Quick Verdict
The Motorola Razr+ 2023 (sold as Razr 40 Ultra in Europe) is the best clamshell foldable cover screen of 2023 — Motorola beat Samsung to the punch with a 3.6-inch 144Hz external display that runs full apps, plus a 6.9-inch 165Hz LTPO inner panel and a virtually flush teardrop hinge with no gap when folded. Reviewers from Digital Trends, T3, Stuff, frameworkoftech, and GadgetMatch rank it the best flip phone of 2023, despite using last-year's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and a modest 3,800mAh battery. Buy this if you want the most useful cover screen on any folding phone of 2023 and frequently catch the $399-549 holiday discounts. Skip this if you need long battery life, IP68 waterproofing, or a telephoto camera.
Pros reviewers agree on
Strengths consistently called out across sources
- Best clamshell cover screen of 2023 — 3.6-inch 144Hz AMOLED runs full apps, beat Samsung's Z Flip 5 3.4-inch screen to market and on functionality.
- Teardrop hinge with no visible gap when folded + minimal crease — meaningfully better than Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5's hinge per multiple reviewers.
- 165Hz inner LTPO AMOLED + 144Hz outer panel — fastest refresh rates on any 2023 foldable, smooth for gaming + scrolling.
- Aggressive 50%-off Black Friday + carrier discounts dropped the $999 launch price to $399-549 — making it the best clamshell value of 2023.
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 + 8GB RAM delivers solid 2022-flagship performance — no real-world slowdown for typical use.
Cons reviewers agree on
Weaknesses flagged across multiple sources
- 3,800mAh battery is small — Android Central forum users + reviewers consistently flag battery as the Razr+'s weakest point.
- Only IP52 splash resistance (no dust or full water protection) — Galaxy Z Flip 5's IPX8 is meaningfully better protected.
- Cameras lack a telephoto and Wired notes they 'don't measure up to the competition' — 12MP main + 13MP ultrawide both trail Galaxy Z Flip 5 in low-light + zoom.
What reviewers disagree on
Points where expert verdicts diverge — weigh based on your priorities
- Camera processing — Motorola fans cite MKBHD's 2023 blind camera test where the Razr+ placed well above its perceived class; mainstream reviewers (Wired, Gizmodo) say Z Flip 5 wins side-by-side comparisons.
- Last-gen Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 — pros say it keeps the price competitive and battery efficient; critics (Ars Technica, r/Android) say a $999 flagship should ship with SD 8 Gen 2.
How This Review Was Created
11Publications
4YouTube Reviews
4Reddit Threads
19Total Sources
High ConfidenceReviews published June 2023 – May 2026
This is a synthesis of expert reviews and user discussions; we may not have physically tested the product. See methodology.
Detailed Breakdown
The 3.6-inch 144Hz AMOLED cover display is the Razr+ 2023's headline differentiator — Motorola was first to ship a full-screen cover display on a clamshell foldable, beating Samsung Z Flip 5's 3.4-inch panel by months and on functionality.
- 3.6-inch 144Hz cover AMOLED runs full Android apps — 'the most useful cover screen on any folding phone of 2023' per frameworkoftech.— frameworkoftech
- Wired: 'best part of the external display is when you use it with the camera' — using the cover screen as viewfinder for higher-quality selfies.— Wired
- Teardrop hinge with no visible gap when folded — Phandroid: '15.1mm thick when folded, no gap between display edges thanks to tear-drop hinge.'— Phandroid
- Inner display crease minimal vs Z Flip 5 — multiple reviewers note Motorola's hinge geometry produces a less-visible center crease.— Stuff
- Reddit r/Android: '165Hz outer screen is faster than most phones' normal screens — design that stands out.— Reddit r/Android
- IP52 only — splash-resistant, no dust ingress + no full water immersion protection vs Galaxy Z Flip 5's IPX8.— GSMArena
The 6.9-inch 165Hz LTPO inner panel and 144Hz cover screen are the fastest of any 2023 foldable — both AMOLED, both bright, both class-leading for the form factor.
- 6.9-inch foldable LTPO AMOLED, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1,400-nit peak — the fastest inner foldable display of 2023.— GSMArena
- 3.6-inch external AMOLED, 144Hz, 1,100-nit peak, HDR10+ + Gorilla Glass Victus — bright enough outdoors per real-world owners.— GSMArena
- Wired: '165Hz refresh rate makes interacting with the cover display feel responsive' — first to ship this refresh rate on a phone in 2023.— Wired
- Phandroid: 'one of the best smartphone displays for mobile gaming' thanks to 165Hz refresh + AMOLED color.— Phandroid
12MP main + 13MP ultrawide + 32MP selfie — the Razr+ 2023's biggest hardware weakness vs the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Wired notes the cameras 'don't measure up to the competition,' but the cover-screen viewfinder for selfies is a unique strength.
- 12MP main (with OIS) + 13MP ultrawide (108-degree FOV) + 32MP inner selfie — no telephoto camera.— Phandroid
- Wired: 'this comparison is a good example of how Motorola's cameras don't measure up to the competition' — Z Flip 5 wins side-by-side.— Wired
- Cover-screen selfie viewfinder lets subjects see themselves while you photograph them — unique feature mainstream phones can't match.— Wired
- 12MP main 'works decently well even in low-light' per Phandroid — adequate but not flagship-class daylight quality.— Phandroid
- Ultrawide 108-degree FOV is narrower than Galaxy Z Flip 5's 124-degree ultrawide — meaningful difference for landscape + group shots.— Phandroid
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 + 8GB RAM is last-year flagship silicon — the cost-vs-spec trade-off Motorola chose to ship at $999 vs $1,200+ for an SD 8 Gen 2 device. Real-world performance is excellent for typical use.
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm, 2022 mid-cycle upgrade chip) + 8GB RAM + 256GB UFS storage.— Ars Technica
- Phandroid: 'you're not getting the latest and greatest chipset here since Motorola wanted to price the phone right at $999' — explicit cost trade-off.— Phandroid
- Ars Technica: 'not the best you can get from Qualcomm' — the 8 Gen 2 would have been the right chip for a $999 launch.— Ars Technica
3,800mAh battery + 30W wired + 5W wireless — Phandroid measured full charge in ~1h 20min. Real-world endurance is the Razr+ 2023's weakest area; Android Central owners consistently flag battery as the biggest pain point.
- 3,800mAh dual-cell battery — small for the screen size, Android Central owners: 'the worst thing about this is battery.'— Android Central forums
- 30W wired charging full in ~1h 20min per Phandroid — slow vs Galaxy Z Flip 5's 25W (1h 24min) is similar speed but smaller cell helps Motorola.— Phandroid
- 5W wireless charging only — Stuff notes the Razr+ wired beats Z Flip 5's 25W but loses on wireless (Samsung does 15W).— Stuff
- YouTuber long-term test (Razr 40 Ultra): 'all-day battery achievable for moderate use' with 165Hz refresh + LTPO panel efficiency.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 long-term
- No charger in the box — Razr+ owners must source their own 30W+ USB-C PD brick.— Phandroid
Motorola's near-stock MyUX on Android 13 is clean and snappy, with the cover-screen launcher being Motorola's standout software contribution. Update commitment improved to 3 OS upgrades + 4 years of security — meaningful step up vs Motorola's historical update record.
- MyUX on Android 13 — 'clean, quick, customizable interface' per long-term YouTube reviewer; near-stock Android with useful Motorola gestures.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 pre-production review
- Forbes: 'revised support policy alongside the new price dramatically improves the Razr family's value-for-money credentials' — 3 OS / 4 security commitment.— Forbes
- Security patches arrive every other month (not monthly) per long-term reviewer — slower cadence than Samsung's monthly schedule on Z Flip 5.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 long-term
- Reddit r/GooglePixel: Motorola's update track record historically the 'worst' — Razr+ 2023's 3+4 commitment is a notable improvement but Samsung/Pixel still stronger.— Reddit r/GooglePixel Moto Edge+ 2023 thread
Long-term Verdict
What creators say after 30, 100, or 365 days of real-world use — the post-honeymoon reality that launch-day reviews can't cover.
Long-term reviews land on the Razr+ 2023 as the most-useful-cover-screen clamshell foldable of 2023 that aged well on hardware — hinge stays tight, 165Hz inner display still smooth — but the small 3,800mAh battery, IP52 rating, and shorter 3-OS support window cap long-term appeal vs Samsung Z Flip 5.
- Cover screen long-term: stays the most-useful cover display on any 2023 clamshell — full Android apps remain the standout daily feature.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 long-term
- Hinge long-term: 'I haven't had any issues with mine — the build quality is good, the hinge is basically flush with the phone' per long-term YouTube owner.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 long-term
- Battery long-term: 3,800mAh remains the Razr+ 2023's biggest weakness — Android Central owners consistently flag battery as their #1 complaint.— Android Central forums
- 165Hz LTPO inner display long-term: still smooth and bright 1+ years on; no panel degradation reports.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 long-term
- Software updates long-term: 3 OS upgrades runs through 2026 — meaningfully better than older Motorola track record but shorter than Samsung Z Flip 5's 4+5 commitment.— Forbes
- Cameras long-term: 12MP main + 13MP ultrawide remain adequate but unimproved by updates — biggest hardware-locked weakness vs Galaxy Z Flip 5.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 30-day review
- IP52 long-term: rain/splash handled fine but owners report anxiety vs IPX8 Z Flip 5 — Motorola fixed this on Razr+ 2024.— GSMArena
- Long-term value 2026: at $250-400 used the Razr+ 2023 remains the best-value clamshell foldable with a flagship-class cover screen — strong long-term value pick.— Phone Arena (Black Friday deal coverage)
Real-World Tests
Battery drain runs, durability tests, camera shootouts, and gaming benchmarks — the numbers that only video testers capture.
Real-world tests confirm the Razr+ 2023's cover-screen + display lead: 165Hz inner panel + 144Hz cover panel run smooth in daily use, hinge stays flush with no gap, 30W charging hits full in ~1h 20min, but 3,800mAh battery is the consistent weakness across long-term hands-on use.
- Charging real-world: 30W wired full charge in ~1h 20min per Phandroid — slower than OnePlus 11's 80W but acceptable for clamshell form factor.— Phandroid
- Cover screen real-world test: 3.6" 144Hz AMOLED runs full Android apps perfectly — no letterboxing like Galaxy Z Flip 5's smaller 3.4" display.— frameworkoftech
- Hinge real-world: teardrop design produces no visible gap when folded + minimal crease at typical viewing angles — beats Z Flip 5 side-by-side.— Phandroid
- Inner display real-world: 165Hz refresh delivers visibly smoother scrolling + gaming than Z Flip 5's 120Hz.— Wired
- Cover screen camera viewfinder real-world: subjects see themselves while photographer composes — unique to clamshell foldables.— Wired
- Battery real-world: 3,800mAh hits ~6-7 hours SOT in moderate use — adequate but not standout; gaming + 165Hz heavy use drains faster.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 long-term
- Camera shutter real-world: slow to capture moving subjects per long-term reviewer — Z Flip 5 better for action/kid photos.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 30-day review
- Performance real-world: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 runs all games smoothly + handles 165Hz UI without throttling — no real-world slowdown in typical use.— Phandroid
- Cover screen brightness real-world: 1,100-nit peak holds up outdoors per long-term YouTube + Stuff review.— Stuff
- Wireless charging real-world: 5W is 'just kind of there for marketing material' per long-term owner — convenient for overnight but useless for fast top-ups.— YouTube — Razr+ 2023 long-term wireless test
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Frequently Asked Questions about Motorola Razr+ 2023
Update History
- May 20, 2026— Review published
- May 20, 2026— Added Real-World Tests section (10 points)
- May 20, 2026— Added Long-term Verdict section (8 points)
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This synthesis review was compiled from 19 independent sources. TechTalkTown did not receive products or compensation from Motorola.