Moto Razr+ (2023) vs. Moto Razr 5G: Is it time to upgrade?

• Source: Motorola

  Moto Razr+ (2023)

  Greatly improved

  $850 $1000 Save $150

  The Moto Razr+ might just be the most name-worthy Razr since the original release. With a capable Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and two large displays, this device should give the Samsung Galaxy Fold a run for its money. Too bad Motorola has abandoned the iconic Razr design.

  Professionals

  • Much better performance
  • Large external display
  • Larger 3800mAh battery

  Against

  • Dropped the iconic Razr design
  • Software Updates

• Motorola Razr 5G

  Beautiful and nostalgic

  The Moto Razr 5G has an iconic design that will create considerable nostalgia for anyone who owned one many years ago. At the time, the Razr 5G wasn’t a bad phone, but it was underpowered and has only gotten worse over the past three years. Outside of design, it can’t come close to matching the Razr+.

  Professionals

  • Iconic design
  • Decent battery life
  • Relatively large external display

  Against

  • No more software updates
  • Slow performance

When Motorola launched the Razr 5G, it was banking on a heavy dose of nostalgia from fans of the original Razr. It may not have been one of the best Android phones of the time, thanks to its average chipset and sky-high price, but Motorola has done a fantastic job recreating the iconic design. The Moto Razr+ is its latest iteration, and it might just be the most worthy device to bear the Razr name. Compared to its previous attempt with the Razr 5G, the company has changed quite a bit regarding the Razr+. Let’s find out how the two stack up against each other.

Price, availability and specifications

The Moto Razr+ launched on June 23 for $1,000, which is cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4. You can get the Razr+ through top carriers or skip them altogether and just unlock it. The Razr 5G is no longer sold new, although you may get it through some carriers at some point. It launched in 2020 with an astronomical price tag of $1,400, and over the years it has been possible to find it at a significant discount. You can still find it “used” but in good condition for around $300.

• 	Moto Razr+ (2023)	Motorola Razr 5G
  SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
  Screen	6.9″ FHD+ pOLED display, 22:9 2640 x 1080, internal LTPO 165Hz; 3.6″ pOLED display, external 1:1 1066 x 1056, 144Hz	6.2″ OLED HD+ 21:9 2142 x 876, 2.7″ OLED, external 4:3
  RAM	8GB LPDDR5	8GB
  Warehousing	256GB UFS 3.1	256GB
  Drums	3,800mAh	2800mAh
  You bring	USB-C	USB-C
  Operating system	Android 13	Android 12
  Front camera	32MP (f/2.4, 0.7m) | 8MP QuadPixels (f/2.4, 1.4um).	20MP Quad Pixel (f/2.2 aperture, 1.6m)
  Rear cameras	Main camera: 12MP (f/1.5, 1.4m), OISUltra wide angle camera: 13MP (f/2.2, 1.12m), Ultra wide angle + macro, FOV 108	48MP Quad Pixel (12MP output, f/1.7 aperture, 1.6m), OIS
  Connectivity	5G (no mmWave), LTE, Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3	AC Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1
  Dimensions	Open: 73.95 x 170.83 x 6.99mm, Closed: 73.95 x 88.42 x 15.1mm	Open: 169.2 x 72.6 x 7.9mm Closed: 91.7 x 72.6 x 16mm
  Weight	188.5g (Infinite Black, Glacier Blue) 184.5g (Vivid Magenta)	192 g
  Reload	30W fast charging, 5W wireless charging	15W fast charging (wired)
  IP classification	IP52	Water repellent
  Price	$1,000	$1,400

Project

The Razr+ ditches the iconic Razr design and instead exudes a modern foldable square. It comes with two displays, one internal and one external, and is protected on both sides by Gorilla Glass Victus. It measures 88.42 by 73.95 by 15.1mm when closed, 170.83 by 73.95 by 6.99mm when open, and weighs a relatively light 188.5g. When closed, there are two camera lenses on the top of the phone which, when opened, become rear cameras. The left side of the phone is clean with no buttons, while the right side includes power and volume buttons.

The Razr 5G has a much better design. Motorola has embraced the iconic Razr design in all its glory and created a unique looking foldable device that is more rectangular, doesn’t try to hide the hinge, and has a unique angled chin. The aluminum body is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and the phone has a stainless steel hinge. When folded, the Razr 5G is a bit longer, thinner and thicker at 91.7 by 72.6 by 16mm. When unfolded, it’s shorter, thinner, and thicker at 169.2 by 72.6 by 7.9mm. It is also a bit heavier than the Razr+ at 192g. The Razr 5G also has dual displays but only comes with one main camera. The power button is on the left side and the volume buttons are on the right.

The Razr+ has Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6e, eSIM support, stereo speakers and a side fingerprint reader; it is also IP52 rated and 5G compatible. The Razr 5G has Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi AC, eSIM support, a single bottom speaker and a rear fingerprint reader; moreover, it is water-repellent and compatible with 5G. As for colorways, the Razr+ comes in Infinite Black, Glacier Blue, and Viva Magenta (which is exclusive to T-Mobile). The Razr 5G is available in polished graphite and liquid mercury.

Screen

Like many foldable devices, these devices have an internal and an external display, but the Razr+ is the clear winner here. The external display of the Razr+ is a huge 3.6-inch pOLED display with a resolution of 1066 x 1056. It also has a 1:1 aspect ratio, is HDR10+ compatible, and supports 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. The Razr 5G’s external display falls short in almost every way: It has a 2.7-inch OLED display with an 800 x 600 resolution, with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Moving on to the internal displays, the Razr+ continues to dominate the Razr 5G. The Razr+ has a 6.9-inch 2640 x 1080 pOLED LTPO display with a 22:9 aspect ratio. It supports HDR10+, 10-bit and covers 120% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The Razr 5G has a much smaller 6.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2142 x 876p and a 21:9 aspect ratio. Of these two devices, there’s no question that the Razr+ has a superior display.

Software

If you don’t like heavy customization or Android skins, you’ll be happy to know that, as a rule, Motorola likes to run stock Android. What you might not be a fan of is their lack of timely security and Android updates. However, that could change with the three recently promised major Android updates and bi-monthly security updates for four years.

The Moto Razr+ launched with Android 13 and will receive the new update schedule promised by Motorola. The Razr 5G launched with Android 10 but has since been updated to Android 12. It will not receive further updates; it’s sad to see a $1,400 phone losing support after just three years.

Performance

With a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, the Razr+ should perform solidly. It shouldn’t have any problems with your daily activities or the latest games. On the other hand, the Razr 5G never launched with a flagship chipset, which held it back a bit. The Razr 5G has a Snapdragon 765G processor, 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 should be good for a Geekbench single-core score of 1450 and a multi-core score of 3800. It also scores an OpenCL score of 4900 and a Vulkan score of 6900. The Snapdragon 765G scores a single-core score of 775 and a multi-core score of 1820. The Razr 5G gets an OpenCL score of 1100 and a Vulkan score of 1100. The Razr+ has a much more capable chipset that will hold up much better than the 765G chipset for the Razr 5G.

Battery life

The Moto Razr+ has a 3800mAh battery and can be charged at up to 30W wired and 5W wirelessly. The Razr 5G has a 2800mAh battery and can be charged at up to 15W with cable only. It doesn’t have wireless charging but can last up to seven hours of screen time for all-day battery life. The Razr+ has larger displays and a higher pixel density, but because it has a more efficient chipset and a much larger battery, you can expect similar battery life at the very least.

Camera

The Razr+ adds more camera capabilities than the Razr 5G. It has a 12MP f/1.5 main camera with OIS and a 13MP f/2.2 ultra wide angle + macro lens with a 108 degree field of view. It also has a 32MP f/2.4 front camera. The main lens and selfie camera can record 4K up to 60fps, and the wide angle lens can record 4K and 1080P video at 30fps.

The Razr 5G has a single 48MP f/1.7 primary camera and a 20MP f/2.2 selfie camera. Its main camera can record at 4K 30fps and 1080P up to 60fps. The front camera can record 1080P up to 60fps. The additional lens on the Razr+ will make it a much more versatile system, even if the main camera is limited to just 12MP.

Which is right for you?

If you’re still holding onto your Razr 5G, now is the time to upgrade. The Razr+ is better in almost every way imaginable. It has a much improved processor, a bigger screen in a smaller package, better software updates (hopefully), and a bigger battery. If you’re looking for a new phone, this is the only real option between the two, unless you’re looking to get a foldable phone at a great price. Really, the question isn’t so much how it compares to the Razr 5G, but should you surpass it with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Fold 5?

For those of you who still hold the Razr 5G near and dear to your hearts and are happy with its overall performance, hold on to the phone until it stops working for you. While it has an arguably better and more nostalgic design, it falls short in almost every other way.