Motorola RAZR M vs ThinkPhone: A Clash of Eras

The Motorola DROID RAZR M was a flagship in its time, boasting a sleek design and solid performance. Now, the Motorola ThinkPhone arrives, packing modern technology and a focus on productivity. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see how these two Motorola phones stack up.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola ThinkPhone decisively wins this comparison. Its vastly superior chipset, display, charging speed, and significantly longer battery life make it a clear upgrade. The RAZR M holds nostalgic value, but the ThinkPhone offers a modern, powerful experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola DROID RAZR M Motorola ThinkPhone
Network
2G bandsCDMA 800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsCDMA2000 1xEV-DOHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - ROW
4G bands131, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - ROW
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - ROW
SpeedHSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2012, September. Released 2012, September2023, January 05
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, January 29
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), aramid fibre back, aluminum frame
Dimensions122.5 x 60.9 x 8.3 mm (4.82 x 2.40 x 0.33 in)158.8 x 74.4 x 8.3 mm (6.25 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMMicro-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight126 g (4.44 oz)188.5 g (6.67 oz)
 Splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.3m MIL-STD-810H compliant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~256 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~399 ppi density)
Size4.3 inches, 51.0 cm2 (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDP-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUDual-core 1.5 GHz KraitOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 PlusQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 225Adreno 730
OSAndroid 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradable to 4.4 (KitKat)Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot)No
Internal8GB 1GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single8 MP, AF-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.5", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 4K@30fps HDR10, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
SingleVGA32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm - ROW model 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.0µm - PRC model
Video720p4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, EDR, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, A-GPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (North America only)
 MP3/AAC+/WAV/WMA player MP4/H.264/WMV player Organizer Document viewer/editor Voice memo/dial/commands Predictive text input-
Battery
Charging-68W wired 15W wireless
Stand-byUp to 408 h-
Talk timeUp to 20 h-
TypeNon-removable Li-Ion 2000 mAh batteryLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteCarbon Black
ModelsXT907XT2309-2
PriceAbout 250 EUR€ 249.79
SAR0.63 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -82.9dB / Crosstalk -81.6dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 55h Endurance rating 116h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -21.6 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1081805 (v9) GeekBench: 4207 (v5.1) GFXBench: 90fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola DROID RAZR M

  • Sleek design (for its time)
  • Compact size
  • Relatively affordable (used)

  • Outdated chipset
  • Short battery life
  • Low-resolution display
  • Slow charging
  • Limited app compatibility

Motorola ThinkPhone

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Excellent battery life
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Fast charging (68W wired, 15W wireless)
  • Modern features and software

  • Potentially higher price point
  • Design may not appeal to everyone

Display Comparison

The ThinkPhone's display is a massive leap forward. With a measured peak brightness of 1069 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, it offers exceptional visibility and vibrant colors. The RAZR M's display, while adequate for its time, pales in comparison in terms of brightness and overall quality. The ThinkPhone's display is simply in a different league.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the ThinkPhone's modern hardware and image processing algorithms provide vastly superior image quality. Expect better detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance from the ThinkPhone. The RAZR M's camera is functional but lacks the sophistication of the ThinkPhone.

Performance

The ThinkPhone's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is significantly faster and more efficient than the RAZR M's Snapdragon S4 Plus. The ThinkPhone's octa-core CPU handles demanding tasks and multitasking with ease, while the RAZR M can feel sluggish by today's standards. Gaming and app loading times are dramatically improved on the ThinkPhone.

Battery Life

The ThinkPhone boasts a staggering 116-hour endurance rating, dwarfing the RAZR M's 55-hour rating. Coupled with 68W wired and 15W wireless charging, the ThinkPhone offers exceptional battery life and fast charging capabilities. The RAZR M's battery life is noticeably shorter and lacks fast charging support.

Buying Guide

The DROID RAZR M is best suited for those seeking a retro Android experience or a budget-friendly device for basic tasks. The ThinkPhone is ideal for power users, professionals, and anyone prioritizing performance, a vibrant display, and long battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Motorola ThinkPhone worth the upgrade from an older Android phone?
Absolutely, especially if you're coming from a phone with an older chipset and smaller battery. The ThinkPhone offers a significant performance boost and vastly improved battery life.
❓ Can I still find a Motorola DROID RAZR M?
Yes, you can find used DROID RAZR M phones online, but be aware that they are quite old and may have limited software support.