The latest budget Razr
The Razr 2026 is the latest and (almost) greatest budget flip phone from Motorola. It’s more expensive than its predecessor, and it has half the storage. Looking past those two drawbacks, the Razr 2026 is a surprisingly complete phone. It has an upgraded processor, ultrawide camera, and battery.
Pros
- Improved MediaTek Dimension 7450X
- Larger 4,800mAh battery capacity
- Upgraded 50MP ultrawide lens
- Android 16 with three years of Android OS upgrades
Cons
- $100 more expensive than Razr 2025
- Half the storage as Razr 2025
- Same primary camera sensor
- Same displays, thickness, and weight
The cheaper pick
The Motorola Razr 2025 is even cheaper today than it was a year ago. Its specs won’t wow you on paper, but getting a modern foldable for around $500 or less is still impressive. It has quite a bit in common with the newer Razr 2026, including the displays and main camera.
Pros
- Solid 50MP main camera sensor
- 3.6-inch pOLED cover screen is usable for basic tasks
- 4,500mAh battery is solid for the size
- Cheaper
Cons
- MediaTek Dimension 7400X chip occasionally lags behind
- Limited software support with just two years of Android OS upgrades remaining
- Weaker 13MP ultrawide lens
Motorola Razr 2026 vs. Razr 2025: Design and displays
The design and displays of the Motorola Razr 2026 and Razr 2025 are extremely similar. That shouldn’t be too surprising, since this is a tried-and-true Razr form factor that usually stays the same to enable an affordable price. From the outside, these two budget Razrs are identical. They have the same 15.85mm thickness when shut and weigh exactly 188 grams each.
The similarities extend to the screens, where both the Razr 2026 and Razr 2025 have 3.6-inch cover displays and 6.9-inch main displays. The smaller outer screen allows Motorola to put a colorful bezel above the display matching the PANTONE finishes on the back. I’m sure most people would prefer the larger Plus or Ultra cover screens if given the choice, but the PANTONE chassis on the front is certainly a nice compromise.
Even the brightness and refresh rates of each display are consistent across the two models. The Razr 2026 and Razr 2025 both sport a 120Hz main screen with 3,000 nits of peak brightness. Meanwhile, the cover screens only support 90Hz refresh rates and 1,700 nits of peak brightness.
In terms of durability, the two phones have a titanium-reinforced hinge mechanism and IP48 protection against dust and water. They’re not completely dustproof like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but the IP48 rating is decent for phones at this price point. The two phones each offer Gorilla Glass on the cover screen for scratch and crack protection.
For the second straight year, the base-model Razr offers the most expansive set of colorways of the Razr models. The Razr 2026 is sold in PANTONE Hematite, PANTONE Violet Ice, PANTONE Sporting Green, and PANTONE Bright White. For the Razr 2025, you can choose between PANTONE Spring Bud, PANTONE Gibraltar Sea, PANTONE Parfait Pink, and PANTONE Lightest Sky.
Motorola Razr 2026 vs. Razr 2025: Hardware and specs
Aside from the aforementioned downgrade to 128GB storage, the Motorola Razr 2026 upgrades the Razr 2025’s hardware in numerous ways. The MediaTek Dimensity 7450X chip is more powerful than the 7400X inside the Razr 2025, even though both models have 8GB of memory. These are both still budget chipsets, but the Razr 2026 will have a slightly newer and more powerful processor than the Razr 2025.
Each phone comes with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos audio. For connectivity, you get Bluetooth 5.4 Low Energy support, 5G, and Wi-Fi 6E. There’s a fingerprint sensor on the side power button for biometrics, in addition to face unlock compatibility.
|
Category |
Motorola Razr 2026 |
Motorola Razr 2025 |
|---|---|---|
|
OS |
Android 16 (Hello UX) |
Android 15 (Hello UX) |
|
Display (internal) |
6.9-inch, Extreme AMOLED, 1080 x 2640, LTPO 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 3,000 nits peak brightness |
6.9-inch, AMOLED, FHD+, 413ppi, LTPO 120Hz, HDR10+, 3,000 nits peak brightness |
|
Display (external) |
3.6-inch, Extreme AMOLED, 1056 x 1066 LTPS 90Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1,700 nits peak brightness |
3.6-inch, pOLED, 413ppi, LTPS 90Hz, 1,700 nits peak brightness |
|
Chipset |
MediaTek Dimensity 7450X |
MediaTek Dimensity 7400X |
|
RAM |
8GB LPDDR5X |
8GB LPDDR4X |
|
Storage |
128GB |
256GB UFS 2.2 |
|
Rear Camera 1 |
50MP (1.6μm Quad Pixel), OIS, f/1.7 |
50MP, f/1.7, 0.8μm, OIS, Quad Pixel |
|
Rear Camera 2 |
50MP ultrawide (1.28μm Quad Pixel), f/2.0, 122-degree FoV, Autofocus with macro support |
13MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 120° FOV, 1.12 μm |
|
Selfie Camera |
32MP(1.28μm Quad Pixel), f/2.4 |
32MP (f/2.4, 0.7μm) |
|
Audio |
3 mics, dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos |
3 mics, dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos |
|
Connectivity |
5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC |
|
Security |
Fingerprint sensor, Face unlock |
Fingerprint sensor, Face unlock |
|
Protection |
IP48, MIL-STD 810H titanium hinge, Gorilla Glass Victus |
IP48 |
|
Battery |
4,800mAh, 30W wired charging, 15W wireless charging |
4,500mAh, 30W wired charging, 15W wireless charging |
|
Dimensions (open) |
73.99 x 171.3 x 7.25mm |
73.99 x 171.3 x 7.25mm |
|
Dimensions (closed) |
73.99 x 88.08 x 15.85mm |
73.99 x 88.08 x 15.85mm |
|
Weight |
188g |
188g |
|
Colors |
PANTONE Hematite, PANTONE Violet Ice, PANTONE Sporting Green, PANTONE Bright White |
PANTONE Spring Bud, PANTONE Gibraltar Sea, PANTONE Parfait Pink, PANTONE Lightest Sky |
Motorola Razr 2026 vs. Razr 2025: Cameras
The biggest quality-of-life upgrade is the new battery. The Razr 2026 includes a fresh 4,800mAh battery capacity, enabling a longer runtime. The Razr 2025’s 4,500mAh is solid for the price point and form factor, but the newer model takes battery capacity to the next level. Both phones support 30W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
Finally, we have the cameras. Both phones utilize a 50MP rear primary camera and a 32MP front-facing camera on the inside. However, the Razr 2026 upgrades the ultrawide camera to use a 50MP sensor and a wider 122-degree field of view. The Razr 2025’s ultrawide lens is only 13MP and has a slightly narrower 120-degree field of view. If you care about the quality and detail of your wide shots, the Razr 2026 will offer a noticeable improvement.
There are software tweaks and new features to the Razr 2026 camera system, too. You get a Frame Match feature that uses software to add a stencil-like overlay to the camera viewfinder. So, you’d take a picture of the angle you want, hand the Razr 2026 over to your photographer, and they’ll match the viewfinder with the outline to take the perfect photo of you. It all but eliminates bad photos, even with inexperienced photographers.
The Razr 2026 also adds Rotate to Zoom, which lets you twist your wrist to zoom in or out in camcorder mode. While the Razr 2025 does have camcorder mode, it’s unclear whether these new features will come to the older model.
Motorola Razr 2026 vs. Razr 2025: Which should you buy?
It’s rare that I compare two smartphones and end up at the conclusion that both phones are solid values at their respective price point, but that’s where the Razr 2026 and Razr 2025 have left me. I wish the Motorola Razr 2026 either kept its $699 price point or retained its 256GB of storage. However, with rising smartphone prices industry-wide, the Razr 2026 is still a decent value even with only 128GB of storage. It launches with Android 16 and three years of Android OS upgrades to follow, so it’ll be able to last.
Meanwhile, the Razr 2025 only has two Android OS upgrades remaining, and it has weaker hardware overall (excluding that coveted 256GB storage). The price reflects the hardware, though, since you can find brand-new Razr 2025 phones for around $500. It’s a win-win scenario, because you can take the weaker hardware and shorter software support window to save, or you can pay more for the upgrades and longer support.
If you can wait, my recommendation would be to be patient and let Razr 2026 discounts come to you. In a few months, we’ll probably see Motorola and partner retailers take $100 or $200 off the price of a Razr 2026. That would certainly sweeten the deal, and make the Razr 2026 just as good of a value as the cheaper models that came before it.
The battery pick
There are a handful of Razr 2026 upgrades to consider, but the biggest one is battery life. With a larger 4,800mAh capacity, the Razr 2026 will last longer than its predecessor. Throw in a new chip and upgraded ultrawide camera, and it’s easy to justify splurging for the latest model.
The budget pick
The Motorola Razr 2025 doesn’t have as new a chip or as big of a battery as the Razr 2026, but it does have double the onboard storage. It also comes in at around $300 cheaper when accounting for current discounts. If you can live with only two more years of Android OS upgrades, it’s a compelling alternative to the newer model.