Word Street Journal

The market for Flip Phones has seen a sharp jump. Even in Asian countries like India, their craze is at an all-time high.

If reports are to be believed, Samsung India has sold a record number of their latest offering, the Galaxy Z Flip5.

However, the boom in the market is not just due to Samsung’s consistency in delivering such products year after year.

It is also because of ‘vintage’ Motorola.

The ‘once used to be famous’ brand has released two flip phones this year (2023), the Moto Razr 40 and the Razr 40 Ultra (or Plus, depending on your region).

While the former competes with Samsung’s Z Flip4, the latter gives Z Flip5 a run for its money.

And have no doubts, I love the Razr 40 Ultra. And I was only a tap away from ordering it. But but but… (that’s 3 butts in a row and MS Word tells me it’s an error), I now own a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5.

Before I tell you why I chose the Z Flip5, let me highlight the reasons that made me fall in love with the Moto Razr 40 Ultra.

Why I Love the Moto Razr 40 Ultra?

The Cover Screen

The first point of contact between me and the Razr 40 Ultra was its cover screen.

A well-integrated AMOLED panel behind the upper half of the phone made an instant connection with me.

In front of Ultra’s cover screen – with a dynamic 144Hz refresh rate – the previous iterations of the Z Flip series simply didn’t stand.

They seemed too tiny to be of any use. It was as if Motorola brought in another era in the foldable phone market.

And I felt the urge to compliment it for pushing for the future instead of Samsung’s untidy approach to physical upgrades.

They have been making stylish flips for the past several years, but never did they try and come up with something of that sort.

Moto had the first-mover advantage and rewarding them with a purchase seemed the right thing.

Why I didn’t buy it then? Please wait, I will come back to that question in a bit.

Reduced Thickness

The Razr 40 Ultra looks slim. It is not just small when folded, it is also less thick than what we were used to.

Consequently, it complements the overall look of the phone. A phone that feels stylish, slim, and slick, for that matter, cannot be ignored in any way.

The Viva Magenta Color and the Leather Design

In India, the Razr 40 Ultra was launched in two colors, Infinite Black and Viva Magenta. While the former is more on the traditional side, the latter is unorthodox.

We didn’t get the Blue offering, unlike some other regions.

So, the Viva Magenta was obviously the first choice, specifically due to its leather design.

Samsung’s flip phones are used to having a glassy back, which is too slippery to hold.

It is almost impossible to use them without a case.

But the Viva Magenta, combined with the leather design, made up for a dashing combo.

It grips pretty well when you are trying to flip open the phone.

Also, I have experienced my Z Flip5 moving on its own on my sofa due to the glass back. So, without a cover, it’s a risky device to own.

No Gap Hinge

Everyone’s well aware of Samsung’s earlier iterations of the Flip lineup. All of them had a gap when folded, giving rise to dust intrusion.

Add to it no official dust protection rating from the company. It just didn’t make sense.

Then one day, Motorola decides to sit back and give it a deep thought. They cover the basic fallacies of the Flips.

We have a gapless hinge, a dust protection rating, and a…

Virtually Creaseless Display

For the owners of the Z Flip lineup, one big downside has always been the crease in the middle, which feels like a speed breaker on the road.

However determined you may be, ignoring that thud is impossible.

You will touch it, feel it, and see it from most of the angles.

On the other hand, the Moto Razr 40 Ultra has a virtually creaseless display.

I have seen it in the retail stores and the phone only has a minor bump in the center.

It is way too little in front of the Samsung lineup.

Trust me, the crease is a factor one should consider before buying a flip.

Almost Stock Android

Of late, fans for the less cluttered stock Android have increased in number. And why not? You get a clean experience in a world full of ads and glitter.

Samsung uses its OneUI interface over and above the Android Ecosystem. So, it has more features and looks stylish as well.

However, Motorola offers an almost stock-android experience. It is quiet, calm, and productive.

One-handed Flip

So, Samsung’s Flips have a glossy body and the recent ones don’t have too curved edges.

The smartphone maker is trying to make the corners flat or square so that it looks more premium, which is quite understandable.

Barring the cover screen, if you show me the Moto Razr 40 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Flip5, I would say the Flip5 is more stylish.

That’s because the Razr has curvy edges that used to be famous some 4-5 years ago.

However, the catch here is the use case of the curved edges. It makes it easier for your thumb to settle between the flaps of the phone.

You can then unfold it at least half using one hand, which you can rarely do with any of the Z Flips.

These were the reasons for my inclination towards the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. Now, let me get to the primary topic this blog is centered around:

Why I Chose the Z Flip5 Over the Razr 40 Ultra?

Samsung’s budget-friendly phones are bad, I know. They hang a lot. There are software implementation issues, processing prowess is on the lower side, and whatnot.

But I also agree that their premium devices are really good. You’d want to adore their swiftness.

Though I loved the Moto Razr 40 Ultra, my interest in Flip phones was established due to Samsung in the first place.

Earlier this year, I had my eyes on the Z Flip3 since it was retailing at a discount of 50%.

Then I heard of the Z Flip5’s release date and waited for its arrival, almost ready to buy it in the first sale.

What happened a month before (Moto’s release), you are well aware by now.

I so disliked the back screen design of the Flip5 that I gave my pre-reserve pass to a friend and later ended up buying the phone.

Essentially, I bought it at a loss of Rs.6999 (Rs. 1999+5000) despite the welcome offers and exchange bonus.

Why would I be such a fool? Spending more to buy a phone when it could have been mine at a lower cost? I need to tell you…

What Pushed Me Back to the Samsung Z Flip5 from the Razr 40 Ultra?

Sturdy Hinge/Durability

For any phone, durability is probably the topmost selling point. Its value increases further when it comes to flip phones, which have several moving objects.

Samsung doesn’t offer a creaseless display, agreed. But it does offer a hinge that feels sturdy in the hand.

It’s stiff and gives a strong vibe. You don’t want to have a new phone, whose hinge feels lose on the very first day.

If you remember, last year, Oppo released the Find N2 Flip, also promising a virtually creaseless display.

What did it compromise? The phone can hardly stand at any angle less than 60 degrees.

It was this fear that I associated with the Moto Razr 40 Ultra.

At a retail store, it was probably kept for around a month, and I could feel the difference between its hinge and Samsung’s.

Also, the live test by Mrkeybrd, where the Razr gave up after 123k folds was a factor I considered.

Having a creaseless display in the present times is definitely going to come at a sacrifice, which I understand.

It is up to your preference. For me, I am ready to feel the crease (unfortunately) if it comes at the cost of durability.

After Sale Services

For a while, I was even ready to ignore the durability aspect. But, in case, just IN CASE, if something were to happen to the Razr’s hinge, where would I go?

Here are two images from my GPS location on Google Maps:

As visible, the first one shows the number of Samsung Authorized Service Centers near me. There are plenty of them.

The second image shows Motorola Authorized Service Centers near me. See the difference.

On paper, Samsung is a clear winner in terms of access to after-sales services.

If I am buying a phone worth $100, I would definitely get it from a brand that is at least ready to allow me in if something goes wrong.

I couldn’t have taken the risk with what seemed like a loose hinge without access to after-sale services.

Marketing Campaigns

The Moto Razr 40 Ultra came to India in the second half of June. I could see it everywhere till the pre-booking stage.

They marketed it quite well. Not taking anything away from them. But after a week or so it just vanished. I saw it only if I went to the search bar.

I mean, you are selling a premium phone. That too, in front of a heft competitor.

There’s no leeway here. Had I not been a fan of flip phones, I am sure I wouldn’t have come across the Razr.

Samsung, on the other hand, simply ate the competition with an aggressive marketing campaign.

There were ads, promotional activities, YouTube videos, etc.

If I only added the Flip5 to my cart from Samsung’s website, they would call me to check if I had completed the purchase or if I was facing any issues.

And this is literally true.

I added the phone to my cart several times, and after one or two hours I would get a call from them.

Moreover, almost everywhere I could see the Z Flip5, which was not the case with the Razr.

Maybe, Samsung had paid YouTubers (just maybe) to market their phone, but it worked in killing the competition.

Motorola lost an opportunity, where they could have marketed it well.

Samsung’s campaign lured me to change my mind.

Sleek Design

Okay, a premium phone should not just cost premium, it should also feel premium.

Before making the final decision, as I mentioned earlier, I decided to check both phones personally in a supermarket retail store.

Since the Samsung Experience store was on the ground floor, I got my hands on it first.

It had aluminum sides and edges that, when held, felt sleek.

Specifically, it felt good in the folded form because the aluminum sides doubled that way.

Add to it the flat corner design and it made me think of an instant purchase.

The case was quite different with the Razr when I went to the lower ground floor and headed to the Reliance Digital Store.

I was attracted to the Vegan Leather design. And, to some extent, the curved edges looked good.

However, the only thing that disappointed me was its not-so-compact feel.

While the Flip5 was sturdy and strong, the Moto was kind of wobbly in essence.

It simply didn’t stand in front of the premium design of the Samsung Z Flip5.

Software Update Policy

The Moto Razr 40 Ultra offers 3 Years of OS updates and 4 Years of Security updates. What is this?

They are offering the same consistency in a $800 phone that they do in a $400 phone.

How can you win over a customer like this? More so when Android 14 is just around the corner?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 offers 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of Security updates, which is the way to go presently.

Doesn’t matter how much the flip runs, you have to give the customer the confidence that it can last for a good number of years.

The Falling Trust in Motorola

Whoever I talked to about Motorola’s flip, they were cool with it.

But the only concern was: now Lenovo owns Moto.

It is no longer a purely American firm but a Chinese one.

And we are prejudiced against Chinese companies with regard to their long-term quality.

I am okay with a brick phone that is Chinese. But a Flip that is Chinese and doesn’t have enough service centers near me sounds risky.

Exchange Offers and Other Discounts

Woah! Another big reason to choose the Flip.

Motorola didn’t give any pre-book or pre-reserve offers at all. You had a price, you had to buy at it.

First, their website sucks.

Second, they don’t have a tie-up with a firm that buys used phones, for example, Samsung has a tie-up with Cashify in India.

There is no option to exchange an old phone for the Razr 40 Ultra. Even on Amazon, there was no exchange bonus in the first month.

It was when the Flip5 arrived that they reduced their prices and gave a 10k exchange discount (or bank discount).

Even then, the final cost came to around Rs. 75000 ($908).

Samsung was not only offering a 12k exchange bonus but also several other chops, including referral bonus, bank discount, pre-reserve benefits, etc.

The final price of the Z flip, for me, came to be around Rs. 72000 ($872). A friend of mine exchanged his iPhone 13 (128 GB) for a mammoth Rs. 62500 ($757) for the Z Flip5.

His final cost was around Rs. 35000 ($424) (including the Samsung Care+ Plan). Can you ask for more?

Motorola should have given more offers since their marketing plan was off and the Razr 40 Ultra housed an older chip.

Processor

Talking of the chip, I would have still compromised a few bucks and gone for Moto. But would that have been viable?

The spec sheet of the two phones will not show many differences. They are almost the same in all departments barring a few.

And the biggest is the Processor.

The Moto Razr 40 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, released in 2022.

And we are more than halfway through 2023.

It might be good on paper, but at a premium price, a flagship should have the most recent processor.

More so because the Z Flip5 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 customized for Galaxy devices.

It is new and more polished than the one on the Razr.

Again, this is a problem only because Motorola’s offering costs almost the same.

Had its price been lower, I would have been okay with the processor.

Final Word

So, those were the reasons why I loved the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra and what made me change my mind and eventually purchase the Galaxy Z Flip5.

It is a personal choice, in some way. Motorola’s offering has several advantages over the Flip5 and so is true vice versa.

YouTubers and influencers will tell you different things. But please go to the retail store and experience both the phones.

Then come back and have a look at the spec sheet before utilizing all the offers for both of them and checking the final price.

Whichever phone you think serves your purpose and gives you the best value, go for it.

I have used the Z Flip5 for 12 days and I will come up with a 15 Day review soon.

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