Summary

You don’t need a Galaxy Z Flip to live the foldable life. Best Buy’s Memorial Day deal puts the Motorola Razr+ (2023 model) in your pocket for less than half the cost, and for once, it’s not a case of “you get what you pay for” in a bad way. At $350, the Razr+ isn’t trying to out-specSamsungor pretend it’s redefining the phone market. But itisa legitimately sleek, well-built foldable with a big outer screen, solid performance, and way more polish than most phones in its price range.

The cameras are okay, the hinge feels sturdy, and the software experience is surprisingly clean for a modern Motorola. If you’ve been foldable-curious but wallet-cautious, this is probably the most sensible time to dive in. Let’s take a look at what the Razr+ is offering.

image of the razr+ on a black background.

Inside The Design Of The Motorola Razr+

Motorola nailed the fundamentals here. The clamshell design folds down to 73.95 x 88.42 x 15.1mm, and when you unfold it, you get a 6.9-inch FHD+ pOLED display. The hinge feels solid, andthe crease is barely noticeable during normal use, which is impressive considering how pronounced it was on first-generation foldable devices.

At 188.5 grams, it’s surprisingly light, and the 7000-series aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus protection give it a premium feel that doesn’t scream “budget compromise.” The IP52 water resistance isn’t going to save you from dropping it in a pool, but it’ll handle rain and everyday spills without too much drama.

The 3.6-inch external pOLED display doesn’t limit itself just to showing notifications. It’s a fully functional screen that runs apps, handles calls, manages music playback, and even works for selfies using the main camera system. You can also reply to messages, check the weather, control smart home devices, and handle quick tasks without ever opening the phone. For many daily interactions, you might not need to unfold it at all, which extends battery life and reduces wear on the hinge mechanism.

The Flex View feature lets the phone stand at various angles when partially folded, perfect for video calls, watching content, or taking photos with a built-in tripod effect. It’s one of those features that sounds gimmicky until you try it, then you wonder how you lived without it.

Let’s talk about processing for a second, though. We’re working with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which, to be honest, isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed considering what other options you have going on in the market. But it should be fine for the average Joe who uses it for basic apps, casual gaming, and photography. The 8GB RAM is pretty decent for multitasking and the 256GB storage gives you plenty of room to work with.

Android 13 runs cleanly without the heavy customization that sometimes bogs down other manufacturers' devices. Motorola’s approach to software has always been relatively light-touch, and that continues here. The interface switches seamlessly between the main screen and external display, making the whole folding experience feel more integrated.

Camera System: Good Enough To Get The Job Done

Nobody’s buying this phone because they want to become the next Instagram photographer. The 12MP main camera takes pictures that look like pictures. In decent light, they’re actually pretty good. When it gets dark, the f/1.5 aperture helps, but it’s mostly mediocre, and the ultra-wide camera handles macro shots with ease. The front camera is fine for selfies, but here’s a neat trick: use the external screen to frame shots with the main camera. You’ll get way better selfies because you’re using the good camera instead of the front-facing one.

Video recording goes up to 4K 60fps with features like HDR10+ and Video Night Vision for different shooting scenarios. It covers what most people need for social media and casual recording without any major gaps.

Battery Life: The Foldable Reality Check

The 3,800mAh battery is the compromise you make for the foldable form factor. The 30W TurboPower charging helps when you need a quick boost, though the charger isn’t included in the box, a cost-cutting measure that’s annoying but understandable at this price point. Wireless charging caps out at 5W, which is slow but functional for overnight charging on a wireless pad. The dual-screen setup does impact battery life, but intelligent software management helps minimize the drain when you’re primarily using the external display.

Is It Worth Your Money?

At $350, the Motorola Razr becomes something completely different than it was at $1,000. Instead of competing with premium flagships, it’s now an accessible entry point into foldable technology. This pricing puts the Razr in competition with solid conventional smartphones, which makes the decision more interesting. You’re choosing between proven traditional phone designs with potentially better cameras and battery life, or taking a leap into foldable technology that offers genuine day-to-day benefits despite some trade-offs.

Memorial Day pricing like this doesn’t usually stick around long, and missing out on what might be the best foldable value proposition we’ve seen would be a real shame. If you’ve been curious about foldables but couldn’t justify the usual premium pricing, this might be your chance to find out what the fuss is actually about.