Motorola DROID RAZR XT912 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Generational Leap?

The Motorola DROID RAZR XT912 was a flagship in its time, known for its sleek design and innovative folding form factor. Now, let's pit it against the powerhouse that is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, a modern marvel packed with cutting-edge technology. This comparison will reveal just how far smartphone technology has advanced.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra utterly dominates this comparison. While the DROID RAZR was impressive for its era, the S23 Ultra's superior performance, camera, display, and battery life make it the clear winner for anyone seeking a top-tier Android experience. It's a generational upgrade.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola DROID RAZR XT912 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands13 - Verizon1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedEV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, LTE, HSPAHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2011, October. Released 2011, November2023, February 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions130.7 x 68.9 x 7.1 mm (5.15 x 2.71 x 0.28 in)163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMMicro-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight127 g (4.48 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 Splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~256 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size4.3 inches, 51.0 cm2 (~56.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUDual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetTI OMAP 4430Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUPowerVR SGX540Adreno 740
OSAndroid 2.3.5 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean)Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot), 16 GB includedNo
Internal16GB 1GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single8 MP, AF12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps, 480p@120fps8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, HDR10+
Single2 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video720p4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, EDR, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC-Yes
PositioningGPS, A-GPSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 HDMI port MP3/AAC+/WAV/WMA player MP4/H.264/WMV player Organizer Document viewer/editor Voice memo/dial/commands Predictive text inputSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 204 h-
Talk timeUp to 12 h 30 min-
TypeNon-removable Li-Ion 1780 mAh batteryLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, PurplePhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
Models-SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
PriceAbout 220 EUR€ 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00
SAR1.45 W/kg (head)     0.71 W/kg (body)1.12 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.40 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 126h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)
OUR TESTS
Battery-Active use score 13:24h
Battery (old)-Endurance rating 126h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-1274 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker--25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) 3DMark: 3790 (Wild Life Extreme)

Motorola DROID RAZR XT912

  • Innovative folding design (for its time)
  • Relatively affordable (used)
  • Compact form factor

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

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Versatile and high-quality camera
  • Long battery life
  • Fast charging
  • Premium design and build quality

  • Expensive
  • Large size may not suit everyone

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a stunning Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a peak brightness of 1274 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. Its resolution and color accuracy far surpass the RAZR's older LCD panel. The RAZR's display, while innovative for its time, suffers from lower resolution and brightness.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S23 Ultra's camera system is a significant upgrade. It features a high-resolution sensor and advanced image processing capabilities, delivering exceptional photo and video quality. The RAZR's camera, while decent for its time, cannot compete with the S23 Ultra's versatility and image quality.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra provides a massive performance advantage over the TI OMAP 4430 in the RAZR. The S23 Ultra handles demanding games and multitasking with ease, while the RAZR struggles with modern apps and experiences. The octa-core CPU and advanced architecture of the S23 Ultra are simply in a different league.

Battery Life

The S23 Ultra offers significantly better battery life, with an endurance rating of 126 hours and fast charging capabilities (45W wired, 15W wireless). The RAZR's battery life is considerably shorter, and charging speeds are much slower.

Buying Guide

The Motorola DROID RAZR XT912 might appeal to nostalgic users or those seeking a very affordable, albeit dated, folding phone. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is for users who demand the best possible performance, camera capabilities, and a premium experience, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the DROID RAZR XT912 still usable in 2024?
Yes, but it's showing its age. It can handle basic tasks, but performance will be limited, and app compatibility may be an issue.
❓ Why is the Galaxy S23 Ultra so much better?
The S23 Ultra represents a significant advancement in smartphone technology, with a vastly superior chipset, display, camera, and battery compared to the older DROID RAZR.