I enjoy the Motorola Razr lineup because I get more use from the outer screen than I do with the Galaxy Z Flip devices. I love the flexibility Moto offers, and it’s easy to get plenty of utility from even a smaller external display. A usable outer screen on a flip phone is a must, as I think the best part of owning a phone like the Motorola Razr 2025 is that I don’t have to unfold the device constantly. It keeps me from undue distractions, and I don’t find a quick Instagram scroll devolving into a 30-minute time drain.
For the Razr 2025, I spent an extra few minutes setting up the external screen settings and panels. It’s been worth the effort. If you’re like me and want to get the most from your Motorola Razr 2025’s outer display experience, here are 5 things I’d set up.
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A little harmless fun never hurt
Perfect for a quick wait
While I hate that Motorola includes a bloatware games folder by default, I don’t mind the games the company includes for the outer screen. They are quickly picked up and specially designed for the smaller external panel. The soccer mini-game is particularly entertaining, and while I couldn’t see myself playing for hours, that’s not the point. A quick 5-minute distraction is all I’m looking for, and Motorola includes several quality ones in a panel on the outer screen.
I have fun playing some of the titles included by default, but you can add or subtract as needed. I like that Moto includes games without long intros or a high learning curve. I can start playing in seconds, and I don’t feel like I’m being pulled away from anything whenever my number is called in line or my train arrives.
No Good Lock needed
Pile on those apps
A significant advantage of the Motorola Razr 2025 over the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is that I don’t need to set up Good Lock for a full app experience on the outer screen. I can simply go to the apps panel and add ones I would like to use. I can include WhatsApp and Instagram in seconds, without unnecessary extra steps. Despite the smaller screen real estate, most apps work fine, and it’s not enough of a nerfed experience where I need to unfold my Razr.
Getting into the habit of using apps on the outer display is a game-changer for flip phone owners. It’s almost muscle memory that I go to unfold my Razr to open up WhatsApp or Outlook to respond to a message, but once I catch myself and respond on the outer panel instead, I realize why owning a flip phone is so appealing.
More panels than you can see
Set up your widgets
Even though a weather and calendar panel are set up by default, those aren’t the only widgets you can have on the Razr’s external screen. You can add a widget panel with apps from several widgets installed on your phone. I’m able to add widgets for WhatsApp and Spotify. I can even include a widget for Pokémon GO to keep track of my capture streaks.
Widgets are a fantastic way to see information at a glance, and I treat the outer display of flip phones like I would a smartwatch. I enjoy the Motorola Razr because I can get a full app experience if I need it. Still, for tracking to-do lists or keeping up-to-date on emails, widgets are an excellent way to get the information I want without unfolding my phone unnecessarily.
Instagram and Facebook just got easier
Limit your scrolling
We all feel the temptation to pull out our phones and scroll through Instagram or Facebook at some point during the day. It’s a natural curiosity to see what our friends are up to or just to waste some time between tasks. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but what we often intend to limit to 5- or 10-minutes can quickly turn into an hour, severely limiting our productivity.
Thankfully, the Motorola Razr is the ideal cure for endless scrolling. I satisfy my need to glance at social media on the Razr’s outer display, but it’s not an experience I’m willing to extend for more than a few minutes. I get my fix without the threat of an hour-long dive into Facebook. I’m not saying the Motorola Razr 2025 is a digital detox device, but if used correctly, it can reduce unnecessary screen time.
Toggling is important
Learn to swap views
A quick tip for using the outer display involves swapping between a larger view that extends the screen around the cameras and a narrow view that ensures every part of the screen is visible. You’ll have to decide which view is best for the current app you’re using. With apps like Instagram, scrolling is fine in the wider view, but you’ll need to swap to access the bottom right of the screen for your profile.
Thankfully, toggling is simple. If you long-press the navigation bar, you can swap between views. This is ideal for apps that require you to go back and forth, and essential for getting the most out of social media and messaging apps on your Motorola Razr 2025 external display.
Get the most from your phone
If you don’t use the outer screen on your Razr for most of the day, you’re doing it wrong. The idea of a flip phone is to enjoy the compact form factor and take advantage of the fact that you don’t need to unfold your phone for every task. There are reasons why we pay a premium over other midrange phones for the Razr 2025, and the convenience of the external screen is one of them.
Moto Razr (2025)
Motorola’s most affordable Razr gets a glow-up for 2025. With new colors, a more powerful processor, and all sorts of AI tools, this might be the most exciting $700 folding phone you’ve ever seen.
