If you’re looking for one of the best folding phones, the new Motorola Razr 2025 is likely high on your list. It offers the iconic Motorola experience at a more affordable price than its siblings, and as I discovered in our Razr 2025 review, it still feels just as premium, especially thanks to its larger battery.
However, folding phones won’t be for everyone, and while the Razr 2025 features cutbacks in well-done ways, it’s still not as premium as its more illustrious siblings. There’s the Razr Plus 2025, essentially the same as the Razr 2024, and the new Razr Ultra 2025, the best flip phone you can buy right now.
If you’re not set on the Razr 2025 and want to explore the best alternatives, here are five phones you can buy instead, and why.
Motorola Razr Ultra 2025
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You can’t talk about flip phones without including the best right now, the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025. It brings the essence of the Ultra concept to flagship phones, and while it doesn’t feature dedicated telephoto lenses like its nonfolding namesakes, the Razr Ultra 2025 packs everything else you could want from a flip phone.
The Razr Ultra 2025 is powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite that powers most of the best phones. It’s the full 8-core version, not the 7-core, less powerful version used in thin phones like the Oppo Find N5. It has the largest main display of any flip phone at 7 inches, the biggest battery at 4,700 mAh, and two 50MP cameras that capture great photos in most lighting conditions.
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The 4-inch Cover Display takes over the entire front of the phone and offers the full suite of Motorola’s software features. These allow you to use the display like a 4-inch smartphone and run any app or widget. Like every phone, there’s a lot of AI with Motorola and Google Gemini introducing new AI features, offerings from Microsoft CoPilot and Perplexity preloaded, and three months free of Perplexity Pro.
If there’s something the Motorola Razr 2025 is missing for you, the Razr Ultra 2025 almost certainly solves it. The distinct wood finish is also available only on Motorola’s flagship flip phone.
Google Pixel 9a
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If the $700 price tag on the Razr 2025 is too high for you, and you like the clutter-free, material design of the Razr 2025 interface, you should consider the affordable Google Pixel 9a. It offers the core experience of the flagship Pixel 9 series, but does so at a significantly lower price.
Starting at $499, it’s $200 cheaper than the Razr 2025 and offers a dual camera paired with Google’s camera algorithm prowess. The 48MP main camera is particularly capable, while the 13MP main camera may yield similar results to the Razr 2025, although it does lack autofocus capabilities.
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The Pixel 9a is powered by the flagship Tensor G4, which is Google’s answer to the Apple A18 or Snapdragon 8 Elite used by Apple and many others. One particularly noteworthy feature is the 5,100 mAh battery, the largest of any Pixel and 13% larger than the 4,500 mAh battery in the Razr 2025.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple’s dual-camera might get overshadowed by the Pixel 10.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
If you like the Razr 2025’s size and don’t mind compromises, like the lack of a telephoto camera, and want an equally large display and battery, you should consider the Apple iPhone 16 Plus. It offers a dual camera setup like the Razr 2025, and the range of iPhone 16 colors is also quite stylish, just like Motorola’s new smartphone.
Battery life is a key strength of the Razr 2025, and the iPhone 16 Plus is equally impressive. The A18 processor is rapid and should be smoother than the MediaTek Dimensity 7400X in the Razr 2025. The 48MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide are fairly evenly matched with the 50MP and 13MP cameras used in Motorola’s base flip phone.
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The iPhone 16 Plus costs more than the Razr 2025, and there are definite downgrades, such as a lower refresh rate and a lack of an always-on display. The iPhone 16 Plus also lacks the wow factor that the Razr 2025’s form factor naturally provides, but it’s a great option if you aren’t ready to switch from Apple’s ecosystem.
OnePlus Open
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If you like the idea of a folding phone but prefer the book-style form factor that turns a smartphone into a tablet, look no further than the OnePlus Open. Although it’s over a year old, it remains the best all-around book-style folding phone in the US. Many are sold outside the US, including its successor, the Oppo Find N5, but this is the best in the US right now.
One reason to pick the Open over a newer device like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or Galaxy Z Fold 6 is its camera. The triple camera setup pairs a 48MP main with a 48MP ultrawide and a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom that can take great photos at up to 100x. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is two generations old, but the OnePlus Open still offers a fast experience, and the 4,805 mAh battery lasts for days.
You could also consider many other phones instead of the Razr 2025, but the list is far shorter than you may expect. The Razr 2025 punches above its price and proves that the best folding phones can be both affordable and fabulous.
If you’ve been looking for a new clamshell phone, chances are that you’ve been considering either the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Motorola’s Razr lineup. The Razr Plus 2024 was the best flip phone last year, while the Razr 2024 offered a similar experience at a more affordable price. To follow up, this year, Motorola has decided to go one step further.
For the first time, Motorola has launched three new flip phones at varying price points with distinct specifications. The new Razr Ultra 2025 is designed to be the first true flagship flip phone, but the Razr Plus 2025 and Razr 2025 also build on last year’s successful flip phones.
What are the key differences? Do you need the new Razr Ultra 2025, and which one should you buy? Let’s take a look.
Razr Ultra 2025 vs Razr Plus vs Razr 2025: specs
Moto Razr Ultra 2025
Moto Razr Plus 2025
Moto Razr 2025
Dimensions
Open: 171.5 x 74 x 7.2 mm Closed: 88.1 x 74 x 15.7 mm
Open: 73.99 x 171.4 x 7.09mm Closed: 73.99 x 88.1 x 15.32mm
Open: 74 x 171.3 x 7.3 mm Closed: 74 x 88.1 x 15.9 mm
Weight
199 grams
189 grams
188 grams
Display
Main: 7-inch, foldable pOLED 1224 x 2912 pixels, 464 ppi HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 165Hz 4,500 nits peak brightness
Gibraltar Sea, Spring Bud, Lightest Sky, Parfait Pink
Price
$1,299.99
$999.99
$699.99
Razr Ultra 2025 vs Razr Plus vs Razr 2025: design and display
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
All three phones adhere to the same iconic design language that Motorola has refined and perfected over the past few years, but subtle differences in design and finish ensure they remain distinct from one another.
All three phones feature a large cover display, but the Razr 2025 features a smaller 3.5-inch Cover Display compared to the 4-inch Cover Display on the Razr Ultra 2025 and Razr Plus 2025. Despite the difference in size, the core Cover Display experience remains the same across all three devices. The peak brightness also differs, with the Razr Ultra 2025’s 3,000 nits significantly outperforming the Razr Plus and Razr 2025, which feature peak brightnesses of 2,400 nits and 1,700 nits, respectively.
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When you unfold them, the Razr 2025 and Razr Plus 2025 feature the same 6.9-inch main display, with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, HDR10+ support, and Gorilla Glass protection. The Razr 2025 supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, while the Razr Plus 2025 increases this to 165Hz and adds support for Dolby Vision.
Meanwhile, the Razr Ultra 2025 boasts the largest main display on a flip phone, measuring 7 inches, and is equipped with Dolby Vision, Ultra HDR image support, and a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. The peak brightness is also significantly better at up to 4,500 nits.
Razr Plus 2025 in Mocha MousseNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
There are subtle differences between the three devices in size and finish as well. The Razr Ultra 2025 measures 171.5 mm tall, which is 0.1 mm taller than the Razr Plus 2025 and 0.2 mm taller than the Razr 2025. Meanwhile, at 7.2 mm thick, it’s slightly thicker than the Razr Plus 2025 (7.1 mm) but thinner than the Razr 2025 (7.3 mm). While these differences are barely noticeable, the Razr Ultra 2025 is also 10 grams heavier than its siblings, which is a noticeable difference.
All three phones come in a range of finishes (more on that below) and follow the same overall design language, featuring a side-mounted fingerprint sensor beneath the two volume keys on the right side of the phone. The Razr Ultra 2025 also features an AI key on the left, designed to provide quick access to a range of new Moto AI features.
Winner: Moto Razr Ultra 2025, just. If money is no object, the Razr Ultra 2025 has slightly improved specs over its siblings. However, the Razr Plus 2025 is exceptionally compelling, as is the Razr 2025.
Razr Ultra 2025 vs Razr Plus vs Razr 2025: performance and battery
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Flip phones face considerable challenges in terms of performance and battery life, especially since the phone maker must also account for two displays. To address these two problems, Motorola built the Razr Ultra 2025, marking the first flip phone to tackle these key issues.
The Razr 2025 is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7400X processor, which is virtually identical to the 7300X processor that powered last year’s Razr 2024, but with a slightly higher clock speed. It’s paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Meanwhile, the Razr Plus 2025 utilizes the same Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor as last year’s model, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The Razr Ultra 2025 throws the rulebook out of the window and uses the same flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite processor that’s found in many of the best phones. Unlike the super-slim Oppo Find N5, it utilizes the full 8-core version of the processor, paired with 16GB of RAM and either 512GB or 1TB of storage. These are flagship specifications that result in a true flagship experience with far fewer compromises than any other flip phone.
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The other key issue with flip phones is their limited battery life, and the Razr Ultra 2025 also addresses this problem. The Razr Plus 2025 features the same 4,000 mAh battery as the Razr Plus 2024, complete with 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wired charging. Meanwhile, the Razr 2025 features a larger battery than its predecessor, at 4,500 mAh, while retaining the same 30W charging and 15W wireless charging capabilities.
The Razr Ultra 2025 demonstrates that a flip phone doesn’t need to compromise on battery life. The 4,700 mAh battery is the largest in a flip phone to date, but Motorola has also paired it with 68W wired charging, 30W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wired charging. The Razr Ultra 2025 pushes the boundaries of battery and charging, and shows that you don’t need to compromise.
Winner: Razr Ultra 2025. This is no contest; the larger battery, faster charging, and true flagship processor make the Razr Ultra 2025 the one to buy if performance and battery life are your top priorities.
Razr Ultra 2025 vs Razr Plus vs Razr 2025: cameras
The cameras on the Razr Ultra 2025Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
Until the Razr Plus 2024, every flip phone followed the same dual-camera setup: a main camera, paired with an ultra-wide. Last year, Motorola decided to drop the ultra-wide in favor of a telephoto camera, meaning you had to determine which was most important to you. This year, Motorola is reversing course, to some extent.
All three phones feature a virtually identical main camera, with Motorola prioritizing consistency across the setup. The Razr 2025 and Razr Plus 2025 feature a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a 0.8µm pixel size, dual-pixel phase detection autofocus, and optical image stabilization (OIS). The Razr 2025 pairs this with a 13MP ultra-wide sensor, while the Razr Plus pairs this with a 50MP telephoto lens that offers 2x optical zoom.
While those two phones require you to decide which secondary camera lens is more important to you, the Razr Ultra 2025 combines the best of both worlds into a single device. The 50MP main camera is virtually identical to its siblings, but crucially, Motorola achieves the same 2x optical zoom as the Razr Plus 2025 thanks to in-sensor cropping. It pairs this lens with a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, effectively offering a triple-camera setup that’s similar to the one found in many flagship phones.
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
There are also differences in the camera features, especially as some require the additional power offered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The Razr Ultra 2025 features several AI-powered features, including Group Shot, which captures multiple frames within a second and blends them to ensure everyone is looking directly at the camera, and Action Shot, which helps you take blur-free photos of moving objects by automatically adjusting the shutter speed based on different lighting conditions. However, it’s unclear whether the Razr Plus 2025 and Razr 2025 will get all of these features or offer fewer features thanks to the limitations of their processors and internal hardware.
Winner: Razr Ultra 2025. Unsurprisingly, the Razr Ultra 2025 offers the least compromises in a flip phone camera to date. Not only does it effectively offer a triple-camera setup, but it also features the full suite of AI-powered camera features.
Razr Ultra 2025 vs Razr Plus vs Razr 2025: software and updates
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
All three phones run on Android 15, equipped with the same core Motorola software experiences, and come with a promise of three years of software updates and four years of security updates.
They all have the same Cover Display software experience, which allows you to use the front display as a compact phone. New for this year is the ability to add direct shortcuts from the communications panel to features inside a variety of apps, as well as add up to three separate apps and widget panels.
All three also feature the same core Moto AI experience. This includes improved versions of the first-generation Moto AI experiences, including Catch Me Up to summarize personal notifications, Pay Attention to start a voice recording complete with transcription, and Remember This to save a screenshot with notes and quickly recall it later.
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
They also come equipped with Moto AI 2.0, which includes the Next Move feature. This feature analyzes what’s on screen and recommends next steps, such as saving important information, creating a playlist in Playlist Studio, or generating an image, sticker, or avatar in Image Studio. All three feature Gemini and Gemini Live directly from the Cover Display and come with both Perplexity Pro and Microsoft CoPilot preloaded out of the box.
The Razr Ultra 2025 features a dedicated AI key to launch Moto AI from anywhere, as well as a new hands-free mode. When you place the Razr Ultra 2025 in stand or tent mode — i.e., when the phone is half folded — you can glance at the screen and use Moto AI features without needing to touch the screen.
Winner: Tie. Yes, the Razr Ultra 2025 features a dedicated AI key and one exclusive Moto AI feature, and the more powerful processor ensures it’ll run Moto AI far smoother than its siblings. However, all three phones offer the same overall experience.
Razr Ultra 2025 vs Razr Plus vs Razr 2025: price and availability
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
The most noticeable differences between the three devices are the choice of Razr 2025 colors and finishes, as well as the price tag associated with all three phones.
The Razr 2025 starts at $699.99 and is available in a choice of four finishes: Gibraltar Sea (navy blue), Lightest Sky (white), Parfait Pink, and Spring Bud (light green). Meanwhile, the Razr Plus 2025 starts at $999.99 and comes in the same colors and leather-backed finish as last year’s model: Midnight Blue, Hot Pink, and Pantone Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse.
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The most unique is the Razr Ultra 2025, which starts at $1,299.99 and has a choice of four distinct finishes. The Scarab model features Italian Alcanatara leather for the first time on a smartphone. The Rio Red and Cabaret (pink) models feature the same leather-like finish introduced last year. The most unique finish is the Mountain Trail, which features an FSC-certified wood finish, marking the first time Motorola has used wood in a phone in over a decade.
Should you buy the Razr Ultra 2025, Razr Plus 2025, or Razr 2025?
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
The Razr Ultra 2025 proves that you can have a flip phone that does it al,l but this comes at a price: $300 more than the Razr Plus 2025, to be precise. For this, you get a vastly improved overall experience that’s designed to address all the key flaws of a flip phone. While it’s the most expensive overall, the Razr Ultra 2025 is also the most capable and almost certainly the best flip phone you can buy.
However, the price tag also means it won’t work for everyone, and this is where it gets murkier. The Razr 2025 appears to be an outstanding device, offering a compelling experience at half the price of the Razr Ultra 2025. Yet, the Razr Plus 2024 is identical to this year’s Razr Plus 2025, and currently costs just $799.99, making it arguably the better choice. That said, whichever Razr 2025 model you buy, you’ll get the most refined flip phone experience.
One is my favorite things about Motorola phones is that they stand out. Unlike most phone makers, who opt for boring colors, Motorola’s unique brand identity and its partnership with Pantone usually yield interesting and distinctive color choices designed to make a statement.
The new Razr 2025 series continues in this mold, as the three phones — the Razr 2025, Razr Plus 2025, and Razr Ultra 2025 — come in a host of different colors with striking material finishes, including a world first on a smartphone.
I spent time with nine of the ten color choices across the entire range during a preview event in New York City yesterday. All ten are inspired by different Pantone colors, with the Pantone name used in each of the official product names. What colors are available for each of the Razr 2025 series models, and which one is my favorite for each model? Read on to find out!
The best Razr 2025 color
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Let’s kick things off with the Razr 2025. It’s the entry-level of the three phones this year, but it still gets a splash of color in its unique way. Last year, Motorola introduced a hot orange color, which remains one of the best smartphone colors available. However, this year, the company has opted for different colors that still make a statement.
All four Razr 2025 models feature a plush leather-like finish on the rear. If you don’t want a color that makes a bold statement, the Gibraltar Sea model features a rich, navy color that complements any outfit you wear. If you’d rather something lighter that still doesn’t make too much of a splash, the Lightest Sky model features a white rear finish with a subtle pattern and a matching white front fascia that helps accentuate the unique design of the phone.
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The other two colors stand out much more. The Parfait Pink is a light pink model which we unfortunately didn’t get to see. The Spring Bud is a gorgeous light green model that’s by far my favorite, at least without seeing the pink model. These two color choices are designed to be immediately noticeable, and if you don’t mind something truly different, the spring bud is the way to go.
The best Razr Plus 2025 color
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The Razr Plus 2025 comes in three colors, and two of these will be very familiar if you saw the Razr Plus 2024. Last year’s flagship Razr was my favorite flip phone of the year, especially in the hot pink color, and it’s no surprise that I enjoy the pink one this year as well.
This year’s Razr Plus also comes in Pantone’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, which features a brown finish that’s less striking than the hot pink but still makes a statement in its own way. Alongside this, the third color is a rich Midnight Blue, featuring a two-tone shade on the back that’s reminiscent of a racing stripe.
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Since the first Razr Plus remake in 2023, I’ve loved the Magneta and Hot Pink colors, and this year’s Hot Pink Razr Plus 2025 is still my favorite. It’s virtually identical to last year’s colorway, although it has a subtle change in the rear leather finish. If you loved the Hot Pink last year, this year’s variant will also delight you.
The best Razr Ultra 2025 color
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
Now to the newest member of the family, and the first Ultra flip phone ever made. To celebrate this milestone of building a flagship flip phone, Motorola has opted for the largest variety of colors and finishes in its Razr lineup to date.
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First, there’s the new Pantone Scarab color, which may appear dark blue in product photos but is a unique greenish-brown shade. This model is paired with Alcantara leather, which is made exclusively in Italy. It’s the first time that alcantara leather has been used on a smartphone, and while it’s incredibly unique, it’s my least favorite of the four color choices.
Next are two colors that will likely be familiar. The Rio Red model features a rich red color reminiscent of the red used in previous Razr phones, while the Cabaret color is a beautiful pink that is also similar to last year’s. Both feature subtle changes to the leather finish and some unique design flourishes, but for the most part, they’re nearly identical to previous models.
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One of the most unique features on a Motorola phone in the past was the wood back used on the Moto X a decade ago. This year, the same style of finish is making a return to Motorola’s lineup in the form of the Pantone Mountain Trail color on the Razr Ultra 2025.
Unlike the rest of the Razr 2025 lineup, it’s the only model not to feature a leather finish. It uses FSC-certified wood to ensure that it’s sustainable, durable, and stylish, but it would have been nice to see Motorola opt for a teak or mahogany finish with darker grains. It’s unclear whether the same wood finish and pattern are used on each model, or if there are subtle differences; however, it’s one of the most unique finishes available on a smartphone now.
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I love the look of the wood finish, but my primary concern is whether it offers as much grip. From my initial preview, it isn’t any more slippery than the leather finishes, but it also lacks the inherent grip found in those finishes. The wood finish is easier to pull in and out of your jeans pocket, will probably be easier to clean, and less likely to develop a patina over time, so it should remain the most interesting color. However, it’s not my favorite color: I’ve loved Motorola’s pink and red colorways, and that’s no different with the Ultra. Most likely, I’ll pick the Rio Red model, although the wood finish is a strong contender just for its uniqueness.
Even if you don’t agree with my specific choices, one thing is certain: the Razr 2025 series has the most unique set of colors on a smartphone today. In a world where smartphone colors and finishes have become fairly homogenous, it’s great to see a smartphone maker stand out in creative ways.