The emergence of flip and foldable phones has been anticipated for quite some time, with progress appearing gradual. As manufacturers like Google and Samsung enhance their offerings, issues such as high prices and performance limitations continue to linger. Nevertheless, signs suggest that we are inching toward a breakthrough in this category of mobile technology.
In the latest episode of The Vergecast, Technology News’s Allison Johnson discusses her review of the Motorola Razr Ultra, hailed as one of the most attractive and impressive flip phones available. During the episode, Allison highlights the strengths of Motorola’s design, points out areas that still need improvement, and shares her hesitance to fully endorse the flip phone format just yet. Additionally, she delves into Motorola’s use of artificial intelligence, which she describes as varying between innovative and ineffective.
Following this review, Technology News’s Alex Heath provides insights into the challenges faced by Snap Inc. Despite Snapchat’s increasing popularity, particularly among younger demographics, the company struggles to leverage this user base into substantial revenue, which is crucial for funding its ambitious augmented reality initiatives. The discussion raises questions about the business viability of chat applications, especially in light of the recent developments in the Meta trial regarding WhatsApp, and what it signifies when monetizing communication remains elusive for companies.
The episode also includes a response to a viewer inquiry on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@technologynewso.com) concerning a hypothetical scenario involving Google Chrome. With ongoing discussions about the U.S. government potentially pressuring Google to divest its dominant browser, the conversation speculates on the implications of Google simply discontinuing the service instead.
For further details on the topics discussed in this episode, here are relevant links:
- Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) review: looking sharp
- The best folding phones you can buy
- Android’s youthful new design language just dropped
- Snapchat scraps ‘simple’ redesign as it loses users in North America
- Zuckerberg offered to buy Snapchat for $6 billion.
- Evan Spiegel explains why Snap is betting on Spectacles
- Breaking down the DOJ’s plan to end Google’s search monopoly
- Why are companies lining up to buy Chrome?
