May 12, 2024
The red Motorola Razr Plus propped open.
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies

In psychology, there’s something referred to as “affective ambivalence,” the place two reverse feelings are skilled nearly on the similar time. It completely sums up the rollercoaster of emotions I’ve had for the Motorola Razr Plus since returning to it.

One second I completely find it irresistible, however then it deeply frustrates me as a consequence of one thing foolish or one thing Motorola ought to have mounted by now. However then I test how a lot it prices, and I am going proper again to being astonished by it.

Sure, my time with the Motorola Razr Plus has been emotional. Right here’s why.

Emotional rollercoaster painted purple

The back of the Viva Magenta Razr Plus.
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies

The Motorola Razr Plus has an uncanny potential to tug at my heartstrings. The Pantone Viva Magenta shade is gorgeous for a begin, and apparently, purple is an efficient instance of a shade that fires up our synapses and provokes an emotional response. “The emotional connotation of purple switches between destructive and optimistic,” it states in a examine from Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, echoing how I’ve felt concerning the Razr Plus basically.

This small, purple cellphone is totally beautiful, and I really like the best way the polished purple metallic surrounds the matte textured panel on the rear of the closed cellphone, which helps give it a tactility lacking from clean telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. Motorola modified its foldable cellphone design for the higher this yr, and it made precisely the correct alternative by going for such a daring shade to focus on its work.

However once I choose the Razr Plus up and go to open it, my coronary heart sinks. The outside is slicker than a freshly polished wood ground, however the hinge has extra in frequent with cracking open an growing old oak door than it does with the remainder of this purple magnificence. It creaks as you prize it aside, and though it doesn’t provide any resistance, you may really feel the elements inside shifting. I don’t suppose it’s going to interrupt, but it surely robs the Razr Plus of finesse — one thing the Z Flip 5 doesn’t lack in any respect.

Moo saves the day, for some time

Moo on Motorola Razr Plus
Prakhar Khanna / Digital Tendencies

I snap the Razr Plus shut, my emotion having all of the sudden switched from attraction to aversion, however then I see Moo on the duvet display screen, and every part modifications once more. I don’t care that Moo is an animated, cutesy model of the Motorola “wings” brand and, due to this fact, company advertising and marketing fluff masquerading as a enjoyable character. For me, it’s up there with the unbelievable Snoopy watch faces on the Apple Watch with its uncanny potential to present a soulless digital gadget actual emotional enchantment.

Throughout the week, Moo’s schedule of working, consuming, and sleeping mirrors mine, and throughout the weekend, Moo sings at karaoke, outlets, and works out. No, I didn’t do any of these issues this final weekend, so it made me chuckle that the character on my cellphone display screen was extra socially outgoing and motivated than I had the chance to be.

Moo on the Motorola Razr Plus's cover screen.
Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies

With Moo warming my coronary heart, I replied to some messages, however utilizing the Razr Plus then jogged my memory that it nonetheless has Android 13 put in. I’d not too long ago used the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 once more, and each obtained an replace to Android 14. Oppo has additionally up to date the Discover N2 Flip with Android 14, leaving Motorola properly behind with no agency data on when the replace will arrive.

The Razr household is meant to get three years of software program updates, however timing is equally essential, and communication on when Android 14 will arrive is minimal. Digital Tendencies requested Motorola’s press workforce concerning the schedule, but it surely has not offered any data on the state of affairs but. It despatched my temper crashing down, and never even Moo’s antics may immediately flip that round.

At this value, it’s a cut price

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 next to the Motorola Razr Plus.
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies

As my temper associated to the Razr Plus flip-flopped, I puzzled if anybody can purchase it as an alternative of the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It’s sensible, but it surely doesn’t have the identical enjoyable nature or the identical emotional baggage because the Razr Plus. So I checked the worth, and thru Motorola’s on-line retailer, in the mean time, it’s $700 unlocked — considerably lower than its regular $1,000 value and matching the usual retail value of the mid-range Razr (2023).

Will it keep at this value ceaselessly? No, in all probability not, however Motorola appears extremely motivated to promote these enjoyable little telephones, so one other deal is nearly definitely across the nook in the event you miss this one. However in the event you catch it for $700, the frustrations I’ve talked about listed below are a lot simpler to forgive, and saving this sum of money to get a really cool compact folding cellphone would make me rapidly neglect the creaky hinge.

A video playing on the Motorola Razr Plus.
Motorola Razr Plus Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies

I settled again into loving the Motorola Razr Plus once more, and my SIM continues to be in it as I write this. However as I glanced over to take a look at that shiny purple physique as soon as extra, the annoying empty black cowl display screen appeared again at me as properly. I tapped the display screen to test for any missed notifications and sighed at Motorola’s choice to not add an always-on ambient show to any of its telephones, not to mention the Razr Plus.

I do suggest the Motorola Razr Plus, particularly if you will get it at such a giant low cost, however right here’s a warning for potential consumers: this feisty purple cellphone gained’t hesitate to play along with your feelings, for higher and for worse.

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