Motorola Razr 50 Ultra: a nostalgic practical reflection

When I was in college, I had a hobby of circling my dream purchases in the season’s Argos catalog – even if my parents had no intention of buying them. These would include Furbies, Lego sets and huge inflatable pools about twice the size of our garden.

But one item I kept visiting again and again was the original Motorola Razr V3, in all its hot pink glory.

From Doctor Who to The Devil Wears Prada, this iconic flip phone – magenta or otherwise – was featured in all my favorite TV shows and movies, and was a must-have for all the popular kids. I desperately wanted one, as its iconic construction stood out from the crowd.

Unfortunately, the high price tag at the time (cry inflation) meant I never got to live the dream of using a Motorola Razr flip phone…until now.

Motorola relaunched the legendary model in 2019, and the fifth generation range of this series has just launched in the US and UK with two models, the Razr 50 and the Razr 50 Ultra (the latter will be known as the name Razr 50+ in America). . I got my hands on the most premium model for review, on behalf of Tech Advisor.

Users can grab this bold and bright hot pink colorway in this flip model reimagined for 2024.

Motorola

Users can grab this bold and vibrant hot pink colorway in this reimagined flip model for 2024 (last year’s Razr 40 came in a purple hue), but three other options are available: Forest Green, Peach Fuzz, and Midnight Blue , the version that I am. essay. All start from £999/$999.

We have come a long way since the 2000s with technological advancements. The 50 Ultra’s external display is the largest ever on a flip phone (4 inches) and can be used for many purposes, with support for apps like Google Maps, Gmail, Slack and more , including a page dedicated to Spotify playback.

It’s not just for fancy wallpapers, like the original Razr V3 was.

Having the screen closed is much safer when walking around in public because I’m holding the phone securely and can still read notifications and respond to messages without unfolding anything. Additionally, there are customization options such as fonts, colors and wallpapers to give this phone some personality.

Just unfolding the 6.9-inch pOLED screen to answer a phone call gives me a little dose of nostalgic dopamine

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Despite this progress, there are still plenty of nods to this latest phone. The new camcorder mode can be activated by folding the phone 90 degrees horizontally, automatically starting stabilized video recording when the camera app is open.

The strap that matches the leather case also looks like an updated version of the phone charms we’d see people attaching to the classic Razr model. The press team mentioned carrying it as a lanyard, but I liked carrying it around the house as a small shoulder bag. Even without the strap, the folded size allows me to store it neatly in my pocket.

Just unfolding the 6.9-inch pOLED screen to answer a phone call gives me a little dose of nostalgic dopamine, especially when paired with the iconic “Hello Moto” ringtone that accompanied old commercials of the technological brand.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Motorola has redesigned the hinge on this phone and claims it makes it easier to open the phone with one hand. It’s possible, but it’s still not as simple as the old model – maybe give it a few generations.

Of course, the Razr 50 series isn’t the only flip phone on the market. There’s the Oppo Find N2 Flip, the Nubia Flip 5G and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series, which is expecting a new installment in the coming weeks.

But none of these phones have the brand recognition of the original Motorola Razr V3. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest technological symbols of the 2000s, with the exception of the Blackberry (RIP). And that, my friends, is something that cannot be surpassed by great camera technology or AI software.

I will always continue to stand for what I stood for when I was younger: I will always buy Sonic games (whether they are bad or not) because those were the titles I played on my Gameboy Advance SP. I watched every episode of the Gladiators reboot on BBC One because reruns of the 90s classic were always on our TV when I was young.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

That same type of enthusiasm runs through me for this particular phone series. While I’ll get into the nitty-gritty of the tech specs over the next few weeks for a full review, I’ll allow the girl in me to be giddy to have finally gotten my hands on an actual physical device. Razr, rather than a poorly ink-marked printed version.

The Razr 50 Ultra goes on sale from tomorrow, June 26, for £999 on sites including the official Motorola store, John Lewis, Argos and Amazon in the UK. You will receive a free pair of Motobuds+.

This will be followed by the standard Razr 50 which will arrive in the UK “early July” at £799, again with a free pair of Motobuds+ from Motorola, Carphone Warehouse, Currys, Vodafone, John Lewis, Argos and Amazon.

US readers can pre-order the Razr 50 (starting at $699) and 50+ (starting at $999) starting July 10, with the phones hitting shelves July 24.