Flip phones usually mean you have to give up something—small battery, weaker cameras, or even lower performance. The Motorola razr ultra tries to tackle these issues and, for the most part, delivers. But it’s not all perfect, and it definitely comes with a premium price.
Where the Motorola razr ultra shines
Just solid hardware
Foldable phones have come a long way, and Motorola keeps making things better. For a while, the company was figuring out how to get the look and feel right, especially with the hinge. That’s been sorted out now. The new hinge uses titanium and feels super smooth. It opens and closes easily, whether you’re using one hand or two, and even locks in place if you want to use it propped open to watch something or just keep an eye on notifications.
The brushed metal edges grip well and make opening and closing the phone feel sturdy. It’s not a flashy change, but it makes daily use easier. Motorola keeps pushing design with bold colors and finishes. The “Mountain Trail” version pairs a soft gold color with a wood back that really stands out. Other colors, like “Cabaret” and “Rio Red,” look good too, but the “Scarab” option with its Alcantara back picks up dirt and dust fast. Not ideal.
Displays that actually work for you
Motorola gets the display feature right, especially with the outside screen. You can use just about any app on the 4-inch outer display, same as last year’s model, and it’s actually big enough to reply to texts, check navigation, control music, or use mobile payments. Some apps work better than others, but it’s still loads better than Samsung’s small, limited displays.
Inside, the big 7-inch screen feels roomy but not awkward. It gets bright, which helps if you’re outside. The crease in the middle is hardly noticeable unless you really look for it and yes, it deepened a little after a few weeks but that happens on all foldables.
Software and speed – mostly
Motorola keeps its Android experience clean, like what you get on a Pixel. No bloat or useless features. Day-to-day tasks feel quick and smooth, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 16GB of RAM. Whether you’re gaming or just switching apps, the razr ultra keeps up with everything.
But, there are a few quirks. Sometimes, for no real reason, the software stutters. Locking the refresh rate to 165Hz helps a bit, but can’t fully smooth it out. It keeps the experience from feeling as smooth as it should at this price.
Some parts of the software look unfinished, like the transparent areas in notifications. Also, the phone can get pretty warm with regular use. It doesn’t overheat, but can get uncomfortable until it cools down.
Performance-wise, the Motorola razr ultra is top of its class for flip phones. It just needs some software tweaks to feel as polished as it should.
Where it falls short
Battery life – still a pain some days
If there’s one thing flip phones usually fail at, it’s battery life. Motorola has improved things since last year, but you still might need to recharge before the day is done. The 4,700 mAh battery sounds big enough, but with 3 to 5 hours of screen time, you’ll often end up under 20% by bedtime. Some days, it’s fine, but on busy days, it feels like you’re always looking for a charger.
Motorola’s 67W fast charging is a big help here, finally making it practical to top off during a quick break. Still, there’s room for more improvement.
Cameras—you win some, you lose some
The razr ultra packs three 50MP cameras, which is impressive on paper. The main camera takes great shots with good colors. After you snap the pic, it always looks better once processed. The ultrawide camera is a bit too wide for some, and low light photos from the inner camera can be rough. There’s no telephoto lens, but the ultrawide is a solid trade-off.
But, using cameras on flip phones is awkward. You can’t take a photo of what’s ahead when the phone is closed, so you have to flip it open, and by then, you can miss the moment. That’s just a flip phone problem and isn’t likely to change anytime soon.
Weak speakers
Not a huge deal, but the speakers are just bad. Music and videos sound hollow, almost like they’re coming from inside a can. It’s fine for calls or alarms, but don’t expect great audio.
Moto AI—cool ideas, but not that special
Moto AI offers a few tools like “Catch Me Up,” which checks your notifications and summarizes them with AI. It’s a nice idea, but not always accurate, so you might have to check messages yourself anyway.
“Remember This” will store info or photos for you to ask about later—basically a voice note system. “Pay Attention” records conversations and labels speakers, good for meetings, and works well for the most part.
All these AI features can be accessed with a dedicated “AI Key” or a “Look and Talk” gesture that watches for eye contact and activates voice commands. Sometimes, the system is too sensitive and turns on when you don’t need it. Most of this stuff can be done with Google’s Gemini assistant, already on the phone, so there’s not much reason to use Moto AI unless you like it better.
The real deal-breakers
Short updates
Motorola only promises three years of Android OS updates and four years of security patches, with updates happening every two months. That’s not great when brands like Google offer longer support even on cheaper models. Motorola’s track record with timely updates isn’t inspiring either, usually rolling them out much later than Google.
The price is hard to swallow
The Motorola razr ultra costs $1,299 in the US, making it the priciest flip phone around. You get top-tier specs and the foldable design, but with the typical flip phone compromises, it’s hard to justify the price. Last year’s Razr+ looks like a much better value in comparison. Unless you really want the absolute newest, it’s a tough sell.
Final thoughts
The Motorola razr ultra shows just how good a flip phone can be right now. The hardware is almost perfect, performance rivals most flagships, and battery and cameras are improved, if not flawless.
Still, the high price makes it a phone for a small group of fans. Flip phones aren’t mainstream yet, and at this cost, it’s even harder to recommend. Samsung’s next Galaxy Z Flip will likely match or beat this phone in most ways for less money.
If you’ve always wanted a flip phone with almost no compromises and you don’t mind paying for it, the Motorola razr ultra is pretty much as good as it gets. For most people though, the grass may not be greener on the flip side.
Would you pay this much for a flip phone or wait to see what the competition brings?