There is just one I might make a selection

I like clamshell folding telephones. They’re the best shape issue for informal customers who need to check out out a foldable for the primary time. You’re now not asking other people to switch how they use their telephone. You merely open it up, do the whole thing you’ve been doing for the ultimate 15 years to your conventional slab smartphone, after which fold it up whilst you’re performed.

I check each one I will get my palms on, and I used to be inquisitive about the possibility of pitting this yr’s Motorola Razr Extremely up towards the Galaxy Z Turn 7. Motorola’s worth will increase complicate the dialogue, however there are compelling causes to shop for each, even though there’s in reality just one I need in my pocket.

The Motorola Razr Extremely used to be my favourite smartphone of 2025, so I had prime expectancies for its encore — and I wasn’t dissatisfied. Motorola’s shift in opposition to turning into an approach to life logo is on complete show with the pretty Orient Blue Razr Extremely colorway. The Alcantara end feels implausible, and other people will actually prevent me when I’m out and ask what telephone it’s.

It’s only a amusing telephone to make use of, which is one thing I’m now not at all times ready to mention about lately’s flagships. It’s graceful and classy, and it has essentially the most eye attraction out of any telephone in the marketplace. I don’t thoughts the Galaxy Z Turn 7’s design. It simply feels business and utilitarian. I haven’t any doubt it’s robust and constructed to ultimate the direction, however it does not anything for me.

Sure, Motorola didn’t materially improve the spec sheet for the 2026 Razr Extremely, however that bothers me much less the extra I take advantage of it. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is robust sufficient, and 16GB of RAM offers me sufficient overhead for the whole thing I wish to do (after which some).

Motorola did reinforce the battery for 2026, becoming the Razr Extremely with a 5,000mAh silicon-carbon mobile, and you’ll be able to realize the variation. I am getting nearly two days of use on a unmarried rate, and when it’s time to best off, I am getting to experience 68W stressed out charging. I nonetheless contend that a lot better battery lifestyles is a extra vital quality-of-life improve than anything else a chipset spice up would have supplied.

Samsung has labored to reinforce the duvet display enjoy at the Galaxy Z Turn 7, however I nonetheless desire what Motorola gives. I know it’s a small merchandise for fanatics who’re used to downloading more than one programs, however I like that I don’t want Excellent Lock or Multistar to get the entire apps I need at the Razr Extremely’s outer show.

Even supposing I desire Samsung’s total tool enjoy, Motorola’s performed a very good task of creating the transition between presentations clean. I don’t run into too many compatibility problems, and once I do, they’re simply corrected through adjusting the duvet show to paintings across the digital camera lenses. I don’t believe the Razr Extremely a disconnect instrument, however having the ability to scratch an Instagram scroll itch temporarily at the outer display is way preferable to a 30-minute doomscroll.

As I discussed previous, the Snapdragon 8 Elite does the task. I don’t purchase a clamshell folding telephone to play AAA cell video games all day or do intense paintings in Adobe Lightroom — it’s now not that more or less telephone.

Motorola’s tool enjoy is unoffensive if uninspired. Moto is promising 3 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of safety patches, which is substandard on this worth vary. It doesn’t lend a hand that I don’t know what form the ones upgrades will take or when, as Motorola is infamous for making customers wait prolonged sessions for Android model upgrades. Nonetheless, it by no means takes clear of my delight in the telephone, and perhaps that’s the purpose.

I even benefit from the cameras at the Razr Extremely 2026. I’d by no means confuse it for the flexibility you get on different flagship telephones, however the twin 50MP sensors at the Razr Extremely get the task performed. The pictures are detailed and saturated, precisely what I need from point-and-shoot photographs. I constantly get a social-media-ready photograph that matches nicely with the Razr Extremely’s theme. It’s not at all an excellent telephone, and that worth is daunting, however it’s a stupendous bundle.

If actual property is all about location, then opting for the Z Turn 7 over the Razr Extremely is all about tool. Samsung supplies a extra dependable and higher tool enjoy between the 2 telephones. My Galaxy Z Turn 7 already has One UI 8.5, and it’s working nicely. Not like with Motorola, I’ve a greater image of what the prolonged tool beef up will seem like.

Samsung gives a complete seven years of beef up for each OS upgrades and safety updates at the Z Turn 7, and (for essentially the most phase) has performed a just right task offering them in a well timed type. I will’t say I’m an enormous Galaxy AI person, however when you’re keen on getting the newest Android options, the Galaxy Z Turn 7 is the foldable you’ll wish to believe.

Whilst I nonetheless desire the duvet show enjoy at the Razr Extremely, Samsung has performed a tight task making improvements to it. Icons and notifications aren’t a crisis anymore, even though you do must tweak a couple of settings to get them good. I don’t like desiring to obtain further tool to get the entire apps I need working at the outer display, however while you make investments somewhat time, the total enjoy is agreeable. The Razr Extremely remains to be smoother and extra stress-free, however the hole between the 2 isn’t as broad because it was.

Similar to I don’t knock the Razr Extremely for having a Snapdragon 8 Elite, I don’t thoughts that the Z Turn 7 is powered through an Exynos 2500. I’d’ve most popular greater than 12GB of RAM, however efficiency hasn’t been a topic. The Exynos 2500 isn’t plagued through the overheating and deficient battery efficiency of chipsets of years previous. I am getting all-day battery lifestyles, although the Z Turn 7 doesn’t characteristic the silicon-carbon mobile of the Razr Extremely.

I don’t assume other people purchase clamshell foldables for uncooked horsepower, and whilst fanatics could be disappointed, they aren’t the objective marketplace.

In fact, worth is a significant component. The Z Turn 7 is masses lower than the Razr Extremely, and that’s earlier than factoring in gross sales at this level in its lifecycle. I’m positive we will be able to see competitive reductions from Motorola over the process the yr, as we at all times have, however you’re going to nonetheless finally end up paying extra for the Razr Extremely. And whilst I imagine it’s price it for a telephone I experience extra, I will completely see consumers who prefer the Galaxy Z Turn 7 and saving some cash within the procedure.

It’s vital to understand that each telephones are cast. I desire the Motorola Razr Extremely for the explanations I’ve defined, however you aren’t getting a foul instrument when you go for the Z Turn 7. It’s well-built, with a number of tool beef up and contours. Its presentations are stunning, and it takes just right pictures.

On the other hand, if you wish to have just a little extra aptitude together with your turn telephone, I like to recommend the Razr Extremely. Sure, the cost is stressful, and Motorola has lots to turn out with its tool, however I will’t put a worth on in point of fact playing the telephone I elevate round in my pocket — it’s rarer than I’d love to admit in 2026.