Motorola is breathing new life into its iconic Razr flip phone by infusing it with advanced artificial intelligence features. The newly announced Razr series—including the Razr, Razr Plus, and Razr Ultra—marks a significant leap in smartphone innovation, positioning Motorola as a bold player in the AI-powered mobile race. Launching officially on May 15, these devices are set to be the first smartphones with Perplexity’s AI search app pre-installed, among other cutting-edge AI tools.
This latest development comes at a time when concerns are rising over tech monopolies, particularly in the AI and search engine sectors. With regulators scrutinizing Google’s dominance in the search market, Motorola’s collaboration with diverse AI companies may suggest a move toward broader competition and consumer choice.
What sets Motorola’s approach apart is its decision to incorporate AI technologies from multiple providers, including Perplexity, Meta, Microsoft, and Google. This multi-partner strategy is rare in an industry where most phone manufacturers usually align with a single AI provider. For instance, Apple has tapped into OpenAI’s ChatGPT to enhance Siri, while Samsung heavily integrates Google’s AI services.
Perplexity’s AI, recognized for its research and question-answering abilities, will power Motorola’s “Next Move” feature. This tool helps users by analyzing their on-screen activity to offer intelligent suggestions. Imagine browsing Pinterest for birthday decorations—the phone might suggest generating an invitation image or finding similar items online, without you even asking.
The Razr Ultra, the flagship model of the series, includes a standout AI feature: it can recognize when the user is simply looking at it and activate its assistant accordingly. This hands-free interaction requires no wake words or button taps and works when the phone is partially folded and upright—a subtle, yet futuristic touch.
Google’s Gemini assistant is also featured in the lineup, providing capabilities like vacation planning or locating photos through natural conversations. At Motorola’s event, Google demonstrated how Gemini could create personalized podcasts or sort through images in Google Photos based on a user’s voice request.
Meanwhile, Meta’s Llama AI model will be used to summarize notifications and manage information flow. This makes Motorola the first smartphone manufacturer to integrate Llama by default. Additionally, Microsoft’s Copilot assistant, designed for productivity enhancement, rounds out the suite of AI tools preloaded on the new devices.
Interestingly, OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT is missing from the lineup. According to Motorola’s North American product lead, the company focused on AI tools that aligned well with their use-case needs. Perplexity was selected for its strong research features, and Microsoft’s Copilot was seen as a natural fit for productivity use.
Beyond AI, Motorola’s launch arrives during a tense period for the Android ecosystem. Legal action against Google’s search practices has ignited discussions about breaking up its grip on Android or enforcing new antitrust measures. This climate further highlights the importance of companies like Motorola exploring diversified AI integration.
On the pricing front, Motorola has managed to keep the new phones within the typical range for high-end foldables. The Razr Ultra is priced at $1,300, the Razr Plus at $1,000, and the base Razr model at $700. This pricing strategy reflects Motorola’s intent to remain competitive despite rising tariffs and global trade uncertainties.
Thanks to Lenovo’s flexible global supply chain, Motorola is also better equipped to adapt to shifting market conditions. According to the company, manufacturing flexibility helps cushion potential cost hikes, allowing the brand to protect consumers from sharp price increases.
With its latest Razr lineup, Motorola is not just reviving nostalgia but reshaping what a smart, AI-powered mobile experience can look like in today’s tech-driven world.
