Quick summary
Sketches that appear to show Motorola’s upcoming flip phone have been leaked, revealing a device that’s exactly what you’d expect from Motorola.
The images show a common design language that matches the existing Razr models and that could be an exciting differentiator in the wide folding segment.
Motorola recently teased that something new is coming, unveiling a silhouetted device that appears to be a wide-folding phone. That’s on the official side of the equation, but over in Leakland, sketches that seem to show a third folding phone have been revealed.
These images have fallen into the hands of 9to5Google, which show the Razr, Razr Fold and the mysterious third device.
From these sketches, which have a Motorola watermark in the background, which provides some authenticity, we get an idea of how Motorola connects the design of the Razr devices with a familiar feeling.
This is something that goes beyond Pantone colors and unique finishes, although it’s highly likely that any new folding phone from Motorola will lean on this aesthetic to differentiate itself from the rest of the wide folding phone options.
These options now run on Apple, Samsung and now Xiaomi and it seems that Motorola is going for a slightly softer look – more like Apple – and less like Samsung’s sleek and flat industrial design.
That fits with Motorola’s existing designs: it still has curved frame edges (as in the Razr 70 Ultra), it still uses 3D glass where the sides curve into the frame and that’s what we see in these sketches.
One of these pictures also contains some useful wording, saying that there will be a “creaseless display”, “diamond cut” bevel, a “polished / hairline brush” on the frame, while also “simple open profile”, “ultra slim housing” and “3D glass”.
These annotations don’t really tell us much, as they are exactly what we expect from a Motorola device.
(Image credit: 9to5Google)
That also suggests that the absolute slimmest device isn’t top priority, as Motorola is often more focused on delivering a lifestyle product rather than something that aggressively chases top specs.
It seems from these sketches that the intention is for a dual camera device and it is possible that these cameras will be similar to the Razr Flip phone.
The sketches from which these images are drawn seem to have been sent to several outlets – Android Headlines also runs them as “exclusive” – and it is difficult to know if someone wanted to leak from the inside, or if this Motorola is looking for part of the folding phone conversation around the launch of the iPhone Duo.
What is likely, however, is that Motorola has something attractive to offer. The lifestyle approach with a unique Pantone color and finish, combined with a lower price, could land well.
The Razr Fold – Motorola’s flagship – is £1799 (512GB) compared to Samsung’s £1899 Z Fold 8 Ultra (256GB). There is every chance that it will land with more storage, at a lower price, than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 – and that would definitely be attractive.