I used the Motorola Razr Ultra (2026) and the Galaxy Z Flip 7, and I only want one in my pocket

I love clamshell folding phones. They’re the ideal form factor for casual users who want to try out a foldable for the first time. You’re not asking people to change how they use their phone. You simply open it up, do everything you’ve been doing for the last 15 years on your traditional slab smartphone, and then fold it up when you’re done.

I test every one I can get my hands on, and I was excited by the prospect of pitting this year’s Motorola Razr Ultra up against the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Motorola’s price increases complicate the discussion, but there are compelling reasons to buy both, even if there’s really only one I want in my pocket.

What I like about the Motorola Razr Ultra (2026)

The Motorola Razr Ultra was my favorite smartphone of 2025, so I had high expectations for its encore — and I wasn’t disappointed. Motorola’s shift towards becoming a lifestyle brand is on full display with the gorgeous Orient Blue Razr Ultra colorway. The Alcantara finish feels fantastic, and people will literally stop me when I am out and ask what phone it is.

It’s just a fun phone to use, which is something I’m not always able to say about today’s flagships. It’s sleek and stylish, and it has the most eye appeal out of any phone on the market. I don’t mind the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s design. It just feels industrial and utilitarian. I have no doubt it’s sturdy and built to last the course, but it does nothing for me.

Yes, Motorola didn’t materially upgrade the spec sheet for the 2026 Razr Ultra, but that bothers me less the more I use it. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is powerful enough, and 16GB of RAM gives me enough overhead for everything I want to do (and then some).

Motorola did improve the battery for 2026, fitting the Razr Ultra with a 5,000mAh silicon-carbon cell, and you can notice the difference. I get almost two days of use on a single charge, and when it’s time to top off, I get to enjoy 68W wired charging. I still contend that significantly better battery life is a more important quality-of-life upgrade than anything a chipset boost would have provided.

Samsung has worked to improve the cover screen experience on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but I still prefer what Motorola offers. I understand it’s a small item for enthusiasts who are used to downloading multiple applications, but I love that I don’t need Good Lock or Multistar to get all the apps I want on the Razr Ultra’s outer display.

Even though I prefer Samsung’s overall software experience, Motorola’s done an excellent job of making the transition between displays smooth. I don’t run into too many compatibility issues, and when I do, they are easily corrected by adjusting the cover display to work around the camera lenses. I don’t consider the Razr Ultra a disconnect device, but being able to scratch an Instagram scroll itch quickly on the outer screen is much preferable to a 30-minute doomscroll.

As I mentioned earlier, the Snapdragon 8 Elite does the job. I don’t buy a clamshell folding phone to play AAA mobile games all day or do intense work in Adobe Lightroom — it’s not that kind of phone.

Motorola’s software experience is unoffensive if uninspired. Moto is promising three years of OS upgrades and five years of security patches, which is substandard in this price range. It doesn’t help that I don’t know what shape those upgrades will take or when, as Motorola is notorious for making users wait extended periods for Android version upgrades. Still, it never takes away from my enjoyment of the phone, and maybe that’s the point.

I even enjoy the cameras on the Razr Ultra 2026. I would never confuse it for the versatility you get on other flagship phones, but the dual 50MP sensors on the Razr Ultra get the job done. The photos are detailed and saturated, exactly what I want from point-and-shoot images. I consistently get a social-media-ready photo that fits well with the Razr Ultra’s theme. It is by no means a perfect phone, and that price is daunting, but it’s an attractive package.

What I like about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

If real estate is all about location, then choosing the Z Flip 7 over the Razr Ultra is all about software. Samsung provides a more reliable and better software experience between the two phones. My Galaxy Z Flip 7 already has One UI 8.5, and it is running well. Unlike with Motorola, I have a better picture of what the extended software support will look like.

Samsung offers a full seven years of support for both OS upgrades and security updates on the Z Flip 7, and (for the most part) has done a good job providing them in a timely fashion. I can’t say I’m a huge Galaxy AI user, but if you’re interested in getting the latest Android features, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the foldable you’ll want to consider.

While I still prefer the cover display experience on the Razr Ultra, Samsung has done a decent job improving it. Icons and notifications aren’t a disaster anymore, even if you do have to tweak a few settings to get them just right. I don’t like needing to download additional software to get all the apps I want running on the outer screen, but once you invest a little time, the overall experience is pleasant. The Razr Ultra is still smoother and more enjoyable, but the gap between the two isn’t as wide as it used to be.

Just like I don’t knock the Razr Ultra for having a Snapdragon 8 Elite, I don’t mind that the Z Flip 7 is powered by an Exynos 2500. I would’ve preferred more than 12GB of RAM, but performance hasn’t been an issue. The Exynos 2500 isn’t plagued by the overheating and poor battery performance of chipsets of years past. I get all-day battery life, even though the Z Flip 7 doesn’t feature the silicon-carbon cell of the Razr Ultra.

I don’t think people buy clamshell foldables for raw horsepower, and while enthusiasts might be upset, they aren’t the target market.

Of course, price is a major factor. The Z Flip 7 is hundreds less than the Razr Ultra, and that’s before factoring in sales at this point in its lifecycle. I am sure we will see aggressive discounts from Motorola over the course of the year, as we always have, but you will still end up paying more for the Razr Ultra. And while I believe it’s worth it for a phone I enjoy more, I can absolutely see buyers preferring the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and saving some money in the process.

Which is right for you?

It’s important to know that both phones are solid. I prefer the Motorola Razr Ultra for the reasons I’ve outlined, but you aren’t getting a bad device if you opt for the Z Flip 7. It’s well-built, with plenty of software support and features. Its displays are gorgeous, and it takes good photos.

However, if you want a bit more flair with your flip phone, I recommend the Razr Ultra. Yes, the price is annoying, and Motorola has plenty to prove with its software, but I can’t put a price on truly enjoying the phone I carry around in my pocket — it’s rarer than I’d like to admit in 2026.