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An Android Authority columnist recounts two decades of using Motorola phones, from the StarTAC to the original 2004 Razr, arguing the company's design-first approach has carried through to its modern Razr foldable lineup. The piece is a personal retrospective rather than a product announcement, reflecting on why Motorola devices gained cultural cachet in the mid-2000s.
Motorola is rolling out its Qira AI experience to additional devices in its Signature, Edge, and Razr lineups as part of the ongoing Android 17 update. Qira, first unveiled at CES 2026, merges Moto AI, Lenovo AI Now, Creator Zone, and Learning Zone into one assistant with shared memory across devices. Users can access it by saying 'Hey Qira,' tapping on-screen prompts, or pressing a dedicated AI key.
Motorola posted an Instagram Reel showing the history of its Razr line, ending with a silhouette of a new device that folds like a book rather than flipping vertically like past Razr phones. The teaser shows a thicker, boxier shape but offers no name, release date, or specifications. This follows Motorola's earlier 2025 launches of three clamshell Razr models and the full-sized Razr Fold.
Apple confirmed its long-rumored folding phone, the iPhone Duo, at its 'Surprise and shine' event. Unlike vertical flip phones such as the Motorola Razr, the Duo opens horizontally like a book or passport, featuring a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display, and comes in star white and night sky colors. Apple says it's the thinnest iPhone ever when unfolded.
An Android Authority reviewer who tested every major US book-style foldable this year says Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, despite leading on specs like its Snapdragon chip and camera system, isn't the phone they'd actually choose to carry. Instead they'd pick Motorola's Razr Fold, with its 6,000mAh battery and large bright display, or Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold, even though both trail Samsung on raw performance.
A hands-on comparison from Android Authority weighs Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 against Motorola's book-style Razr Fold, noting the Fold 8's wider 5.5-inch cover screen and 7.6-inch inner display make multitasking and everyday use smoother than past Samsung foldables. The reviewer says Motorola's alternative undercuts the $1,900 Fold 8 Ultra on price while still offering a traditional foldable experience for buyers who don't need flagship cameras.
Motorola has released a new Razr flip phone edition covered in 35 hand-placed Swarovski crystals plus a 32-facet crystal hinge accent, this time in a black 'Meteorite' colorway with a quilted leather-like texture. The $900 package, available September 10, includes crystal-covered Moto Buds 2 Plus and a base Moto Watch, while internal specs match the standard 2026 Razr. Motorola also unveiled the Moto Watch Ultra, a $350 wearable with LTE, dual-band GPS, NFC payments and roughly two-day battery life, launching the same day.
Motorola showed off a limited-edition Razr foldable at IFA Berlin featuring 35 hand-set Swarovski crystals, a 32-facet crystal hinge, and a black meteorite finish, priced at 1,000 euros (about $1,159) versus $800 for the standard model. The company also launched the Edge 70 Plus and Edge 70 Plus Neo, thicker but longer-lasting siblings to the ultra-thin Edge 70, with 6,500-mAh and 7,000-mAh batteries respectively and differing camera setups.
Motorola has released a special-edition Razr 2026 covered in 35 individually placed Swarovski crystals, plus a larger 32-facet crystal embedded in the hinge, finished in a dark PANTONE Meteorite color with a quilted leather-like texture. Underneath the sparkle it's the standard Razr 2026, with a 3.6-inch cover screen, 6.9-inch AMOLED main display, dual 50MP cameras, and a 4,800mAh battery. It costs $900, which is $100 less than last year's Swarovski Razr though $100 more than the base Razr 2026, and Motorola is temporarily bundling in Moto Buds 2 Plus earbuds and a Moto watch.
An Android Authority roundup argues that buyers considering the newly US-available Fairphone Gen 6 Plus ($650) might get more for their money elsewhere. It highlights the HMD Skyline as a nearly as repairable but cheaper (~$400) alternative with a better camera, bigger battery and faster display, alongside four other Android phones recommended for shoppers willing to trade some repairability for extra performance and features.
Samsung's $2,100 Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra pairs an 8-inch inner display with a 200-megapixel camera system, while the $1,200 Z Flip8 becomes the world's lightest and thinnest flip phone with a 4.1-inch cover screen. Motorola's first book-style foldable, the $1,900 Razr Fold, offers an 8.1-inch inner display and a 6,000-mAh battery lasting nearly three days, though it lacks a flagship chipset.
Android Authority outlines five foldable phones that could serve as alternatives to Google's new $1,899 Pixel 11 Pro Fold, including Motorola's Razr Fold and Razr Ultra, plus Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. The comparison highlights that despite the Pixel 11 Pro Fold being thinner and lighter than its predecessor, it has a smaller battery than last year's model and faces stiff competition on price, charging speed, and battery capacity.