Motorola Razr Fold Challenges Samsung and Google at $1,899 in U.S. Foldables

Q: Samsung sacrificed the stylus for a thinner phone, but did Motorola just prove dual-screen pen support is the ultimate foldable feature?

Motorola did not prove stylus support is the single ultimate foldable feature, but it did show that dual-screen pen input can be a major competitive advantage, especially now that Samsung has dropped the S Pen from the Z Fold 8 line. What makes Motorola’s case strong is not just that the Razr Fold supports a pen, but that it supports it on both displays without the thickness penalty tied to Samsung’s older EMR-based S Pen system. Motorola uses a USI 2.0-style Smart Pen approach, which reviewers say delivers hover features, drawing, writing, and broad Android app compatibility that are close to the S Pen experience. That undercuts Samsung’s argument that stylus support had to go in order to make the Fold thinner. Still, “ultimate” is too strong because stylus use remains a niche within the foldable audience. Some reporting suggests fewer than 15% of Fold users regularly used the S Pen when Samsung supported it. Many buyers care more about thinness, battery life, durability, cameras, software support, and weight. On those terms, Motorola is competing with a balanced package, not just a pen. Its 6,000mAh battery, fast charging, premium materials, and strong display specs matter just as much. The bigger takeaway is that Motorola exposed a real gap in Samsung’s lineup. For note-takers, document reviewers, and sketch users, dual-screen stylus support is one of the most practical foldable features available. For mainstream buyers, it is important, but not decisive on its own.

3 articles · Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Aug 18

$1,899 Razr Fold gives Motorola its first credible U.S. book-style foldable, breaking what had effectively become a Samsung-Google duopoly.
6,000mAh battery, 80W wired charging and an 8.1-inch 120Hz display let the device split the difference between Samsung's hardware-first Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Google's software-focused Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
Motorola positions the phone as a more balanced option: it uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, packs three 50MP rear cameras and undercuts Samsung's top foldable while matching Google's price.
The broader significance is competitive pressure in a market long criticized for iterative upgrades, with the Razr Fold likely forcing Samsung and Google to accelerate innovation in U.S. foldables.

Sources

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MUO - MakeUseOf6d ago

Motorola Razr Fold Challenges Samsung and Google in US Foldable Market

CNET14h ago

I've Used Samsung and Google's New Foldable Phones. Here's What Apple Must Get Right - CNET

pub13iuwnlqlox.carchamp.blog6d ago

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: Exceptional Cameras, Average Performance - Review 2026 - PCMag Australia

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Can Motorola's Razr Fold break the Samsung-Google duopoly before a rumored Apple foldable completely disrupts the premium smartphone market?

Will Motorola's massive silicon-carbon battery revolutionize foldable endurance, or will rapid degradation make this $1,899 investment a risky gamble?

Samsung sacrificed the stylus for a thinner phone, but did Motorola just prove dual-screen pen support is the ultimate foldable feature?