Samsung’s more compact, passport-style foldable Galaxy Z Fold 8 made a big impression with reviewers and buyers this summer, with reports that the company is ramping up production. But shoppers looking for a more affordable premium compact foldable don’t have to spend $1,899.99 for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Instead, they can choose one of 2,026 clamshell handsets available in stores this summer. The Motorola Razr+ and Galaxy Z Flip 8 are two of these all-new compact foldables. Choosing between these two high-end phones from Motorola and Samsung is no easy feat, as each has pros and cons. The Motorola Razr+ can be a little more fun and functional for users who want to get the most out of this cover screen. But despite this, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 has two important advantages that the Razr+ cannot match. The Samsung phone features the latest chip available for Android handsets and offers significantly longer software support than the Razr.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the best value for money in the long run. It will receive up to seven years of Android updates and seven years of security updates, compared to three years of Android updates and up to five years of security updates for the Razr+. Even if Motorola reaches software support parity with Samsung, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 still has the better chip, which should provide more headroom for future Android features, including new on-device AI capabilities rolling out to phones in the coming years.
Customer support is also important. Whether it’s a foldable passport-style device or a clamshell device, foldables remain fragile. The foldable screen is one accident away from needing repair. Samsung might be the better choice in this department.
The only scenario in which the Motorola Razr+ wins
The Motorola Razr+ costs $1,099.99 but is only available in a 256GB storage version. The 256GB Galaxy Z Flip 8 is more expensive, $1,199.99, but Samsung also sells a 512GB model. The Razr+ has a 6.9-inch foldable screen, just like the Flip 8. The Samsung foldable has a slightly larger cover screen: 4.1 inches versus 4.0 inches. However, the Razr+ supports higher refresh rates on both displays (165Hz vs. 120Hz). The Razr+ foldable display also has a higher peak brightness (3,000 nits vs. 2,600 nits), although the Flip 8’s cover display achieves a higher peak brightness (2,600 nits vs. 2,400 nits).
The cover screen is the main advantage of the Razr Phone, but it’s not about the specifications. Motorola has always given users more freedom than Samsung, allowing all Android apps to run on the cover screen. It may not be an ideal experience for scrolling through social media, but the Cover Screen can be useful for browsing, messaging, quick browsing, taking photos, and other activities. Galaxy Z Flip phones have always been more restrictive. The Flip 8 supports more apps on the cover screen than before, without Good Lock customizations. But a buyer looking for more features from their flip may prefer the Razr+ over the Galaxy Z Flip 8, especially if they don’t plan to keep the flip for more than three years.
Motorola’s new clamshell also features a larger battery (4,500 mAh vs. 4,300 mAh) and faster charging (45W vs. 25W). Finally, the rear camera system favors the Razr+. The Motorola handset has two 50-megapixel lenses (wide and ultra-wide), compared to the Flip 8’s 50-megapixel wide and 12-megapixel ultra-wide cameras.
Why the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the best flip of 2026
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the thinnest and lightest flip. It weighs 180 grams (compared to 189 grams) and is only 6.1 mm thick when unfolded (13.1 mm when folded). The Razr+ is thicker, at 7.1mm and 15.1mm respectively. Both phones are IP48 rated for dust and water resistance, although the Galaxy Z Flip 8 may feature more durable build quality. The handset has an Armor Aluminum frame and the screen cover uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The Razr+ has a Gorilla Glass Victus cover on the external screen and the back panel is made of wood, Alcantara or woven material. These design details can be important to buyers looking for peace of mind. Consumers may also be interested in Samsung’s extensive network of authorized repair shops, with more than 1,000 locations available for repairs.
Durability aside, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip Samsung uses in the US version of the Flip 8 is the phone’s biggest advantage over the Razr+. This is the same high-end chip that Samsung used in the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 foldables. Motorola opted for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, a 2024 processor that the company used in previous Razr+ releases. Motorola also increased the price of this year’s Razr+ model, although it doesn’t use Qualcomm’s latest processor. Benchmark tests show a huge difference between the two chips. The Elite hits 3,627 (single-core) and 11,215 (multi-core) in Geekbench 6 scores (via Tom’s Guide), while the 8s Gen 3 tops out at around 1,915 and 4,773 points, respectively. Add in the seven years of software support and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the clamshell to buy for long-term use.
