After a month with a foldable phone, I can’t even justify buying the ‘Ultra’ model anymore

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Highlights taken by ZDNET

• Motorola’s Razr+ challenges the idea that you need a premium phone for a great experience.
• In everyday use, it feels about the same as the more expensive Razr Ultra in all multitasking.
• The Razr+ is the flagship of Motorola’s 2026 series, balancing performance and cost.

Back in the day, smartphone lineups were simple. You had a standard model and a bigger, better combo option for people willing to spend a little more. Then things got difficult. Companies started launching Pro phones, Ultra models, Fan Editions, and more.

Along the way, the Plus devices start to feel like the middle child. It’s expensive for bargain hunters but not enough of a premium for big spenders. I got to the point where I wonder: What is the point of the Plus model in 2026? Why not just offer a base model and an Ultra and call it a day?

Also: I’ve reviewed all of Motorola’s foldable phones in 2026 so far – how to choose between the Fold and the Ultra

That previous opinion has changed after spending the last few weeks with 2026 Motorola Razr+ as my daily driver. The Razr+ is a Motorola phone that I tend to overlook. It’s not as cheap as the basic Razr or as premium as the Razr Ultra. But after my time with it, the mobile device didn’t feel like a compromise; instead, it felt like the version most people should buy.

Ironically, the Razr+ is not being discussed online. Most of the attention goes to the Razr Ultra. I think that is a mistake. The Razr+ deserves more attention than it gets. It’s the smartest Motorola foldable in stock right now.

You are almost indistinguishable from Ultra

Aside from the color, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the Motorola Razr+ from the Razr Ultra. The two folders share roughly the same size, with the Razr+ slightly lighter. About 10 grams lighter than the Ultra. While that doesn’t sound like much, it’s noticeable in everyday use.

Motorola didn’t compromise on the build quality of the Razr+. It inherits many features of the flagship model. Both have a titanium reinforced hinge for durability and longevity.

Their external displays are made of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which protects the panel from occasional scratches and drops. They even carry an IP48 rating, which means these devices can survive being submerged for a while under water.

Also: I tested Motorola’s $1,500 Razr Ultra, and it’s very close to being my dream flip phone.

When it comes to build quality, the Razr+ feels less like a mid-tier foldable and more like a flagship device. The basic physical experience is almost identical to that of the Razr Ultra. When it comes to hardware performance, the Razr Ultra wins on paper, but the Razr+ delivers enough speed that most people won’t feel like they’re settling for less.

A performance gap that doesn’t matter to many

When it comes to sheer numbers, the Razr Ultra is the better performing phone by a country mile. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Ultra scored nearly twice as well as the Razr+ in the benchmark tests I ran. Inspection of the images showed an even larger gap. As a phone reviewer, I was really impressed.

But most consumers don’t care about numbers. They care about how fast apps open, how responsive the phone is, and whether it can keep up with their daily routine. Unless you’re editing videos on your phone or playing Genshin Impact at its highest graphics settings, most of the extra Ultra power won’t be used.

During my two weeks of testing, I used the Razr+ the same way everyone I know uses their device: replying to messages on WhatsApp, scrolling through X, taking photos, streaming videos, navigating Google Maps, and jumping between apps throughout the day. Nowhere did the phone sound slow. Apps open quickly. Multitasking went well. The animations were fluid. I was never reminded that I wasn’t using the Razr Ultra.

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra: I’ve used both, and this phone is my pick

I went into the experience fully expecting to miss the horsepower of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. In the end, I completely forgot about the Razr Ultra until it was around for a short time. The standing numbers may paint a dramatic picture, but in day-to-day use, the difference between the two is non-existent.

Camera and price

I will give Razr Ultra props for having a better camera system. Motorola gave its flagship a larger 1/1.56-inch sensor, allowing it to capture more light and produce images with less image noise, greater dynamic range, and more detail. The Razr+, on the other hand, relies on a smaller 1/1.95-inch sensor.

While its camera performs well in daylight, the Razr+’s hardware limitations limit its low-light performance. Night shots taken by the Razr+ contain more noise. Image details weren’t that sharp, and some light sources seemed overexposed. Below is a photo I took with the Razr+ at an indoor concert. For the most part, it looks decent, but you’ll notice some of the issues I just listed, like noise and overexposure.

That said, is the Razr Ultra camera worth paying the extra $400? (The Razr Ultra retails for $1,500 while the Razr+ costs $1,100.) For me, the answer is no. The gap is not large enough to justify such a large price difference. Every shot I took with the Razr+ still looked vibrant and colorful, perfect for posting on social media.

Also: I turned my Motorola Razr into a portable PC, and it was surprisingly capable

Unless smartphone photography is a priority, the Razr+ is more than capable of getting the job done. You can take that money and buy solids digital camera around $400.

Author’s take

After spending about three weeks with Motorola Razr+I came up with a very different idea for the device. I thought it would be the middle child in its series. It will be caught between the affordability of the standard Razr and the premium experience of the Razr Ultra, without really being the best of the other — a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none situation.

Instead, I saw that it might be Motorola’s best foldable of 2026. This device is the most logical of the three. It delivers a very similar experience to the Ultra, minus the higher price tag. The experience reconfigured the flagship for me. I don’t think the Ultra is worth $1,500. The Razr+, on the other hand, has earned its stripes and is my new favorite.

If you’re interested in the Razr+, it’s now good time to buy because Motorola will give you free Swarovski Moto Buds Loop earbuds with your purchase.