Motorola book-style foldable: Everything we know before CES 2026
Counterpoint Research expects foldable phone shipments to climb 38% in 2026—with book-style models in front. The Galaxy 7 Fold7 outsells the Flip, Apple works on its own foldable, and six years after the razr reboot, I can’t help but think Motorola has something in the works. CES 2026 looms, and leaks point to a release soon. I feel a mix of hype and doubt about the Motorola book-style foldable. Here’s what we know so far.
Display
Back in March, MySmartPrice shared a patent that appears to be a Motorola book-style foldable. The design caught a lot of attention because it looks different from the usual Razr phones. While the patent doesn’t confirm screen size, materials, or camera specs, it shows Lenovo’s child company exploring a foldable focused more on productivity, similar to the Z Fold7—but with its own twist.
Instead of a full-sized cover display like the Z Fold7 or Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Motorola seems to go for a smaller front screen. It reminds me of the razr foldables: 4-inch OLED on the razr Ultra and 3.6-inch OLED on the razr (2025). I expect the cover screen to let you handle most tasks without opening the phone, just as the razrs do.
On Motorola’s flip phones, people use the external screen to check emails, track Amazon deliveries, and reply to WhatsApp messages. Most apps work well, though Instagram looks zoomed in for some reason (and maybe some other apps, too).
Many buyers struggle to choose between the razr Ultra and the razr (2025) because of the cover screen. That’s understandable; foldables remain a niche product, and their prices are hard to ignore. Would you open your Motorola foldable every single time just to check your Instagram notifications? Personally, I wouldn’t spend $2000 on the Motorola book-style foldable and end up opening the device every time I want to use my favorite apps.
Comfort matters, but durability counts too. South Korean YouTuber Tech It opened and closed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 200,000 times. The phone hit a reboot error after 6,000 cycles. When I spoke with IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo, he said durability doesn’t block foldables from going mainstream. Still, I wonder how Motorola’s first foldable will handle all the unfolding and folding.
Design
Motorola has sent gift boxes to editors worldwide, and each box carries a note about the upcoming CES Lenovo Tech World event. We all know the razr series has stuck with a clamshell fold since day one, and Motorola still has no book-style foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold. Still, this gift set makes me pause. It feels like a tease that Motorola plans to stretch its lineup in a bold way.
The box shows an unusual wooden living hinge and a matching wood back panel. In 2025, the razr series came with small hardware changes, while Motorola pushed hard on color and finish. The razr Ultra even came with a real wood back that brings back strong Moto X energy.
When the razr Ultra launched, I stood torn between PANTONE Scarab (green) and PANTONE Mountain Trail (wood). I leaned toward Scarab because the dark frame suits my taste more than the gold one, which feels too flashy for me. Still, the wood finish caught my eye. I wanted wood paired with a dark frame, but Motorola did not offer that mix. After seeing these CES gifts, I start to think Motorola may plan a book-style foldable with a darker frame.
Motorola razr Ultra 2025 in PANTONE Mountain Trail
Made for US 16/512 GB
Right now, foldable brands chase thinner bodies and shift camera bumps from place to place or change their shape. Few designs truly stand out. Foldables did gain steady progress in strength and form, which helps the category feel fresh. Take the HONOR Magic V5 as an example. It holds the title of thinnest foldable with 8.8 mm when shut and 4.1 mm when open. Still, a wood finish from Motorola could push book-style foldables in a new design direction.
HONOR Magic V5
8.8 mm book-shaped foldable smartphone
I would also love to see Nothing enter the foldable space with its transparent style, though that idea feels far away. Motorola, on the other hand, might step in soon and satisfy my hunger for foldables that feel creative again.
Release date and price
Motorola unveiled the Razr Ultra in the US back in April 2025, with pre-orders starting May 7. That makes me think the company could use Lenovo’s Tech World CES 2026 event on Tuesday, January 6, at 17.00 PT to reveal the book-style foldable. CES 2026 runs from January 6 to 9, so it makes sense for the new foldable to hit the market sometime in January.
The Razr Ultra 2025 started at $1,299 for 512 GB, which sits above the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 at $1,099 for 256 GB. We don’t have enough leaks to nail down a solid price yet, but I wouldn’t expect the book-shaped Motorola handset to stray far from the Z Fold7’s $1,599.99 (20% OFF).
