News

motorola quietly unflips the razr 50 and razr 50 Ultra in China

Or simply the motorola razr+ (2024) and razr (2024) globally

Published

June 26, 2024

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The king of clamshell phones is back!

motorola has just silently announced the newest razr 50 and razr 50 Ultra in China — the brand’s 5th Generation clamshell foldable ever since its introduction (or re-birth) five years ago.

razr sharp

Unlike its predecessor, the new razr 50 Ultra features a fully-maximized 4-inch 165Hz cover screen with a 95% StB (Screen-to-Body) ratio — directly punching the just-unveiled HONOR Magic V Flip and its 120Hz display of the same size in the core.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Meanwhile, the vanilla razr 50 shares the same 3.6-inch 90Hz external display as the razr 40 Ultra (or razr+ in the US) from last year.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

On paper, HONOR’s Magic V Flip still is the slimmest at 14.89mm. That’s in contrast to razr 50 Ultra’s slightly thicker 15.3mm width and razr 50’s 15.9mm.

However, the base razr 50 is the lightest of the bunch at just 188.4 grams. The razr 50 Ultra weighs around 189 grams while the Magic V Flip is the heaviest at 193 grams.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Reason for being this light? Well, the middle frame is made from what motorola calls “Air Nano Skin 6000 series” based from aluminum widely used in the aviation industry.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

And with the improved Star Track Shaft technology found on the latest hinge mechanism of the razr duo, it promises a flip cycle of more than 600,000 folds! A massive improvement over the 200,000 cycle during the early years of foldable razr.

Moreover, both phones feature IPX8 rating — not tested for dust-resistance but can be continuously immersed underwater below 1 meter. That is something HONOR doesn’t provide in its latest Flip.

Fast as an F1 razr

The differences don’t end there!

For the most obvious reasons, the razr 50 Ultra packs a speedy 4nm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset compared to the razr 50’s recently-announced MediaTek Dimensity 7300X — also based on a 4nm process.

Internal memory on the razr 50 Ultra is limited to 12GB but with a speedy LPDDR5X standard. Meanwhile, the base variant either ships with 8GB or 12GB but in an older LPDDR4 standard.

While having the same set of storage options (256 or 512GB), the razr 50 Ultra features UFS 4.x protocol over razr 50’s slower UFS 2.x.

Moreover, the razr 50 Ultra has a smaller 4000mAh battery but with faster 45W charging speeds. On the other hand, the base razr 50 ships with the the larger 4200mAh battery yet has the slower 30W fast charging standard. Both of these razr flip phones support 15W wireless charging.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

These “Xinghai” batteries use Lenovo’s self-developed Silicon-Carbon technology — pretty much like the same battery tech that HONOR has equipped in their latest flip.

HONOR Magic V Flip (2024)

And while on the topic, the Magic V Flip packs an older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor yet has a bigger 16GB+1TB configuration option.

Ultimately, it still has the largest battery of any clamshell flip at 4800mAh — also with the fastest charging speeds at 66W, but without wireless charging support.

Crazy over razr

Apart from their very confusing hardware gaps, both vertical foldables share quite some similarities.

For one, both of them pack a 6.9-inch Full HD+ pOLED LTPO folding display with varying adaptive refresh rates — 1~165Hz for the Ultra while 10~120Hz on the non-Ultra.

They also have one of the best foldable displays in the biz: HDR10+ support, DCI-P3 wide color gamut, as well as DC Dimming and SGS Eye Protection Dual Certification. The razr 50 Ultra even supports Dolby Vision.

There are also dual stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos for an ultimate audiovisual experience. Snapdragon Sound feature is found on both razrs as well — despite the razr 50 rocking a MediaTek chipset.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Camera-wise, motorola upgrades the razr 50 Ultra’s rear camera system to a dual 50-megapixel module with an f/1.7 aperture on its main lens. Also, they’ve ditched the ultra-wide lens this time in favor of a 2x telephoto shooter with an f/2.0 lens opening.

Meanwhile, the razr 50 borrows the same 50-megapixel main camera from its Ultra sibling. Albeit, it keeps the 13-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide unit from the razr 40 Ultra last year but with a narrower 120-degree FoV (Field of View) in comparison to last year’s 108 degrees.

Internal cameras stay indifferent on both this year and last year: 32-megapixel f/2.4 to be very precise.

motorola doesn’t want to miss out on AI features as well in the latest Android 14-based moto MyUI 7.0 installed in these new flippables.

Pricing and Availability

The motorola razr 50 is available in these color choices: Moon Velvet Black, Elephant Gray, and Love Orange (12GB exclusive).

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

On the other hand, the razr 50 Ultra has three Pantone colorways: Modern Green, Vintage Denim, and the Limited Edition Soft Peach.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

These two devices have two different configurations. Pricing are as follows:

razr 50

8GB+256GB = CNY 3699 (US$ 510 / EUR 475 / GBP 402 / SG$ 690 / PhP 29,950 / INR 42,543)
12+512GB = CNY 3999 (US$ 550 / EUR 513 / GBP 435 / SG$ 745 / PhP 32,379 / INR 45,953)

razr 50 Ultra

12+256GB = CNY 5699 (US$ 785 / EUR 732 / GBP 620 / SG$ 1062 / PhP 46,143 / INR 65,545)
12+512GB = CNY 6199 (US$ 854 / EUR 796 / GBP 674 / SG$ 1155 / PhP 50,191 / INR 71,295)

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Whenever you purchase either the razr 50 or the razr 50 Ultra, you automatically get a corresponding bundled case depending on the color chosen.

Pre-ordering the exclusive motorola razr 50 Love Orange 12+512GB and paying CNY 4377 (US$ 603 / EUR 562 / GBP 476 / SG$ 816 / PhP 35,439 / INR 50,340) upfront gets you a moto Buds earbuds and a special orange phone case as well. That’s worth CNY 260 in savings.

Global Release

Right after the China announcement, motorola has also announced its international release.

To make it a lot more confusing, the razr 50 Ultra will simply be called “motorola razr+ (2024)”. On the flip side, the razr 50 is just “motorola razr (2024)”.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The razr+ (2024) has an additional Hot Pink color aside from the Midnight Blue, Spring Green, and Peach Fuzz options (renamed from Vintage Denim, Modern Green, and Soft Peach).

On the other hand, the motorola razr (2024) has these renamed colorways — Koala Gray, Beach Sand, and Spritz Orange.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The duo is priced at US$ 700 and US$ 999 respectively — a lot more expensive than the converted Chinese pricing. US buyers also need to wait as pre-orders will start on July 10 and phones will go on sale as late as July 24, 2024.

Europe and Canada can also pre-order the razr+ (2024) 12+512GB variant for EUR 1200 / CA$ 1300.

The base, non-plus model will also come to more markets including Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Pricing is yet to be announced.

Enterprise

New US-China ban might affect 75% of phones, laptops

Companies can no longer use Chinese labs to test their products.

Published

May 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The United States is continuing its crusade against Chinese technology today. However, the target now isn’t a company from China but a method important to a lot of non-Chinese brands.

Today, via Reuters, the Federal Communications Commission (or FCC) has unanimously voted to prohibit companies from using Chinese labs to test their electronic devices if they are to be sold for use in the United States. Naturally, this includes smartphones and computers.

Notably, the prohibition doesn’t directly target Chinese brands. However, it will still affect a huge swath of the industry. The FCC estimates that around 75 percent of the entire market are devices tested in labs based in China.

This means that companies who wish to sell future products in the country must move their testing to labs in the United States or other countries that it deems secure. At its current iteration, the prohibition will not affect devices that already earned their certification prior. However, it might prevent them from getting recertified once their current one expires.

Now, the prohibition isn’t an absolute lock just yet. The FCC will allow the industry to submit comments about the proposal. But, with a unanimous vote from the FCC, companies might have to start looking for alternative testing sites if they want to stay operation in the United States.

Apps

iOS 26.5 will support end-to-end encryption RCS messaging

The final update should come out within the month.

Published

May 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Back in 2023, Apple finally adopted the RCS messaging standard, ensuring that iOS and Android users could communicate more seamlessly despite being on different platforms. This year, the platform is adding an improvement to the feature: end-to-end encryption.

Starting with the upcoming launch of iOS 26.5, Apple will now support end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iOS and Android users (via 9to5Mac). Besides the seamless communication, users on both platforms can start enjoying secure messaging with one another.

Apple has been testing the feature since February. Now, the company is confident enough to release the encryption technology in a new build for iOS 26.5 meant for developers. At this point, it’s just waiting for an actual release.

Why is this a big deal? Encryption adds an extra layer of security for your messages. Plus, end-to-end encryption means that messages is encrypted and decrypted only by the sender and the receiver. Third parties, which includes Apple, cannot intercept and access your information.

With the feature on, both messaging platforms on Android and iOS will show a lock icon to signify that, yes, your messages are encrypted.

Though the current build isn’t meant for end users just yet, it’s expected that iOS 26.5 will launch within the month, if not by next week.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review

News

Dreame enters smartphones with AURORA debut

Modular imaging, AI-native OS, and luxury design lead new “perception-first” push

Published

May 4, 2026

Her

Dreame has officially stepped into the smartphone space with the debut of its AURORA lineup in Silicon Valley, positioning itself beyond appliances and into next-generation intelligent devices.

Unveiled on April 29, the new AURORA brand introduces what Dreame calls three core breakthroughs: imaging, communication, and an AI-native operating system — all built around a “human-centric” approach to technology.

A new take on smartphones

At launch, Dreame showcased three key directions under the AURORA lineup.

Leading the charge is the AURORA NEX, a modular imaging flagship designed to unlock more advanced, flexible photography setups. The idea is to move beyond typical camera upgrades and give users more control over how they capture content.

Alongside it is the AURORA LUX, a luxury-focused series that leans into premium materials and craftsmanship. Dreame positions this as “heirloom-grade” tech — less gadget, more statement piece.

Completing the lineup is a new flagship range aimed at balancing performance, design, and everyday usability for high-end users.

Moving past spec wars

Dreame isn’t framing this as another specs race. Instead, it’s calling this shift a “perception revolution.”

The pitch is simple:

Better imaging should feel like creating, not just capturing
Connectivity should be stable and seamless everywhere
AI should be invisible but proactive, not something users have to manage

To get there, Dreame says it’s addressing familiar industry pain points — from camera hardware stacking to inconsistent signal performance and surface-level AI features.

Its solution is a full-stack approach:

A dedicated imaging system built with input from professional photographers
A “full-time signal” communication system for more stable connectivity
An AI-native OS designed to flip the model from users adapting to devices → devices adapting to users

From tools to partners

The bigger ambition here is clear. Dreame wants devices to evolve from passive tools into what it calls “proactive service partners.”

That means:

Devices anticipate needs
AI operates in the background
Hardware and software feel like a single system

It’s a familiar direction across the industry, but Dreame is betting on tighter integration and a stronger design identity to stand out.

A broader ecosystem play

The AURORA launch also signals something bigger: Dreame is expanding fast beyond its roots in home and personal care tech.

From hair tools to now smartphones, the company is building toward a full ecosystem anchored on AI and connected experiences.

Whether that vision lands will depend on execution — especially in a category as competitive as smartphones.

For now, AURORA marks Dreame’s most ambitious move yet, and a clear statement that it wants to compete not just on devices, but on how those devices fit into everyday life.