A few days ago, the Motorola Razr was subjected to a fold test using a folding robot and lasted around 27,000 folds before its hinge started acting wonky. Now Motorola has responded.
Motorola has posted its own Razr folding video called "The real razr flip test - flip for years". Moto explains that it performs "extensive testing" to ensure that its phones can withstand everyday use and last for years.
"Razr went through this testing in machines built specifically to simulate real-life use and we are confident in its durability," Motorola adds.
The video doesn't show a fold counter or tell us how many folds that the Razr can withstand before breaking. We can see that Motorola's folding machine does indeed seem to be built specifically for the Razr, with one bar to fold the top half in and a separate panel to unfold it, all while the bottom half stays stationary.
Motorola also issued a statement calling the CNET folding test "inaccurate" because the machine wasn't designed for the Razr. Here's what Moto said to The Verge:
"SquareTrade’s FoldBot is simply not designed to test our device. Therefore, any tests run utilizing this machine will put undue stress on the hinge and not allow the phone to open and close as intended, making the test inaccurate. The important thing to remember is that razr underwent extensive cycle endurance testing during product development, and CNET’s test is not indicative of what consumers will experience when using razr in the real-world. We have every confidence in the durability of razr."
Foldable phones are still very young, and so we don't have a ton of knowledge about how they hold up after a year or two of everyday use. Even if Motorola's folding machine was built for the Razr, it isn't a perfect replication of the use that the phone would get from a regular person. And so if you decide to splurge for a foldable, it's probably smart to treat it like the expensive gadget that it is.