Motorola Razr 50 Ultra: A Nostalgic Hands-On Reflection

During my junior school days, I had a hobby of circling my dream purchases in the Argos catalogue, even if my parents had no plans of buying them. Among these were Furbies, Lego sets, and massive inflatable pools that were larger than our garden.

However, one item that always caught my eye was the original Motorola Razr V3, especially in its hot pink color. This iconic flip phone was featured in many of my favorite TV shows and movies, and it was a must-have for all the popular kids. I longed to own one because of its unique design that stood out from the rest.

Unfortunately, the high price of the Razr V3 at that time meant I never got to fulfill my dream of using one. But now, Motorola has brought back this legendary model with the launch of the Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra in the US and UK. I have had the opportunity to review the more premium model on behalf of Tech Advisor.

The 2024 reimagined flip model of the Razr 50 Ultra offers users the option to choose the bold hot pink color, as well as three other colors: Forest Green, Peach Fuzz, and Midnight Blue. These phones start at £999/$999.

The external display on the Razr 50 Ultra is the largest ever on a flip phone at 4 inches, and it supports various apps like Google Maps, Gmail, and Spotify. The phone’s closed display provides a sense of security when in public, allowing users to read notifications and reply to messages without unfolding the device.

There are customization options available for fonts, colors, and wallpapers to give the phone a personal touch. The act of unfolding the 6.9-inch pOLED display to answer a phone call evokes a sense of nostalgia, especially with the iconic ‘Hello Moto’ ringtone.

The new camcorder mode on the Razr 50 Ultra can be activated by folding the phone horizontally, enabling stabilized video recording. The phone also comes with a matching strap and leather case, reminiscent of the phone charms that were popular with the classic Razr model.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Motorola has redesigned the hinge for this phone, claiming that it makes it easier to open the phone with one hand. While it is possible, it is still not as simple as with the old model – perhaps it will improve in future generations.

Although the Razr 50 series is not the only clamshell phone on the market, there are other options such as the Oppo Find N2 Flip, the Nubia Flip 5G, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series, which is set to release a new installment in the coming weeks.

However, none of these phones have the same brand recognition as the original Motorola Razr V3. It remains one of the most iconic tech symbols of the 2000s, alongside the Blackberry (RIP), and this nostalgic value cannot be surpassed by advanced camera technology or AI software.

I will always hold on to the things I cherished in my youth, such as buying Sonic games and watching reruns of classic TV shows like Gladiators. Similarly, the excitement I feel for this new phone series stems from that same enthusiasm.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

That same type of enthusiasm runs through me for this particular phone series. While I’ll be getting into the nitty-gritty of the tech specs over the next few weeks for a full review, I’m allowing that inner young girl in me permission to be giddy that she finally got her hands on a real, physical Razr, rather than a printed version scruffily marked with ink.

The Razr 50 Ultra will be on sale from tomorrow, 26 June, at £999 from sites such as Motorola’s official store, John Lewis, Argos, and Amazon in the UK. You’ll get a free pair of Motobuds+.

It will be followed by the regular Razr 50, which will arrive in the UK ‘early July’ at £799, again with a free pair of Motobuds+ from Motorola, Carphone Warehouse, Currys, Vodafone, John Lewis, Argos, and Amazon.

American readers can pre-order the Razr 50 (from $699) and 50+ (from $999) from 10 July, with the phones hitting shelves on 24 July.