Lower than a day after the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip four launch, Motorola has joined the clamshell foldable cellphone get together by launching its equal: the Moto Razr 2022.

By ‘clamshell’ we imply a full-body cellphone that may be folded in half to be simply pocketable, one thing earlier Z Flip and Razrs have accomplished, however these two new entries to the favored folding cellphone kind issue are much more comparable than earlier than.

The Razr 2022 simply launched at a China-only occasion, alongside two premium Android telephones from the corporate – the folding cellular was the primary attraction, after all. We’re hoping the Razr 2022 will launch in different areas earlier than too lengthy, because it appears possible that Motorola would roll its largest cellphone of the yr out to different nations, however we do not know for positive.

Just like the Samsung, the Moto has a robust Snapdragon eight Plus Gen 1 chipset, and an identical 6.7-inch display screen with a punch-hole digital camera cut-out (although within the Razr this display screen has the next refresh charge at 144Hz).

The refresh charge is not the one method through which the Motorola Razr is best: it has an even bigger outer display screen (for when the system is closed) at 2.7 inches, a higher-res most important digital camera at 50MP (joined by a 13MP ultra-wide snapper), a higher-res selfie digital camera at 32MP, and – in our humble opinion at the least – a extra engaging design.

The cellphone has the identical software program because the Flip, with Android 12, although it has Motorola’s personal MyUI laid excessive as an alternative of Samsung’s One UI (although it is potential that if it does debut exterior China, it might include inventory Android).

Chinese language pricing for the Moto Razr 2022 was supplied, and it seemingly undercuts the Flip’s $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,499 asking worth – nonetheless conversions from Chinese language costs can usually be very tough, with telephones seeming cheaper there than they’re elsewhere, so take that with an enormous grain of salt for now.

Evaluation: Moto taking foldables severely

Motorola’s earlier Razr foldables have felt, for lack of a greater phrase, ‘rusty’.

They’ve had flimsier builds than their Flip counterparts, making the method of folding and unfolding them a relatively nerve-wracking one.

Plus, their specs have usually been comparatively weak in comparison with the excessive worth you are paying for these telephones – the Razr 2020 had a mid-range chipset, for instance, in addition to a very chunky chin.

It looks as if the whole lot is altering now, although, with the Razr 2020. It has a premium chipset, a extra refined design, improved rear cameras and a pleasant huge outer display screen. Lastly, Moto has made a refined foldable.

How the system fares towards the Flip, although, will come down to at least one key level: the value. The Galaxy Z Flip four is not low-cost by any means, however it’s cheaper than earlier Razrs have been, and than the Z Fold four is.

If Motorola desires any likelihood of competing with Samsung, it wants to offer the Razr a very aggressive price ticket – by that we imply, the identical as or lower than the Flip. In any other case, our record of the most effective foldable telephones possible will not see an upset this yr.