It seems it doesn’t rain, but it pours for the Moto Razr. It’s receiving a critical kicking in early reviews, a (disputed) stress test has suggested it’s only likely to last a year, and the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip has possibly rendered it dead on arrival.
So, news of a repairability score that places the chance of fixing it yourself at next-to-zero, isn’t going to win the under-fire phone any new fans among hardcore techies.
The screwdriver-happy tinkerers at iFixit afforded the phone a repairability core of ‘1’ in its teardown, out of a possible 10. The site calls the Razr ‘one of the most complex phones ever’ and said there were a bunch of ‘booby traps’ in wait for DIY enthusiasts seeking to repair the phone.
Related: Folding Phones
The site does say the primary display is replaceable by hand “if you’re determined” and don’t fancy forking over the $299 Motorola wants to repair the flexible screen.
The site wrote: “We’re going to score it all the same (just like we did the Galaxy Fold), but we know this is a first-gen design and we shouldn’t expect functionality and repairability to come all at once.
“We doubt the foldable craze will end anytime soon—Samsung’s recently announced Galaxy Z Flip is already on its way. Hopefully manufacturers will figure out how to make these things both durable and repairable before too long, especially at these price points…”
We haven’t completed our review of the Motorola Razr yet. So far, we’ve definitely felt the first-generation effect, while enjoying the nostalgia element.
“What I can say with confidence is that this is a gorgeous, fantastically well-built smartphone that feels a lot more complete than the Galaxy Fold. The way the display folds without leaving a huge crease on the display is a massive plus for me,” wrote our own Max Parker.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
