It is uncommon to discover smartphones which might be really tough to put in writing about, however Motorola’s new lineup of Razrs completely matches the invoice. It isn’t that they are unhealthy telephones, boring telephones, and even uninteresting ones — it is that virtually every part new right here requires filling a spot as your day by day driver. The 2025 Razr and Razr+ are primarily seeing minor spec bumps in comparison with their direct predecessors, and whereas the Razr Extremely fills within the lacking flagship Moto followers have been asking for, I can not let you know the way it performs, how lengthy the battery final, or how spectacular (or unimpressive) the digital camera system is.
Nonetheless, I feel this can be a fascinating yr for Motorola, and these three smartphones are, in their very own means, equally fascinating. As a lot as I consider Moto understands tips on how to craft and market a contemporary flip telephone greater than anybody, I discover it significantly irritating to see the corporate centered on the identical AI-based traits as each different OEM. The top result’s three smartphones that might very effectively be glorious, however three smartphones that really feel tough to suggest all the identical.
Moto’s Razrs are all about expressing your individual tastes, and I type of find it irresistible
Decide your favourite of the bunch
I will not spend an excessive amount of time recapping specs — take a look at my information protection as a substitute if you happen to’re thinking about seeing what makes these telephones tick. As a substitute, I feel it is value specializing in how all three of those gadgets felt to carry. Regardless of their slight variations in measurement and weight, Motorola has accomplished a superb job in making all three Razrs really feel virtually similar. Even the bottom mannequin, with its shorter show, would not really feel “low-cost” by any sense of the creativeness, and the swap to matte supplies throughout all three telephones prevents the slippery, shiny feeling I disliked on the Razr+ final yr.
Motorola toughened up its hinges for the second yr in a row, although not as soon as throughout my time with final yr’s telephones did I feel the hinge essentially wanted extra work. It is snappy and satisfying, however the true check is the way it’ll really feel months or years into use, not the way it feels proper out of the field. IP48 certification is nice information, although, marking some stage of water resistance in these flip telephones for the primary time in two years. That is the type of sturdiness enchancment you like to see after a era away.
Actually, it is the colour and persona of those gadgets that’s certain to win followers over. From the spring inexperienced Razr to the wood-esque Razr Extremely — all of those have Pantone-approved names I, frankly, won’t be utilizing — I proceed to be shocked that Motorola is the one model out right here proper now really placing an emphasis on making cool designs and providing even cooler colours. No matter how a lot you are prepared to pay, each certainly one of these Razrs breathes persona, and that is not true of each black, white, and beige smartphone in the marketplace proper now.
It isn’t Moto Maker-levels of customization, after all, however I feel flip telephone followers will probably be excited to take a look at the brand new shades and supplies utilized this yr. Positive, I won’t be into the Alcatera end on the darkish (darkish, darkish) inexperienced Razr Extremely, however you is perhaps, and I am glad that possibility exists for many who need it.
Moto needs you to think about the Razr as an AI-first expertise
And I do not actually see the imaginative and prescient
The Razr Extremely’s AI key.
Placing persona apart, this yr is — to nobody’s shock — all about AI. Along with partnerships with Perplexity and Google’s Gemini, Moto has packed all three telephones with numerous AI instruments developed in-house. A few of these had been initially demoed as a part of final yr’s Razr launch earlier than arriving months later in beta, and so they return this yr as instruments accessible straight out of the field.
Should you’ve forgotten precisely what these instruments do, after all, you deserve some stage of forgiveness on this AI-obsessed panorama. Catch Me Up is designed to ship a roundup of your missed notifications, Pay Consideration is a transcription-based recorder device, and Bear in mind This acts as a journal-style hub for “remembering” issues, like flight particulars. This yr, they’re joined by instruments like Subsequent Transfer, which makes use of contextual info in your display to supply additional ideas on issues like recipes, and Playlist Studio, which…could make playlists impressed by issues like baking a cake. Yeah, I do not actually get it both.
Motorola’s AI efforts left me ready to be really impressed. They don’t seem to be unhealthy concepts — effectively, Playlist Studio is perhaps — however I will have to truly attempt them on actual gadgets earlier than giving an actual take. I am really shocked to see the AI key locked solely to the Razr Extremely, since a devoted, easily-misclicked press of this button looks like how most individuals will really find yourself utilizing the options.
The demo items accessible in Motorola’s hands-on space weren’t set as much as permit for Moto AI instruments, since you have to log in with a Motorola account to get began. I am undecided it might’ve mattered anyway, since almost all of those are based mostly off both private info gathered over time or instruments that demand particular conditions to be utilized to their full extent. The on-stage demos actually did not persuade me that any of that is essential, and even helpful to bettering my life.
And from a purely AI-driven perspective, these instruments will probably be dwarfed in utilization by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, with the latter two pre-installed and accessible on all three Razrs proper from the leap. For gadgets “backed by clever AI experiences,” it positive looks like a well-recognized suite of instruments.
Motorola additionally confirmed with Android Police that these instruments are coming to final yr’s Razr+ and Razr as effectively, giving them even much less significance as a generation-defining function set regardless of the general concentrate on AI.
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Moto’s concentrate on AI ignores a number of the model’s bigger issues
$1,300 ought to get you greater than this
For as virtually unchanged as these gadgets really feel from final yr — in tangible methods, on the very least — I left Moto’s hands-on space feeling slightly empty inside. Are flip telephones already feeling as boring as their non-foldable counterparts? Might I actually really feel so unenthusiastic about what, on paper, seems to be three very promising smartphones at three very completely different worth factors?
Properly, sure and no. Smartphone design is perhaps caught in a rut, whatever the type issue you like, however I feel Motorola’s love of introducing new colours and inventive supplies proves there’s loads of methods left to showcase design, even in comparatively boring year-over-year upgrades. It is a lesson automobile producers have discovered effectively: Mid-generational cycles can earn plenty of love just by introducing a flashy new coloration or type. Frankly, I do not see an issue with smartphone makers leaning in the identical course.
Slightly, I feel it is an issue with chasing traits slightly than really fixing what must be mounted, and in Motorola’s case, it is within the software program. It isn’t that I’ve an issue with the Razr’s Android expertise — it is high-quality, if considerably lackluster. It is the software program promise that comes with these telephones. Three OS upgrades that arrive ages after a brand new model of Android, alongside 4 years of bi-monthly patches? I am sorry, however that simply would not reduce it anymore, and actually not at $1,299.
I need to be enthusiastic about 2025’s Razrs, and particularly the Razr Extremely. It is the flip telephone I have been begging Motorola to make for the previous two years. And but… I discover it tough to truly really feel like this can be a promising smartphone expertise that’ll be straightforward to suggest. For $1,300, I feel it is truthful for potential patrons to anticipate slightly extra longevity of their telephone. The specs are there, the battery is there, and, seemingly, the sturdiness is there. Sadly, Motorola continues to drop the ball on prolonged help, and in 2025, that is getting more durable by the day to excuse.
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Moto Razr (2025)
Motorola’s most inexpensive Razr will get a glow-up for 2025. With new colours, a extra highly effective processor, and all kinds of AI instruments, this is perhaps essentially the most thrilling $700 folding telephone you have ever seen.
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Moto Razr+ (2025)
Motorola’s 2025 Razr+ is not all too completely different from what got here earlier than. With almost similar specs as final yr, the large enhancements come from a extra inflexible, sturdy design and loads of AI goodies.
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Moto Razr Extremely (2025)
The Moto Razr Extremely is the foldable you have been ready for. With a brand new digital camera system, top-tier specs, and a bigger, brighter show, this can be a Razr designed to go head-to-head with Samsung — for a worth, after all.
