Samsung’s second attempt at the Galaxy Fold is on the way. But a potentially more interesting foldable phone on the horizon is Motorola’s reinvention of the early noughties favourite: the Razr flip phone, which might debut later this year.
I put the two devices head-to-head in January based on what I wanted to see in the updated Razr, but new details have emerged which have changed the landscape. With what we know of the Galaxy Fold, here’s how I think the Razr V4 could be the superior foldable handset.
Flipping design principles on their head
Any excitement around the Motorola Ravr V4 is likely to be based on the familiar flip phone shape. It’s not just the nostalgia that works here, though, it’s also a more logical frame for a foldable phone. It’s a true evolution of a long-dead design concept.
Part of the issue with Samsung’s Fold – and Huawei’s Mate X (outside of the Android issues) – is that it struggles to step away from being gimmicky. The fact that it had to be recalled from reviewers because the folding part broke only made the situation worse.
Its large book-like shape – and secondary clunky phone shape – doesn’t come across like a practical, everyday, device. Rather it looks like an expensive concept device that’s cool to watch YouTube videos about.
The Razr phone shouldn’t have this problem. Not only is a flip phone an established concept, the device is also half its extended size when folded away. Reducing a smartphone to the size of something near a credit card flies in the face of tried-and-tested smartphone design principles. Bigger screens have been popular for years, but jury is out on the bigger frame. I’m willing to bet that combining a big screen with a small frame will be extremely popular.
Test drive
The latest rumour – from Dutch site Lets Go Digital – says that Motorola will price the Razr at €1500 and hints that the US price will be $1500 too. If so, that’s a lot cheaper than Samsung’s $1980 Galaxy Fold.
A cheaper price is key to making foldable technology remotely popular. As I said earlier, these kinds of devices are at risk of being instantly dismissed as pointless, expensive gimmicks. The cheaper the price and the more practical the shape, then the better chance the device – and the technology in general – has.
With that said, it’s still too expensive. Early adopters may be put off by the Galaxy Fold’s well publicised failings and a high price. The report suggests that the device will be mid-range, although it doesn’t delve any deeper than that. If that’s accurate, then expect a lower resolution display and a less powerful chipset with a middling camera. Although mid-range phones do tend to have bigger batteries and last longer because of that less demanding display.
$1500 for a mid-range phone, regardless of how snazzy it is, is hard to justify. So, If that price is accurate, then Motorola should consider – at the very least – offering a try-before-you-buy promotion, similar to Samsung’s “Test Drive” promotion in 2015. Allay people’s fears and let them see how good the tech is first hand. If you’re asking people to take an expensive leap of faith, then you should make it as easy as possible for them.
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