Motorola is anticipated to launch a set of latest Razr clamshell foldables on Wednesday, in addition to its first book-style folding telephone. The merely named Motorola Razr Fold will go up towards different, related units just like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, however it might solely get a couple of months within the highlight — later this 12 months, Apple’s long-awaited iPhone Fold may debut and steal Motorola’s thunder.
Whereas Motorola has been competing with Samsung on annual clamshell foldables for years, it is stayed out of competing within the book-style folding telephone area of interest till now. That makes the Motorola Razr Fold a novel new entry for the phone-maker, and CNET senior expertise reporter Abrar Al-Heeti discovered it to be a eager rival to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 from her time with it at MWC 2026.
“The Fold is a crucial gadget for Motorola. After rising considerably within the foldable market virtually completely by way of clamshell flip telephones, Motorola is now making its first transfer into book-style foldables, which is the format that Apple is anticipated to enter later this 12 months,” mentioned Francisco Jeronimo, vice chairman of shopper units analysis on the Worldwide Knowledge Company.
The Razr Fold’s foremost display is 8.1 inches.
With standout specs, it may assist Motorola proceed rising its share of the North American foldables market, which rose to 44% in 2025, in keeping with Counterpoint Analysis (up from 30% the 12 months earlier than). In line with IDC knowledge, Jeronimo mentioned. Motorola holds round 50% of the US foldable market, roughly 55% in Latin America, and has grown its world share from about 6% to just about 14%.
With new Razrs and the debut of the Fold, it ought to be Motorola’s 12 months to tackle Samsung. However as typically occurs within the cell market, all eyes flip to what Apple’s doing. Whereas rumors have swirled for years {that a} foldable iPhone was within the works, extra proof than ever suggests one will debut later in 2026 (presumably within the September launch window alongside different iPhones).
Motorola and Apple have a curious causal relationship: Motorola claims that 25% of individuals shopping for its Razr clamshell foldables are former iPhone customers. When the Motorola Razr Fold is revealed, it may convert extra people too bored with ready for Apple’s folding telephone. That’s, if they do not wait just a bit longer to see if their long-awaited iOS-running foldable will launch finally in September. A number of sizable iPhone Fold rumors may persuade fence-sitters to carry on.
A CAD render of the supposed iPhone Fold.
In the intervening time, we nonetheless do not know a lot concerning the iPhone Fold — beginning with its title, which rumors have additionally instructed might be referred to as the iPhone Extremely or iPhone Flip. The latter title was extra rumored when Apple was supposedly angling to launch a clamshell foldable first, however the newest leaks are closely favoring a book-style folding gadget just like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Motorola Razr Fold. The remainder of the small print are murky, with current CAD design file leaks suggesting it is going to be a wide-format foldable like the unique Google Pixel Fold that launched in 2023.
In distinction, the Motorola Razr Fold is a identified amount. CNET’s Al-Heeti has held it, discovering the foldable to be barely bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold (6.6-inch exterior show, 8.1-inch inside display) and someplace between the 2 in weight (243 grams). It packs a triple 50-megapixel rear digicam system, 32-megapixel selfie digicam on the quilt and 20-megapixel selfie shooter inside. It has an enormous 6,000-mAh battery, 80-watt wired charging and a formidable 50-watt wi-fi charging. It is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and has an IP48 and IP49 score for prime water and middling mud resistance.
“Each screens are brighter than any rival foldable, and the 6,000-mAh battery outclasses the competitors, whereas stylus assist through the Moto Pen Extremely fills a spot that Samsung itself left open by dropping S Pen assist from the Galaxy Z Fold 7,” Jeronimo mentioned.
That makes the Motorola Razr Fold a safer guess, although not fully protected, as it is going to be a first-generation gadget. I keep in mind attempting out the unique Motorola Razr in late 2019 and seeing its proto-folding show go away a spot between the display and the telephone when closing or opening it. The telephone business has come a great distance in creating folding screens since then, and Motorola specifically has continued refining its personal tech — I do not anticipate air gaps within the Motorola Fold, particularly with that IP resistance score.
Even when the Motorola Razr Fold’s highlight will get stolen by rumors of the iPhone Fold, Apple’s first-generation foldable might be a much more unknown amount. Motorola, Samsung, and even Google have refined sturdiness and design through the years. How shut the iPhone Fold involves its rivals has but to be seen, however it might want to dwell as much as Apple’s well-known dedication to design excellence. As some rumors have instructed, Apple has delayed manufacturing of the iPhone Fold whereas it sought to get rid of the display crease over the foldable’s hinge, and Samsung show ideas proven off at CES 2026 recommend that design wrinkle could have been ironed out. (Apple is reportedly tapping Samsung for the screens on its foldable.)
So Motorola may have its time within the solar. It stays to be seen whether or not Apple’s foldable will arrive, and if it does, what form it is going to be in. The last word winner might be all of the folding telephone followers and the foldable-curious who’ve been ready for the best gadget to make the leap — and this 12 months, there’s extra of them than ever to persuade flat telephone homeowners to get flexible.
