Everyone is drawn to large foldables due to their increased screen space and extensive productivity features. Nonetheless, smaller foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 or Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 offer their own distinct advantages.
The clamshell design provides a sleek cover-screen interface, and its compact size allows for easy portability. You may have doubts about the practicality of a folding phone that doesn’t exceed the display size of conventional flagship models, but flip phones possess more capabilities than you might assume.
There’s a multitude of functions you can explore with a screen that hinges, and the additional cover display enhances its usability. For photography enthusiasts, the flip phone design effectively serves as a built-in tripod and a rear viewfinder. If you frequently consume media, you might appreciate how Flex mode facilitates a laptop-like viewing experience. Among all the unique features found on Samsung and Motorola flip phones, one that always impresses is Camcorder mode.
This video recording feature combines utility, nostalgia, and entertainment — a fantastic trio. You can learn how to utilize it on your Samsung Galaxy or Motorola Razr flip phone via this guide.
Everything you can do with Camcorder mode
Both Motorola and Samsung provide their personalized Camcorder mode functionality on the Razr and Galaxy flip phones, respectively. It is specifically crafted for the flip phone design, ensuring you won’t find it on larger book-style foldables. The two features operate in a similar manner — with the display partially open, you can rotate your flip phone horizontally to activate Camcorder mode. This displays a live video preview on one half of the main screen while the other half remains available for thumb controls.
It imitates the sensation of using a classic camcorder, which featured flip-out screens for monitoring recordings. Using a foldable phone, you can opt to show the viewfinder on just the inner display or on both. This offers a more comfortable method for recording horizontal video compared to trying to hold the phone fully extended without obstructing the camera lenses.
Motorola provides options that dictate the behavior upon activating Camcorder mode. By default, engaging Camcorder mode instantly begins recording. Alternatively, you can configure Camcorder mode to initiate recording a few moments after you fold the phone halfway, or only when you manually start it. When active, Camcorder mode reveals a touchpad that can zoom in and out or control recording start and stop.
Samsung’s variant doesn’t automatically begin recording, but it keeps all video controls active while Camcorder mode is engaged. This allows for easier adjustments to settings during recording, though you must be more cautious about where your thumb is pressing or swiping compared to the Motorola version.
How to use Camcorder mode on a flip phone
Activating Camcorder mode is straightforward regardless of whether you own a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or a Motorola Razr. Nevertheless, the available features on each foldable brand vary slightly, so here are the instructions tailored for each device:
How to use Samsung’s Camcorder mode
1. Launch the Camera app.
2. Select the Video mode.
3. Fold your display halfway toward you. This is known as Flex mode.
4. Rotate your device to landscape orientation while keeping it halfway folded.
5. Camcorder mode is now engaged. You can initiate or stop recording, take photos, zoom in or out, or modify camera settings with your thumb on one half of the screen — while enjoying a live preview on the other half.
6. Optionally, you can tap the cover screen icon to view a live preview on the external display concurrently.
How to use Motorola’s Camcorder mode
1. Launch the Camera app.
2. Select the Video mode.
3. Fold your display halfway toward you.
4. Rotate your device to landscape orientation while keeping it halfway folded.
5. This will automatically commence recording in Camcorder mode. You can use the touchpad on one half of the screen to initiate or cease recording or zoom in or out with your thumb while observing a live preview on the opposite half.
6. Unlike on a Samsung Galaxy phone, you need to turn a Motorola Razr back to vertical orientation to modify camera settings. You can’t perform any actions other than zoom or switch the camera while in Camcorder mode.
Camcorder mode places video controls exactly where you require them
The ergonomic design of Camcorder mode is what truly enhances the feature. You can comfortably grasp the bottom portion of a flip phone while recording without the concern of blocking the camera lenses. Since the upper section of the foldable is half-open and facing outward, it remains completely unobtrusive, assuring that the cameras have an unobstructed view of your subject.
Another advantage is the ability to start or stop a recording with a simple tap using your thumb. Swiping adjusts the zoom levels on both Motorola and Samsung devices, while Galaxy Z Flip models offer additional toggles. I can switch the megapixel mode.