In the fast-moving and fiercely competitive world of smartphones, Motorola has thrown its hat into the ring with two innovative and attention-grabbing devices: the Motorola Edge and the reimagined Motorola Razr. Both aim to push boundaries and stand out in a crowded market, but with very different approaches.
The Motorola Edge is a formidable flagship contender, boasting premium specs, 5G capabilities, and a mesmerizing "waterfall" display. It seeks to go head-to-head with top-tier offerings from the likes of Samsung, Apple, and OnePlus.
Meanwhile, the Motorola Razr resurrects an iconic flip phone design from the early 2000s that was once the definition of cool. But this is no mere retro throwback. The 2020 Razr incorporates cutting-edge foldable display technology to marry classic design with modern functionality.
So which of these bold smartphones comes out on top in a direct comparison? As a digital technology expert, I‘ll dive deep into the specs, features, and innovations of the Motorola Edge vs Motorola Razr to crown a winner.
Design & Display
Let‘s start with the most striking and immediately apparent difference between these two devices: their design and screens.
Motorola Razr
The Motorola Razr‘s headline feature is undoubtedly its foldable flip design. Motorola has brought back the ultra-pocketable clamshell form factor that made the original RAZR V3 a smash hit, but with a new twist. Instead of a small screen and physical keypad on the bottom, the new Razr uses one continuous 6.2" foldable plastic OLED panel.
Here are the key details of the Razr‘s display:
- 6.2" internal foldable pOLED (2142 x 876)
- 21:9 aspect ratio
- Folded size: 72 x 94 x 14mm (about the size of a makeup compact)
- Unfolded size: 72 x 172 x 6.9mm
- Secondary 2.7" Quick View display (600 x 800) on the outside
- Plastic polymer screen, not glass
The ability to fold the phone in half makes it incredibly pocketable and convenient to carry around. Unfolded, you get an expansive screen for media and gaming. The hinge is rated for 100,000 folds, so durability shouldn‘t be a concern.
However, the Razr‘s display does have some downsides:
- The 2142×876 resolution is lower than most modern phones
- 60Hz refresh rate instead of the smoother 90Hz or 120Hz found on many flagships
- Plastic screen is more prone to scratches than glass
- Visible crease where the screen folds
Motorola Edge
The Motorola Edge takes a more conventional candy bar form factor, but sets itself apart with a striking "Endless Edge" display. As the name suggests, the 6.7" OLED screen dramatically curves around both sides of the phone, creating an immersive viewing experience.
Key details of the Edge‘s display:
- 6.7" OLED "Endless Edge" display
- 2340×1080 resolution (FHD+)
- 19.5:9 aspect ratio
- 90Hz refresh rate
- HDR10 certified
- Corning Gorilla Glass 5
The Edge‘s screen has a notable advantage in resolution and refresh rate compared to the Razr. The 90Hz panel makes scrolling and animations look silky smooth. Colors are vibrant and blacks are deep thanks to the OLED technology. HDR10 compatibility means you can watch hi-res content from Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming services.
The curved waterfall edges look futuristic and maximize screen real estate, but some may find accidental touch inputs to be an issue. Motorola does allow you to customize the edge display area for virtual shoulder buttons during gaming, quick access to app shortcuts, and more.
Display Winner: The Motorola Edge takes the crown for its sharper, smoother, and more advanced display. The Razr‘s screen is decent, but falls short of flagship standards and can‘t quite justify its high price tag.
Performance & 5G
Raw performance is just as important as good looks. Let‘s see how the two Motorola phones stack up in terms of horsepower and 5G connectivity.
Motorola Edge Specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
- 1 x 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime core
- 1 x 2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold core
- 6 x 1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver cores
- Adreno 620 GPU
- 6GB LPDDR4 RAM
- 256GB UFS 2.1 storage
- 5G support: sub-6GHz (bands n2, n5, n66, n41, n71), DSS, TDD
The Motorola Edge is powered by an upper mid-range Snapdragon 765G chipset. This 7nm SoC delivers flagship-like performance for most day-to-day and gaming needs. The 6GB of fast LPDDR4 RAM ensures smooth multitasking and keeps apps running in the background.
Benchmark scores:
- Geekbench 5 Single-core: 601
- Geekbench 5 Multi-core: 1,925
- 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme OpenGL ES 3.1: 3,299
- 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme Vulkan: 3,002
Motorola Razr Specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 710
- 2 x 2.2 GHz Kryo 360 Gold cores
- 6 x 1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver cores
- Adreno 616 GPU
- 6GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 128GB storage
- 5G support: sub-6GHz
The Motorola Razr uses an older and less powerful Snapdragon 710 chipset built on a 10nm process. It‘s no slouch, but falls short of matching the Snapdragon 765G‘s numbers. The Adreno 616 GPU is also a step down from the Edge‘s Adreno 620.
Benchmark scores:
- Geekbench 5 Single-core: 320
- Geekbench 5 Multi-core: 1,406
- 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme OpenGL ES 3.1: 1,662
- 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme Vulkan: 1,407
Both phones support 5G data speeds, but the Motorola Edge has the advantage of wider band compatibility in the critical sub-6GHz range. It will be able to access higher-speed 5G networks in more places. The Razr is 5G-compatible, but it may not be future proof as carriers build out their 5G infrastructure.
Performance Winner: The Motorola Edge easily outclasses the Razr in CPU and GPU benchmarks. Its newer and more capable Snapdragon 765G provides flagship-caliber performance for demanding games and apps. The Razr‘s aging Snapdragon 710 is a letdown for such an expensive device.
Cameras
Smartphone cameras have become immensely important as our phones have replaced point-and-shoots and even DSLRs for many people. The Motorola Edge and Razr take very different approaches to photography.
Motorola Edge Camera Specs
- Triple rear camera system
- 64MP main sensor (f/1.8, 0.8μm pixels, PDAF)
- 8MP telephoto (f/2.4, 2x optical zoom, OIS)
- 16MP ultra-wide/macro (f/2.2, 117˚ FoV)
- ToF depth sensor
- 25MP front camera (f/2.0)
- 4K video at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps
The Edge has an extremely versatile camera setup that can handle any shooting situation. The high-res 64MP main sensor excels in good lighting and can be used for digital zoom. The 8MP telephoto extends your optical reach to 2x, while the 16MP ultra-wide is perfect for landscapes, groups, and even macro shots.
Camera samples from the Edge show excellent dynamic range, natural colors, and good detail retention. Low light photos are decent thanks to the bright f/1.8 aperture and large 0.8μm pixels of the main sensor. The ToF camera enables more accurate depth estimation for convincing portrait mode shots.
Motorola Razr Camera Specs
- 16MP main camera (f/1.7, 1.22μm pixels, EIS)
- 5MP front camera (f/2.0)
- 4K video at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps
The Motorola Razr‘s camera hardware is decidedly less impressive. You get just one 16MP rear camera and a basic 5MP front camera for selfies. There‘s no telephoto, ultra-wide, or depth sensor to augment the main shooter.
That‘s not to say the Razr takes poor photos. In favorable lighting, the main 16MP camera captures pleasing images with saturated colors and decent sharpness. But it can‘t match the versatility or low light performance of the Edge‘s more advanced setup. The lack of OIS also means videos can look shaky without a steady hand.
Unique to the Razr is the ability to use the main 16MP rear camera for selfies when the phone is folded shut. The secondary Quick View display acts as a viewfinder, allowing you to frame your shot. This is a neat trick that takes advantage of the Razr‘s defining design feature.
Camera Winner: The Motorola Edge runs away with the camera comparison thanks to its flexible triple lens array and the glaring hardware omissions on the Razr. For a phone that costs $1500, the Razr‘s single 16MP rear camera is hard to excuse.
Battery Life & Charging
Let‘s be real – all the cutting edge features in the world don‘t mean much if your phone is dead by lunchtime. So how do the Motorola Edge and Razr compare when it comes to battery life and charging speeds?
Motorola Edge Battery Specs
- 4,500 mAh battery
- 18W TurboPower wired charging
- No wireless charging
The Motorola Edge has battery capacity in spades. At 4,500 mAh, it‘s one of the largest batteries you‘ll find in a mainstream smartphone. Motorola claims up to 2 days of use on a single charge. In real-world testing, the Edge can comfortably power through a full day of heavy use with 6-7 hours of screen-on time. Lighter use can stretch that to 1.5-2 days off the charger.
When it does come time to top up, the Edge supports 18W fast charging via Motorola‘s TurboPower standard. Using the included charger, you can go from 0 to 100% in about 1.5 hours. There‘s no wireless charging support, which is a bit disappointing for a flagship device.
Motorola Razr Battery Specs
- 2,510 mAh battery
- 15W TurboPower wired charging
- No wireless charging
Battery life is unfortunately one of the Razr‘s low points. The 2,510 mAh cell is quite small by modern standards – even for a device this compact. Motorola‘s official guidance is up to 28 hours of "mixed usage" off a charge. Independent tests paint a less rosy picture:
| Usage | Battery Drain | Screen-on Time |
|---|---|---|
| Web browsing on Wi-Fi | 10% per hour | 7-8 hours |
| Video playback | 12-14% per hour | 6-7 hours |
| 3D gaming | 20-25% per hour | 4-5 hours |
Charging speeds are also on the slower side. The Razr comes with a 15W TurboPower charger in the box, but it still takes nearly 2 hours to fully juice up that tiny battery. Like the Edge, there‘s no wireless charging capability.
Battery Winner: The Motorola Edge demolishes the Razr with over 2x the battery capacity and faster charging to boot. Heavy users will struggle to make it through the day on the Razr‘s wimpy 2,510 mAh cell. Battery life is the Achilles‘ heel of many foldable phones, and the Razr is no exception.
Software & Special Features
Since both phones are made by Motorola, they share many common software features and a similar light touch approach to customizing Android. Here are some key differences:
Edge Software
- Ships with Android 10, upgrade to Android 11 available
- My UX skin w/ custom Moto app
- Moto Actions gestures like chop for flashlight, twist for camera
- Moto Game Time mode w/ virtual trigger buttons on edge display
- Edge+ gets two Android version upgrades (to Android 12), Edge gets one (to Android 11)
- 3 years of security updates guaranteed from release
Razr Software
- Ships with Android 9 Pie, upgradable to Android 10
- Close to stock Android experience w/ Moto Actions
- Peek Display shows notifications, music controls, selfie camera on Quick View screen
- No guaranteed Android version upgrades beyond 10
- 2 years of security updates
Software Winner: The Motorola Edge ships with a newer version of Android and has a longer support lifespan. Useful additions like the Game Time mode take advantage of the curved edge display in creative ways.
Pricing & Availability
Perhaps the biggest shock in comparing these two smartphones is the vast gulf in pricing:
- Motorola Edge: $699 unlocked (originally $999)
- Motorola Razr: $1499 unlocked
The Edge has rapidly fallen in price due to steep competition in the affordable flagship space from the likes of the OnePlus 8, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, and Google Pixel 5. At $699, it‘s an undeniably compelling value.
The Motorola Razr, on the other hand, is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market. Foldable display tech is costly, and Motorola has priced the Razr as an ultra-premium luxury item. It‘s a tough sell when the phone is so comprehensively outclassed by the Edge on specs.
Pricing Winner: The Motorola Edge is a vastly better value at well under half the price of the Razr.
Conclusion
With its cutting-edge specs, long battery life, versatile cameras, and attractive pricing, the Motorola Edge is the clear winner in a head-to-head battle with the Motorola Razr.
The Razr‘s nostalgic flip phone design turns heads, but can‘t redeem its steep price, small battery, and only average performance. Most users will be better served by the more practical and powerful Edge.
Foldable phones like the Razr are certainly attention-grabbing, but the technology isn‘t quite ready for mainstream adoption. Prices remain high while the user experience lags behind traditional smartphone designs. Motorola deserves credit for pushing the envelope, but the Edge is evidence that the company is still capable of making an outstanding "normal" flagship.
If you want the best overall phone Motorola makes in 2021, the Edge is it. But there‘s no denying the cool factor and innovation of the Razr. Here‘s hoping the next generation irons out the kinks to combine the best of foldable and traditional phones into one groundbreaking device.
The Verdict: Buy the Motorola Edge for its superior design, specs, and value. Skip the Razr unless you need a foldable status symbol.
