Most of you don't think Motorola's iPhone Duo rival is doomed, but one detail could change your mind
The make-or-break thing for Motorola's upcoming Razr Flex foldable is clearly its price point, and unfortunately, I don't think it's realistic to expect that to be very reasonable.
While Motorola is evidently not considering leaving Android-powered flip phones in the lurch just yet (as some insiders believe Samsung will do after the Galaxy Z Flip 8 flop), a first-of-a-kind Razr Flex is expected to precede the Razr (2027) family to the market in a (desperate) attempt to broaden the appeal and further expand the diversity of the foldable product lineup.
I don't really get where it's coming from. As much as I want to side with the nearly 50 percent of survey respondents willing to wait and see what the Razr Flex will be priced before declaring its doom and gloom, I have to be realistic and objectively look at Motorola's most recent movements on this front as a pretty clear indicator of what's to come.
Do you think the Razr Flex has any chance to challenge the iPhone Duo?
650 Votes
It's not that I don't believe the company's first wide foldable is destined to flop at the global box-office at any price point. I just highly doubt that something as sophisticated as the Razr Flex could ever be described as affordable by an unbiased mobile consumer when the Razr Fold normally costs $1,899.99 (and has yet to drop below $1,699.99 without a trade-in) while the Razr Ultra (2026) is still available at an obscene $1,499.99 (and was barely marked down by $100 during Amazon's recently concluded Prime Day event).
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How much should the Razr Flex cost?
3 Votes
I don't want to make any firm predictions, but even with a non-Elite Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor under the hood and considerably smaller screens in tow than both Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Apple's iPhone Duo, I don't see how the Razr Flex could start lower than $1,500 or $1,600. After all, this is a brand that currently charges the rough equivalent of $1,335 for a non-foldable first-gen Signature with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC in the UK.
This goodwill is (probably) not unlimited
As a long-time Motorola fan and user of more Moto G-series mid-rangers than I can remember right now, I must say I've been delighted to see so many of you treat the brand with almost uncharacteristic understanding and kindness in quite a few reader polls and comments sections over the last couple of years or so.
If the Razr Flex is smaller and less powerful than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, its box-office potential doesn't sound great. | Image by Concept Android Headlines
This is merely an assumption on my part, of course, but I think that the Z Fold 8 would have been received with far more hate and skepticism than the Razr Flex is currently getting if it made similar compromises.
Just take a look at that number of people maintaining their "big hopes" for Motorola's rookie passport-style foldable effort despite what common sense might dictate (at least in my book). That's the kind of dedicated fanbase even Samsung is unlikely to count on nowadays... but that sooner or later tends to falter if a company makes too many strategic errors or the same mistake over and over again.
Motorola may have gotten some unexpected help from Apple
Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few days, you probably already know that the iPhone Duo seems to be plagued by very similar build quality issues as the original Galaxy Fold... from all the way back in 2019.
The iPhone Duo is nowhere near as durable as Apple fans expected, which clearly helps Motorola... and Samsung. | Image by Reddit
These could very well open the door for the Galaxy Z Fold 8's sales to continue to grow while also giving Motorola an unforeseen opportunity to potentially turn the Razr Flex into a bigger hit than I'm currently expecting... on one very important condition.
The first-gen Razr Flex must not repeat the durability problems of its manufacturer's original Android-based Razr clamshell from 2020, which shouldn't prove that challenging after the Razr Fold impressed all its early adopters with its pretty much flawless construction. Wait a minute, did I manage to unintentionally talk myself into actually being excited for Motorola's first wide foldable... at least until its specs and pricing are confirmed?
Check out these other news stories about new and upcoming Motorola devices:
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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