2025: Motorola's Winners and Losers in the Smartphone Market

Introduction

Motorola had a successful year, largely due to its Razr foldable devices, although the direction of the Edge series has been less than impressive. As one of the few brands available in the US outside of the Apple-Google-Samsung trio, Motorola deserves attention, even if it doesn't always hit the mark.

The company’s mostly clean Android interface and advanced connectivity features, even on lower-end models, enhance the appeal of its value-for-money smartphones.

Winners: Motorola Razr Series

The Razr 60 series, known in the US as the Razr 2025 series, has proven to be a significant success for Motorola. Remarkable results from the global foldable market in Q2, as reported by Counterpoint Research, demonstrate the brand's growth:

Motorola's market share doubled compared to the previous year, with analysts highlighting the accomplishment of the Razr 60 / Razr 2025 being the first flip foldable device priced under $700 in the US market. While Q2 fell just before the launches of the Z Flip7, Z Flip7 FE, and Z Fold7, this achievement remains significant.

The Motorola Razr 60 Ultra / Razr Ultra 2025 also deserves recognition—it features a flagship chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite) alongside a robust 4,700mAh battery with fast charging capabilities. Additionally, it boasts superior display panels and an enhanced main camera compared to its predecessor.

The Motorola Razr+ 2025 is a unique case, as it’s available only in the US. It is essentially a re-release of the Razr Ultra 2024, with one crucial upgrade—Motorola matched Samsung’s IP68 rating for foldable devices.

Motorola Razr 60

Motorola Razr 2025

Motorola Razr 60 Ultra

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025

Undecided: Motorola Edge 70

Will the Motorola Edge 70 emerge as the winner in the super-slim category? While the iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge seem to be struggling (the Edge isn't even getting a sequel), the Motorola may prove to be too expensive to be deemed a winner.

This 6.0mm device retains a good battery size compared to the Edge 60, featuring a 4,800mAh battery that is only 400mAh smaller than the 7.9mm predecessor. It surpasses the Samsung and Apple phones in battery life, which is certainly a plus. Additionally, it provides fast 68W wired charging and includes 15W wireless charging, often bundled with a MagSafe-compatible case in select markets.

The build quality and 6.7” 1220p+ display are commendable, but the absence of a telephoto camera and microSD slot detracts from its appeal, as does the downgrade from UFS 4.0 to 3.1.

Ultimately, the price will be crucial—significant discounts could greatly enhance the Moto Edge 70's popularity.

Motorola Edge 70 5G

Loser: Motorola Edge 60 Neo

We had high hopes for the Motorola Edge 60 Neo—it represents a rare class of smartphone, the compact mid-range option, with a 6.36” display providing a more affordable alternative to the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 10.

Unfortunately, Motorola has consistently struggled with the camera performance on the Neo devices. While they seem promising on paper—featuring a dedicated telephoto lens for a non-flagship phone—the image quality leaves much to be desired. Additionally, the Neo isn't priced competitively enough to offset its camera shortcomings. Its Dimensity 7400 chipset feels more fitting for entry-level devices rather than within this price range.

Winner: Motorola Edge 60 Pro

Interestingly, Motorola did not introduce an Ultra model for the Edge 60 series, which positions the Motorola Edge 60 Pro as the flagship offering. Priced as a mid-range device, it could have benefitted from a high-end option.

This 2025 model upgrades from a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (with UFS 2.2 storage) to a Dimensity 8350 Extreme (with UFS 4.0), resulting in a noticeable performance boost. The 6,000mAh battery enhances endurance over the previous model's 4,500mAh capacity. While the charging capability has been reduced (90W wired and 15W wireless compared to the 125W and 50W on the Edge 50 Pro), it still provides decent speed—achieving a full charge in just 44 minutes with the right charger.

Although the ultra-wide camera has been improved from 13MP to 50MP, the downgrade in the selfie camera (lacking autofocus) is a drawback. Nonetheless, we were satisfied with its camera performance during our review.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro

Loser: Motorola G Power (2025)

The Motorola G Power (2025) showed promise but ultimately disappointed. Priced at an MSRP of $300, it was considered too high for its hardware, and even at a reduced price, it struggles to redeem its flaws.

While the G Power features an attractive design similar to pricier models and includes several desirable features—like a microSD slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, and even wireless charging (rare for budget phones)—the performance falls short. The Dimensity 6300 is simply too entry-level for this price range, and the camera quality is subpar, especially lacking 4K video capabilities. The display, a 6.8” LCD, suffers from uniformity issues, and battery life is only average. Where is the power?

Motorola Moto G Power (2025)