I have spent the past few weeks withSamsungs Galaxy Z Flip 5andMotorolas Razr+.
Thesefoldableswere released in late 2023 and share the same $1000 price tag.
We figured wed revisit the two models for foldable-curious people who dont want to spend full price.
The vegan leather on the Razr+ looks and feels much better than the all-glass body on the Z Flip.Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The two folding flip phones share many design similarities.
They weigh the sameless than half a poundand are the same thickness when folded.
They sport the same 22:9 aspect ratio, unlike the 16:9 found on most smartphones.
The phones share exactly the same thickness when folded.Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The real differences are in their hinges.
The two foldable devices flip closed, but their respective hinges offer promises.
Samsung also made it so that it could lay flat when splayed open.
The awkward dip on the Samsung Z Flip 5.Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
However, you still need two hands to flip the phone open.
Motorolas hinge is way too tight.
It almost feels like youre prying the phone open instead of flipping it open.
The Z Flip 5’s body is a little too prone to scratches.Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The Z Flip 5 offers a softer opening.
The hinge on both devices feels sturdy.
The crease is one of the things youll notice most on a folding flip phone.
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
No one likes running their finger over an indentation every time they use the main display on their foldable.
A bump right in the middle of the display also spoils the phones aesthetic.
The Razr+ does a fantastic job hiding its crease.
The Z Flip 5’s camera lenses protrude much more than the Razr+’s.Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
Its hardly there as youre using its large 6.9-inch display.
On the Z Flip 5, however, you cant ignore the crease.
Theres a dip right in the middle, a constant reminder of the kind of phone youre on.
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The crease on its predecessor, theZ Flip 4, was as noticeable as the Z Flip 5s.
I like the vegan leather thing the Razr+ has going on.
It gives it a better feel than the all-glass body on the Z Flip 5.
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
It looks like a throwback to what used to be the coolest phone in 2004.
I was obsessed with thehot pink Moto Razr V3but never got to get my hands on it back then.
The pink Razr+ somewhat made me feel better about my unfulfilled childhood dream.
6th avenue on the Z Flip 5.Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
Another feature that gives the Z Flip 5 an edge over the Razr+ is its resistance against water.
The Razr+ is rated IP52, so it wont survive being fully submerged for too long.
Its slightly larger than the 6.7-inch inside display and 3.4-inch outside display on the Z Flip 5.
6th avenue on the Razr+.Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
Also, the screen doesnt always wrap around.
Kyle Barr reviewed the Z Flip 5 unit Im using and already did that work for me.
It doesnt let you do that with the phone shut.
The older Z Flips also were updated to Android 14 around the same time.
Samsung, typically, has a better track record of releasing updates on time.
Samsung is also more future-proof than Motorola.
I am currently battery testing and will update this story with exact figures soon.
The Razr+ offers 8GB RAM but tops out at 256GB of storage space.
Lets take multitasking, for instance.
Both phones offer a seamless split-screen function that allows you to perform two completely different tasks simultaneously.
Not only is the Razr+s shortcut significantly less intuitive, but it is also unreliable.
More often than not, I had to repeat the gesture to get it to work.
In fact, your palm doesnt even have to necessarily touch the bezels on each side.
Its quick, easy, and intuitive.
The inside camerathe front-facing camerais a 10-MP selfie camera.
The Razr+ also has two cameras: a 12-MP main sensor and a 13-MP ultra-wide angle lens.
Theres also a 32-MP selfie camera on the inside.
The Razr+ was a delight to shoot with.
The photos it produced are crisp, bright, and clear.
Samsungs images on the Z Flip 5 skew grey on overcast days and can appear less vibrant.
The phones also offer a shortcut to double-press the power button to open up the camera.
Featuring a slightly larger battery, it lasts longer than Samsungs flagship foldable and offers better camera results.
The Z Flip 5 is easier to flip open and has better water resistance than the Razr+.
Its Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 2 CPU is more up-to-date than the Razr+s Gen 1.
It also offers considerably more seamless navigation than the unintuitive UI on the Razr+.
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