Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Which One Should You Flip For?

It is the ultimate flip fight. On the one side you have the latest flip phone from the brand that actually made flip phones a thing more than two decades ago, and on the other side is the brand that has made flip phones happen again after a long sabbatical. Both come with large external displays, open up to reveal larger internal displays, come with some very good hardware and pack in software innovations. And both are becoming style icons as the flip form factor makes its way back to the mainstream. 

So, which of the two flagship flip phones in the market should you be going for — the Moto Razr 40 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5? Let us help you make up your mind:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Design, Appearance 

They both are foldable designs with a flip form factor and large external displays, but there is no chance of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Razr 40 Ultra being mistaken for each other. The Z Flip 5 follows the recent trend of relatively straight sides, while the Razr 40 Ultra sticks to curved ones. As a result, the Z Flip 5 has a slightly more ‘boxy’ look to it when flipped shut. It also gives the appearance of being slightly thicker than the Razr 40 Ultra, even though it is the same thickness when shut (15.1 mm) and is actually slimmer when open (6.9 mm to 7 mm). Both phones have bright and colourful AMOLED cover displays with dual cameras in a corner. The lower part of both phones is glass. Incidentally, both the top and base of both phones come with Gorilla Glass Victus. 

Both also come with tough aluminium frames and sturdy hinges. It is on these hinges that they flip open to reveal large internal foldable AMOLED displays. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 might be the slimmer of the two phones, but the Razr 40 Ultra is slightly larger when shut (88.4 mm tall and 74 mm wide to 85.1 mm tall and 71.9 mm wide) and also when open (170.8 mm tall as against 165.1 mm). In spite of this difference in size, both devices weigh almost the same – the Razr 40 Ultra is 185 grams while the Z Flip 5 is 187 grams.

Both phones look very stylish, courtesy of their flip-to-open functionality (made famous by the original RAZR years ago!) and seem far more resilient than their slightly fragile predecessors. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has IPX8 water resistance and can survive a fall in water while the Razr 40 Ultra has an IP52 water repellent coating. Both also are very comfortable to hold and carry, although the Razr is easier to open one-handed. 

Which looks better is entirely a matter of personal taste and preference. We preferred the slightly more edgy look of the Razr 40 Ultra which is reminiscent of the OG Razr, but we can see people liking the Galaxy Z Flip 5. 

Winner: Moto Razr 40 Ultra 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: External Display

Both phones come with large, square-ish external or cover displays. Although both phones have AMOLED displays, the Razr 40 Ultra has a clear edge here, with a larger 3.6-inch display with a 1,056×1,056-pixel resolution that is on the threshold of FHD and has a refresh rate of 144 Hz,  as compared to the 3.4-inch 720×748 resolution display on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s display might appear a little more colourful, thanks to Samsung’s One UI interface, but the Razr 40 Ultra is the boss here. 

Winner: Moto Razr 40 Ultra 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Internal Display 

Both phones open to reveal FHD+ internal foldable AMOLED  displays, and on paper, you would think that the Razr 40 Ultra has a clear edge with a 6.9-inch display with 165Hz refresh rate as compared to the 6.7-inch one with 120Hz refresh rate on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The Galaxy Z Flip 5, however, has a much brighter display, with colours that really pop. This is not to say that the Razr’s display is bad – just that the Flip 5’s is much better.  

The difference in refresh rate is not really visible, and both displays can adjust refresh rates depending on the content that is being played on them. Incidentally, the place at which they flip open or shut — the ‘fold’ — is visible when the content on them is relatively light in colour but is otherwise difficult to spot unless one is looking for it.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Processor

This is a clear win for the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The Z Flip 5 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is a generation ahead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip powering the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. Both are flagship level chips, but the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has the newer and more powerful one. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: RAM, Storage 

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 wins this round too. While the Razr 40 Ultra comes in a single 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is available in  8GB+256GB as well as 8GB+512GB versions. What’s more, while the Razr 40 Ultra uses LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 uses the faster LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Camera

If you are chasing megapixels, then this round would belong to the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. The phone comes with a 12-megapixel main sensor with OIS and a 13-megapixel ultrawide on its back (or front when shut), as compared to the 12 megapixel main sensor with OIS and 12-megapixel ultrawide on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. 

Similarly, the internal camera of the Razr 40 Ultra is a hefty 32 megapixel as compared to the 10-megapixel one on the Flip 5. However, in terms of performance, we found the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s snaps and videos have a clear edge over those of the Razr in terms of both colour and detail. Some might find the colours a little too bright on the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s images, but we do not see too many people objecting to that. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also tended to try too hard to brighten low-light snaps, but all in all delivered better colours and more detail than the Razr 40 Ultra. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Gaming, Multimedia 

When flipped open, both phones boast large displays with high refresh rates. This allied with good processors and plenty of RAM should make them both very good for gaming. This, however, is not the case. This is because, as they are flip phones, they have tall and relatively narrow displays when open, making them a little odd to handle. The fold in the middle does not help either. You can play pretty much any game out there on both these phones, but the experience is not the greatest. 

On paper, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has greater potential thanks to its better processor and faster RAM, but the higher resolution display of the Razr 40 Ultra actually lets you play many titles on it. The internal displays are better suited for watching videos and shows, although in the case of the Razr 40 Ultra, you can pretty much watch almost anything on the external display as well (Samsung restricts the number of apps which can work on the external display, although Netflix has access!). You get very good stereo speakers on both devices, so both gaming and multimedia can be immersive. 

The better processor and RAM win this one for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, but we can see a lot of people being impressed by the versatility of the external display on the Razr 40 Ultra. 

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Software

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Razr 40 Ultra both run on Android 13, but the similarity ends there. While the Z Flip 5 comes with Samsung’s elaborate One UI interface and a number of additional features and functions, the Razr 40 Ultra sticks to the plain, stock Android experience Motorola is famous for.  To their credit, both devices switch smoothly between external and internal displays, allowing users a broadly seamless experience. 

However, the Razr 40 Ultra lets you do pretty much everything on its external display, while the Galaxy Z Flip 5 restricts functionality on the external display. This restriction can be circumvented by downloading an additional app, but we love the fact that we can do close to everything on the Razr 40 Ultra on either of its displays from watching videos to checking mail, to taking calls to opening attachments to browsing the web. All right out of the box. It wins the round for the Razr 40 Ultra, 

Winner: Moto Razr 40 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Battery, Charging 

The Razr 40 Ultra takes this round thanks to both its larger 3,800mAh battery as compared to the 3700 mAh on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, as well as support for 30W charging with a 30W charger in the box. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 charges at a slightly slower 25W and comes with no charger. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 charges more swiftly wirelessly — 15W against 5W — and also comes with 4.5W reverse wireless charging, but it is not enough to cancel out the slightly larger battery, slightly faster charging speed and charger in the box of its Razr rival.

Winner:  Moto Razr 40 Ultra 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: General Usage

The Razr 40 Ultra’s versatile external display wins it this round. Although both phones are very capable of handling day-to-day tasks like browsing the Web, social networking, messaging and mail, the Razr 40 Ultra allows you to do all of this without having to always open the phone. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also lets you do this, provided you install an additional app, but its lower resolution external display delivers a viewing experience that does not match the Razr 40 Ultra. 

A neat touch also is the fact that you can actually take calls on the Razr 40 Ultra without opening the phone. Doing so on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 activates the speakerphone, allowing everyone to eavesdrop on your conversation. Both phones are easy to handle and have very good side-mounted fingerprint scanners. The Razr 40 Ultra gets this round on its external display and the fact that you can actually open it one-handed, something which is extremely difficult with the Galaxy Z Flip 5!

Winner: Moto Razr 40 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Price 

Both the Razr 40 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 come with premium price tags. The Moto Razr 40 Ultra is available at Rs 89,999 for an 8GB+256GB variant, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fip 5 starts at Rs 99,999 for an 8GB+256GB variant and also has an 8GB+256GB variant available for Rs 1,09,999. 

The Z Flip 5 does have a markedly superior processor, but if you are looking to get a new premium flip device on a budget, the Razr 40 Ultra has a clear price edge. What’s more, it comes with a charger in the box. 

Winner: Moto Razr 40 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs Moto Razr 40 Ultra: Final Verdict

So, which of the two flip phones should you be picking? As always, it really depends on what you are seeking from a flip phone. 

Those who want great specs with a flip form factor are likely to prefer the Galaxy Z Flip 5 because of its faster processor, brighter and more colourful internal display and better cameras. 

However, the Moto Razr 40 Ultra scores on sheer ease of use, cleaner UI, better external display and battery life, and also holds a critical price edge (and comes with a charger as well). The faster chip of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 definitely makes a difference in gaming, but given their form factor, neither phone is actually great for gaming.

The Razr 40 Ultra might have a slightly older chip, but it is still a flagship-level performer so when it comes to most other tasks and multitasking, there is not too much to separate the two devices. All of which makes it a super close call between the two flippables. 

We are voting for the Razr 40 Ultra’s lower price tag and greater ease of use, but we can see folks opting for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 for the processor and cameras. 

Whether you say ‘Hello, Moto’ to the most powerful Razr in town or splurge a little more and flip for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, you are likely to end up with a handy device with a stylish, yet innovative form factor.  It is a good problem of choice to have.