Update: July 22, 2022 (1 AM ET): We’ve updated our Motorola Razr 3 hub below with the official launch information of the phone.
Original article: It may seem like only yesterday, but the classic Motorola Razr brand relaunched in a modern foldable form factor over three years ago. After a 2021 hiatus, a third-generation Motorola Razr foldable is finally on the horizon. Thanks to leaks and rumors, we already have quite a bit of information about the phone. You can expect updated modern processing power, a change in the phone’s design, and a lot more.
Here’s everything we know about the upcoming Motorola Razr 2022 and a wishlist of changes we want to see.
Will there be a Motorola Razr 2022?
Motorola confirmed back in December 2021 that it’s planning to launch the third-gen Motorola Razr. The information was revealed by Lenovo (Motorola’s parent company) executive Chen Jin on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. At the time, the executive said that the company is prepping the new Razr with a more advanced chipset and a better design. Since then, the company has teased the new Motorola Razr 2022 multiple times and also revealed its launch date.
When will the Motorola Razr 2022 release date be?
- Motorola Razr — November 14, 2019
- Motorola Razr 5G — September 15, 2020
The Motorola Razr 5G made its global debut in September 2020, and its predecessor, the original resurrected Razr, launched in November 2019. The company did not update the device in 2021.
On July 22, Motorola confirmed that the Razr 2022 will launch on August 2. That would mean Motorola is moving up the launch timeline to counter the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 that are set to launch on August 10.
What features and specs will the Motorola Razr 2022 have?
To start, Motorola is expected to equip the Razr 2022 with true-blue flagship specs this time around. Previous Razr models packed middling hardware into expensive foldable shells. But things could be very different this time around, with Moto taking the competition to Samsung.
Design
Live images of the Motorola Razr 2022 leaked not too long ago. The leak came from tipster Evan Blass who suggested that the new Razr now looks more like the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Blass later posted even more images and the clip you see below:
Expect a boxier design with more squared-off edges. One of the most significant design changes could be the removal of the thick chin — a defining feature of the Razr line. The fingerprint sensor is also reportedly moving to the power button. This would be the third time Motorola has adjusted the position of the sensor. It moved from the chin to the rear of the phone last year.
The company also posted some short teasers for the phone, showing off its outer design mostly. You can’t see much because the images are dark, but you can tell there’s a dual camera setup at the rear.
Specs and features
Leaked specs of the Motorola Razr 2022 point at a premium flagship device. According to a report by XDA Developers, the phone could land with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, Ultra-wideband (UWB) support, up to 12GB of RAM, 512GB of internal storage, a secondary display, and NFC support.
Evan Blass added to this leak by reporting the alleged camera specs of the phone. He revealed that the Motorola Razr 2022 could feature a 50MP ƒ/1.8 primary shooter alongside a combined wide-angle and macro sensor with a 13MP resolution. A 32MP selfie snapper might feature on the internal foldable screen.
According to display industry insider Ross Young, the device will have a slightly bigger screen cover — around three inches. The primary foldable display will also likely grow to 6.7 inches, up from 6.2 inches on the Razr 5G.
What will the Motorola Razr 2022 price be?
So far, the most prominent rumor related to pricing suggests Motorola could lower the price this year. Reliable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer posits the European price could be €1,149 (~$1,207). That’s a pretty big drop from the MSRP of the Razr 5G, which was €1,399 (~$1,470).
This is definitely a good sign. If Motorola wants to compete with Samsung’s clamshell, it needs to price the Razr 2022 in line with other $1,000 flagships. Samsung did the same with the Galaxy Z Flip 3, making it more desirable than the older Z Flip and Z Flip 5G.
We’ll need to wait and watch what Motorola decides, but for now, we at least don’t expect the price of the Motorola Razr 2022 to increase. That’s good news for us.
Motorola Razr 2022: What we want to see
You’ve already told us what you’d like to see from the Motorola Razr 2022, so here’s our wishlist for the third-generation Motorola foldable.
A more powerful package in every sense
A fair bit changed under the hood between the Razr and Razr 5G. The latter offered a more powerful Snapdragon 765G processor, 5G networking, a slightly larger battery, and a new camera package. Despite these improvements, the Razr 5G didn’t quite tick many flagship boxes you’d expect from such a premium handset.
We’d certainly like to see another bump in processing power. Even if the Razr 2022 doesn’t end up using the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, as rumors suggest, something older from Qualcomm’s 8 series or even the Snapdragon 778G would do the trick, ensuring the phone has enough power to keep pace for years to come.
Likewise, some futureproofing in the charging department wouldn’t go amiss. Although 15W is still quite typical in the foldable space, it’s painfully slow by modern standards. On the other hand, Motorola’s 36W TurboPower might be overkill for what is sure to be a moderate battery size, probably below 3,000mAh. But power in the range of 20-25W would certainly be appreciated by power users who might need to top the phone up during the day.
A few extra flagship features
The Razr series commands a high price point, but many a traditional flagship feature has been absent so far.
For instance, there’s no IP rating or wireless charging on previous models, and we’d certainly appreciate some extra protection with the Razr 2022. Granted, Motorola already offers a splash-proof nano-coating and we’re not expecting a full-on IP68 for a foldable handset. But even an IP52 rating, as seen on the Motorola Edge (2021), or IPX8 rating like we saw on the rival Galaxy Z Flip 3 would instill confidence that the phone can handle a little wear and tear.
Similarly, wireless charging capabilities are a firm staple of the flagship market, even in the foldable phone space. Samsung has shown it’s possible to fit all the necessary wireless charging technology into a clamshell form factor with the aforementioned Galaxy Z Flip 3, and the new Razr will, hopefully, follow suit.
An IP rating, improved camera, and wireless charging would tick a lot of flagship boxes.
Of course, camera packages also sell smartphones and the Razr 2022 could use an update here too. A newer main sensor and a second rear lens seem likely as per leaked specs and that’s exactly what would add the much sought-after flexibility to the package.
We don’t necessarily need the very best of everything here. Making everything fit in the clamshell form factor is the most important thing, after all. But a better processor and fancier flagship features would certainly ensure the Razr 2022 stays in focus in what’s bound to be a fiercely competitive 2022 marketplace.
Embrace the 120Hz display revolution
OK, so the above might be more wishful thinking rather than strictly necessary improvements. But the Motorola Razr 2022 must embrace the latest and greatest flexible display technology around. After all, the display is the core aspect of the clamshell smartphone design.
Check out: Display specs and terms explained
Modern 120Hz LTPO displays, which you’ll find on many top-tier phones, not only look great for the inner display but their adaptive refresh rate is also a boon for battery life. Particularly handy when you have to squeeze a small battery into a foldable phone. This display technology is robust and flexible too — it’s found in Samsung’s latest foldable lineup as well as the Oppo Find N. We don’t want to see a repeat of those broken and creased Razr displays that popped up with the first-gen model. Thankfully, leaked specs do suggest that Motorola is planning to offer a high refresh rate this time around.
Ultra-impressive specs are less important for the smaller 3-inch “quick view” display. It’s expected to be slightly larger (the previous model was under three inches), which is something we’d hoped Motorola would do. It seems more practical to increase the screen size and make it useful for more than just notifications.
More competitive pricing
Foldables don’t have to be expensive, as Samsung showed us in 2021 with the comparatively inexpensive Galaxy Z Flip 3. Priced at $999, the Z Flip 3 costs about as much as your typical flagship smartphone, making it a realistic choice for consumers outside of the ultra-enthusiast crowd.
Historically, modern Razr handsets have been much more expensive. 2019’s Motorola Razr cost a rather hefty $1,500, and 2020’s Razr 5G follow-up launched at an equally eyewatering $1,400. That price tag won’t cut it against the competition in 2022. If you were lucky, the Razr 5G could occasionally be found for $999 over the past twelve months, and that certainly feels closer to where the Razr 2022 should launch.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review
Granted, the modern Razr is all about that luxury look and feel, so we’re certainly not expecting a turn for the affordable — especially not with our hardware wishlist in mind. But something closer to the $1,000-$1,200 mark feels like a must if the Razr 2022 is to stand a chance of competing with the Z Flip 3. Thankfully, rumors suggest this would be the case, but we’re not counting our chickens quite yet.
Of course, there are a few more things we’d love to see from the Razr 2022 and Motorola in general. An improved update promise also rates highly on our wishlist. A bigger battery also ranked highly on your list of Razr 2022 requests. If there’s anything we’ve missed off our wishlist, let us know in the comments below.
