this is what it looks like in front of those of Samsung and OPPO

The Motorola Razr 40 and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra have just been presented. The latter, with great incentives that make it different from other shell type folds. However, it is the normal model that holds our attention. And it is that somehow it’s a mid-range folding, the first. And that’s by specs and by price.

Ok, rounded up, 900 dollars. We are not going to say that compared to other normal smartphones, it is cheap. However, sets an industry precedent despite a lower price than that offered by its direct competitors at the time of its launch.

Comparison table of Motorola Razr 40, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and OPPO Find N2 Flip

150 and 200 dollars difference, do they compensate?

We start by saying that we cannot solve this question. At least for now, since we’ve barely been able to familiarize ourselves with the Motorola Razr 40, while we thoroughly tested the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and the OPPO Find N2 Flip. However, comparing them on paper we do not see them so different.

From the Motorola mobile to the OPPO there is a difference of 150 dollars, while from the same origin to the Samsung there is up to 200 dollars. It is true that now these other terminals can be found cheaper timely through offers in stores or from the manufacturer itself. However, all other things being equal, that is what it is.

Although these Samsung and OPPO terminals should really compete with Motorola’s “Ultra” model, the truth is that with the standard model might be enough for those looking for their first foldable. And all this for the price it has, which we insist on not being economical or typical of a normal mid-range mobile, but inappropriate for a foldable.

Qualcomm mid-range vs high-end and with MediaTek in between

That the brain of every smartphone is the chip is something that doesn’t change when we talk about a foldable. And okay, that’s not all, but it’s important. Here on paper, Motorola loses, but maybe not much. We have already been able to test its Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 on mobiles like the Xiaomi 13 Lite, showing very good performance.

It’s true that Samsung’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 beats it. It’s not Qualcomm’s newest and most advanced chip, although it was when it was released. However, it is one of the roundest chips from the manufacturer and it offers excellent performance and temperature management to the Samsung foldable.

The same happens with the Dimensity 9000+ that OPPO has, a rival precisely of this Qualcomm chip and which demonstrates the good evolution of MediaTek and how, despite being slightly below the reference, it gives the Find N2 Flip excellent performance.

So here the thing is know to what extent it compensates for more power because of the price difference between the devices. And knowing that while we weren’t able to fully utilize the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in the Motorola, ultimately similar performance to that achieved in other gear is expected and not too far off of these high ranges.

The camera isn’t the best of any of them

Here again we are not going to compare without having examples of what the Motorola terminal is capable of doing. We won’t even talk about its specifications, since you have them in the table that we put at the beginning. yes we will say that the camera moves away from the non-foldable top of the range on all three devices.

Oh, nobody has a bad camera. We can’t even say it by being extremely demanding, but even without denying this quality, it remains a notch below the non-folding flagships of the three manufacturers. Therefore, if you are looking for the best camera, you will not find it in them. If you’re looking for the best camera in a foldable case, yes.

External screen, OPPO’s weapon (and a bit of Samsung)

As we said before, we’ve taken the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra out of the equation, which dramatically improves the OPPO Find N2 Flip’s external display. However, compared to Samsung and the standard Razr 40, OPPO’s device offers a better (and bigger) experience. In size and functionality.

While the Galazy Z Flip4 and the Razr 40 limit their external screen to being informative with simple elements such as the time or the calendar, with little interaction beyond taking a call, the OPPO terminal adds more features, such as to be able to have a mirror of what the main cameras are capturing. Yes, the Galaxy too, although with a cutout.

Already compared to main screenthe normal one of a life and that we use when it is deployed, we end up with similar sizes. In fact, they are consecutive: 6.7 inches for the Galaxy, 6.8 for OPPO and 6.9 for Motorola. Differences that exist, even if on a day-to-day basis they are almost negligible.

The Motorola Razr surprises here offering similar resolutions, but more refresh and brightness. Not in vain, it reaches 144 Hz and a brightness of up to 1,400 nits, leaving the OPPO mobile at 1,200 nits and Samsung’s at 1,000.

Battery, all weak, but “not so bad” in the Razr 40

Another determining point and that, as in the camera, the three devices are weak is in the battery. Given the format of these mobiles, it seems difficult to implement capacities of 5000 mAh as standardized in normal mobiles. Given this, we know that autonomy won’t exactly be a delight in any of them.

While Samsung ends up with 3,770 mAh which makes it arrive at the end of the day, OPPO’s 4,300 mAh makes it a little looser at the end of the day. We can say little about the Razr with our rare tests, but its 4,200mAh puts it in a middle ground which, again considering its price, makes it extremely interesting.

In short, and after looking at the most important points of these smartphones, we can see that Motorola has done a good job even on its ‘trimmed’ 2023 foldable. The quotes come because in some points he even surpasses his older brother.

In any case, and in the absence of additional tests and better conclusions, We celebrate that there are cheaper (or cheaper, rather, folds). We don’t know how much is left to see really stylish smartphones in a mid-range and with an average price. What is clear is that every day we are closer.

Pictures | xataka

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