
The dual 50MP rear setup—a main wide sensor and 2x telephoto—delivers reliable results for a flip phone. Daylight shots boast excellent dynamic range, natural colors, and sharp details, thanks to auto HDR that kicks in seamlessly. Portraits shine with the telephoto lens, offering creamy bokeh and edge detection that rivals non-foldables. Low-light performance is decent with Night Vision mode, though it lags behind the Razr Ultra's superior modules.
Selfies via the 32MP front camera are vibrant, but for epic group shots, flip it closed and use the rear cams—Moto AI's Style Sync even lets you tweak colors based on your vibe. Video tops out at 4K/30fps with stabilization, but low-light clips get noisy. No ultrawide hurts for landscapes, but for Instagram-worthy flips, it's more than enough.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Endurance
A 4,000mAh battery keeps the Razr Plus 2025 humming for 6-7 hours of screen-on time, edging out the Galaxy Z Flip 7's smaller cell. Expect a full day of mixed use—texts on the cover screen, unfolded streaming, and light gaming—without anxiety. 45W wired charging juices it to 50% in 15 minutes (charger sold separately), and 15W wireless is a nice bonus.
Pros and Cons: What Stands Out?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Iconic retro design with premium vegan leather finishes | Aggressive thermal throttling under load |
| Expansive 4-inch cover screen for true mini-phone functionality | Only three years of OS updates |
| Vibrant 165Hz dual displays with minimal crease | No ultrawide camera for expansive shots |
| IP48 dust/water resistance—the first for Razr | Cameras solid but not flagship-level |
| Snappy Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 for daily tasks | No charger in the box |
Is the Motorola Razr Plus 2025 Worth It?
Absolutely—if style, compactness, and that satisfying flip are your jam. The Motorola Razr Plus 2025 isn't reinventing the wheel (it's largely a refined 2024 model), but it polishes the retro foldable formula to perfection. At $999, it's a steal compared to the $1,299 Razr Ultra, offering 80% of the premium experience for less.
Buy if: You want a fun, pocketable foldable that turns heads and maximizes the flip form factor. Skip if: You need beastly performance, long-term updates, or pro-grade cameras—look to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold instead.