A smartphone that costs over $1000 is nothing new. Apple set the standard with the $999 iPhone X in 2017 (The phone could cost well over $1000 internationally), and since then, it’s common to see a manufacturer launch their flagship phone with a quadruple-digit price point. However, a high price comes with high expectations, and if you’re suspicious of the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025), we completely understand.
Motorola isn’t exactly a byword for reliability. Its resurrection of the flip phone with the Motorola Razr in 2019 was met with lukewarm reception, and over the following years, Samsung took the lead with its more reliable and affordable Z Flip series. Part of the Razr 2019’s poor reception was due to it’s whopping $1,500 asking price, which did not make up for its mediocre performance and fragile construction.
Thanks to this legacy, the Razr Ultra (2025) evoked the same suspicious feelings in me. Last year’s premium Razr model settled on the $1000 mark, a reasonable price if it weren’t for Motorola’s lackluster software support. However, I think the Razr Ultra (2025) is the first Razr phone to earn its premium price tag, and here’s why.
The Razr Ultra (2025) offers spectacular performance
Flagship specs at last
When I review or compare flagship smartphones, I usually don’t spend much time diving into the internal hardware. I already know what hardware a phone should offer when it costs over $1000, so my examination of a spec sheet is usually an exercise in checking boxes. Any respectable phone manufacturer ought to pack their most expensive device with the best hardware they have to offer, especially when it’s breaching the $1000 mark. While the exact definition of the “best hardware” is up for debate (Looking at you, Tensor chips), performance is usually the area where my expectations are always met on a flagship device.
The Razr Ultra (2025) is the first Motorola clamshell that meets my hardware expectations of a $1300 phone. A Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 16GB of RAM can handle intensive multitasking and the most demanding games, while the base 512GB storage means you won’t need to rely on cloud backups for a while.
The rest of the hardware is less impressive, but we can forgive some of this for the added gimmick of the flip phone. It also offers nearly triple the charging speed of the Galaxy Flip 6, a major feature to note when Google and Samsung refuse to make meaningful improvements to their phones’ charging speeds. In short, the hardware matches the Razr (2025)’s price point perfectly. Battery life could be better, but it’s easy to make changes to reduce battery drain.
It’s a phone that looks as good as it performs
This is a phone you want to show off
To me, looks are the least important part of a phone. Phones are a tool, nothing more, and that’s why I usually get most excited for the plain looks of mid-range Android phones. However, I’d be lying if the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025)’s Mountain Trail look didn’t catch my eye.
A faux-wood effect was a bold decision by Motorola. It treads a fine line between tasteless and bold, but I think Motorola has pulled it off with aplomb. First of all, the faux-wood texture feels fantastic. It’s something you can appreciate every time you pull it out of your pocket. It’s a bit of a problem, as you won’t want to put a case on it, but walking around with a caseless $1300 phone feels irresponsible.
Secondly, the bronze-on-black effect looks expensive. It’s a phone that looks every inch of its $1300 asking price, and has a unique flair that sets it apart from other models. Sure, there are three other colours, but apart from the alarmingly bright pink effect, I can’t see why you would settle for them.
The best cameras on a flip phone in 2025
You don’t have to compromise with lackluster photos here
Cameras have often been the big point of compromise on flip phones. Samsung upped its game last year with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and Motorola has followed suit with the Razr Ultra (2025). While its zoom is underwhelming, your everyday camera shots will come out crisp and clear.
While the Razr Ultra (2025) has lost the 2x telephoto lens from the Razr+ (2024), the paired wide-angle and ultra-wide lenses result in better photos overall. It’s effective zooming in up to 4x, so you won’t notice the lack of a dedicated photo lens.
But I still won’t buy the Razr Ultra (2025)
I think the Razr Ultra (2025) is well worth its $1300 asking price. While the base model Razr (2025) is probably a better fit for most people, it’s nevertheless an impressive piece of hardware from a company that has struggled with its reputation in recent years. But even though I can get some impressive trade-in deals, I still won’t buy it, and it’s all thanks to AI and bloatware.
Motorola has packed the phone with preinstalled apps, an advertising-first newsfeed, and Moto AI. This suite of “helpful” tools can be launched through the new dedicated AI button on the phone, but you won’t want to use it. I hate how Google is forcing Gemini on my Pixel phone, but I can, for the most part, ignore it. Motorola has made it feel like you have to use its AI features to get the full experience, but in the end, you’re paying for mostly useless features that don’t improve the software experience in the slightest.
But if you’re willing to put up with unnecessary AI tools, the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) is the best clamshell foldable you can buy today.
