Motorola Razr (2023) vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
Motorola's 2023 Razr brings innovative foldable design with a 6.9-inch main display running 144Hz pOLED, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, and 8GB RAM at $699. Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra commands $1,199 with superior 108MP camera system featuring 10x periscope zoom, larger 5000mAh battery, and Snapdragon 888 flagship processor with 12GB RAM. Camera capabilities heavily favor Samsung: 8K video recording, triple telephoto lenses, and professional-grade computational photography versus Motorola's standard 64MP setup. Battery endurance goes to Samsung's 5000mAh versus 3800mAh despite slower charging speeds. Display quality is comparable (1400 vs 1500 nits), though Samsung offers higher resolution at 1440p. Motorola wins on value, portability, and modern 144Hz refresh rate. For photography enthusiasts and power users prioritizing camera performance, Galaxy S21 Ultra justifies the premium. Budget-conscious buyers seeking daily drivers with trendy foldable form factor should choose the Razr 2023.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Motorola Razr (2023) if…
- →Most affordable clamshell foldable at $699 launch price
- →Stylish vegan leather finish and compact folded design
- →144Hz pOLED main display is smooth and vibrant
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if…
- →100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- →108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- →S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Motorola Razr (2023)
Pros
- Most affordable clamshell foldable at $699 launch price
- Stylish vegan leather finish and compact folded design
- 144Hz pOLED main display is smooth and vibrant
- 64 MP main camera produces good daylight photos
- Compact folded form factor fits easily in any pocket
Cons
- Very small 1.5-inch cover screen limits quick interactions
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 mid-range chip limits performance
- 3800 mAh battery barely gets through a full day
- IP52 water resistance is minimal for a $699 phone
- Only 5W wireless charging is essentially unusable
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Pros
- 100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- 108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
- 1440p 120Hz LTPO adaptive display
- 5000 mAh battery with all-day endurance
Cons
- Heavy at 227 g
- Snapdragon 888 can overheat under load
- S Pen sold separately, no silo slot
- Slow 25W charging for the class
- No charger or earbuds in the box
Full Specifications
| Spec | Motorola Razr (2023) | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 188.6 g | 227 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, vegan leather or glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP52 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 170.8 x 73.9 x 7.2 mm (unfolded) | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 64 MP, f/1.7, PDAF, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.4 | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3800 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired (TurboPower) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 5W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches (main), 1.5 inches (cover) | 6.8 inches |
| Type | pOLED, 144Hz main / OLED cover | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Resolution | 2640 x 1080 (main) | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1400 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz + 3x2.36 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 644 | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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