One of the most recognizable phone manufacturers ever, Motorola has created a ton of amazing phones over the years. It has also been on a bit of a roll lately, releasing a number of reviews that have impressed us with their well-specced and well-designed devices.
The firm also sells what we believe to be some of the greatest foldable phones available, as well as retro candy bar cellphones and clamshells. Therefore, among its lineup, you’re sure to find the handheld that best meets your needs.
We’ve extensively tested and reviewed quite a few Motorola handsets by way of a full review. This means we’ve tested and lived with them for a period of a few weeks in order to bring you as honest and realistic a breakdown of the experience offered up by each phone as possible. And to help you along, we’ve listed all the best Motorola phones below. They’re ranked according to our preference, but don’t be afraid to choose one of the lower-ranked options, as they’ll still be excellent for some people.
If none on this list catches your eye, don’t worry. We’re constantly updating this guide and make sure to add any new models that are worthy of a spot on the list (and removing old models which have seen better days). Though, if you’ve decided that a Motorola phone still isn’t for you, you should take a look at our best Android phones or best iPhones guides as well.
1.Motorola Edge 40 Pro
The greatest smartphone made by Motorola to date is the Edge 40 Pro. Large quantities of RAM and storage, a highly brilliant screen with a fast refresh rate, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 are just a few of the current specs that the firm manages to keep up with.
Following our review, we believe this to be the closest thing you can get to a Pixel experience without investing in a Google Pixel phone. Given the benefits Qualcomm’s CPUs have over Google’s, their amazing endurance, and their lightning-fast charging, it might even be better. There are two shortcomings that we may identify:
Despite not being the best, the camera is still extremely decent, and you can adjust whatever you want thanks to the sensors’ adaptability and raw capture capability.
The other shortcoming? When it comes to timely Android OS updates, Motorola isn’t as good as Google. It might not be a deal breaker as much as it formerly was, as Google is moving away from that approach.
Motorola has reinvented its Pro handset as a true Android flagship with the release of the Edge 40 Pro. All the normal features of a flagship phone, like the best processor, the newest connectivity standards, better materials, and so forth, are all included by the manufacturer.
The phone impresses in every way that you could possibly want. Its basic black coloring is attractive even on its own. The substance at the back feels lovely to the touch, and the soft circular edges are comfortable to grip.
With a few minor tweaks, the software is well-designed and minimalistic, bringing it closer to the vanilla Android experience than most others. Naturally, there are a few minor problems. During the first setup, the phone forces you to select from a list of suggested Moto apps, and it will download them all unless you specifically tell it not to. After that, Motorola leaves you on your own. Although the business guarantees three years of software upgrades, we are concerned to see that the Motorola Edge 20 and Edge 30 are still running Android 12, while Google is getting ready to release Android 14.
2.Motorola Razr Plus
The Motorola Razr Plus, also known as the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra in some markets, is the company’s best-looking foldable device to yet and among the best clamshell models to be released this year.
We called it a significant advancement for smartphones in our evaluation, going above and beyond what models have previously provided. That may not be as certain now that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is available, but it is not very significant. The Razr Plus is a great phone in and of itself. It’s so thin when unfurled that it reminds you of the original Razr, yet the large display gives your content the room it needs to breathe.
In order to maintain the integrity of these clamshell foldables, a sizable square external screen that provides access to content when the display is folded nevertheless encourages you to go off your phone.
While there are some imperfections, none are unforgivable. the more aged processor? Still functional as of right moment. Updates that are more slowly? As we observed with the Edge 40 Pro, that’s not as critical as it formerly was in the current market. Even though it’s a clamshell phone, the Razr slim design is amazing.
The well-liked Samsung Galaxy Z foldable brand had an uphill struggle at launch for the Motorola Razr Plus (known as the Razr 40 Ultra in the UK and AU). Since last June, Motorola has put up a strong fight, and this phone has been the subject of some incredible bundle and deal offers,as well as packages that include Bose earbuds. Peach Fuzz, which matches Pantone’s color of the year (think Viva Magenta), is a new hue that has been introduced. It has the vegan leather finish that I liked on my review unit. This year might see the release of a new Razr, but in the meantime, the Razr Plus continues to be the most stylish and reasonably priced flip phone available.
3.Motorola Edge 40
The most pleasant-feeling of the two is the Motorola Edge 40, which is the smaller sibling of the Edge 40 Pro. Even though most phones these days are getting larger and heavier, this one is amazingly light and thin, yet it still has great battery life and charging. The software is simple and evocative of Google’s Pixel phones, much as on all Motorola phones. The purpose of the MediaTek Dimensity chip is to reduce expenses, and it accomplishes it quite well by maintaining power while increasing effectiveness and performance. MediaTek is no longer associated with negativity.
Its average cameras are one of its few shortcomings. If you want to enjoy this phone, you’ll need to put up with that Motorola issue. Additionally, it’s probably to be a victim of Motorola’s inconsistent software update policy. That is to say, you’ll get updates. When? Well, that’s up for debate. Depending on where you are, it may be available far more widely than the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, and at a more attractive price. It is not currently being sold in the US.
You might think about the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion as a comparable US substitute in the interim. It was created at a period when Motorola was beginning to use that design language, and it has a high-end appearance that is strikingly similar to the Edge 40. Since it’s been a year, you can still purchase it, if that’s what you’re interested in.
Throughout the evaluation time, I have truly liked using the Motorola Edge 40, an exquisite Android phone with a slim design, respectable cameras, a long-lasting battery, and fast charging at a low price.
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro competes with premium smartphones, while the Edge 40 goes up against its less well-equipped siblings. Although it is less powerful than the Motorola Edge 40 Plus and has a less stunning set of cameras, it is nevertheless an attractive package as opposed to the Edge 40 Pro’s.
Undoubtedly, this phone lacks several of the features found in a flagship model that would generally cost considerably more dedicated zoom camera, variable refresh rate display, or 12GB of RAM, for example. but you do get an experience that’s mostly fast, fluid and reliable. Alongside the Edge 40 Pro, the Edge 40 is certainly one of the best Motorola phones you can buy.
4.Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is fantastic value for a flagship phone. It has a high-end Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor that’s ideal for power-hungry processes as well as gaming. A 144Hz refresh rate on its 6.67-inch FHD+ display looks great for all content from streaming to browsing online. A glass front and back with a metal frame ensures it looks expensive and premium too. Reviewing the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, we felt it was quite reminiscent of the Edge 30 Ultra. Luckily, Motorola and other retailers have kept this phone around somewhat, and you’re able o save some money now that it’s been about a year.
A 200MP main camera is potentially overkill for most people but it’s a cool-sounding selling point and produces generally bright and colorful images.
The majority of consumers will be happy to see rapid charging and excellent battery life. Near-stock Android 12 (now upgraded to Android 13) completes the picture beautifully by giving you a clear, adaptable interface.
You certainly wouldn’t have believed us if we had told you at the beginning of 2022 that one of the greatest premium phones of the year would be produced by Motorola of all companies; after all, the venerable cell phone manufacturer is best known for producing dependable low-cost phones and the occasional mid-ranger.
However, the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra outperforms all those well-known flagship phones in practically every category, putting the Xiaomi 12, Samsung Galaxy S22, and iPhone 14 in stunning fashion.
The feature that Motorola is shouting about most is the 200MP cameras – this is the first globally-launched smartphone to boast a sensor with this many pixels, and it rounds out an already-pixel-packed array with three other snappers.
The phone is good for photography, especially thanks to its inclusion of a telephoto lens (something we don’t always see, even at this price point), but the super-high-res camera isn’t even in the top three features of the phone.
Perhaps our favorite aspect of the phone is its design. The ‘waterfall’ curved-edge display makes it feel fantastic to hold, although the textured glass rear and perfectly proportioned width help too.
Motorola is most proud of its 200MP cameras, which complete an already pixel-rich array with three more cameras. This is the first smartphone to be released in the world with a sensor this large.
Even at this price range, the phone’s telephoto lens, which is something we don’t often see, makes it fantastic for photography. However, the phone’s extremely high-resolution camera isn’t even among its top three characteristics.
We think the phone’s design is its best feature. It feels great to hold because of the “waterfall” curved-edge display, but the perfectly proportioned width and textured glass back also contribute to this.
5.Motorola Razr
The problems of the Motorola Razr predecessor are fixed. It features an excellent-looking 6.7-inch Full HD+ pOLED panel without a notch, with a hardly perceptible crease in the screen. Thanks to its foldable form, the Motorola Razr radiates style as you use it, making it perfect for split-screen multitasking and media consumption.
Its 144Hz refresh rate should make it perfect for gaming, but occasionally its Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip stutters a lot, which could indicate subpar optimization somewhere in the system.
The Motorola Razr still appealing in spite of this, though, because of its clear interface, respectable battery life (for a folding clamshell), and an unexpectedly superb camera that combines a 13MP ultra-wide lens and a huge 50MP wide sensor with OIS. Add in the in-display 32MP selfie camera and this older RAZR makes for a pleasant dip in the foldable pool.
Since then, the Razr 2023 (marketed as the Razr 40 in some areas) has replaced the Razr. Even if Motorola is presently selling it for less, it still merits a spot on our list for the time being.
Motorola releases its third-generation foldable Razr following a two-year break. With a somewhat different design from its predecessors, it demonstrates the company’s understanding of and capacity to fix the main issues with the first two versions, offering universal hardware enhancements at a reduced cost.
The design of the Razr seems to be losing some of its individuality; the chin that defined the previous two generations has been dropped in favor of a simpler, more harmonious shape. But not everyone may find the size increase appealing.
Thanks in part to HDR10+, DCI-P3, and 10-bit color support, it’s excellent for split-screen multitasking and media. One of the hardest-to-see and feel creases on an inward-folding phone’s screen to date is created by the transition from plastic to UTG (ultra-thin glass) between generations, along with the most sophisticated interpretation of the current Razr series’ clever teardrop zero-gap folding design.
How to choose the best Motorola phone for you
Asking yourself “how much am I willing to spend?” should be your first step. You should think about the Edge or Razr series if you don’t have a defined budget and are willing to spend a little extra money. Stick to the G series, or consider the company’s Neo branded phones for a happy medium, if you don’t want to go over budget.
Consider the essential qualities you require after that. Is a top-notch camera necessary? A sturdy apparatus? A screen with great resolution? An extended-life battery? Quick charging? A great deal of performance power? While the majority of G-series phones are good overall, several models excel in particular areas, and we’ve highlighted these in our rankings.
Additionally, you ought to think about whether you want lots of software updates or if the newest version of Android isn’t quite as important – Motorola doesn’t always keep its handsets updated for very long, so older phones may already have been discontinued.
Which Motorola phone is the newest?
Despite releasing its phones in quite a sporadic pattern, there is a rhyme and a reason to the naming behind the phones.
The Edge series sees a new number each year – in 2021 it was the Edge 20 series, and 2022 brought the Edge 30, and so on. The 2023 Razr line is a little more convoluted, as they’re called the Razr and Razr Plus in the US, while elsewhere go by the Razr 40 and Razr 40 Ultra; either way, these latest foldables are the same pair of devices – all released in 2023.
The G series is a little bit harder, but each new version gets a new suffix number – so if you see the G35 next to the G33, you know which is the newer version. The first number refers to the relative ranking, so the G55 will be as new as the G75, but not as high-end.