The Return of the Flip Phone
Before we dive into the Galaxy S22 vs. Razr debate, it‘s worth looking back at the flip phone‘s rise and fall. Motorola pioneered the flip design in the early 2000s with the iconic Razr V3. Its sleek style and satisfying snap shut made it the most popular mobile phone globally.
Of course, the smartphone revolution led by the iPhone quickly displaced old-school flip phones. But Motorola is aiming for a comeback by revamping the Razr into a modern-day foldable phone packed with features.
Samsung dominates the foldable phone market currently with devices like the Z Flip. But can Motorola‘s nostalgic Razr compete with standard smartphones like Samsung‘s newest S22 flagship? Let‘s find out!
Introducing the Galaxy S22 and New Razr
Samsung‘s Galaxy S series represents its standard smartphone range, while the Flip and Fold models have foldable displays. The S22 launched in early 2022 as the successor to the popular S21.
After a long absence, the new 5G-enabled Razr hit shelves in 2020 with a completely overhauled design. It still folds down the middle but is now touchscreen rather than the T9 keypad.
Let‘s examine how these two very different devices stack up across the key categories consumers care about.
Design
The Galaxy S22 retains a similar sleek, premium style to past S phones with its aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on front and back. Available colors include Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, and Green.
The new Razr has a high-end stainless steel and glass body with an edge-to-edge flexible OLED main screen. Folded down, its iconic flip silhouette is smaller but still eye-catching, especially in the vibrant Mercury or Satin Gold shades.
When it comes to portability and nostalgia factor, the compact, flippable Razr has the S22 beat. But Samsung‘s build quality is top-notch. For most, it comes down to your design preference.
Display & Viewing
Both phones have high resolution AMOLED screens, but at 6.8 inches when unfolded, the Razr‘s flexible display is noticeably larger. However, its unusual 20:9 aspect ratio means most video content won‘t fill the full screen.
Thanks to a variable refresh rate (48-120 Hz), scrolling and animations appear extremely smooth on the Razr. But in real-world testing, maximum brightness falls short of its claims, so visibility in sunlight could be better.
At 6.1 inches and packed with the latest display innovations, the S22 provides a stunning viewing experience, even outdoors, that the Razr can‘t quite match.
Performance & Battery Life
The Galaxy S22 is among the first phones with the advanced new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, promising lighting fast speeds for demanding apps and multitasking. Unfortunately battery life isn‘t a strong suit, lasting just over a full day with average use in testing.
Despite having a large capacity battery, the Razr‘s older processor simply can‘t keep up with leading 2022 devices. Reviewers report frequent lag and slow app loading times. But thanks to lower power draw, it should last a full day on a charge with normal usage.
It‘s no contest here – the S22 wins out easily based on benchmark testing and hands-on reviews citing vastly superior speed and responsiveness.
Camera Capabilities
Samsung went with an impressive triple lens setup for the Galaxy S22, including a wide 50MP main cam, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x telephoto with OIS. Detail and image quality impress across all three, with excellent dynamic range and low light performance.
The Razr keeps up respectably well considering its mid-range camera hardware. Its 48MP sensor takes sharp, vibrant shots in good lighting conditions. But without OIS or special night mode, low light photos suffer from noise and muddy colors.
If photography is important, the S22 is the obvious pick here. Casual shooters who just want decent social media pics would likely be happy with either phone though.
Unique Features
Samsung packs the S22 with all of its latest innovations like fast wired/wireless charging, water resistance, Samsung DeX desktop experience, and seamless ecosystem integration.
Being a foldable, the Razr‘s claim to fame is fitting a big screen in a compact, portable package. Quick View notifications and camera access on the cover display increase convenience. And Moto gestures like twisting to launch camera make using the device fun.
The Razr clearly wins when it comes to unique functionality thanks to its one-of-a-kind folding form. But Samsung matches or surpasses it in features that consumers find most valuable.
Value & Cost
Starting at $800, the Galaxy S22 sits at the premium end of standard smartphone pricing. But when its state-of-the-art flagship performance and cameras enter the picture, it‘s a relative bargain. Discounts available months post-launch make it an even better value.
Foldables demand ultra premium pricing, so it‘s no surprise the Razr launched at an eye-watering $1,400. And unfortunately, its mid-range specs don‘t justify the cost when many cheaper conventional phones run circles around it performance-wise.
It wins points for exclusivity, but purely based on bang for buck the Galaxy S22 easily provides far more phone for your money.
The Bottom Line
The S22 clearly comes out ahead for those wanting power, versatility and quality at a reasonable price. But consumers drawn to retro flip phones may happily accept the Razr‘s shortcomings just to stand out from the crowd.
Motorola deserves credit for resuscitating its iconic foldable. And their stylish, compact approach has its merits. But at this point, Samsung still reigns supreme when it comes to delivering the complete smartphone package.
I‘d only recommend the Razr for diehard flip phone fans willing to shell out big bucks for its unique, head-turning style. For everyone else though, the Galaxy S22 is the obvious choice.
