Motorola's Razr line has gone from novelty to genuine contender over the past two years, and we've been carrying the Razr 50 Ultra as a second phone since its launch to get a proper feel for how it holds up over time. Six months later, this is our take.
The cover screen is the star
The Razr 50 Ultra's 4-inch external display remains its defining feature. It's bigger and more useful than the 3.4-inch panel on Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 6, and genuinely usable as a full smartphone experience. We've made entire video calls, replied to WhatsApp threads, navigated with Google Maps and even played mobile games entirely on the cover screen, without unfolding the phone once.
Motorola's software layer for external display apps is now mature enough that almost any Android app runs correctly in portrait mode. Only a handful of banking apps still refuse to launch externally - and that's more about the banks than about Motorola.
How it held up
- Hinge: No creaking, no looseness, no visible wear. Motorola's hinge is easily as reliable as Samsung's.
- Crease: Still barely visible and noticeable only under specific lighting angles.
- Battery: The 4,000mAh battery remains strong, delivering about 20% more screen-on time than the Z Flip 6.
- Camera: The 50MP main and 50MP 2x telephoto are mid-range at best. This is our biggest gripe.
- Performance: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is not quite flagship-class but hasn't stuttered once in six months.
What hasn't aged well
The camera system is the Razr 50 Ultra's weakest point. After months of direct comparison with the iPhone 17 and Pixel 10, Motorola's computational photography still lags behind. Night mode in particular struggles with mixed lighting. For social media snaps it's fine; for serious photography, you'll want something else.
Software updates are the other concern. Motorola commits to 3 years of OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches, well below what Samsung and Google now offer. For a £999 phone, that's disappointing and something Motorola needs to fix with its next Razr generation.
Is the premium worth it vs Galaxy Z Flip 7?
| Feature | Razr 50 Ultra | Z Flip 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Cover display | 4.0-inch | 4.1-inch |
| Battery | 4,000mAh | 4,300mAh |
| Main camera | 50MP | 50MP |
| Telephoto | 50MP 2x | None (cropped) |
| Updates | 3/4 years | 7/7 years |
| RRP | £999 | £1,049 |
The Z Flip 7 caught up in cover screen size this year, narrowing Motorola's original advantage. Samsung's software support is significantly longer. On paper, the Flip 7 is the smarter buy - but the Razr 50 Ultra remains the more fun phone to use daily, with better battery, a genuine telephoto lens, and a more polished cover screen experience.
UK availability and current deals
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra has dropped to £849 SIM-free at Amazon UK and John Lewis as of late 2025, making it significantly better value than at launch. On contract, EE and Three both offer it from around £35 per month on 25GB plans with no upfront cost.
Final verdict
The Razr 50 Ultra is the best flip phone we've tested purely on in-hand usability. If you value the novelty of a giant cover screen more than long-term software support, it's a compelling buy, especially at the current discounted price. Our verdict: 4/5.