Motorola Razr Fold gets a much-needed software update, but still no Android 17

For a phone that costs nearly $2,000, the Motorola Razr Fold has been getting some rather budget-friendly treatment in the software department. Owners have watched cheaper and older Motorola handsets move to Android 17 while their newer, premium foldable remains on Android 16. A fresh update is finally arriving, but it isn’t the one they’ve been waiting for.

A recent Reddit thread shows the Razr Fold receiving software version W3WBS36.36-123-2-1, while the carrier-locked Verizon model is receiving version W3WBS36.36-123-5-1 with the October 2026 security patch. However, instead of delivering Android 17, the update is another maintenance release based on Android 16, much to the disappointment of owners hoping for a major Android upgrade.

The update isn’t entirely unwelcome. The Razr Fold had been stuck on the August 2026 security patch, so the newer security fixes are a much-needed improvement. But for a phone that costs a small fortune, receiving another security update while cheaper Motorola devices are already running Android 17 is hardly the software experience owners expected.

That’s where Motorola’s rollout strategy gets confusing. The company has already delivered Android 17 to the Razr Ultra 2025, while more affordable models, including the Edge 60 Fusion and Edge 60 Pro, have also received the stable upgrade. Meanwhile, its considerably more expensive book-style foldable remains on Android 16.

The absence of Android 17 is particularly puzzling because the Razr Fold joined Motorola’s beta program months ago. In a response to users on Reddit, its support team pointed to the additional work needed to optimize Android 17 for the Razr Fold’s two displays, particularly multitasking and transitions between the cover and inner screens. The company also said testing was still underway, though it didn’t confirm when the stable release will be ready. That’s from two weeks ago, though.

Of course, foldable software comes with challenges that conventional smartphones don’t face. But those challenges aren’t exactly a surprise for a company selling a premium foldable. And while there’s no reason to rush an unstable update, Motorola’s decision to prioritize much cheaper devices makes the Razr Fold’s position in the rollout harder to defend.

A bigger question also hangs over Motorola’s newest flagship, the $1,600 Signature 27. The company is promising up to seven major Android upgrades, an impressive commitment on paper. But the Razr Fold’s situation highlights something buyers should consider beyond the number of promised upgrades: how long they’ll actually have to wait for them.

For now, the Razr Fold is getting the security attention it badly needs, but Android 17 is still missing. Motorola has already demonstrated that it can deliver the update to other devices. The question is why one of its most expensive phones is still waiting in line.