![\"Graphic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/graphic-novels-in-moon-plus-reader-on-a-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6.jpg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Bertel King \/ How-To Geek<\/p>\n
Samsung has dominated the foldable phone space ever since the introduction of the first Galaxy Fold in 2019, followed by the vertical flip-style Galaxy Z Flip in 2020. While plenty of other brands have tried to challenge that early lead with their own foldables, none have really come close\u2014except for one underdog, and believe it or not, it\u2019s Motorola.<\/p>\n
Samsung built the foldable market, but it\u2019s starting to slip<\/p>\n
The once undisputed leader is losing its grip fast<\/p>\n
\n Credit:\u00a0Bertel King \/ How-To Geek<\/p>\n
Samsung has been the leader in the Android foldable segment for years. It set the tone with the ultra-premium Fold and the more \u201caffordable\u201d (but still pricey) Z Flip<\/a>, firmly placing both in the flagship space for users who want something different.<\/p>\n While several brands have tried their hand at foldables, such as Oppo, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Google<\/a>, none have built a major presence in the US (aside from Google, to some extent). That\u2019s not too surprising given Samsung\u2019s long-standing dominance in the broader Android smartphone market.<\/p>\n Samsung has also continued to iterate every year, releasing new Fold and Flip models with gradual improvements across hinges, displays, cameras, and overall durability.<\/p>\n However, despite that strong \u201chome-field\u201d advantage, Samsung\u2019s share of the foldable market is slipping. Motorola increased its US foldable market share from 30.1% to 44.1% between 2024 and 2025, while Samsung fell from 65.6% to 50.9%, according to Counterpoint Research<\/a>.<\/p>\n So how is Samsung, after years of dominance and steady refinement, starting to lose ground in one of the fastest-growing smartphone categories\u2014and why is Motorola suddenly closing the gap?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t The sequel is fire, but I still enjoyed the last one more. <\/p>\n Motorola didn\u2019t win on innovation\u2014it won on price<\/p>\n Specs matter less when affordability takes over<\/p>\n When Motorola announced it would be reviving the Razr name\u2014so closely associated with the flip phone era of the mid-2000s\u2014with an all-new foldable in the form of the Motorola Razr (2020), enthusiasts were excited at the return of the clamshell form factor.<\/p>\n Unlike the sharp crease of the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Flip, the 2020 Razr had a gentle curve that tucked away as the phone folded, allowing it to close with minimal visible crease. However, despite the arguably more elegant design, the early Razr was plagued with issues\u2014poor durability (like most early foldables), mediocre specs, a small battery, and a $1,500 price tag. The last issue was arguably the most problematic.<\/p>\n Fortunately, Motorola has managed to significantly reduce prices across the Razr lineup over the years while improving nearly everything else. In the 2025 lineup<\/a>\u2014which includes the Motorola Razr<\/a>, Razr+<\/a>, and Razr Ultra<\/a>, along with heavily discounted previous-generation models\u2014the phones have become genuinely compelling. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7<\/a> (256GB) currently costs around $900<\/a>, whereas the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) comes in at around $800 while offering significantly stronger specs and 512GB of storage.<\/p>\n For those on a tighter budget who simply want to try a foldable, the barrier to entry has never been lower. A 2024 Razr can be found for around $400, or about $22.22 per month with 0% APR over 18 months\u2014less than a Netflix Premium subscription for a brand-new, unlocked foldable phone.<\/p>\n But the regular pricing is only part of the story. Aggressive carrier deals, discounts, and perks like bundled cases, Moto Tags, and earbuds have helped Motorola strengthen its position even further. That roughly 14% swing in foldable market share is, ultimately, a reflection of consumers voting with their wallets.<\/p>\n 7\/10<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tSoC \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMediaTek Dimensity 7400X<\/p>\n The Moto Razr 2025 refines the popular foldable clamshell design with key upgrades for enhanced durability and performance. It features a robust titanium-reinforced hinge and an improved IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, making it more resilient for daily use.<\/p>\n The Motorola Razr is quietly bringing foldables to the masses<\/p>\n It feels like the flip phone era all over again<\/p>\n Motorola has closed the gap by taking share from Samsung through a combination of aggressive pricing, carrier deals, and, most importantly, genuinely solid phone design that leans into flip phone nostalgia. The Razr phones feel great to use and hold, and with decent internal specs, you\u2019re no longer sacrificing performance just to get a foldable.<\/p>\n Now, don\u2019t get me wrong, the Dimensity 7400X powering the 2025 Razr is no Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5<\/a>, but it\u2019s still more than adequate for the average user. The 4,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery<\/a> also delivers battery life comparable to a typical non-foldable in this price range.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re a tech enthusiast or just an average buyer, these phones make a lot of sense. If you\u2019ve got $500 to $600 to spend on a new phone, you could go for a reliable but boring Samsung Galaxy A56<\/a> or even something a bit more stylish like the Nothing Phone 4a Pro<\/a>. Or you could get something entirely different\u2014something that feels like a futuristic sci-fi device and doubles as a conversation starter for years\u2014with a Motorola Razr.<\/p>\n The point is simple: it\u2019s far easier to justify spending $500 to try a foldable today than the $1,500 it used to cost when the 2020 Razr first launched.<\/p>\n This upset is exactly what the foldable market needed<\/p>\n Aggressive competition is finally forcing the category to grow<\/p>\n Motorola\u2019s aggressive pricing shows something we\u2019ve known for a long time: competition is a good thing, especially when a market segment is dominated by a single brand like Samsung. With the upcoming release of the Motorola Razr Fold<\/a>, we could see yet another shake-up in the higher-end foldable segment, where the Galaxy Z Fold 7 currently sits as the undisputed king.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ezgif-5e661283a464a526.jpg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Counterpoint Research<\/p>\n
\n ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/a-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-next-to-a-house-plant.JPG\"\/)
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\n\t\t\t5 Ways the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Is Worse Than Last Year’s Model
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"razr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/razr-2025.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"How-To](\"https:\/\/static0.howtogeekimages.com\/assets\/images\/htg-logo-icon-colored-dark.svg\" "\\"How-To"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/screen-selection-on-the-front-screen-of-the-motorola-razr-2_53912785085_o.jpg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Hannah Stryker \/ How-To Geek<\/p>\n