Motorola's 2026 Razrs are almost worth buying just for their stunning looks... almost

Motorola’s 2026 Razr lineup shifts attention from flip phones toward the Razr Fold, while a $2,000 non-Samsung folding phone occupies a small niche. Razr flip phones are positioned as more practical financially and logistically, raising the question of whether foldables are worth buying compared with flat phones. Smartphones are treated as everyday necessities, so marketing that frames basic features as lifestyle choices is less persuasive. Motorola leans into the Razr identity with fun colors, desk clock displays, mini outer-display apps, and a quirky camcorder mode. The phones use distinctive textures and Pantone-certified colorways, but their speeds and hardware are not exceptional. The design remains attractive with wood panels, soft-touch plastics, vegan leather, and synthetic fabrics, yet foldables remain a difficult purchase for many buyers.

"For the last several years, Motorola's smartphone headliners were the Razr flip phones, but 2026 is different. This time around, Moto's first tablet-style foldable, the Razr Fold, somewhat overshadows the flip phones, but a bulky $2,000 folding phone that isn't made by Samsung occupies the smallest niche in the smartphone market. A Razr flip phone is much more practical, both financially and logistically. But are these phones actually worth buying over a flat phone?"

"These phones are first and foremost about vibes. They're fun and colorful; there are desk clock displays, mini apps for the outer display, and a quirky camcorder camera mode. Foldables are universally gadgety and visually interesting, but the Razrs take this to the extreme with unique textures and Pantone-certified colorways. That gives the Razrs a selling point before you even get to the specs or hardware. And they need that because the speeds and feeds are nothing special."

"The 2026 Razrs don't change much in the design department versus last year's versions, but that's fine. They still look great. There are wood panels, soft touch plastics, vegan leather, and synthetic fabrics-all things you won't find on the latest devices from Samsung, Google, or Apple. These are, hands down, the prettiest phones you can buy right now."

"However, even years into the foldable era, these phones are still not an easy choice for smartphone buyers, and some people shouldn't even consider getting one despite the stylish design. When buying a new phone, many folks immediately put it in an OtterBox"

Read at Ars Technica