Motorola Razr 5: full test and 2021-MAG mirror

Will the Razr 5G arouse the same enthusiasm as the OG model?It is possible, even if Doug Michau of Motorola said that the form factor is not for everyone-and until I use the new phone, I was not convinced myself.But the RAZR 5G is different from most of the foldable devices currently on the market, because it does not try to make duplicate with a tablet or a laptop.And it solves almost all the problems we had with its predecessor, for a lower price.Although it remains quite expensive ($ 1,399.99), it is much cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 ($ 2,000), which is the only other foldable phone that we currently recommend.

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The return of a classic (again)

The Motorola Razr 5G is a beautiful phone.The square shape and sharp edges of the previous model have been replaced by curved glass, aeronautical quality aluminum and a slender telescope.It really looks like a clamshell, unlike the Galaxy Z Flip, which gives the impression that Samsung has simply integrated a hinge and a flexible screen in an ordinary smartphone.

Folded, the RAZR measures 3.6 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.7 ounces.While we worry about the possibility of pinching our fingers because of the hinge on the previous model, I voluntarily tried to do it for more than half an hour this time, and I think theYou can say that this hinge does not pinch.

Speaking of the hinge, Motorola says she made some minor modifications so that she looks more like the RAZR in the early 2000s. It opens easily with one hand and closes with a dry and satisfactory snap.And the best is that I opened and closed the phone at least a thousand times without feeling the noise of creaky which affected the previous model.

It is also interesting to note that the hinge of the Razr 5G has two positions: open and closed.There is no flex mode as on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, or the apparently unlimited variations offered by the Microsoft Surface Duo.You cannot use the Razr 5G as a book, a tablet or a very small laptop;It's a phone, purely and simply.

I tested the dark gray model, which resists fingerprints rather well.Of course, you can see a few spots in direct sunlight, but it is not as obvious as on many other glass phones.

The power button is on the left side of the phone, while the volume switch is on the right side.The unsightly fingerprint sensor located on the chin in the previous model has been moved to the back, which is a much better place.A USB-C port and a speaker are on the lower part;There is no headphone jack, but there is a USB-C helmet adapter in the box.The absence of his stereo is a missed opportunity, especially since Motorola often uses the earphone as a speaker in other phones.

The exterior of the RAZR is home to a 2.7 -inch Peek Display screen, 800 x 600 pixels, and a 48 MP camera.The screen is essentially the same as on the latest model, but it is much more functional thanks to some software changes.In addition to basic elements such as date, time and notifications, you can now access your favorite applications, respond to texts and notifications, and use Google Assistant without the need to open the phone.

It is important to emphasize how minor these apparently minor additions are improving the global user experience.For a week of using the phone, I found that I could easily perform 50 to 60 % of my normal tasks without opening it.This is very good for battery life (we will come back to this later), but it also offers a much more precious and less tangible advantage: I discovered that I used the phone more attentively.

In the past six months, I used my phone much more often than before the implementation of COVID-19.An answer to an SMS can lead to a quick look at Twitter, and the next thing I know, 45 minutes have passed.This happens much less with the RAZR, because the Peek Display screen is large enough to manage the essentials, but too small for unnecessary scrolling.

When you have to open the phone, you will find a superb foldable Poled screen of 6.2 inch, 2,142 x 876 pixels.It is nicely bright, the colors are precise, and there is no visible fold in the place where it folds.If you touch around you, you can notice a little hollow at the place where the hinge mechanism is, but as it is in the middle of the screen, you do not feel any game when you type or do mostusual tasks.

There is no IP index, but all the internal components of the RAZR and the external input points have been protected by a waterproof coating.Motorola says that the phone can resist sweat, rain and splash;I used it in the rain more than once without problem.I used it in the rain more than once without problem.Despite everything, when you spend $ 1,400 for a phone, it is wise to pay a little more for a good case.

More energetic performance

The RAZR is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB storage capacity, of which about 228 GB are available at the box output.There is no microSD location for external storage.

The 765g chipset is smaller and more energy efficient than the 800 series processors found in the duo surface, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Z Flip, but it is not as fast in terms ofSystem performance or modem speed.That said, I currently have 27 applications and 27 chrome tabs open to the RAZR and there is not the slightest stuttering.I used it to play Alto’s Odyssey for almost two hours without meeting the slightest lag or jumping of images.

Find out how we test the phones

On Geekbench 5.0, a series of tests that measure the raw calculation power, the Razr 5G obtained a score of 616 for a single heart (SC) and 1,903 for several cores (MC).This does not make the weight in the face of the respective scores of 980 and 3 118 of the Galaxy Z Fold 2, or even the 754/2 651 of the Duo surface.But this is a good example of how benchmarks serve as a objective measurement tool to compare similar products, and do not necessarily represent day -to -day performance.Yes, these other phones are faster than the RAZR, but there is a good chance that you do not notice it during regular use.

Motorola increased battery capacity to 2,800mAh (compared to the original 2,500mAh).In our battery exhaustion test, which consists in broadcasting HD videos in Wi-Fi with full brightness, the phone held 7 hours and 51 minutes with the open screen.It’s about an hour more than the previous model.It’s not great compared to many other current phones, but don't forget that this result is obtained with the unfolded screen.When I used the Peek Display regularly, I was generally able to spend a day of regular use with around 30 % remaining battery.

The 15 W Turbo Power charger included can pass a dead battery to around 40 % in 30 minutes.Unfortunately, the phone is not equipped with a wireless load system.

Well -connected

The RAZR 5G offers global coverage LTE and 5G SUB-6GHZ.For the moment, it should benefit from 5G in 26 countries, but this number is called upon to increase.And as it takes care of the 3GHz spectrum, there is a chance that it is improved with the new waves that the FCC is auctioning later this year, although there is no guarantee that it is rectifiedWith this capacity.

Like the Galaxy Z Flip, the Razr 5G is devoid of millimeter waves connectivity.This is not a big problem at the moment, because the results of our tests on the fastest mobile networks show that there are very few 5g with millimeter waves currently available in the country.If you absolutely must have it in a foldable format, your only option in the United States to date is the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

I tested the RAZR on the T-Mobile network in Chicago and I saw solid and constant speeds.After almost two dozen tests, the average speeds were 118.4 Mbps at the bottom and 48.2 Mbps at the top.The highest speeds I have seen have reached 186.2MBPS at the bottom and 56.3MBPS at the top.

The quality of call is solid.I made several test calls and the transmissions were clear and clear.The removal of the noise works well and the volume of the earphones reaches 86 dB, which is strong enough to be heard outside.

The lower speaker is correct, but not extraordinary.It culminates at 90 dB and does not produce a notable distortion, but its location gives it a box air.It is perfect for telephone conferences and the broadcast of videos, and the Moto Audio application allows you to personalize the sound for different scenarios.

Bluetooth 5.0, bi-band Wi-Fi and NFC are supported.

Surprising cameras

The phone has a 48 Mpx camera with an f/1.7 opening and an outdoor laser autofocus, and a 20 MP camera with a F/2.2 opening inside.No, it does not have a triple outdoor sensor like the Galaxy Z Fold 2, but it also costs $ 600 less.

The 48MP and 20MP sensors both excel in good light.In test photos, I found that the images were clear, with an excellent depth of field.Motorola's colors science adopts a more conservative approach than that of many other phone manufacturers.You will therefore not see super bright and supersaturated colors, unless you take photos in pro mode or that you do not change the settings.

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The portrait mode works well overall, even if the depth mapping turned out to be a little bizarre when I placed myself in front of a background which was almost the same color as my hat.The Spot Color modes (to control the amount of color present in the photo) and Cinemagraph (to animate part of the photo while the rest remains motionless) have worked well.

In low light, the lens of 48 MP does a surprisingly good job when it is set in night mode.I took dozens of delicate photos and the RAZR managed to produce solid results each time.There is a slight loss of details in the background, but it's not worse than on the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the iPhone 11 Pro.

The 20MP sensor is correct in low light, but I don't see a good reason to use it rather than the 48MP camera.

Software

The RAZR is delivered with Android 10 and the MY UX software extensions from Motorola.For uninitiated, Motorola offers an almost stock of Android with some really useful functions that you can activate or deactivate.

Moto Audio allows you to adjust the sound settings, while Moto Game Time allows you to personalize the notification and performance settings for games.Moto gestures allows you to activate functions such as turning the phone to silence it, or make a rotation movement with your wrist to turn on the camera.

Motorola promises at least two Android updates and two years of bimonthly software assistance, and updates are generally quite fast.

Conclusions

Motorola's Razr 5G is a welcome antidote to the monotony of the generic glass sandwich.This is an improvement in its predecessor in all respects, with faster performance, better cameras, greater autonomy, 5G, and more.And with the improvements made by Motorola to the Peek Display, he can really change the way you use your phone.

The RAZR is not as powerful as the Galaxy Z Fold 2, but it is much cheaper, which puts it within the reach of people looking to spend 1,000 euros for a phone.It should be noted that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra from Samsung offers faster performance, as well as the millimeter wave 5G and a truly useful stylus for the same price as the RAZR.But it does not fold, and there is a good chance that you are not on the market for a massive phablet if you are considering this foldable phone style.So, even if the RAZR 5G will probably not be the same cultural feeling as the very original, it is likely to make some wealthy users very happy with a dose of nostalgia.

La ligne du bas

The Motorola Razr 5G is an elegant foldable phone that improves its predecessor in all respects.