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Motorola has just brought a new foldable smartphone to the US. It’s the Razr 2023 clamshell foldable, also known as the Razr 40 in some international markets. The company unveiled it alongside the Motorola Razr+ (aka Razr 40 Ultra) in June, but only the Plus model was available in the US so far. The standard Razr 2023 is finally here.
Motorola Razr 2023 debuts in the US with an affordable price tag
Priced at $699.99, the Motorola Razr 2023 is the most affordable foldable smartphone in North America. In fact, it’s the cheapest folding phone yet globally, with the Tecno Phantom V Flip priced identically in other markets. The new Razr massively undercuts Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola’s Razr+ in terms of pricing. The latter two cost $999.99.
As you’d expect, the phone’s cheaper because it compromises on a few things. Most notably, it sports a much smaller cover display. Motorola has equipped it with a 1.5-inch rectangular screen on the outside. The Razr+ has a square-shaped 3.6-inch external display. The standard model’s cover screen won’t let you run apps, but you can still check notifications, control media, and more.
Motorola has also downgraded the Razr 2023 to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, which is a mid-range processor (the Plus model uses the flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1). It gets UFS 2.2 storage (128GB and 256GB) as opposed to UFS 3.1 (256GB and 512GB). RAM downgrades from LPDDR5 to LPDDR4X. The cheaper foldable misses out on a glass back as well, with the company slapping vegan leather rear panels on it with the same IP52 water-repellent coating.
The main folding screen is the same across the two models, though Motorola is offering a higher refresh rate on the Razr+ (144Hz vs. 165Hz). Coming to the cameras, the Razr 2023 features a 64MP primary shooter with laser autofocus, PDAF (phase-detection autofocus), and OIS (optical image stabilization). It’s paired with a 13MP ultrawide lens and a 32MP selfie camera. The Razr+ has a 12MP main camera but keeps the other two sensors unchanged.
Motorola promises three major Android OS updates
The Motorola Razr 2023 compromises in most of the areas except for the battery capacity. It features a 4,200mAh batter, much bigger than the Plus model’s 3,800mAh unit. The device supports 30W wired charging and 5W wireless charging. It also boasts dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and runs Android 13 out of the box. Motorola says the phone will get three major Android OS updates and four years of security updates following its launch.
Speaking on the launch, the Razr 2023 will be available for pre-order (via) in the US from Thursday, October 12. TGeneral sales will begin a week later, on October 19. Early buyers will get a flat $100 discount on the phone, bringing it down to just $599.99, which is an unbeatable price for a new foldable smartphone. The handset comes in a range of vibrant colors, including Cherry Blossom, Sage Green, Summer Lilac, and Vanilla Cream.
