Everybody turns into captivated by massive foldables because of the further display screen actual property and expansive productiveness options. Nonetheless, small foldables just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 or the Motorola Razr Extremely 2025 have benefits of their very own.
The clamshell type issue presents a minimalist cover-screen expertise, and its smaller measurement makes it simple to pocket. You is perhaps skeptical of the practicality of a folding cellphone with no bigger display screen than conventional flagships, however flip telephones have extra methods up their sleeve than you in all probability anticipate.
It is a video recording device with utility, nostalgia, and a little bit of enjoyable — that is a profitable mixture. You may be taught to apply it to your Samsung Galaxy or Motorola Razr flip cellphone on this information.
Every thing you are able to do with Camcorder mode
Motorola and Samsung each supply their very own Camcorder mode function on the Razr and Galaxy flip telephones, respectively. It is uniquely constructed for the flip cellphone type issue, so you will not discover it on bigger book-style foldables. The 2 options principally work the identical — with the show half-opened, you’ll be able to rotate your flip cellphone horizontally to activate Camcorder mode. It exhibits a reside video preview on one half of the primary show whereas leaving the opposite half for thumb controls.
It is designed to imitate the texture of utilizing a classic camcorder, which had flip-out shows for monitoring your recording. Utilizing a foldable, you’ll be able to select to indicate the viewfinder on solely the interior show or on each shows. It is a extra ergonomic option to file horizontal video than attempting to grip the cellphone totally opened with out blocking the digicam lenses.
Motorola presents settings that decide what occurs if you activate Camcorder mode. By default, launching Camcorder mode routinely begins a recording. You may alternatively set Camcorder mode to start out recording a couple of seconds after you fold the cellphone midway, or solely if you begin manually. When energetic, Camcorder mode launches a touchpad that can be utilized to zoom out and in or begin and cease recordings.
Samsung’s model does not begin recording routinely, however it leaves each video management energetic when Camcorder mode is in use. This makes it simpler to vary settings whereas recording, though it’s important to pay extra consideration to the place your thumb is urgent or swiping in comparison with the Motorola model.
Learn how to use Camcorder mode on a flip cellphone
The method for activating Camcorder mode is easy no matter whether or not you personal a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or a Motorola Razr. Nonetheless, the function set out there on every foldable model differs barely, so we have listed directions for utilizing it on every system:
Learn how to use Samsung’s Camcorder mode
1. Open the Digicam app.
2. Faucet the Video mode.
3. Fold your show midway in the direction of you. That is referred to as Flex mode.
4. Rotate your system to panorama orientation whereas conserving it midway folded.
5. Camcorder mode is now energetic. Now you can begin or cease recording, take images, zoom in or out, or change digicam settings together with your thumb on one half of the display screen — whereas seeing a reside preview on the opposite half.
6. Optionally, you’ll be able to press the cowl display screen icon to indicate a reside preview on the exterior show concurrently.
Learn how to use Motorola’s Camcorder mode
1. Open the Digicam app.
2. Faucet the Video mode.
3. Fold your show midway in the direction of you.
4. Rotate your system to panorama orientation whereas conserving it midway folded.
5. This may routinely begin recording in Camcorder mode. You need to use the touchpad on one half of the display screen to begin or cease recording or zoom in or out together with your thumb whereas seeing a reside preview on the opposite half.
6. Not like on a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, it’s essential to flip a Motorola Razr again to vertical orientation to vary digicam settings. You may’t do something apart from zoom or flip the digicam whereas in Camcorder mode.
Camcorder mode places video controls proper the place you want them
The ergonomics of Camcorder mode is what makes the function shine. You may comfortably grip the underside a part of a flip cellphone whereas recording with out worrying about obstructing the digicam lenses. Because the high a part of the foldable is half-opened and dealing with outwards, it is utterly out of the best way, making certain the cameras have a transparent view of your topic.
One other profit is which you could begin or cease a recording with a easy faucet utilizing your thumb. Swiping alter the zoom ranges on each Motorola and Samsung telephones, whereas Galaxy Z Flip fashions get further toggles. I can change the megapixel mode, side ratio, photograph timer setting, flash mode, and coloration profile straight from the Camcorder mode display screen. Regardless of the controls being concentrated in a single half of the foldable, they do not really feel cluttered.
It is simply one in all many flip cellphone digicam options I like
To me, compact foldable telephones are as a lot about nostalgia as they’re about performance. The snap of shutting the cellphone or the enjoyment of feeling a whole cellphone sit within the palm of your hand remind us of old-school flip telephones. What higher option to invoke flip cellphone nostalgia than to include extra retro tech — camcorders — into the expertise.
I’ve lengthy mentioned that flip telephones are glorious for individuals who need a smartphone with nice cameras. The sensors aren’t the largest or probably the most highly effective, however the digicam software program options make an actual impression. The quilt display screen turns flip telephones right into a selfie machine, as you’ll be able to simply use the rear lenses for better-quality selfies. The folding mechanism additionally converts your cellphone right into a digicam tripod for stationary recording or timed images.
These options are glorious, however nothing beats Camcorder mode for me. It is all the pieces flip telephones are about, and it’d change the best way you file movies together with your Galaxy Z Flip or Razr system.

