Phone Comparisons: Motorola Razr+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

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The Motorola Razr+ is the company’s latest and greatest clamshell foldable. That device is known as the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra outside of the US, by the way. Having said that, we’ve already compared it to a number of clamshell foldables, including the Galaxy Z Flip 4. As we’re waiting for the Flip 5 to launch, let’s compare Motorola’s latest offering with an older device from Samsung. In this article, we’ll compare the Motorola Razr+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Some of you may still own the Galaxy Z Flip 3, and could consider upgrading, as we’re almost at a two-year mark since it launched. Well, if you’re thinking of jumping to the Motorola Razr+, this comparison could prove to be useful. We’ll first list their specifications, and will then move to compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance.

Specs

Motorola Razr+ Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Screen size Main: 6.9-inch fullHD+ LTPO AMOLED (foldable, 165Hz)
Secondary (Cover): 3.6-inch AMOLED display (flat, 144Hz)
Main: 6.7-inch fullHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display (foldable, 120Hz)
Secondary (Cover): 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display (flat, 60Hz)
Screen resolution Main: 2640 x 1080
Secondary (Cover): 1056 x 1066
Main: 2640 x 1080
Secondary (Cover): 260 x 512
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
RAM 8GB/12GB 8GB (LPDDR5)
Storage 256GB/512GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1); non-expandable
Rear cameras 12MP (f/1.5 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, OIS, PDAF)
13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 108-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size)
12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 27mm lens, 1.4um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF)
12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size, ultrawide)
Front cameras 32MP (f/2.4 aperture, 0.7um pixel size) 10MP (f/2.4 aperture, 26mm lens, 1.22um pixel size)
Battery 3,800mAh, non-removable, 30W fast wired charging, 5W wireless charging
Charger included (not in the US)
3,330mAh, non-removable, 25W wired charging, 11W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging
Charger not included
Dimensions Unfolded: 170.8 x 74 x 7mm
Folded: 88.4 x 74 x 15.1mm
Unfolded: 166 x 72.2 x 6.9mm
Folded: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1mm
Weight 184.5/188.5 grams 183 grams
Connectivity 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C
Security Side-facing fingerprint scanner Side-facing fingerprint scanner
OS Android 13 Android 11 (upgradeable to Android 12)
One UI 3.5
Price $999 $749.99
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Motorola Razr+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Design

Both the Motorola Razr+ and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are made out of metal and glass. Do note that the Razr+ also comes in a variant with a vegan leather backplate, though. The Motorola Razr+ is a bit taller and wider than the Galaxy Z Flip 3. They’re about the same thickness when unfolded, but when folded, the Razr+ is thinner. Do note that the Motorola Razr+ has a larger main display, so the larger footprint overall is not surprising at all.

The devices are about the same weight, the difference lies in a couple of grams. Both phones have a centered display camera hole on the main display. The bezels around that panel are rather thin on both devices. When we flip them over, however, you’ll notice considerable differences. The Motorola Razr+ has a much larger 3.6-inch display back there, while the Galaxy Z Flip 3 includes a 1.9-inch panel.

Both phones have two cameras on the back, though they feature different orientations. The hinge is well hidden by both phones when they’re unfolded. Both devices are quite slippery in the hand, with the exception of the vegan leather variant of the Motorola Razr+. That one offers a bit more grip. The Motorola Razr+ also offers water-repellent coating, while the Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with IPX8 certification for water resistance. They both feel like quality phones (in the hand), but the Motorola Razr+ does look more modern, that’s hard to deny.

Motorola Razr+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Display

The Motorola Razr+ includes a 6.9-inch fullHD+ (2640 x 1080) Foldable LTPO AMOLED display. That panel can project 1 billion colors, and has a 165Hz refresh rate. HDR10+ content is supported here, and we’re looking at 1,400 nits of peak brightness. The second panel on the phone measures 3.6 inches, and offers a resolution of 1056 x 1066. That is an AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, and it can project 1 billion colors, while it also has support for HDR10+ content. This panel goes up to 1,100 nits of peak brightness. It is covered by the Gorilla Glass Victus.

Motorola Razr plus 2023 review AM AH30
Motorola Razr+

There is a 6.7-inch fullHD+ (2640 x 1080) Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the Galaxy Z Flip 3. That display has a 120Hz refresh rate, and supports HDR10+ content. It can also get up to 1,200 nits of brightness at its peak. The cover display, on the other hand, is a Super AMOLED panel that measures 1.9 inches. It has a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels. That is a 60Hz display.

The main displays are really good on both smartphones. The one on the Motorola Razr+ does have a higher refresh rate, but it only activates during gaming and media consumption, in some cases. Both main displays have good viewing angles, and are pleasantly vivid, while they also offer deep blacks. The touch response is good on both.

The Motorola Razr+’s cover display does dwarf the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, though. Not only is it much larger, but it also offers higher resolution, and a higher refresh rate. On top of all that, you can run any app on that display, which is not possible on the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s cover panel, not even close.

Motorola Razr+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Performance

There is a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC included inside the Motorola Razr+. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 includes the Snapdragon 888 processor, an older chip. The former is a 4nm processor, while the latter is a 5nm one. Both have been Qualcomm’s flagship processors at some point. You will find up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM inside the Motorola Razr+, while the Galaxy Z Flip 3 offers 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Both phones support UFS 3.1 storage.

So, what’s the performance like? Well, the performance on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is not bad at all, but the Motorola Razr+ has more to offer in that regard. In comparison, the Motorola Razr+ does feel more fluid during usage, and launches apps a bit quicker. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 still performs well in that regard, however. You can play games on both phones, but if you’re looking to jump on some more graphically-intensive titles, the Motorola Razr+ is a safer bet.

Motorola Razr+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Battery

A 3,800mAh battery is included inside the Motorola Razr+. On the flip side, the Galaxy Z Flip 3, includes a 3,300mAh battery. The Motorola Razr+ does have a considerably larger battery, but it also has a considerably larger cover display. Does it offer a better battery life, though? Well, yes, it does, at least that was the case for us. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 battery life did improve a bit via updates, but it’s nowhere near what the Motorola Razr+ has to offer.

We’ve been able to get around 7.5-8 hours of screen-on-time with the Motorola Razr+. In the case of the Galaxy Z Flip 3, that was closer to around 4.5-5 hours with somewhat similar usage. The thing is, you’ll be unfolding the Galaxy Z Flip 3 a lot more often, as its outer display is tiny, and it doesn’t allow you to do much. The cover display on the Motorola Razr+ is an entirely different story then. Also, do note that your mileage may vary due to a number of factors. You may be able to get better battery life numbers than we did.

When it comes to charging, the Motorola Razr+ supports 30W wired, and 5W wireless charging. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with support for 15W wired, 10W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Motorola Razr+ does come with a charger in some markets, but not in the US. The Galaxy Z Flip 3, on the other hand, doesn’t have a charger included in any market.

Motorola Razr+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Cameras

The Motorola Razr+ has a 12-megapixel main camera, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide unit (108-degree FoV). The Galaxy Z Flip 3 features a 12-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (123-degree FoV). Before we get into it, do note that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is nearly two years old at this point.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G AM AH 21
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

Having said that, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 didn’t exactly wow us with its camera prowess when it launched. So, one would think it won’t beat the Motorola Razr+, and that is the case. The Motorola Razr+ actually has solid cameras, even though it’s far from being one of the best camera phones. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 does tend to crank up the saturation a bit too much, and in some cases, the photos do look really odd because of it. On top of that, the sharpening can be a bit too aggressive.

The Motorola Razr+ photos could be a bit more vivid, they tend to look a bit muted at times. Still, in comparison to the Galaxy Z Flip 3, they do look better overall. The Motorola Razr+ also does a better job in low light, as it balanced images a bit better, and it has a better handle on street lights and neon signs. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 does have a noticeably wider FoV on the ultrawide camera, but the performance is not up to par with the main shooter.

Audio

You will find a set of stereo speakers on both smartphones. In fact, the loudness those speakers provide are quite similar. The quality of the sound is also not that different, to be quite honest. Both are good enough.

What you will not find on either phone is an audio jack. You will be forced to use Type-C ports for wired audio connections. In case you decide to go wireless, the Motorola Razr+ supports Bluetooth 5.3, while the Galaxy Z Flip 3 offers Bluetooth 5.1 support.

2023-06-30 15:13:04