"If any single company deserves recognition for bringing style back, it's Motorola. The Razr Ultra foldable in MountainTrail is easily the best-looking phone I used this year, but maybe I'm just partial to the Moto X vibes the wooden back evokes. The bronze-colored side rails, the satisfying sound as the flip phone snaps shut - it's all so nice. But it's not just foldables - Motorola has been way ahead"
"But in 2025, that hasn't been the case. Phones I reviewed this year featured everything from real wood grain back panels to deep blue finishes, with color-coordinated crossbody straps and magnetic accessories to match. For an industry that has been content to churn out a lot of black rectangular gadgets, 2025 marked a welcome return to bold colors and fashion-forward accessories from phone manufacturers."
"Remember the original bright pink Motorola Razr? Iconic. Or more recently, Nokia's neon yellow Lumia phones - you couldn't miss them. Even the ever-conservative iPhone appeared in vibrant orange, yellow, and blue options in 2018's XR; my husband refused to part with his until absolutely necessary because he didn't want to give up his yellow phone. But somewhere along the way in the past five years, phone makers decided that these devices should be more serious, and the fun options fell by the wayside."
Smartphone design shifted away from monochrome black and gray toward vibrant colors, textured materials, and fashion-focused accessories in 2025. Manufacturers introduced options like real wood-grain back panels, deep blue finishes, color-coordinated crossbody straps, and magnetic accessories. Retro influences such as bright colors from earlier devices returned, prompting stronger consumer attachment to distinctive finishes. Motorola led the trend with the Razr Ultra in MountainTrail, featuring a wooden back, bronze side rails, and a satisfying flip mechanism. The industry moved from utilitarian seriousness back to expressive, fashion-forward devices and complementary accessories.
Read at The Verge
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