Flip 3 vs Razr 2nd Generation
It has been a couple of years since the first launch of Flip, Fold and Razr phones.
Each phone has its advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in this article.
I've been using Fold 4, Flip 3 and Razr 2nd generation, so we'll start with the less famous-Razr 2nd generation.
Motorla Razr 2nd generation
This phone ships with Snapdragon 765G processor and will cost you around 1399$ from the official webpage (though they put a discount where you're given a second Razr for free if you buy one)
The initial specs are :
Durability
These are not decent specs to get when you are about to spend almost 1.4K of dollars, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. After using this phone for around six months, I started noticing scratches on the back of the phone, which eventually became more prominent and visible. The phone's back is made from glass which scratches quickly, and the visibility becomes brighter from usage. The rear screen is vast and valuable, but it has been marked as well, unfortunately. The hinge works pretty well, no complaints, but it lacks some design and creativity, making the phone look more like a military rather than a general-purpose one. There are many scratches around the external display, inner display and the back of the device. The screen quality is deficient. Materials are made of poor quality. In a word, Motorola didn't hesitate to throw poor quality on phone development and publish it with a 1.4K$ price tag.
The final verdict for durability is awful after six months of usage.
Software
Software is not a vital part of this device either. The device initially comes with Android 10 preloaded; you would get an Android 11 update straight away on purchase, and that will be a tough decision to make because :
Eventually, Motorola rolled out an update which locks refresh rate to 60HZ instead of previously 90HZ of screen refresh rate, and till now, no new updates are scheduled (though Motorola officially announced that Razr 2nd gen phones would get Android 12 update)
*I've also encountered numerous software issues, like external display notifications not being dismissed, inability to pull up to see notifications, screen dimming on and off randomly, and screen not being shown when the phone is opened until any button is pressed.
Battery
The capacity is around 2800mAh, which is not enough for a daily driver phone, so you would most likely bump into low battery a lot during your daily routine.
Other Specs
The device has 5G support, which is an advantage (well, you pay 1.4K$...), supports 4K @ 30 FPS and is guaranteed to get Android 12
Verdict
If the device were 600/800$, I would suggest thinking about buying one, but for 1399$, the device is just too weak (with SM765 5G chip). Durability is awful, the software is not optimised, and you can't use the device. For such an amount, you can buy a decent high-end and futuristic-looking smartphone. as a daily driver.
Samsung Flip 3
Unlike Razr, this phone ships with Snapdragon 888 5nm cutting-edge processor and will cost you even less now, around 800$ from the official webpage.
The initial specs are :
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Durability
The durability of this device is somewhat better than Razr's 2nd generation. The most significant advantage against Razr is the matt black back cover of the phone which doesn't scratch that bad. After using this device for 8+ months, there are no scratches, and I've been using it actively, placing the device on the table, in the car next to the cup holder, with the keys, etc.
The one thing TBH got me disappointed; I was once on vacation and noticed a small white cutout on the left side of the device. Digging deeper, I understood that the paint ripped off the device (the actual black colour). It is a shame for Samsung to paint its device with such poor quality on the sides but with high-quality materials on the back.
I was generally satisfied with the durability until two days ago when I noticed something awful.
After using it for 8+ months, the middle part of the screen got some blue mask if the device is being used in a light theme or if you brighten it. It was clear that the hinge of the Flip 3 is made excellent and robust, but the screen (Dynamic AMOLED) is not handling the flips. It turns out the middle part of the screen was worn out after as low as eight months of usage: pretty disappointing. I was to give five stars to the durability of the Samsung Flip 3, but because of this significant issue, it is barely greater than Razr.
* The external display is small and without as many functions as in Razr; you can do some quick stuff like reading notifications and replying to messages with pre-defined templates (now, in the Android 12 update, you can use Bixby voice to text for answering)
Software
As we all know, the software and hardware (CPU, GPU and RAM) are the most powerful side of Samsung devices. Flip 3 was not excluded too. The device is heavy gaming, multi-tasking, and video and photo editing ready. Packed with a high-end SM888 5nm chip and Dolby Atmos audio systems, it delivers an enjoyable experience.
As for the actual software, you are given various applications to prepare your daily routine. Loaded with many useful apps for business, personal stuff and health care, you can do what you want to build your day. Operating System fully supports the new Flex mode, which I found super helpful. Developers are even given official documentation from Samsung to develop applications supporting Flex mode.
OS supports Flip 3 fully with a bunch of helpful stuff to achieve your different goals.
*Operating System updates seem to be more polished and stable for Flip 3 as I've never encountered some weird on unusual bugs during heavy usage of the device.
Battery
Li-Po 3300 mAh gives a better lifespan for the activities during your day. While on Android 11, I was struggling with battery drain at the end of the day, but after the Android 12 update, I'm using the device entirely without any battery issues for a full day.
The battery's lifespan seems to be a lot better as it still handles my heavy tasks, just like a brand-new phone.
Other Specs
The device also has 5G support.
Video recording supports 4K @30,60 FPS and 8K @30FPS, and there are rumours that the device will eventually get at least two major Android updates.
Verdict
We didn't cover Flip 4 in this topic, but if you are new to Flip devices, I would strongly recommend buying Flip 4 as it has addressed all of the abovementioned issues. It has better durability, better battery lifespan and a slightly better camera.
But if you are short in budget, Flip 3 is a go for you against Razr 2nd generation.
Razr 2nd generation is an overpriced, poorly developed and maintained device. With Flip 3, you will get one of the latest generation's CPUs and GPUs, excellent OS and Software support, and tons of valuable features like Flex mode, cursor mode and much more.
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