Motorola has maintained a partnership with PANTONE for several years, and this collaboration has significantly influenced the company’s design approach. PANTONE is renowned worldwide as a color authority, recognized for its standardized color reproduction system known as the PANTONE Matching System. This partnership has allowed Motorola to embrace vibrant colors and innovative materials in their products.

In a recent briefing about the Razr and other upcoming devices, Motorola revealed that 65% of its smartphone sales last year were in colors outside of the typical black, white, or neutral tones. This statistic highlights a growing demand among consumers for bolder color options. The Razr Ultra exemplifies this trend with its lineup of striking colors, including PANTONE Rio Red, PANTONE Scarab, PANTONE Mountain Trail, and PANTONE Cabaret.

This stands in stark contrast to the offerings from competitors like Samsung and Apple. One of the common critiques from tech reviewers regarding new smartphones centers on their color selections. For example, the iPhone 16 Pro series is available in black, natural, white, and a muted gold.

Similarly, the Galaxy S25 Ultra features black, gray, white, and light blue as its primary color options. While Samsung does provide some additional colors on its website, they often lean toward neutral shades that lack vibrancy. Many people argue that smartphone users tend to cover their devices with cases, making colors less relevant.

However, the desire for bold colors remains significant, contributing to Motorola’s status as the “fastest growing smartphone maker globally.” This growth is particularly noteworthy given the rapid expansion of Chinese manufacturers in the market. Unlike many of their competitors, some of which are unavailable in the U.S., Motorola effectively caters to consumers seeking colorful phones.

Although Google offers a few vibrant options, they lack the audacity found in Motorola’s designs, which even incorporates recycled coffee grounds in the Razr Plus’s back.