There’s only one I would choose

I love foldable phones. They are the ideal form factor for casual users who want to try a foldable device for the first time. You’re not asking people to change the way they use their phone. You just open it, do everything you’ve been doing for the last 15 years on your traditional smartphone, and then fold it away when you’re done.

I try everything I can get my hands on and was excited at the prospect of taking on this year’s championship. Motorola Razr Ultra in front of the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Motorola’s price increases complicate the discussion, but there are compelling reasons to buy both, even if I really only want one in my pocket.

The Motorola Razr Ultra was my favorite smartphone of 2025, so I had high expectations for its encore and it didn’t disappoint. Motorola’s shift to becoming a lifestyle brand is on full display with the beautiful Orient Blue Razr Ultra colorway. The Alcantara finish feels fantastic and people literally stop me on my way out and ask what phone it is.

It’s just a fun phone to use, which is something I can’t always say about today’s flagships. It’s sleek and stylish, and has the most visual appeal of any phone on the market. I don’t mind the design of the Galaxy Z Flip 7. It just feels industrial and utilitarian. I have no doubt that it’s sturdy and built to last the entire ride, but it’s of no use to me.

Yes, Motorola didn’t materially update the Razr Ultra 2026’s spec sheet, but that bothers me less the more I use it. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is powerful enough and 16GB of RAM gives me enough overhead for everything I want to do (and then some).

Motorola improved the battery for 2026, giving the Razr Ultra a 5000 mAh silicon-carbon celland you will be able to notice the difference. I get almost two days of use on a single charge, and when it’s time to recharge, I can enjoy 68W wired charging. I still maintain that significantly longer battery life is a bigger quality-of-life improvement than anything a chipset upgrade would have provided.

Samsung has worked to improve the cover screen experience on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but I still prefer what Motorola offers. I understand it’s a small item for enthusiasts who are used to downloading multiple apps, but I love that I don’t need Good Lock or Multistar to get all the apps I want on the Razr Ultra’s exterior screen.

Although I prefer Samsung’s overall software experience, Motorola has done an excellent job of making the transition between screens seamless. I don’t have too many compatibility issues, and when I do, they are easily corrected by adjusting the cover screen to work around the camera lenses. I don’t consider the Razr Ultra to be a turn-off device, but being able to quickly scratch an Instagram scrolling itch on the outside screen is much preferable to a fatal 30-minute scroll.

As I mentioned above, the Snapdragon 8 Elite gets the job done. I don’t buy a flip phone to play AAA mobile games all day or do intense work in Adobe Lightroom; It’s not that kind of phone.

Motorola’s software experience isn’t offensive if it’s uninspired. Moto promises three years of OS updates and five years of security patches, which is lacking in this price range. It doesn’t help that you don’t know what form those updates will take or when, as Motorola is known for making users wait long periods for Android version updates. Still, that never takes away from my enjoyment of the phone, and maybe that’s the point.

I even enjoy the cameras on the Razr Ultra 2026. I’d never confuse it with the versatility you get on other flagship phones, but the Razr Ultra’s dual 50MP sensors get the job done. The photos are detailed and saturated, exactly what I want from point-and-shoot images. I constantly get a social media-ready photo that fits well with the Razr Ultra’s theme. It’s by no means a perfect phone and that price is daunting, but it’s an attractive package.

If real estate is about location, then choosing the Z Flip 7 over the Razr Ultra is about software. Samsung offers a better and more reliable software experience between the two phones. My Galaxy Z Flip 7 already has One UI 8.5 and it works fine. Unlike Motorola, I have a better idea of ​​what extended software support will be like.

Samsung offers a full seven years of support for both OS and security updates on the Z Flip 7 and has (for the most part) done a good job of providing them in a timely manner. I can’t say I’m a huge Galaxy AI user, but if you’re interested in getting the latest Android features, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the foldable model you’ll want to consider.

While I still prefer the Razr Ultra’s clamshell viewing experience, Samsung has done a decent job improving it. Icons and notifications are no longer a mess, even if you have to tweak some settings to get them to work properly. I don’t like having to download additional software to run all the apps I want on the outside screen, but once you invest a little time, the overall experience is enjoyable. The Razr Ultra is even smoother and more fun, but the gap between the two isn’t as wide as it used to be.

Just as I don’t criticize the Razr Ultra for having a Snapdragon 8 Elite, I don’t mind that the Z Flip 7 is powered by an Exynos 2500. I would have preferred more than 12GB of RAM, but performance hasn’t been an issue. The Exynos 2500 is not affected by the overheating and poor battery performance of previous years’ chipsets. The battery lasts all day, although the Z Flip 7 does not have the silicon-carbon cell of the Razr Ultra.

I don’t think people buy folding foldables for their raw power, and while enthusiasts may be upset, they’re not the target market.

Of course, price is an important factor. The Z Flip 7 costs hundreds less than the Razr Ultra, and that’s not even taking into account sales at this point in its life cycle. I’m sure we’ll see aggressive discounts from Motorola throughout the year, as we always have, but you’ll still end up paying more for the Razr Ultra. And while I think it’s worth it for a phone I enjoy more, I can absolutely see buyers preferring the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and saving some money in the process.

It’s important to know that both phones are solid. I prefer the Motorola Razr Ultra for the reasons I’ve outlined, but you won’t get a bad device if you opt for the Z Flip 7. It’s well built, with plenty of software support and features. Its screens are beautiful and it takes good pictures.

However, if you want a little more style with your foldable phone, I recommend the Razr Ultra. Yes, the price is annoying and Motorola has a lot to prove with its software, but I can’t put a price on actually enjoying the phone in my pocket; It’s weirder than I’d like to admit in 2026.