Motorola Razr 2023 Review - A Flipping Cool Phone That You Can Afford
Motorola Razr 2023: One-minute reviewThe Motorola Razr knocked my socks off when I first saw it last year, and it's remained one of my top three phone designs of the past year (the other two being OnePlus phones). I love the color options, I dig the feel of the 'vegan leather' finish, and I show off the amazing clamshell design. If you haven't seen this phone go from a truly huge smartphone to a tiny, pocketable communicator, you need to get your hands on one for a look.
Compared to the Motorola Razr Plus, I missed the larger display but the smaller screen on the cover of the Motorola Razr was still sharp and very usable. You can get a preview of your selfies and videos on this phone, just like on the more expensive clamshell foldables, which means you can use the main camera as your selfie cam.
Motorola Razr in front, Razr Plus in the back (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Unfortunately, the camera is the perennial compromise with foldable phones, and none moreso than on this Razr. The Razr Plus had disappointing cameras, but the Moto Razr cameras just feel a bit cheap compared to other options in this price range. For $500, you can get a Google Pixel 7 or a OnePlus 12R, and both of those have much, much better cameras than this phone.
What those phones, and any other phone in this price lacks is the cool factor of the Razr. You can snap it shut to hang up on a phone call. Heck, you can hang up on TikTok or Snapchat the same way. It's a very satisfying way to put your phone away and focus what's in front of you, and that is part of what makes the Razr so cool.
The Motorola Razr dares you to put away your phone. You can take photos without the distraction of a big screen. You can check messages with a quick glance. You can snap it shut and show off the look instead of looking at the show. That's cool. Being hundreds cheaper than other clamshell phones? Maybe the coolest part of all.
Motorola Razr 2023 review: price & availability (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Swipe to scroll horizontally
Storage US Price UK Price AU Price 128GB (US) / 256GB (UK, AU) $499.99 £799.99 $999.99The Motorola Razr had a staggered launch across the globe, in the shadow of the more exciting Motorola Razr Plus. This phone snuck into US stores at a price close to $700 at launch, after sitting on shelves in the UK for months prior. It quickly went on sale, dropping $100 then another $100, settling at its current price point.
Except Motorola hasn't changed the price, it's just kept the phone on sale for months. Not one sale, either, but different sales that tend to run concurrently. As I write this there is a "Spring Break" sale offering $200 off. I'm sure there will soon be an "April Showers" sale offering $200 off, followed by a Mother's Day $200 sale. Don't worry about that sale expiration date, but don't buy this phone if it's not on sale.
Outside of the US, this phone ships with 256GB of storage, but Americans only get 128GB. We all get 8GB of RAM on this phone, though a 12GB variant may be available in other regions.
Motorola Razr 2023 review: specs (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The Motorola Razr 40 isn't a very powerful phone, but it can handle any apps, web pages, and games you throw its way. It lacks the high-end camera specs you'll find on other bargain phones like the OnePlus 12R, and even the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra has slightly better cameras. That said, you still get a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, a respectable engine that is capable enough, as well as 8GB of RAM and just enough storage, 256GB if you live outside the US (sorry Americans, only 128GB for us).
It's hard to compare specs directly, because the Motorola Razr 40 bends in half. The OnePlus 12R may have better cameras, but the Motorola Razr weighs 20g less, and it folds up to a pocketable shape that is half the length of the OnePlus phone. If size and style are meaningful, that's worth a lot more than a little spec bump.
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Dimensions: Open: 170.8 x 74 x 7.4mm; Closed: 88.2 x 74 x 15.8mm Weight: 188.6g Screen size (Internal/External): 6.9-inch folding LTPO OLED / 1.5-inch OLED Screen resolution (Internal / External): 1080 x 2640 pixels / 194 x 368 pixels Screen peak brightness (Internal / External): 1,400nits / 1,000nits Refresh rate (Internal): 144Hz Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5) Storage: 128GB (US) / 256GB (UK, AU) (UFS 2.2) OS: Android 13 Rear Cameras: 64 MP (f/1.7, 0.7µm); 13 MP (f/2.2, 1.12µm) Front Camera: 32MP (f/2.4, 0.7μm) Battery: 4,200mAh Charging: 30W wired, 5W wireless Colors: Sage Green, Vanilla Cream, Summer Lilac, Cherry Blossom Motorola Razr 2023 review: design (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)My first thought seeing this latest Motorola Razr 40 was a bit of disappointment. Where is the ugly chin that defines the Razr look? Where are the sharp cut edges and keys? I quickly got over it. The Motorola Razr is the best-looking clamshell phone I've seen, and one of the coolest phones you can buy right now.
The vegan leather finish is excellent, very grippy and matte so it doesn't pick up fingerprints. The colors are lovely, especially the lilac and cream, but even my sage green review unit was unique and classy looking.
Inside, you get a humongous display. For such a small clamshell when closed, it's honestly surprising how large the internal display gets when you open the Moto Razr. There's a crease that is barely visible, and it's so slight you can hardly feel it with your finger. When the phone is closed, there is no gap between the halves, and this was the first clamshell I've seen to achieve that design goal.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Sadly, where the Moto Razr lags behind competition like Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is in durability. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is IPX8 water resistant. You need to be careful with dust and dirt on every clamshell phone, but you can take the Galaxy into the bath or drop it in the pool. It won't break. The Razr has a water resistant coating, but no promises. If you get it wet, it might die.
Motorola Razr 2023 review: display (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The display on the Motorola Razr, like the screen on the Razr 40 Ultra, is truly remarkable. Thanks to the clamshell design, it's hard to see just how much screen you're getting with this phone, but at 6.9-inches, it's about as big as the huge display on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It's also nice and bright, and it runs fast at 144Hz, which beats many premium, flagship phones.
With the Razr closed, you get a 1.5-inch cover screen, and it's much nicer than I expected. I was hoping it would be useful for weather reports and reading text messages, but that cover screen is a bright, AMOLED display, capable of showing even the camera viewfinder when you want to take a selfie. It's a small view, but it works.
Of course, the extra real estate you get when you upgrade to the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra makes a huge difference – it practically gives you a new device altogether when it's closed. Still, Motorola Razr 40 buyers can save some money and still get the same amazing internal screen, one of the best I've seen even before I try to figure out how it folds in half.
Motorola Razr 2023 review: cameras (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The Motorola Razr has a serious camera conundrum. On the one hand, it's very fun to use as a camera. You can take selfies with the main camera, thanks to the cover display showing you a slice of the scene. You can use the crease as a tripod and put the camera on the ground or on a table and let it aim at unique angles that would be hard to manage with a flat phone.
Unfortunately, all that fun is deflated by terrible image quality. I'd love to excuse Motorola and say that the cameras are fine for the Moto Razr's very low price tag, but I would have rather had a better camera than a display with a super-fast refresh rate. I'd give up some battery, even wireless charging, if it meant this phone had a solid, reliable camera. Sadly, that's not the case.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The camera is just bad. In the brightest conditions, you'll get good photos but you'll still notice digital oversharpening around the edges, and a lack of fine detail when you zoom in. Reduce the light at all, and you're left with a noisy mess. Photos look like watercolor paintings as the colors run together.
There are fun shooting modes, especially in video recording, but these won't be very satisfying with the low image quality. If you don't care very much about image quality, or you're carrying a better camera with your phone, then be satisfied that this is the lowest point on a phone that is otherwise stacked with highlights. If you want images that you'll be happy sharing and saving for a long time, you might want to look elsewhere.
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(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) Motorola Razr 2023 review: software (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Motorola takes a light touch when it comes to modifying Android, so the software on the Motorola Razr looks a lot like what you'll find on a Google Pixel – and that's a good thing. There aren't too many extra menus or widgets or pop-up buttons that distract from the task at hand. Even better, Motorola has a few unique gesture commands that are actually quite useful and memorable.
If you hold the phone and make a chopping motion, the flashlight turns on. If you twist your wrist back and forth a couple of times, the camera turns on. The Razr is even smart enough that these gestures work when the phone is closed. If you need a compact flashlight, or if you want to take a quick selfie using the cover display, a gesture is all that's required.
The cover display can't do much, but what it can manage are useful tasks. You get six widgets to activate on that small screen, including the weather, calendar, contacts, and media playback. There is also a widget for timers, which I found very useful, as well as a widget for voice recording, which seems tailor made for an editor like me. I wish there was the option to add more widgets, especially third party options, but only these half dozen features are available.
Motorola Razr 2023 review: performance (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The Motorola Razr uses a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, which is an adequate performance platform, though it won't be great for gaming and intense workloads. The phone ran smoothly through the Motorola software and interface with never a stutter or lag. I didn't notice any extra smoothness thanks to the 144Hz display, but I had no complaints about the way the phone handled.
When I pushed the performance limit with games like Call of Duty Mobile, the Motorola Razr started to show its age. This Snapdragon 7 chipset is almost 2 years old, and CoD ran fine with lower graphics settings, but when I tried to crank things up in multiplayer mode, I got plenty of stuttering and jumps. More casual games ran smoothly, but intense game players should find a faster phone.
You can do some basic multitasking on the Motorola Razr, but using the multi-window features was a bit difficult, and the phone had trouble when I had intense apps running on both halves of the display. Running Waze maps with YouTube causes lag, for instance. As a casual phone, the Motorola Razr certainly gets the job done, and I'd ask for a better camera before I asked for better processing performance.
Motorola Razr 2023 review: battery (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Motorola has done the best it could in fitting a large battery inside the thin folding shell of the Razr Plus. It's even managed to fit a larger battery into the folding frame than you'll If the Motorola Razr has any advantage over the more premium Razr Plus, it's the battery. First of all, the Razr obviously lacks the larger cover display of the Razr 40 Ultra, and a smaller display uses less power. I'm also less likely to use that smaller display, since it's only good for a glance at a time, not useful as a screen on its own.
Second, without that larger cover display, Motorola made a smart move and stuffed a larger battery into the Motorola Razr, compared to the Razr Plus. The Razr Plus packed only a 3,800 mAh battery cell, while this Razr gets a larger 4,200 mAh battery. It makes a difference.
In my review of the Motorola Razr Plus, I had trouble making it through a full day of use without charging the phone. That was never the case with the Motorola Razr. The battery lasted a full day throughout my review, no matter what I was doing. It helped that I was taking fewer photos, and using the cover display less than I did with the Razr Plus. No matter, it still helped, and the cheaper Razr lasts longer, for better and for worse.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The 30W charging time is respectable for a bargain phone, and so is Motorola's decision to include a 30W charger in the box with the Razr. The phone even has wireless charging, at a creeping 5W pace. I know wireless charging has its fans, but I would have traded that feature for a better camera; just sayin'. In the iPhone 14 Pro, though Apple manages power slightly better. I couldn't quite make it through a full day on a full charge with the Motorola Razr Plus, though that's probably because the phone was just so much fun to use.
Having a dynamic and useful external display meant that I used the phone a lot more than I would a flip phone that's dark and motionless when it's shut. Even when I wasn't checking my hiking trails or keeping up with Slack chats, I just liked having the clock and screen saver active. It looks cute, and I don't mind charging my phone a little more often as a trade-off for a bit of cuteness.
Should you buy the Motorola Razr Plus? (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Swipe to scroll horizontally
Motorola Razr 2023 / Razr 40 score card Attributes Notes Rating Value Amazing that you can get a cool foldable clamshell for $500, though it lags behind competitors with lower specs. 4 / 5 Design Very stylish and cool looking with great color options. Shame that it isn't more water resistant, like Samsung's foldables. 4 / 5 Display Fantastic, huge display on the inside is bright, sharp, and faster than it needs to be. The cover display is small but very useful. 5 / 5 Cameras The weak link in this otherwise strong chain, Motorola has skimped on cameras and it shows in images with noise and blurriness. 2 / 5 Software Motorola doesn't add too much to Android, and most of the gestures work very well. There are some features that don't work, and not much productivity help. 3 / 5 Performance Adequate performance for most tasks, as long as you aren't playing intensive games with high-res graphics. 3 / 5 Battery Solid battery life had no trouble lasting a full day. Wireless charging was a nice addition, though maybe unnecessary. 4 / 5 Buy it if... Don't buy it if... Motorola Razr Plus review: also considerSwipe to scroll horizontally
Other phones to consider Motorola Razr 2023 Motorola Razr Plus / Razr 40 Ultra OnePlus 12R Google Pixel 7 Price: $499 / £599 / AU$999 $699 / £849 / AU$1,499 $499 / £649 $599 / £599 / AU$999 Display 6.9-inch LTPO OLED, 144Hz 1.5-inch OLED 6.9-inch LTPO OLED, 144Hz 3.6-inch OLED 6.78-inch LTPO OLED, 120Hz 6.3-inch OLED, 90Hz Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Google Tensor G2 Cameras 64MP wide; 13MP ultra wide; 32MP selfie 12MP wide; 13MP ultra wide; 32MP selfie 50MP wife; 8MP ultra wide; 2MP macro; 16MP selfie 50MP wide; 12MP ultra wide; 10.8MP selfie How I tested the Motorola Razr 2023I used the Motorola Razr as my primary phone for both business and personal use for more than a month while writing this review. I used the Razr in every way I imagined a typical user would want to use it. I took photos, played games, and used it for all of my social networking and communication needs. I used productivity apps and tools, mindfulness and health apps, and fitness apps on the phone.
I also used the Razr with wearable devices, including the Pixel Buds Pro earbuds and my Pixel Watch. I used it with an Xbox gaming controller, my Honda and Kia cars, and numerous Bluetooth accessories.
We benchmark all the phones we test using standard benchmarking software, and we also perform internal testing on the phone's performance and battery life. I used GFX Benchmark, PhoneTester Pro, and Geekbench, among other testing apps.
During my review time with the Motorola Razr, I loaded all of the apps I normally use with my smartphone. I used it for maps and navigation, music and video playback, as well as for calls and messaging. I took lots of photos and videos, played games, and used the phone to take photos at family events and gatherings.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed March, 2024
Motorola Razr 2023: Price Comparison
The Best Motorola Phones In 2024: Which One Should You Buy?
We're a long way from when Motorola ruled the mobile world, and these days, the company finds itself being eclipsed by smartphones from Samsung, Apple, and Google. But that doesn't mean you can discount the industry veteran entirely. Far from being beaten, Motorola has continued to put out great phone after great phone, and fans who long for devices with the iconic "M" logo can still find phones worth their time and money.
Motorola has been particularly active in the foldable and budget ranges, but it's also created some great flagships recently — specifically ones you may not have heard too much about. Let's end that ignorance now; here are the best Motorola smartphones you can buy in 2024, with options for every budget.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends Motorola Edge Plus (2023) The best Motorola phone overallPros
Cons
Why you should buy this: It proves Motorola can make flagship phones just as good as Samsung's and Google's.
Who is it for?: Someone who wants the best Motorola phone.
Why we picked the Motorola Edge Plus:
Motorola's flagships aren't considered by enough people. The Motorola Edge Plus (2023) is a fabulous smartphone that's more than capable of taking on Samsung's and Google's very best.
The highlights here are undoubtedly the display, design, and battery life. The display is a 6.7-inch pOLED panel with a 2400 x 1080 resolution and a variable refresh rate that goes up to 165Hz. That's beyond what's offered by most other flagship phones and matched only by high-end gaming phones, like the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro. It's smooth and responsive unlike anything else, but it doesn't just offer speed — it's also gorgeous. The design is softly curved and sits nicely in the hand, and because the screen curves around the edges, it looks like it has no bezel at all. Put succinctly, it's beautiful.
It's also capable of going two days on a single charge. The 5,100mAh battery is a beast. Screen time of almost four hours left the phone at 52%, with enough juice to make it through to the next evening, making this one of the best phones around for battery life. The Edge Plus also doesn't hang around when it's time to recharge, as the 68W fast charging makes short work of recharging the battery to full.
We have yet to mention performance, but that's not because it's not good. It's
The downsides? There's no always-on display, and the speakers are a bit rubbish — but outside of that, the Motorola Edge Plus is a triumph. With prices starting at $800 for 512GB of storage, this is easily a phone that can challenge flagships from other brands, and if you're a Motorola fan, there's no finer flagship in your eyes.
Motorola Edge Plus (2023)
The best Motorola phone overall
Joe Maring / Digital Trends Motorola Edge (2023) The Motorola phone runner-upPros
Cons
**Why you should buy this:** It's a cheaper version of the Edge Plus, with a lot of the same strengths.
Who is it for?: Anyone who wants a strong Motorola phone at a lower price.
Why we picked the Motorola Edge (2023):
The Motorola Edge is the companion phone to the Edge Plus, and it offers a lot of what makes the $800 phone great but does so at a lower price. As such, it's our pick for the best runner-up Motorola phone.
It's a little more complex than that, though, as the Edge exists in a strange little world. While it has a lot of the same strengths as the Edge Plus, it's not quite as good, and it apes a lot of the same weaknesses, too.
We'll start with the strengths. Like the Edge Plus, the regular Edge has a strong battery, with the 4,400mAh cell lasting for around a day and a half on a single charge. It has the same 68W charging rate, so it won't stay on the charger for long. The Edge has soft curves with the same bezel-free design, and the addition of a vegan leather back is a nice touch. The 6.6-inch pOLED display is gorgeous, too, with a 144Hz variable refresh rate and a 2400 x 1080 resolution.
Performance is where it starts to fall down a little bit. The MediaTek Dimensity 7030 is a strong chip and performs well, but there were some hitches, like pauses when pulling down the notification shade. It's not clear whether it's the software or processor at fault, but these sorts of issues also crop up in the camera, with shutter presses taking a moment to register and the app itself being slow to start. The camera lenses also aren't great, and while they're serviceable, there's nothing special about the stills you'll take with this phone. Finally, the update policy isn't up to standard, as it'll only get one more Android update now, and the fingerprint scanner isn't very reliable.
That reads as a veritable laundry list of complaints, but don't make the mistake of thinking the Edge is a bad phone. It's a flawed phone, yes — but what it's good at, it's very good at. If you can forgive the shortcomings and embrace its strengths, especially if you can grab it at a heavy discount, the Motorola Edge (2023) is a great phone.
Motorola Edge (2023)
The Motorola phone runner-up
Joe Maring / Digital Trends Motorola Razr Plus The best Motorola folding phonePros
Cons
Why you should buy this: Folding phones are the future, and Motorola created a great one.
Who is it for?: Anyone who wants a great folding phone from Motorola.
Why we picked the Motorola Razr Plus:
Motorola made the most popular and arguably the most famous flip phone of all time in the Moto Razr V3, so it's fitting that the company would come with a smartphone successor in the Moto Razr range. The Razr Plus isn't the best smartphone you can buy, but it's gorgeous, very capable, and an awful lot of fun.
As mentioned, this is a stunning phone. All flip phones are a special kind of pretty, but Motorola dialed it up to 11 with the Razr Plus. The Viva Magenta color is a particular highlight, with a vegan leather back and a strong, bright red hue. The other colorways don't have the vegan leather back, using frosted glass instead, but they're still gorgeous.
But we know what you want to hear about: the flip. It's great. The hinge isn't as stiff as Samsung's Z Flip phones, and as a result, the Razr Plus won't sit at as many angles as the Galaxy phone will, but it'll still sit open in Flex View, and you can comfortably flip it open and closed with a single hand. That's very important for those of us who remember the satisfying feel of closing a Razr V3, and it's great Motorola managed to bring that across.
There are two screens here, and they're both excellent. The inner display is a 6.9-inch pOLED panel with a 2640 x 1080 resolution and a max refresh rate of 165Hz. The crease is there, but it's very well hidden and not as visible as the crease on its contemporaries, like the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The outer display is where the real magic happens, though. It's a 3.6-inch pOLED with a 1056 x 1056 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. Specific apps are optimized for the smaller screen, but you also have the option to run any app on the cover screen. That point can't be over stated, because it's amazing. Sure, you won't want to use every app on here, but scanning your Starbucks card, checking messages, or changing a podcast? More than possible, and ideal too.
There's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 under the hood, which is far from the latest processor now, but it's still more than powerful enough for most people's needs. It gets hot, though, especially when playing more demanding games. The battery is good. It manages a day and change, which is acceptable if nothing special. The software is clean and Pixel-like, which is to say, great.
On the flip side (see what we did there?), you have a camera that's so-so. It's not bad, but it's definitely not up to the standard of alternative options. It won't let you down a lot, but there are a lot of better choices in this price range. Also, charging only goes up to 30W, which is a bit of a disappointment. Still, there are plenty of 2024 flagships still running charging speeds around here, like the iPhone 15 Pro, so we can't hold it against the Razr Plus that much.
We've squeezed a lot into this section, and that's because there's a lot to discuss when the Razr Plus comes up. But in short, this is a very good smartphone with a gorgeous design, a pair of displays, and some software tricks that Samsung is only really just catching up to. It's definitely the choice if you want a folding Motorola smartphone.
Motorola Razr Plus
The best Motorola folding phone
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Motorola Razr (2023) The best cheap Motorola folding phonePros
Cons
Why you should buy this: It's a great flip phone at a very reasonable price.
Who is it for?: Someone who wants a flip phone but at a lower price.
Why we picked the Motorola Razr (2023):
The Razr Plus is the choice for a folding Motorola phone, but it's not the only choice. The standard Razr may be missing some of the bells and whistles that make the Razr Plus so good, but it's still a great flip phone — and a solid choice if you want a flip phone at a lower price.
Like the Plus, the Razr is a gorgeous phone with a solid-feeling hinge and vegan leather material on the back. The first sacrifice can be seen here though, and it's the cover screen. It's a much smaller display than that on the Razr Plus, measuring just 1.5 inches and being relegated mainly to just swiping through notifications and a few select widgets. It's nowhere near the same level of usefulness as the cover screen on the Plus, and that's a real shame. The inner display is beautiful, though, being 6.9 inches in size with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz.
The cameras are good, though not a match for any of Samsung's flagships, and the cover screen can be used as a viewfinder, so you can use the main camera system for selfies. Performance is solid, even though the phone uses a midrange Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. It's prone to getting hot when it's pushed and when playing games, but that's a problem the Plus version also shares, so we can't blame this specific processor for that.
The 4,200mAh battery is a good performer, and it'll definitely last the day, even when pushed relatively hard with three or four hours of screen time. It's possible for this to last two days, but only with relatively light use. Don't expect it to last two days as a matter of course, but it should easily last a day on one charge. The recharging rate is capped at 30W, which isn't great, but it's okay.
The Motorola Razr (2023) debuted at a cost of $700, which was a pretty good deal already. These days, it's common to find it well discounted, so you can grab it for an even better price, with $500 not being uncommon. It's an absolute steal for a phone this good, let alone one that's a flip phone.
Motorola Razr (2023)
The best cheap Motorola folding phone
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) The best value Motorola phonePros
Cons
Why you should buy this: Stylus phones are a dying breed, but the Moto G Stylus is a shining example.
Who is it for?: Anyone who wants a great value phone or a stylus phone at a good price.
Why we picked the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023):
It's always nice when a phone surprises you, and the Moto G Stylus certainly did that. Released last year, the G Stylus offers a large screen, solid performance, and a gorgeous display — as well as a stylus — for just $400. Is there a better bargain to be had in smartphones? There might be better phones in this price bracket, sure, but what isn't arguable is how excellent the Moto G Stylus is.
We'll start with the performance. A stylus phone needs snappy response times, and the G Stylus's Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chip certainly manages that. That combines with the display's 120Hz refresh rate, making daily use feel smooth and quick. It's an LCD, but don't hold that against it, as it still looks great.
The battery continues this impressive streak. It's a 5,000mAh cell capable of managing two days on a single charge. However, the charging rate is limited to just 20W, which is a disappointment. Motorola doesn't include a 20W charger in the box, so you're initially limited to a 10W charger if you don't already have a faster charger on hand.
There have to be downsides, of course, and that's encapsulated handily in the camera. It's okay in most scenarios, with results being acceptable. However, drop the lights, and the quality goes down heavily. It's certainly not going to match a Google Pixel 7a in quality by any means, and if a strong camera is a must for you, then the Moto G Stylus may be one to avoid.
That small point aside, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is an extremely capable phone. There's a lot to love about Motorola's midrange smartphones, and the G Stylus is a great example of that. A strong battery, great-looking screen, and solid performance mean this phone is a real winner—and the best Motorola value you can get.
Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
The best value Motorola phone
Joe Maring / Digital Trends Moto G Power (2024) The best battery life Motorola phonePros
Cons
Why you should buy this: For its strong battery life — but nothing else.
Who is it for?: Travelers, businesspeople, or anyone who needs a long-lasting phone.
Why we picked the Moto G Power (2024):
The reason you should buy the Moto G Power is right there in the name: It's because you need battery power. The Moto G Power has always specialized in battery life, and this year's model is no different. This year, Motorola upped the ante even higher by adding faster charging options, but really, it's also worth keeping in mind that strong battery power is pretty much all this phone does.
It would be folly to start with anything other than the battery. At 5,000mAh, it's one of the largest batteries around, and thanks to the lower specs, it's very efficient. On average, one charge will net you two days of life, with three days being possible if you're conservative with how much you use your phone. Charging has been upgraded, with a 30W charging rate as standard and 15W wireless charging, too. A 30W charging speed is great on a $300 phone, and 15W wireless charging is excellent.
The design is solid, too. It's made from plastic but doesn't feel like plastic, thanks largely to the vegan leather backing. There's also room for 1TB of storage expansion, 128GB of onboard storage, NFC support for contactless payments, and even a headphone jack.
But it's largely there that the upsides end. The Moto G Power's display specs are great, with a 1080p display and a 120Hz refresh rate. But in real use, it has bad viewing angles and poor visibility in sunlight, even if the 120Hz refresh rate means it feels smooth. Performance also isn't great, and the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 struggles with any tasks more demanding than scrolling social media. The camera is also a big disappointment, with the main lens being only mostly useable. Every shot will have something wrong with it, and it's not reliable at all. Finally, the G Power will get one major Android upgrade. When some manufacturers are expanding their update promises enormously, just getting one is close to an insult.
It's hard to recommend the Moto G Power because it's not much more than a basic smartphone strapped to an enormous battery. If you absolutely need a long-lasting smartphone from Motorola, then this is your phone. However, we wouldn't recommend it to many people outside of that.
Moto G Power (2024)
The best battery life Motorola phone
Editors' RecommendationsPhone With Perfume Dispenser, Phone For Ants, Gaming Chair That Can Shave, More: How Oppo, OnePlus And Others Fooled On April 1
On April 1st, which is celebrated as April Fools' Day, brands once again exhibited their creativity by introducing a range of unbelievable product announcements to entertain and trick people.This year's April Fools' Day was no different and we saw tech companies pushing the limits of imagination with products such as smartphones with built-in perfume dispensers and AI-powered gaming chairs that cater to your every need. Here, we take a closer look at some of the most 'imaginative as well as amusing' product announcements made this Fool's Day.Oppo's phone with a pop-up perfume dispenser Oppo, a brand renowned for having some of the weird phones, has once again taken the world by surprise with its latest announcement: the world's first smartphone featuring a built-in perfume dispenser. Dubbed "Eau de Innovation," the phone has a perfume dispenser that uses NOSE Technology to deliver three fragrances: Silicone Musk, Code Couture, and Megapixel Mist.Oppo has even opened a pop-up store in Cologne for visitors to experience the unique phone. However, sadly, you can't visit the store or experience the phone, as Oppo's "Eau de Innovation" is more of an "Eau de Imagination."
OnePlus' first AI-powered robot, the OnePlus R12-D12, makes its debut What is the OnePlus R12-D12? Is it a phone, or is it a robot? Whatever it is, it is not real. In a playful video, OnePlus showcases a device that seamlessly transforms from a sleek smartphone into a fully-functional robot, reminiscent of the transforming robots from popular sci-fi franchises.
Nothing's new phone for ants Nothing, the brand known for its transparent tech, is now venturing into a new business — making phones for ants. It teased its first mini phone, the Nothing Phone (2a) Micro, which looks exactly the same as the normal-sized Phone (2a) but is apparently small enough for an ant to use comfortably.
You'll need to be worthy to lift this Asus ROG product ASUS ROG joined April Fools' Day 2024 with a playful teaser image of the ROGMjolnir, a device styled after Thor's legendary hammer. The company humorously claims that ROGMjolnir can harness the sun's power to charge devices and illuminate paths with summoned lightning.
Elon Musk jokingly joins Disney as Chief DEI officer Elon Musk, known for his playful tweets, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he has joined Disney as Chief DEI Officer and is eager to work with Bob Iger and Kathleen Kennedy. In a reply to his tweet, an account "Elon Musk (Parody), replied "Sorry guys, posted this from the wrong account." To which Musk, replied with a laughing emoji.
Razer's ultimate gaming chair will take care of all your needs In a humorous April Fools' Day prank, Razer introduced the Razer Cthulhu, the ultimate gaming chair with eight AI-powered robotic arms. The chair promises to provide massages, deliver food, and even shave your face while you continue gaming. Tinder looks out for a VP of Ghost Hunting this April Fools Day Dating app Tinder announced an April Fools' Day hiring quest for a Vice President of Ghost Hunting to help combat ghosting, a practice that the company claims has affected 78% of singles in 2024 (a made-up statistic).The playful job description outlines responsibilities such as investigating unanswered texts, categorising ghosts, and performing emoji analysis. The qualifications include a history of being ghosted and an obsession with the truth, among others. However, the most important requirement is the ability to analyse data and read through the entire job description to realise that it is, in fact, an April Fool's prank.
Ixigo's Flyfie gets people this April Fools' Day This April Fools' Day, Ixigo, the online travel portal, unveiled an innovative solution for capturing life's moments hands-free: the Flyfie, the world's first drone designed specifically for smartphones. The ixigo Flyfie, shaped like a hand fan, allows users to securely attach their smartphones and pair them with the drone using the ixigo app. Once connected, the Flyfie will follow you around, enabling you to record videos and take photos without the need for a selfie stick or a camera operator.The drone is packed with impressive features, including a rapid 20-minute charging time, voice command support for easy control, and obstacle detection to avoid crashes. Additionally, the Flyfie comes with a theft-guard feature (currently in beta) to protect your device from potential thieves.However, as enticing as it may sound, the ixigo Flyfie is, unfortunately, not a real product and is part of Ichigo's April Fools' Day prank for 2024.
