Motorola’s new $699 flip phone makes me a little less excited about Samsung Unpacked

Smartphone release schedules usually look like this: New Top Android phones launched at the beginning of the year, then mid-range phone in the spring, followed by foldable in the summer, and Iphone phone in the fall. We are now in phase three, today Motorola kicked things off by announcing two new flip phones, 2024 Razr and Razr Plus.

Also: What to expect from Samsung Unpacked Summer 2024: Galaxy Z Fold 6, Watch 7, Smart Ring, more

These two phones look similar to last year’s models, and the Razr and Razr Plus are similarly priced at $699 and $999 respectively, but there are three notable differences that make them even more worth your consideration. 2024.

See at Motorola

1. Large external display on both models

Perhaps the most logical (and unsurprising) upgrade to this year’s Razr models is the larger external display, with the standard Razr moving from a 1.5-inch to 3.6-inch OLED display, in as the Razr Plus moves from a 3.6-inch to a 4-inch OLED display.

Both were just bright enough to slide around in the afternoon sunlight of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the smoothness of the 165Hz panel on the Razr Plus was especially pleasing. I’m just wondering how the high refresh rate display will impact the phone’s battery, which is rated at 4,000mAh (Plus) and 4,200mAh (standard).

Also: Motorola Razr Plus (2023) review: The best flip phone today

The smaller battery on the Plus model is likely due to the larger 4-inch display, which gives it the title of having the largest external display of any flip phone, besting the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5′s (and possibly the Z Flip 6’s 3.4-inch panel). Does 0.4 inches make a difference to user experience? Not much, but probably enough to motivate me to use the external monitor more often.

2. I’m cautiously optimistic about Moto AI

It wouldn’t be a phone of 2024 without AI features. Both Motorola Razr models come pre-installed with the Google Gemini app, accessible by pressing and holding the power button. Consider how realistic I am at finding shortcuts when I test Pixel 8a just a month ago, I’m hoping this same integration will continue to help me expand my usage Mobile AI tool.

Also: Google reveals big AI features coming to Android phones Here’s what to expect

However, the AI ​​features on the pricier, more feature-packed Razr Plus model go beyond what Google offers. However, Motorola will roll out new Moto AI capabilities in the coming months, including voice prompts like “Catch me up” to summarize notifications, “Attention” to start voice recording with transcribe and summarize, and “Remember this” to record what’s on screen and store it for later recall.

That last characteristic is like Microsoft recalltaking screenshots every few seconds so the system can grab any text or image information you might want in the future. However, with Microsoft delaying the recall privacy and security issues, similar concerns could plague Motorola’s “Remember This” campaign. When asked about how to secure user information, the company said Razr Plus will only store what is on the screen when prompted by the user and all information is stored on the device. We’ll have to see this feature for ourselves when it launches later this fall.

3. The textured backing remains intact

Motorola seems to have doubled down on the textured back, and I’m not mad about it. Besides the flashy new colors the Razr phones offer, including “Hot Pink” for the Plus model, which is reminiscent of the old Motorola Razr V3, they’re designed in vegan leather (or suede). . Combined with the phone’s bezel-less edges, I wouldn’t expect these devices to slip out of your hand or pocket.

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If true, both models now feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and a 30% smaller hinge design that the company says will improve dust resistance (from IP54 last year to IPX8 this year), reduce creases, and make the device more comfortable to use.

The 2024 Razr and Razr Plus will be available for pre-order starting July 10 and officially in stores on July 24.

Some tidbits of news…

• Both models have 256GB of base storage and configurable RAM (8GB or 12GB).
• The Razr Plus features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip (hence a Moto AI exclusive), while the Razr has a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X processor.
• New AI-powered camera features include a Photo Enhancer that automatically optimizes details, clarity, highlights, shadows, bokeh, etc.
• The Razr Plus no longer has an ultra-wide camera. Instead, it has a 50MP main lens and a 50MP telephoto lens, according to Motorola, the 50MP telephoto lens is more popular among Razr users.
• On the other hand, Razr do there’s an ultra-wide camera, although it only has a 13MP sensor.
• Both phones support 15W wireless charging.
• Motorola promises three operating system upgrades and four years of security updates.
• The external display will now display an always-on image when the phone is folded at an angle.
• Motorola won’t include a charger in the box – just a USB-C to USB-C cable.