Despite repeated attempts by Motorola Mobility’s Australian operation to prevent local media access to the device, ChannelNews has secured the first Australian hands-on look at Motorola’s new Razr Fold. According to Lenovo executives speaking at CES, the device may not proceed to production unless sufficient demand is generated from carriers or retailers.
Our access came via senior Lenovo and Motorola executives, who were reportedly “shocked” by the decision of local Australian management to exclude Australian media from the global launch. Compounding the issue, Motorola Australia also declined to distribute official press releases.
In addition to the Razr Fold, we were shown Motorola’s new speaker — previously reported on — along with the Moto Tag 2, which continues to present challenges when it comes to battery replacement. Motorola also previewed its upcoming smartwatch range.
Prototype Stage Device
The Motorola Razr Fold, announced at CES 2026, remains firmly in the prototype stage. During our hands-on time, access to key functions — including the camera, settings, and other core features — was restricted, limiting deeper evaluation.
Positioned as Motorola’s first book-style foldable, management hopes the Razr Fold will compete directly with Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7. From an external design perspective, the device looks refined and could mark Motorola’s most serious attempt yet to gain credibility in the premium smartphone segment.
Display and Design
The Razr Fold features a 6.6-inch external display and a large 8.1-inch internal screen. While screen quality does not quite match Samsung’s Fold — unsurprising given Motorola’s expected lower price point — the displays are noticeably larger than those on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which measures 6.5 inches and 8.0 inches respectively.
The 8.1-inch main display is a 2K LTPO panel, which Motorola claims will appeal to creatives, particularly those using a stylus.
By comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 employs two high-end Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels:
Both Samsung displays support adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rates, enhanced brightness via Vision Booster, and added durability with Gorilla Glass Armor (ceramic on the front).
Placed side-by-side, the Razr Fold is marginally larger and heavier than Samsung’s Fold, though this did not negatively impact handling or pocketability.
In contrast, Samsung has significantly upgraded its Fold 7 camera system with:
Samsung’s system is enhanced by the ProVisual Engine, AI-powered Nightography, and 8K video recording.
While Motorola’s hardware looks promising on paper, full judgment will have to wait until a finished retail unit is available for testing.
The Razr Fold also includes a 32MP external selfie camera, which should deliver strong results.
AI and Software Questions
Motorola, now a Lenovo-owned Chinese company, claims the Razr Fold incorporates new AI capabilities. However, executives declined to allow access to AI settings during the demo.
According to Lenovo executives at CES, AI functionality is integrated at the system level and supported by a new assistant called Qira, accessible via the Settings menu or a dedicated physical AI Key on the device — neither of which we were permitted to test.
AI options are reportedly located under Settings > Moto AI or Settings > Gestures > AI Key, with the side-mounted AI Key fully customisable.
Lenovo has previously utilised DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI platform, in some of its products — a move that has recently raised concerns among US federal officials. While Motorola claims the Razr Fold’s AI relies on a mix of on-device processing and cloud-based models from partners such as Perplexity and Google, there remains the possibility that certain markets could also have access to DeepSeek-based models.
Final Thoughts
From a design perspective, the Razr Fold is a well-executed device. The determining factors for its success will ultimately come down to pricing, final specifications, and whether Motorola can deliver a polished retail product that competes meaningfully with Samsung’s established foldable lineup.
