I’ve tested every Motorola foldable phone so far in 2026 – how to choose between the foldable and the ultra

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred resource On Google.


Motorola’s 2026 flagship foldables are among the most impressive devices I’ve tested this year.

In one corner, you have the Razr Fold, a no-compromise foldable phone that even beats the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 in some areas. The combination of powerful hardware, a versatile triple-camera system and a detailed internal display makes the Razr Fold a mini tablet.

In the other corner, you have the Razr Ultra, a premium flip phone that packs flagship hardware into a more compact form factor. What’s great is that the Ultra doesn’t play second fiddle, boasting unique features that the Razr Fold doesn’t.

Also: Best phones: Tested and reviewed by an expert

So, what should you buy? Both are excellent; However, key differences create unique user experiences. To help you decide, I’ve broken down three key strengths of each phone and why you should buy it. Then, at the end, I’ll reveal my pick of the best Motorola foldables.

Specifications

2026 Razor Fold

2026 Racer Ultra

display

Cover: 6.6-inch LTPO panel at 165Hz; Primary: 8.1-inch LTPO pOLED at 120Hz

Cover: 4-inch Extreme AMOLED at 165Hz; Key: 7-inch Extreme AMOLED at 165Hz

Weight

243 grams

199 grams

App

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

RAM/Storage 16 GB with 512 GB 16 GB with 512 GB
Battery 6,000mAh with 80W wired charging 5,000mAh with 68W charging
Camera Rear: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide and macro, 50MP telephoto; Front: 20MB closed resolution, 32MP open resolution Rear: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide; Front: 50 MP
connection 5G (sub-6 GHz) 5G (mmWave and sub-6 GHz)
Price Starting at $1,900 Starting at $1,500

If you need to buy the Motorola Razr Fold…

2026 Razor Fold

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

1. You need a big screen

The biggest advantage the Razr Fold has over the Razr Ultra is its book-style design. The phone opens up to a large 8.1-inch display that offers more screen real estate for general browsing and entertainment. That extra space makes a big difference when multitasking. You can place two applications or browser windows side by side. For example, you can have one of our Amazon Prime Day articles on one half and an actual Amazon product catalog on the other, so you can shop and read at the same time.

Also: Why I Don’t Let My Android Recycle Bin Stay Full for 30 Days – How Do I Empty It

Additionally, some games like Arknights: Endfield can expand to fill the entire internal scene, providing a deeper and surprisingly comfortable experience. Digital controls are placed in the lower-left and lower-right corners, mimicking the button layout of a traditional gamepad. The Razr Ultra’s smaller size makes it easier to carry, but it doesn’t offer the same level of versatility.

2. You need a better camera setup

On the back, Motorola’s Razr Fold has a triple-camera array with a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide lens and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and up to 100x super zoom. The picture quality is excellent in all three. Photos appear sharp, vibrant and full of detail. Motorola has masterfully established a camera system that balances light and shadow.

motorola-2026-razr-fold-image-2

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

My favorite lens is the dedicated telephoto lens. This allows the Razr Fold to take photos with greater clarity, while preserving fine details. I observed this firsthand while photographing a lifeguard tower on a local beach during a test. The phone’s cameras captured enough detail that I could read the tiny text on the tower’s banners, something the Razr Ultra couldn’t reproduce when I tried.

If a smartphone’s camera setup is an important factor in your decision-making, the Razr comes out on top.

3. You want a phone that performs well

Both Motorola devices have high-end hardware; However, the Razr folds more evenly across the two.

Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset and 16GB of RAM, the mobile device handled everything I threw at it with ease. It scored over 9,100 on Geekbench’s multicore benchmark, indicating strong performance for heavy workloads. No problem running Arknights: Endfield on phone. Gameplay was absolutely smooth, combat was responsive, and the large OLED screen made every battle look spectacular.

Also: 100x zoom cameras on Samsung, Google and Motorola phones compared – this model wins

The experience this device provides is driven by its thermal management. Like any flagship phone, the Razer Fold can get pretty hot under heavy workloads, but it handled the heat better than the Razer Ultra.

During testing, the Razr Fold pushed its hardware to keep temperatures in check, but the slowdown wasn’t severe enough to significantly affect performance. In contrast, there were instances where the Razr Ultra overheated, and throttling significantly affected performance.

If you have to buy Motorola Razr Ultra…

Motorola Razr Ultra 2026

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

1. You need a very compact foldable

Like the Razr Fold, the Razr Ultra’s biggest advantage is its design. Instead of closing like a book, this phone folds into a small square that takes up very little space in your pocket or bag. I was able to carry both the Razr Ultra and my personal smartphone in the same jeans pocket without discomfort. When opened, it reveals a spacious 7-inch display.

Also: I turned my Motorola Razr into a portable computer, and it’s surprisingly capable.

Additionally, the flip-style design gives the Razer Ultra a unique personality. Closing the phone after a call or folding it halfway to hang it up is satisfying. These are small details, but they help make the Razr Ultra feel different from other smartphones on the market.

2. You want a stylish phone that performs well

Motorola has a storied history of releasing smartphones with unique finishes and materials. The Razr Ultra is no exception. My review unit came in Pantone Coca, a rich brown with faux wood paneling on the back and metallic accents around the frame that look like dark bronze. It’s a refreshing departure from the sea of ​​mostly monotonous black and white phones. The device is more transparent than the Razr fold. This is the kind of phone that grabs everyone’s attention right out of the pocket. There is nothing like it.

motorola-razr-ultra-2026-image-5

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

The Razr Ultra isn’t a phone defined solely by its looks. Under the hood, it packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and an Adreno 830 graphics card, giving it plenty of horsepower for multitasking. While the Razr Fold performs better, the gap isn’t big enough to completely block the Razr Ultra.

3. You stream a lot of multimedia

Although the Razr Fold has a larger display, I prefer the Razr Ultra for streaming media because of its better audio system. Its audio system is well-engineered with Dolby Atmos and supports Spatial Audio, creating a richer, more immersive listening experience than what its bigger sibling offers. The music has more punch and presence. Voices in videos sound as natural as if they were right in front of you.

Also: Overheating from Android Auto? 8 Simple Fixes That Cooled My Phone Effectively

The phone’s audio system is complemented by an excellent AMOLED display that supports HDR10+, ensuring high contrast. A 165Hz refresh rate enables velvety smooth on-screen animations. The display and speakers combine to create a premium entertainment experience tailored for streaming content, watching videos and enjoying music.

Author’s choice

It was a very difficult choice. Both phones are great. I thoroughly enjoyed testing both and would have no problem recommending either to someone buying a new phone. However, if I had to pick a winner, it would be the Motorola Razr Fold.

Also: How to Use ChatGPT: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering OpenAI’s Chatbot

Overall I think this is a great device, mostly because of its consistent performance. While both phones are powerful, the Razor fold Handles demanding workloads very gracefully. It doesn’t push aggressively under heavy loads. Combined with larger displays and a better camera setup, the Razr Fold is a great phone.

It doesn’t mean that Razer Ultra is a distant second. It’s still a high-powered flagship phone and costs a very affordable $1,500. The folding model is $1,900.


#Ive #tested #Motorola #foldable #phone #choose #foldable #ultra

Leave a Comment