As a kid, I used to spend hours circling my dream purchases in the Argos catalogue. Among the Furbies, Lego sets, and inflatable pools, one item stood out: the Motorola Razr V3, especially in its iconic hot pink.
It was the phone of the moment, seen in all my favorite TV shows and movies, from Doctor Who to The Devil Wears Prada. However, its high price meant I never got to own one—until now.
Nostalgia Meets Modern Tech
Motorola revived the legendary Razr in 2019, and now the fifth-generation models, the Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra, have launched in the US and UK.
I managed to get my hands on the Razr 50 Ultra for review, and it’s available in the nostalgic hot pink, as well as Forest Green, Peach Fuzz, and Midnight Blue—the version I’m testing. All models start at £999/$999.
Design & Display
The 2024 Razr 50 Ultra combines nostalgia with modern advancements. It features the largest external display ever on a flip phone—a 4-inch screen that supports apps like Google Maps, Gmail, Slack, and Spotify. This is a significant upgrade from the original Razr V3, which had a small screen primarily for fancy wallpapers.
Using the phone with the display closed feels secure, allowing me to read notifications and reply to messages without unfolding it. Customization options for fonts, colors, and wallpapers add personality to the device.
Performance & Features
Unfolding the Razr 50 Ultra reveals a 6.9-inch pOLED display, which gives me a rush of nostalgic joy, especially with the iconic ‘Hello Moto’ ringtone.
The new camcorder mode, activated by folding the phone 90 degrees, starts stabilised video recording instantly. The matching strap with the leather case adds a modern twist to the phone charms of the classic Razr.
The Razr 50 Ultra also features a revamped hinge, making it easier to open one-handed, though it still requires some effort compared to the old model.
Despite these advancements, Motorola’s Razr series faces competition from other clamshell phones like the Oppo Find N2 Flip, Nubia Flip 5G, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
The original Motorola Razr V3 was a major tech symbol of the 2000s, rivaled only by the Blackberry. For me, owning the Razr 50 Ultra is like owning a piece of that era. It’s akin to buying every Sonic game or watching every episode of the Gladiators reboot—things that remind me of my childhood.
Availability
The Razr 50 Ultra will be on sale from tomorrow, June 26, at £999 from Motorola’s official store, John Lewis, Argos, and Amazon in the UK. It comes with a free pair of Motobuds+.
The regular Razr 50 will arrive in the UK in early July at £799, also with a free pair of Motobuds+ available from various retailers including Carphone Warehouse, Currys, Vodafone, and Amazon.
In the US, pre-orders for the Razr 50 (from $699) and 50+ (from $999) start on July 10, with the phones hitting shelves on July 24.
While I’ll delve into the technical specs over the next few weeks for a full review, I can’t help but be excited that I finally got my hands on the Razr I dreamt of as a kid.