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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Technology
Dave Snelling

I tried Motorola's new Razr flip phone and Samsung should definitely be worried

The foldable phone market has been dominated by Samsung in recent years and for good reason. The Korean firm's range of bendy devices are some of the best money can buy but that might not be the case for much longer. Motorola has just revealed its striking new Razr 40 Ultra and it features some big upgrades that could help convince Android users to make the jump.

Mirror Online has already had our hands on this new phone and there's plenty to like including a much bigger 3.6-inch pOLED cover display that makes this secondary screen way more useful.

The 3.9-inch cover screen makes it way more useful (REACH PLC)

Thanks to the extra space, we've happily been able to use apps such as Google Maps, play games and send emails without needing to flip things open. The screen even has a dedicated Spotify app allowing you to use it like a mini music player.

Full customisation is also available with users able to choose unique wallpapers and clock faces plus it can be used as a view finder to help take selfies using the main camera.

It's way more useful than anything we've tried before and we wouldn't be surprised to see Motorola's rivals copy this design in the future.

Of course, that 3.9-inch panel isn't so great for a quick Netflix binge but flip things open and you're suddenly treated to a massive 6.9-inch display which is also bigger than what Samsung offers on its Z Flip 4 phones.

Once opened, owners get a 6.9-inch screen (REACH PLC)

This screen gets Flex View technology which means it can be opened at almost any angle allowing users to stand it on their desk and make hands-free video calls or snap photos without needing to physically hold the device.

One criticism we've had of all foldable phones is the dreaded screen crease which blights them. So how does the 40 Ultra's display cope with being bent in half?

Although Motorola says it's almost impossible to see, you definitely can still notice and feel it when you stroke your finger across the main panel. We guess that's just one of the compromises of owning a device with a screen that bends.

We might not be fans of that bump but this main display does get an adaptive refresh rate which speeds things up when needed - such as playing games or whizzing around websites - but then drops things down when you are simply reading emails. This helps conserve battery life and makes things last a little longer.

The Motorola Razr comes in Pantone's Viva Magenta colour (REACH PLC)

Talking of battery life, another bonus of buying the Razr over Samsung's Flip is that it ships with a fast charger in the box. All Galaxy devices no longer come with power adapters with users having to pay extra if they need a plug.

Other extras worth a mention include the addition of wireless charging, 5G network speeds and enhanced audio thanks to Spatial Sound and Dolby Atmos

It's also powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor which offers plenty of oomph but it's worth noting that other flagship phones are now using the faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip which is not only more powerful but also more efficient.

Finally, there's the camera which offers improved low-light photos along with wide-angle and macro abilities. We're still testing the photography credentials of the Razr but our initial impressions are good.

Now, there is one slight elephant in the room and that's the price. Motorola is asking £1,049 for this phone which makes it more expensive than Samsung's call makers.

Meet the new Motorola Razr 40 Ultra (REACH PLD)

There are bigger features but it appears you'll have to pay a higher price to use them.

If that sounds a bit rich then the firm is also releasing a cheaper version simply called the Razr 40.

This device gets a much smaller cover screen and less powerful processor but it does get the same design, impressive cameras and long battery life. Fans can grab this device for just £799.99 when it launches in the coming months.

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