Revamped Review: The Motorola Razr 60 Ultra: A Near-Perfection Foldable Smartphone Held Back by Update Commitment
Innovation Test - Motorola Razr 60 Ultra: Boasting a Potential Game-Changing Feature - a Valve System?
By Quentin Lorichon | Tech Journalist
Published on
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Contents
- Design: Almost Unchanged, Yet Stylish (4/5)
- Connectivity: Top-Notch (5/5)
- Screens: Dazzling Brilliance (5/5)
- Performance: Powerful, But Gets Hot (4/5)
- Photos: Balanced and Impressive (4/5)
- Battery Life: Enduring for a Foldable (4.5/5)
- Durability/Repairability: Its Biggest Downfall (3/5)
- Alternatives: Best Choices to the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra
- Conclusion
Motorola reborn the Razr in 2019, marking a comeback to the world of foldable smartphones. After a promising Razr 50 Ultra, it's now the Razr 60 Ultra's turn to showcase Motorola's tech prowess. A fierce competitor among foldable smartphones, the Razr 60 Ultra faces the Xiaomi MIX Flip and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. Here's what we uncovered after three weeks of testing the top-of-the-line model.
Design: Almost Unchanged, Yet Stylish (4/5)
Motorola has made only minor tweaks to the design, with the exception of fresh new colors. The camera sensors align similarly to the previous year, while the screen artfully surrounds them. Our test unit features an exclusive green Alcantara coating that gives a premium touch - but be prepared to clean it regularly, as dust and crumbs tend to stick.
© Quentin Lorichon for our site The 7-inch screen is mighty impressive, despite the phone's relatively slim width. One-handed use can be challenging. The side-mounted hinges allow seamless folding and unfolding. The phone adjusts to various positions without issue. A remarkable aspect: the pre-installed screen protector should remain intact for proper functioning of the opening mechanism.
Connectivity: Top-Notch (5/5)
The device boasts the latest connectivity standards, including:
- Wi-Fi 7: Allowing access to bands 5 and 6, enabling above-average speeds[2]
- Bluetooth 5.4: Compatible with LE audio for low-power connections. Our attempts to verify compatibility with LC3 and Auracast codes failed[3]
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2: Allowing theoretical speeds up to 20 Gbit/s
Main display measures 7 inches diagonally, with 1224 x 2912 pixels The smartphone's 7-inch screen is the largest we've seen on a flip phone, excluding foldable formats[1]. It features an adaptive refresh rate of 1-165 images per second, conserving battery life by adjusting to displayed content. Our Lab examined color accuracy and brightness:
Peak Luminosity in SDR at 449 cd/m2 Peak Luminosity in HDR at 2,174 cd/m2 Readability under sunlight is effortless, while the internal panel calibration is impressive despite a slight color shift, with Delta E measured at 2.47 and 4.51 for SDR and HDR, respectively. The discrepancy in HDR mode remains perceptible to the human eye.
Performance: Powerful, But Gets Hot (4/5)
Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which pairs various processors, users can expect smooth performance in all situations. Despite this, the device tends to heat up significantly during benchmark apps or extensive gaming sessions[6]. This overheating issue could raise concerns about potential structural damage. It's important to note that the Razr 60 Ultra is the first foldable smartphone to include a Snapdragon 8 Elite, improving its performance compared to competitor devices using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Although the chip is throttled, its output is still sufficient for day-to-day use[7].
Photos: A Well-Balanced and Convincing Set (4/5)
Motorola has switched out the 50MP telephoto lens in favor of an ultra-wide-angle lens with the same resolution and an f/2.0 aperture, equivalent to a 12mm lens. It complements the 50MP wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture, equivalent to a 24mm lens. Daytime shots produce excellent exposure, detail, and color fidelity. However, edges may lack detail. Nighttime shots are also pleasing, with colors remaining natural and noise levels minimal.
© Quentin Lorichon for our siteThe ultra-wide-angle lens also delivers acceptable results. The level of detail is sufficient at the center but decreases further from the center. Some chromatic aberrations are noticeable, and texture smoothing occurs earlier than on the main module.
The smartphone is capable of recording up to 8K/30fps, 4K/120fps, or 1080p/240fps for slow-motion footage. Motorola's innovative feature, Camcorder Mode, allows users to fold the phone in half to activate the camcorder.
Battery Life: Very Enduring for a Foldable (4.5/5)
Foldable devices typically have lower battery life compared to conventional smartphones, but this tends to improve over time. The Razr 50 Ultra lasted 17 hours and 42 minutes on our 4K streaming test, while the Razr 60 Ultra now lasts 22 hours and 37 minutes[8]. This improved performance can be attributed to a larger 4700mAh battery capacity, which overshadows the Razr 50 Ultra's 4000mAh battery.
Compatible fast charging 68W: We reached 50% battery charge in 33 minutes and a full charge in 1h17 using a 96W charger
Durability/Repairability: A Letdown (3/5)
Motorola's commitment to repairability needs improvement[9]:
- Ease of Disassembly: The disassembly of critical components is rated 4.2/10.
- Spare Parts Availability: While the smartphone fairs well in terms of part availability (7.7/10 for list 2 parts, 7.1 for list 1, essential parts), this is still an area for improvement for the premium price point.
A significant concern lies in Motorola's limited software update commitment of 3 years of Android OS updates and 4 years of security patch updates[10]. This falls short of competition commitments of up to seven years for updates. Keeping the device secure and up-to-date for four years may prove insufficient, compromising the user experience and security.
Alternatives: Best Choices to the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Offering a powerful performance and excellent endurance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is an excellent rival, despite the limitations in its photo offer compared to the Galaxy S. Its price has dropped significantly since its release[11].
Xiaomi Mix Flip
With an impressive photo offering, well-calibrated screens, and stylish design, the Xiaomi Mix Flip is another affordable alternative. However, the absence of waterproof certification is a potential drawback[12].
Conclusion
The Razr 60 Ultra is a game-changing foldable smartphone, refining previous models and introducing valuable improvements. The minor adjustments have paid off, resulting in a device with a host of strengths. However, the photo section is somewhat lacking due to the absence of a third camera lens - a common issue among competitors. Additionally, the screens are scintillating, providing perfect readability in sunlight, and the internal panel calibration is outstanding. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, despite overheating concerns, offers smooth performance and excellent power for any demand.
Unfortunately, the Razr 60 Ultra's long-term software update commitment is its Achilles' heel. Motorola's promise of 3 years of Android OS updates and 4 years of security patch updates falls short, especially compared to competitor commitments of up to seven years for updates[10]. This is a frustrating drawback, given the smartphone's otherwise strong performance. If Motorola addresses this issue, without question, the Razr 60 Ultra could become the best clamshell smartphone on the market.
Design: 4/5Connectivity: 5/5Screens: 5/5Performance: 4/5Photos: 4/5Battery Life: 4.5/5Durability/Repairability: 3/5
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- Despite the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra's technological advancements in design, connectivity, and screens, its longevity may be compromised due to its limited software update commitment of only 3 years for Android OS updates and 4 years for security patch updates.
- The Motorola Razr 60 Ultra, with its numerous gadgetry features, faces competition from other foldable smartphones such as the Xiaomi MIX Flip and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. However, the Razr 60 Ultra's update commitment, which is shorter than some competitors, may potentially diminish its long-term value.
