When was the last time your phone’s design made you smile?

Compactness and character overshadow this foldable’s shortcomings – but it’s not for everyone

Design and Displays

My favorite aspect of the Razr 5G is how the squat device fits in the palm of my hand when folded. Going for an afternoon walk is a breath of fresh air with this phone in tow – you can grip it securely in one hand while controlling your music, or have it disappear into your pocket. The phone is not IP rated for water or dust resistance, but Motorola provided a water repellent coating on the internals, so it’s okay if you get caught in a brief rain shower. Just don’t go swimming with it. 

The phone is 16mm thick when folded, compared to Samsung’s Z Flip 3 at 17mm. While that sounds trivial, the Z Flip’s design has a gap between the display when folded. The gap attracts dust and welcomes other debris while in your pocket, so you will be cleaning the display constantly. The Razr 5G isn’t immune from collecting dust in your pocket, but I found it less frustrating than the Z Flip.  

The Razr’s design folds completely flat thanks to the engineers at Lenovo (Motorola’s mobile division is owned by Lenovo). They designed the 6.2” screen so a portion of it slides into the phone's chin when folded. This implementation results in the usual smartphone experience while touching the display – it’s smooth to the touch and doesn’t have a gutter like the Z Flip. The gutter on Z Flip is a visual eyesore and your finger will briefly dip mid scroll over the hinge when swiping through endless TikToks.

Interior Display

Let’s take a detour and discuss some faults of the Razr’s display. First, the display is challenging to read in direct sunlight. I contacted Motorola for an official statement on how many nits the display is rated to produce, but I have not received a response at the time of writing. Second, the Razr’s plastic OLED screen is unfortunately prone to small indentations if you aggressively dig your fingernail into it (or any sharp object). It doesn’t break the display, but is noticeable when the screen is off. I haven’t had this issue with my phone yet and I’m not overly careful, but users of this phone must exercise some care in daily use. 

Exterior Display

It turns out you can get things done on a 2.7” display.

The 2.7” external display, which Motorola calls the Quick View display, allows you to do almost everything from this tiny screen. Read and send text messages, check email, take calls, play music, and read news – all just smaller. You can configure your favorite apps for quick reference on the external display or see them all at once. 

Now, not every app works well on a 2.7” screen, but we Android enthusiasts will certainly push it to the limits. My favorite use for the external display is using a weather radar app as storms approach. It allows me to track the weather without draining the battery as quickly as the main display. 

Bonus feature – For those seeking to use their phone less often, the external display may reduce your addiction to being on the phone. You’ll need to physically open the phone for an immersive content experience. 

Pros and cons aside, this phone is a joy use and I think its design will delight many users.