Motorola Razr (2024) vs. Razr (2023): The difference is remarkable

• 

  The latest affordable foldable

  Motorola Razr (2024)

  The new Razr (2024) improves on its predecessor in every way. While the camera is still as lackluster as before, there are some minor improvements. The Razr also provides better performance and an even greater display on both the inside and outside. It’s still relatively cheap, making it a great foldable for those looking for a versatile and compact form factor.

  Pros

  • It’s more affordable than ever
  • Excellent quality-of-life improvements compared to predecessor
  • Great battery life

  Cons

  • The camera is still not great
  • Slow and unreliable updates
  • Not the most powerful Flip phone

• 

  Buy it on a budget

  Motorola Razr (2023)

  $400 $700 Save $300

  If you’re new to foldables, or want to explore the world of modern flip phones, the Moto Razr (2023) is one of the best phones on a budget. It offers a solid battery life, a decent camera experience, and decent performance when it comes to using your favorite apps.

  Pros

  • Stylish and modern looks
  • Beautiful and bright display
  • Impressive battery life

  Cons

  • Limited, small cover screen
  • The camera isn’t the best
  • Apps often close in background

Motorola has been in the foldable smartphone business for some time, and the company makes some of the best and most iconic flip phones, even after it decided to change the design to a more standard look across its lineup. The flagship Razr+ (2024) offers everything most users would want, and the Razr (2024) offers phenomenal value for those looking for a more affordable option.

Here, we compare Motorola’s latest and last year’s foldable flip phones side-by-side to see how they changed and improved over the course of a year. We’ll cover the essentials and explain why you might want to go with the new Razr (2024) and who should still buy the Razr (2023).

Price, specs, and availability

The Moto Razr (2024) is available at most retailers and carriers, as well as directly through Motorola. The device comes in a single configuration, set with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, and retails for the same price as last year’s model, $700. It’s available in three colors, including Spritz Orange, Beach Sand, and Koala Gray.

The Motorola Razr (2023) is available from all carriers except Verizon, also for $700. It’s worth noting that various companies offer incentives and discounts on top as they try to get rid of their stock, so you might be able to find it for up to $200 off during big events.

The Razr (2023) is also available from most other MVNOs and retailers, such as Amazon, Best Buy, and directly through Motorola. As for different models, it has a single configuration with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, and it’s available in four colors: Sage Green, Vanilla Cream, Summer Lilac, and Cherry Blossom.

• 	Motorola Razr (2024)	Motorola Razr (2023)
  SoC	MediaTek Dimensity 7300X	Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
  RAM	8GB LPDDR4X	8GB LPDDR4X
  Storage	256GB UFS 2.2	128GB UFS 2.2
  Battery	4,200mAh	4,200mAh
  Ports	USB-C (USB 2.0)	USB-C
  Operating System	Android 14	Android 13
  Front camera	32MP f/2.4	32MP (f/2.4, 0.7 μm) | 8MP (f/2.4, 1.4um) Quad Pixel
  Dimensions	73.99 x 171.30 x 7.25mm (open); 73.99 x 88.08 x 15.85mm (closed)	Open: 73.95 x 170.82 x 7.35mmClosed: 73.95 x 88.24 x 15.8mm
  Weight	188g	188.6g
  IP Rating	IPX8	IP52
  Colors	Koala Grey, Beach Sand, Spritz Orange	Sage Green; Vanilla Cream; Summer Lilac; Cherry Blossom

Design

One big difference

Both the old and the new Moto Razr sport similar designs, with one big change on the outside. The latest model measures 171.3 x 74 x 7.3mm, while the Razr (2023) measures 170.8 x 74 x 7.4mm when unfolded. The New Razr is 0.5mm taller and 0.1mm thinner than its predecessor, and weighs roughly the same. The difference is even smaller when the devices are folded, making the shape nearly identical.

The Razr (2024) has a plastic front on the panel that unfolds, a Gorilla Glass Victus glass, and eco-leather material on the back, as well as an aluminum frame and stainless steel hinge mechanism. The older Razr had the same front, but it also had a plastic back, an aluminum frame, and a stainless steel frame. The new Razr feels better and more premium, and if you use it without a case, the differences are immediately noticeable.

There are a few major differences between the two devices. First and foremost, the Razr (2024) sports a much larger 3.6-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. This screen is a similar panel to the more expensive Razr+ (2024) device, though just a little smaller, making the more affordable model even more appealing.

The previous generation wasn’t as lucky, and it was equipped with a small 1.5-inch AMOLED panel. It’s large enough to see notifications, calls, and a few other widgets, but it’s not nearly as versatile and powerful as the 2024 model’s, which can open apps straight from the homescreen and app drawer.

The new model also features improved water protection, with an IPX8 water-resistant certificate. This provides some peace of mind, knowing that the phone should survive spills, when you get caught in the rain, or if you accidentally get splashed by water near a beach or a pool. The previous Razr only had an IP52 certificate, which made it resistant to splashes and condensation, but it was rated for larger particles of dust, which the new model isn’t.

While it may look like the Razr (2023) has the edge when it comes to dust, neither phone can handle it perfectly. It’s worth mentioning that while the Razr (2024) doesn’t have an official number 5 in the IP rating, we were told it can stand up against dust to the same level as last year’s model. As always, we strongly encourage you to keep both Razrs away from the beach and sand, as this could potentially cause damage.

Last, but not least, the new model’s hinge feels sturdier and more reliable than its predecessor. There’s no wiggle or loose-feeling frame, and we found it to have a satisfying snap when closed shut. Everything feels more refined and smoother, and if you have the budget, the newer Razr (2024) is the one you should buy, especially if you want to future-proof yourself and benefit from the larger display and build quality.

Display

Better brightness and a larger cover screen make the Razr (2024) a clear winner

Given the minuscule differences in the dimensions between the two devices, you won’t be surprised to find that both phones have the same 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED main display. The main difference between the two panels is that the newer Razr gets much brighter, with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.

The older model only had 1,400 nits of brightness, which was more than enough for using it in broad daylight, but the 2024 model’s higher brightness makes HDR content more enjoyable to look at.

The other small difference between the main displays is that the 2024 model only has a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the 144Hz on the 2023 model. The difference is hardly noticeable, and users will only feel a slight change in games. That said, they’re both equally fast and great for browsing and light gaming.

As we mentioned above, the new Razr has a 3.6-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. This can open any app, just like the Razr+ (2024), making it far more useful for checking notifications, emails, messages, and opening any apps directly. The older Razr is severely limited by its small 1.5-inch AMOLED screen, which can only have a few widgets and show basic information such as notifications, messages, and calls.

Software and performance

Plenty fast for your daily needs, but the update situation needs to keep up the pace

Motorola has always offered a stock-ish Android experience on its smartphones, and the Razr series is no exception. The latest Razr comes with Android 14 and the usual Moto-made software features we’ve come to expect.

The one area where Moto made some significant changes is on the cover screen. The new Razr has new home screen layouts, and a massive overhaul for cards that show Spotify, the weather, and other applications. It also supports most widgets from any of your apps, making the cover screen far more powerful than on older devices.

There’s no reason to unfold the Razr (2024), as most, if not all, are supported by default. You can freely open and use any of your selected apps, check notifications, and do just about anything you can think of.

In contrast, the older Razr (2023) has a tiny cover screen that is only able to display notifications, calls, and preview yourself when taking selfies using the rear cameras. Due to the small size, apps and actions are severely limited, which is now fixed thanks to the larger display on the Razr (2024).

When it comes to the chipset, the new Razr uses a MediaTek Dimensity 7300x chip that is built on the 4nm process. It’s specifically designed for devices with dual screens, delivering plenty of power for all of your daily needs. The older Razr is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor with 8GB of RAM, and it was competitive, able to run most apps without any issues.

It’s worth noting that neither of these phones are exactly powerhouses, but they’ll provide plenty of power and performance to tackle most workloads, and the ability to play some more demanding games — provided you don’t push them. Multitasking is possible on both, but neither are perfect, so don’t expect a flagship experience. That said, you’re unlikely to see stutters or apps slowing down, unless you push them to their limits.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is an excellent flagship chipset, offering great performance. Given the gamer moniker on the two devices, it’s unsurprising to see the premium chipset power both devices. As such, both offer competitive and similar experiences that remain stable, smooth, and snappy. They don’t throttle under general loads, and hold up well even after long gaming sessions, thanks to their unique cooling technologies.

Motorola promises 3 years of Android OS and 4 years of security updates for its previous and current generation of Razr foldable lineup. However, it’s worth mentioning that while the latest Razrs run Android 14, the 2023 models have yet to receive the update. Motorola hasn’t been very timely with its updates in recent years, and it appears to take a long time to roll these out to existing devices.

Battery life

A full day’s worth of power

One area where Motorola hasn’t made any big changes is the battery capacity. The old and new Razr devices both have 4,200mAh batteries that support 30W wired charging. The new model also supports 15W wireless charging, while the 2023 version only supports 5W wireless charging.

In terms of actual results, we found both devices to be perfectly on par and able to provide about a full day’s worth of power on a single charge. We used these devices as we would normally would, including to browse and keep up with friends and family. The results are nothing out of the ordinary, but we’re happy to report that they should be able to handle your day-to-day activities.

Camera

Good enough

The camera on the new Razr has been updated, and it features a 50MP primary and a 13MP ultrawide camera setup; the older Razr has a 64MP primary and a 13MP ultrawide. Both phones feature the same 32MP selfie camera housed inside the center punch-hole cutout on the top center of the display.

Regarding camera performance, the Razr (2024) can take decent photos in good lighting conditions, but we found that low-light and nighttime shots were often overblown and overbrightened. The 2023 model’s performance revealed similar flaws and issues in low-light scenarios.

The fact of the matter is that, while both of these devices are good enough to capture photos in good lighting conditions, they’ll struggle in low-light. The camera experience is comparable to other budget devices that cost less than premium smartphones, so as long as you’re not expecting out-of-this-world quality photos, these will do a decent job most of the time.

Which is right for you?

Motorola made some great enhancements to its latest Razr foldable, and we like what we’re seeing. It still has an excellent main display, and the larger cover screen enables new features that were previously unavailable at this price range.

There are some small, but impactful hardware changes that make the hinge feel more solid and sturdy, especially when compared against its predecessor. The Razr (2024) is the phone we’d recommend you buy, especially if you’re looking for a great all-rounder modern flip phone that does a great job.

However, the Moto Razr (2023) is still a great buy, especially as it can be found for as low as $400, making it one of the most affordable foldable phones you can buy right now in the US.

At that price, it’s hard to complain about the camera, build quality, or any of the other nitpicks we mentioned above. It’s still a great foldable phone, despite the poor software update situation, especially for those who want to try foldable phones for the first time and are on a smaller budget.