Motorola’s Razr 40 Ultra changed the rules of the game in the folding world. Launched in July 2023, it raised the bar for foldable designs, forcing other manufacturers to reconsider the use of cover screens. In my reviews of competing folding devices (Oppo Find N3 Flip and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5), it became clear that none had managed to deliver the seamless cover viewing experience that Motorola mastered with its Razr 40 Ultra.
It’s now 2024, and Motorola is back with the next version of its foldable, the Razr 50 Ultra. It looks very similar to the previous model, but on closer inspection, there are many changes in the interior.
Design and Build
The new Motorola Razr 50 Ultra closely resembles the previous model, with some notable improvements. The back parts are now finished with vegan leather, standard across all three color variants, two of which are completely new. Motorola has focused on details this year, with the midnight blue finish offering a double splice pattern, giving it a different texture compared to the single splice finish of the Spring Green and Peach Fuzz options.
The hinge feels much smoother and more refined, offering better free-stop performance compared to the previous model. It is also better designed for dust resistance. The phone has an IPX8 certification for water resistance, matching what Samsung offers with its Galaxy Flip 5. The A-cover on the hinge is flatter, making the phone slightly thinner than the previous model.
A design feature that stands out is the cover display, which now stretches from edge to edge with a thin, even bezel. The screen size has increased from the Razr 40 Ultra’s 3.6 inches to a larger 4-inch unit with higher resolution (1272 x 1080 pixels). The screen is now LTPO and offers a refresh rate of 165 Hz. The hinge arrangement, previously leading to a metal band on the top of the cover plate, has now disappeared, resulting in a more transparent and clean look.