You know what they say, you should never trust a robot arm to do what a human can do. Apparently that’s the case when it comes to Motorola’s new folding phone, which unfortunately stopped folding after being tested by CNET through a special machine designed especially for… folding. Isn’t technology magical?
According to the experiment conducted by CNET, the new Razr was only able to fold 27,000 times. CNET set a baseline for the experiment, with the expected number being 100,000 folds, a benchmark which was soundly beaten the last time CNET used the imaginatively named “FoldBot” on the Galaxy Fold which clocked in at 120,000 folds. If the Razr wasn’t even able to crack 50,000 folds, then it was speculated that the phone would break in little over a year of sustained use.
It was noted that after removing the phone from the machine for the third time that the device was incapable of folding with the central hinge having fallen out of alignment. The actual screens on the phone still worked wonders though.
While the story could have been a very disappointing end for Motorola’s return to the fold, it seems that after the disappointing test conducted by CNET they’ve taken matters into their own hands. Claiming that CNET‘s FoldBot was improperly calibrated, they’ve now released their own video of a fold test which looks vastly different to CNET’s. Their machine is designed to not put pressure on the phone’s hinge, focusing instead on the phone’s OLED screen.
In a statement sent to The Verge alongside the video, Motorola said, “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.”
Despite all this, the Razr has yet to be released in stores and Motorola has previously stated that users should expect “lumps and bumps” when they initially get their hands on the phone. They won’t come to South Africa, though — so if you want one you’ll have to sort out and import.