Motorola Razr foldable set to return to take on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Motorola Razr foldable set to return to have on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

(Prototype credit: Hereafter)

Next yr could be a big 1 for foldable phones. Aslope the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iv and possibly imminent Google Pixel Fold, information technology now turns out that Lenovo is looking to come up back with a tertiary generation of the Motorola Razr.

Word of the company's plans for a Motorola Razr 3 comes directly from Lenovo Concern group general manager Chen Jin, who made the declaration via Chinese social network Weibo. "I think innovation is e'er the driving force of the manufacture," a automobile translated version of the text reads, before announcing the "third-generation razr folding screen mobile phone."

It will, according to the slightly clunky translation, feature "more advanced chip computing power," a "improve man-motorcar interface" and a "more atmospheric appearance." No release date or price listed was mentioned, merely Chen Jin did reveal that the phone will exist for the Chinese market place at first.

Should Samsung be worried about a rival foldable flip phone?

If the by two Motorola Razr foldables are a blueprint for the new model, then this will exist a rival for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 rather than the company's 2-in-1 tablet/phone hybrid.

Should Samsung be concerned? That very much depends on whether Motorola's parent company Lenovo has learned the lessons from the two previous Razr handsets, which failed to brand much of an bear on.

For my money, that limited impact came down to ii very obvious drawbacks. The first was price: the original Moto Razr launched at an center watering $1,500, and this was only marginally improved for the Moto Razr 5G which received a $100 discount.

That in and of itself isn't a problem, as foldables are notoriously expensive. The trouble was my 2d issue with the phone: that Motorola scrimped on the internals for both. The original packed a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC, which could be establish in phones costing around 300 bucks. The 5G follow upwards improved things slightly with a Snapdragon 765G SoC, but that'south yet the same fleck establish in the $449 Pixel 5a.

Samsung's foldables were similarly expensive, only at least featured up-to-date internals. The offset-generation Z Flip toll $1,380 but packed a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC, for instance: the aforementioned chip the company used in its just recently superseded Galaxy S10 handsets.

It would be pretty petty for Motorola to friction match that, chip shortages notwithstanding, and the translated text makes it seem like the company intends to make improvements there.

But spec bumps price money, and it will take a serious price cut for fifty-fifty an advanced Moto Razr three to compete, given Samsung has aggressively slashed the toll of its foldables and so much. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 managed to sell at that psychologically sub-$ane,000 price point, after all.

So, tin can the Motorola Razr three exist a serious contender? It has an uphill struggle on its easily, just we'll have to wait and come across if the improvements are as positive as Chen Jin seems to recall before nosotros reach a more informed verdict. For now, color me skeptical.

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine likewise. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably observe him tackling his ever-growing games excess. Or, more than likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.