Motorola Razr breaks down before Galaxy Fold in folding test (Updated Feb. 7)

[Update, February 7: Motorola provided a statement in response to CNET‘s article: 

“razr is a unique smartphone, featuring a dynamic clamshell folding system unlike any device on the market. SquareTrade’s FoldBot is simply not designed to test our device. Therefore, any tests run utilizing this machine will put undue stress on the hinge and not allow the phone to open and close as intended, making the test inaccurate. The important thing to remember is that razr underwent extensive cycle endurance testing during product development, and CNET’s test is not indicative of what consumers will experience when using razr in the real-world. We have every confidence in the durability of razr.”]

[Original article:] The Motorola Razr is a modern take on the clamshell phone, offering a foldable display and other extras. How durable is it though? Well, CNET conducted a folding test, and the results might be disappointing.

The outlet used the Square Trade FoldBot testing machine to repeatedly fold and unfold the Motorola Razr. This is the same testing machine and method used for the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which managed to last for roughly 120,000 folds before breaking down.

Unfortunately, the Motorola Razr folding test ended after just 27,218 folds (skip to the 4:08:50 mark in the video above), with the phone not actually folding properly during the last few seconds of the test. After taking the phone out of the machine, the team was able to ascertain that it couldn’t fold shut.

Fortunately, the phone’s screen was still (seemingly) fully functional. And if this is the case for other Razr units as well, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world if your hinge is broken. So you can likely still backup any important content directly from the phone.

This figure means that if you fold and unfold your device 100 times a day, the Razr wouldn’t last a year. And it would be equivalent to roughly 18 months if you fold and unfold your device 50 times a day.

It’s still worth noting that the robot isn’t as gentle with the Razr as a human might be, and the folding test doesn’t mimic the frequency with which a human might open and close the device. Nevertheless, we hope manufacturers are making the next generation of foldable devices even more durable.