The Moto Razr is having a very controversial launch. There are tons of reports about screen issues with the folding device, and availability is extremely limited. We don't think it's hard to find because everyone wants one, either, but because Motorola is struggling or scared to ship a ton of these out into the wild. Galaxy Fold fiasco, part 2?
Even with those issues, one of our readers mentioned that he managed to snag one on launch day. So of course we wanted to reach out and see what his thoughts on the device were, just to see if maybe the reviewer opinion is flawed. Read on to see how well the Razr reviews from an average person.
Moto Razr launch issues
We asked David how hard it was to get his hands on a Razr, considering how limited the supply seems to be everywhere around the country. He didn't have the same struggles everywhere else did, and simply walked into his local Verizon store right at open. There was only one unit available, though, so clearly they weren't anticipating selling very many.
On that note, David did talk to the Verizon rep about the current supply issues. The employee seemed just as confused about it as anyone, which matches us pretty well with one of our other writer's experience, who hit up a ton of stores in the LA area and couldn't find any explanation for the shortage of phones. Wherever the problem lies, it doesn't look like it's Verizon's fault.
Upgrading to the Razr
We asked our reader what phone he upgraded from, and that answer might throw you for a loop. He was previously rocking a Galaxy Note 10+, so he wasn't making a massive upgrade. In many senses, he actually downgraded just to get that folding form factor, but David made a point to mention how useless some of those performance comparisons really were.
We are so ingrained to compare performance to price that we've totally ignored form and feelings… because this phone evokes a good feeling when using it. Isn't that worth something anymore? Is this a form over function phone? To a small degree, yes! Look, I have a Note10+, arguably one the best phones on the planet… but I'm buying the Razr. Why? Because I'm tired of carrying around a brick in my pocket. I'm tired of the same ‘ole, same ‘ole. I'm willing to pay $1,500 for a small form smartphone that can transform into a perfectly usable screen size when the need arises. I'm paying for a folding screen… and evidently, folding screens cost MORE money that a solid one, because that's where the majority of the money is going
And honestly, that was a really eye opening point. We do spend a lot of time focusing on how much hardware we can get for the money, but that's not the final answer in what makes a phone enjoyable. I've used OnePlus phones that had stellar hardware on paper for killer prices, but the middling speakers and uncomfortable size marred that experience. Sometimes the best processor on the market for the least amount of money isn't necessarily the thing you should chase.
So did David notice a serious performance gap between his Note 10+ and the Razr? He said nope, not at all. It did everything he needed it to do, although he self-professed that he wasn't a serious gamer and didn't do any insane multitasking, just regular daily tasks. That could've been a different answer if he was downloading the newest games every week or trying to run a business from his phone, but for average use, the Razr seems fine.
But the Razr could do things that the Note 10+ can't do, like fit in a front pocket without an issue. The beauty of that folding phone is that it can shrink in size until you need a larger screen, and David noted that the front display of the Razr could actually handle a lot of his tasks without ever needing to actually fold it out.
Other things were noticeably worse than on the Galaxy Note 10+, however, like the battery life and camera. He seemed a little less keen to cutting Motorola some slack on that poor camera performance, too, and for $1500 I don't blame him.
Moto Razr vs. Galaxy Z Flip
We asked David what he thought about the Galaxy Z Flip, especially since he seemed to be a Samsung guy. They were priced about the same, so it's curious that he went with the Razr, excluding the Verizon/AT&T exclusivity periods.
He sounded like he had high opinions of the Galaxy Z Flip, but maybe not for the reasons you'd expect. He expects the camera to be better, which we noted was a weak spot for the Razr, and he's already invested in the Galaxy ecosystem, which is a big selling point for buying another Samsung smartphone. Oh, and wireless charging seems to be something that really drives David's daily routine. He mentioned how many wireless chargers he had around his house and car and work, and the Razr being unable to use those really threw a kink in his day.
But on the flip side to that (no pun intended) the Galaxy Z Flip's outer screen seems much more useless than what's on the Razr, and that's something that we mentioned David already got used to and enjoys.
So does he have buyer's remorse about jumping on the Razr bandwagon early? Well, yes, but just a little bit. There are three things that seem like missed opportunities which come down to the camera quality, lack of wireless charging, and the display of the device. David doesn't mind the screen size, per se, but he doesn't love the 21:9 aspect ratio of the Razr. But everything else seems like it's a win for the phone.
He also hasn't experienced any of the issues regarding screen damage and lumps and bumps on the phone. The screen isn't perfect, but he says it's not bad enough to bother him.
This might be an anticlimactic way to end the interview, but David did say that he's probably going to end up returning the device and going back to the Galaxy Note 10+. The Razr's aforementioned drawbacks (camera, wireless charging, aspect ratio) are too big to ignore for him, and he's very used to Samsung's ecosystem of software and services. It's very clear that the Galaxy Z Flip is almost perfect for David, but a few key missteps from Samsung (AT&T exclusivity, smaller outer screen) look like they're going to stop that purchase, too.
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, David!
