Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

This week, Motorola introduced its latest Razr 2026 series. The collection includes three Razr flip models: the standard Razr 2026, the mid-tier Razr Plus 2026, and the high-end Razr Ultra 2026. Motorola also revealed the pricing and launch date for the Razr Fold, which has been teased since CES 2026. All four devices will be available for preorder starting May 14, with sales in stores beginning on May 21.

With four fresh Razr 2026 smartphones set to hit the market soon, which variant are you most inclined to buy, if any? Participate in our poll and leave a comment telling us your choice and reasoning.

The Razr 2026 flip models do not represent major enhancements compared to their forerunners, a fact evident when examining their chipsets. The Razr Ultra 2026 is equipped with the same chip as the previous year’s Razr Ultra, while the Razr Plus 2026 shares its chipset with the Razr 2024. The standard Razr 2026 is the only model to receive a new chip, albeit a slight upgrade from the Dimensity 7400X to the Dimensity 7450X.

Conversely, there were some notable improvements in camera and battery specifications. Each Razr 2026 flip phone is equipped with dual 50MP cameras, with the base model upgrading from a 13MP ultrawide camera and the Plus replacing the telephoto camera with an ultrawide one. The Razr and Razr Ultra saw their battery capacities enhanced by 300mAh, while the Razr Plus benefited from a substantial 500mAh increase, all made possible by new silicon-carbon batteries.

That being said, the prices of the three flip models have risen, likely due to the ongoing RAM shortage. The base and Plus models saw a $100 increase in price, while the Razr Ultra experienced a $200 hike over its predecessor. This may cause some hesitation in purchasing the more premium $1,499 Razr Ultra 2026, although the Razr 2026 still appears to be a more reasonable option.

The Razr Fold has been anticipated for months, but it’s finally arriving alongside the Razr 2026 flip models. This foldable device boasts three 50MP rear cameras, which DXOMARK has rated as the “#1 foldable camera system,” a remarkable achievement. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (not the Elite) and features a substantial 6,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging.

In numerous aspects, the Razr Fold surpasses the Galaxy Z Fold 7, even underpricing it by $100. If you have an interest in foldables, this could very well be one to consider.

There’s ample time left to make a choice prior to the start of Razr 2026 preorders. The Razr 2026 lineup has arrived, and though the phones resemble their predecessors closely, there are still some significant enhancements that might pique your interest. So, as we await the preorder commencement on May 14, we’re reviewing a few considerations for those contemplating a purchase of a Razr 2026 flip phone (the Razr Fold will be discussed in a separate article).

Note that this information is derived from the phones’ specifications and my limited hands-on experience with the devices. For a comprehensive evaluation and conclusive recommendations, you’ll need to wait for our reviews.

Motorola Razr 2026 series: Reasons to consider one

Here are the primary factors that may encourage you to think about acquiring the Razr 2026 flip phones.

Updated colors and materials

Motorola is recognized for moving away from glass back panels and opting for different materials for its phones. We frequently commend the brand for its vibrant colors and its use of materials like vegan leather and wood, and the Razr 2026 series continues this trend with new color selections and intriguing material options.

The Razr Ultra 2026 is offered in just two colors this year, Orient Blue and Cocoa, building on what were evidently the more favored material choices from the Razr Ultra 2025, Alcantara and wood. The soft Alcantara feels wonderful to touch, with a color that shifts between blue and purple based on the lighting, while Cocoa presents a deeper wood tone in comparison to the Mountain Trail selection from 2025.

The base Razr provides four color options, giving buyers a considerable selection to choose from. All variations look and feel great, but I lean towards Bright White and Violet Ice, as the former shines beautifully due to its acetate design (although the phone does have a substantial weight), while the latter features a calming wavy texture that makes me want to glide my hand across it continuously.

What’s even more exciting is that Motorola is likely to introduce even more colors in the future, potentially including another collaboration with Paris Hilton!

Camera enhancements throughout

There weren’t many modifications in the new Razr 2026 series, but one area Motorola focused on was the cameras across all devices.

The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 camera was already quite impressive, but Motorola is promising improved photos due to a new LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) camera sensor. While Motorola isn’t the first brand to implement this kind of camera (check out the Xiaomi 17 Ultra), it pledges enhanced dynamic range, quicker image capture, and improved efficiency.

The sensors are also Pantone-validated for superior color and skin-tone fidelity.

The Razr and Razr Plus have received upgrades as well, now featuring dual 50MP rear cameras that are Pantone Validated. This should lead to superior ultrawide shots on the Razr 2026, but the Razr Plus has also replaced last year’s telephoto camera with an Ultrawide. Thankfully, you can still achieve optical-quality images at 2x zoom if necessary, but this should provide more flexibility.

Motorola has also included additional camera functionalities, such as Tilt to Zoom in Camcorder mode and Frame Match, allowing you to capture a scene and create an overlay so someone else can photograph you with your preferred framing.

Motorola also unveiled two Google Photos features alongside the Razr 2026 series, one creating a digital wardrobe for you to mix and match outfits and visualize a digital preview of your look. The other integrates Google Photos Memories into Motorola’s Daily Drop, enabling you to view your photos next to other personalized content.

Innovative battery technology

Silicon-carbon batteries are the latest trend, enabling manufacturers to fit larger-capacity batteries into smaller devices, and they are revolutionizing the smartphone market. Sadly, U.S. companies like Samsung and Google have been slow to embrace it, but Motorola is integrating it into the new Razr flip phones.

Consequently, Motorola was able to enhance the battery capacity for each model. The base Razr rises from 4,500mAh to 4,800mAh, the Razr Plus increases from 4,000mAh to 4,500mAh, and the Razr Ultra expands from 4,700mAh to a robust 5,000mAh! All while keeping the device sizes unchanged!

This means more time capturing moments and less time fretting over battery life.

Increased software updates… sort of

Motorola has not been renowned for its prompt or extensive software update support, but that is gradually improving. The Razr series has consistently promised three years of OS updates and four years of security updates. Now, the Razr 2026 series is elevating this commitment, even if only by a

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Dismiss Sony, a new contender has emerged.

Carriers impose charges of up to $5 for visual voicemail per line, yet Samsung’s Direct Voicemail feature is provided at no cost and is integrated into select Galaxy devices.

I recall a period when my mobile carrier not only billed me for every call minute but also found ways to charge me for each text message I sent! Fortunately, those times have passed, but carriers still attempt to extract additional payments for minor features on a monthly basis.

Visual Voicemail serves as a prime example, generally costing between $3 and $5 for every line each month to access what appears to be a common functionality. If you’re on a family plan, this service could be an expense of $30-40 monthly, but if you own Samsung Galaxy phones, you may save that expense and allow your device to manage the task instead.

This advantage is attributed to a fresh feature included in One UI 8.5, which debuted with the Galaxy S26 series and is being released to Samsung devices globally this May. If you’re utilizing a Galaxy S26, you’re already set to benefit from Direct Voicemail right away. Users of older Samsung models will simply need to await the One UI 8.5 update for the feature to become accessible.

What is Direct Voicemail?

With Direct Voicemail, your device always responds to incoming calls, employing Galaxy AI to handle and transcribe the conversation in real time. Galaxy AI responds with an automated voice that informs the caller of your unavailability, concurrently displaying the transcribed conversation on your screen. You also have the option to pick up the call at any moment during this process, presenting a clear advantage over conventional voicemail.

Since the call and transcription occur directly on your phone, it bypasses your carrier’s voicemail system entirely. Additionally, transcriptions are only saved and processed on your device, ensuring that the call stays within your phone. Samsung further provides AI-enhanced background noise removal with Direct Voicemail, allowing your voicemails to sound clearer than what you may be accustomed to.

What are the drawbacks of Direct Voicemail?

Although Direct Voicemail improves upon your carrier’s visual voicemail service in multiple ways, it comes with more restrictions as it necessitates your phone to answer the call. For instance, if your phone is switched off or lacks network connectivity, the call will still be redirected to your carrier’s voicemail system.

Direct Voicemail isn’t functional while you are engaged in another call, as it must answer first to operate. Additionally, video calls are not supported, and there may be limitations on Direct Voicemail when traveling abroad. You should also consider the available storage on your phone, though transcriptions consume minimal space, making this last concern unlikely for most individuals.

How to activate Samsung Direct Voicemail

Setting up Direct Voicemail is straightforward, but many may not know where to locate the option. You can always search for it in system settings, which is often the best method to find anything you might be unsure about, but here’s a quicker way to access it:

1. Launch the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, then select Settings.
3. Choose Direct Voicemail from the provided list.
4. Flip the toggle switch to activate it.

Once the feature is activated, you’ll want to double-check that all settings are configured correctly to maximize its use. By default, automatic transcription is turned off, so while Direct Voicemail will still function, it won’t provide a real-time transcript as the individual speaks. For me, that’s a crucial element of the feature, rendering it much less beneficial without it. Here’s how to turn it on:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, then select Settings.
3. Choose Direct Voicemail from the list.
4. Scroll down and tap Transcript Assist.
5. Under the Call Recordings section on the following screen, enable Auto transcribe recorded calls and Direct Voicemail.

How to utilize Direct Voicemail

By default, Direct Voicemail will automatically divert calls to voicemail after ringing for 20 seconds. You can modify this duration as per your preference in the Direct Voicemail settings (accessed using the previous steps), or you can manually divert a call to Direct Voicemail anytime. Here’s how to do this.

1. When a call arrives, tap the More options button on the dialer or on the pop-up call notification.
2. Choose Direct Voicemail from the menu to send the call to voicemail.
3. While the caller speaks, a live transcript will appear on your screen.
4. To pick up the call and interrupt Direct Voicemail, press the Answer button.

How to locate your Direct Voicemails

When someone leaves a Direct Voicemail, you can usually just tap the notification to access it.

With Motorola providing less-than-impressive upgrades this year, I’m putting together a list of features I hope to see in 2027.

Motorola has just launched the 2026 Razr series, and once again, we’re only seeing minor enhancements. The clamshell-style Moto Razr Fold is intriguing as Motorola finally competes with Samsung and Google in this sector, yet that foldable will arrive a bit later in the year.

However, the Razr, Razr+, and Razr Ultra remain largely similar to their earlier versions, and if any model has modest improvements, it is the base Razr. With Motorola not making significant changes this generation, our focus shifts to next year and if we’ll see superior hardware in next-gen Razr devices — here is what I hope to see from Motorola’s 2027 foldables. Of course, there is no concrete information on Motorola’s plans for the 2027 refresh, but I will include all pertinent details in this post as they emerge.

We need 256GB of storage

Although the base Moto Razr offers a lot, it is priced at $799 now, which is $100 more than its predecessor. Frustratingly, it only provides 128GB of base storage, which is insufficient in 2026. I frequently switch between phones each week, and 128GB will no longer accommodate all my applications, let alone the hundreds of photos I capture weekly.

I understand that the pricing of memory and storage products is significantly inflated now, but that doesn’t justify cutting the storage in half while raising the price — last year’s Razr 2025 had 256GB of base storage.

Motorola should create a mid-range Razr

Regarding pricing, Motorola needs to introduce a mid-range foldable. A Razr model in the $500 to $600 range would perform very well, and while older versions often go on sale at these prices, a mid-range option would enable Motorola to make even larger strides in the foldable market.

Motorola holds a robust 50% share of the U.S. foldable space, and a more affordable model would greatly enhance its lineup. Motorola wouldn’t need to do much; keeping similar specifications as the Razr 2026 but with just one camera, no MIL-STD 810H certification, and a standard battery (instead of the silicon variant), should enable a lower retail price. Whether Motorola will actually pursue this is another question entirely.

The Razr+ model desperately needs enhancements

Motorola focused most of its resources this year on the base Razr, resulting in the Razr+ being nearly identical to the 2025 Razr+ — which was itself indistinguishable from the 2024 model. Essentially, the 2026 Razr+ is a three-year-old device at launch, and aside from a larger battery now utilizing silicon technology, there are virtually no alterations.

With the Razr+ 2027, Motorola must provide significant upgrades to validate the existence of this foldable. A brighter OLED display is essential, along with revamped internals; while the 8s Gen 3 is still functional, a $1,000 foldable should at least be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5.

We also require improved cameras; while Motorola added a LOFIC camera to the Ultra, the Razr+ 2026 retains the same cameras as the Razr+ 2024, and while the camera algorithms have seen some adjustments, it still badly needs a refresh.

Razr Ultra 2027 must justify its title

While the Razr Ultra features a new camera akin to the one in the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, the device lacks the latest internals. It doesn’t incorporate Qualcomm’s top-tier platform, which must change in 2027. Additionally, Motorola isn’t offering a 1TB variant this year, and that should return next year.

Any Ultra device — foldable or not — must contain the latest technology, and failing to deliver this year is unacceptable. The 2026 Razr Ultra is $200 more expensive than its predecessors, yet it doesn’t do enough to warrant the price increase. I fail to understand why anyone would purchase the foldable when last year’s Ultra is currently priced at just $699 on Amazon. Motorola is effectively differentiating itself with unique designs, and it needs to replicate that with the core hardware in 2027.

We need more software updates

With Google and Samsung committing to seven years of software updates for their devices, Motorola’s foldables are falling behind in this aspect. The 2026 Razr models currently receive just three guaranteed Android OS updates alongside five years of security updates, and that just isn’t enough.

This enhancement ensures everything remains innovative and user-friendly.