Motorola razr gets a surprise: book-style foldable incoming

Motorola is shaking up the foldable landscape, and not in the way we expected. Forget incremental updates; the company is reportedly introducing a book-style Razr this year, marking the first time the iconic line has explored this form factor across its entire history—from the original brick phones to today's clamshells. But is this a sign of expanding ambition, or a strategic shift?

A european exclusive, for now?

According to a report originating in the Netherlands, a Razr 70 Plus model with a distinct flip design is in the works for European markets. This is expected to join a standard Razr 70 and the high-end Razr 70 Ultra, forming a trio of successors to last year’s Razr 60 lineup. This is a fascinating development, especially considering the US market saw a base, Plus, and Ultra version of the Razr (2025).

The color options alone are intriguing. Early leaks suggest Pantone African Violet and Pantone Mountain View—a bold move, especially when compared to last year’s US-exclusive Razr+ hues of Mocha Mousse, Midnight Blue, and Hot Pink. I'm personally drawn to the violet, but I'd love to see a brighter, more vibrant third option to truly capture attention.

Specs and timeline: what we know so far

Details remain scarce, but the Razr 70 Plus is rumored to boast 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The standard Razr 70 and the Razr 70 Ultra are expected to follow suit with 8GB and 16GB of RAM, respectively. Motorola’s unveiling timeline is also murky. While last year’s Razr 60 series debuted in Europe in April, the US Razr (2026) lineup may follow the 2025 model’s lead and launch later, sometime this summer.

What’s truly unusual is the lack of concrete information about these devices, even this close to a potential launch. It’s a departure from Motorola’s typical pre-release leaks and teases.

Can motorola continue its foldable ascent?

Motorola has been making serious inroads into the foldable market. They were ranked third globally in Q3 2023, and second in the US for the entire year. The company even came within striking distance of dethroning Samsung as the foldable leader in the US during 2024—a feat that, while unconfirmed in final annual reports, demonstrates their rapid progress. But to sustain this momentum, Motorola needs to offer competitive pricing. Last year’s Razr Ultra proved that aggressive pricing can significantly boost sales; this year’s models will need to follow suit to contend with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Z Fold 7, the forthcoming Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8, and, of course, Apple's anticipated iPhone Fold.

Rising memory chip prices pose a challenge, but a successful Razr 70 family could solidify Motorola’s position as a major player in the foldable arena, demonstrating that innovation doesn't always require a premium price tag.