Motorola’s comeback tour in the U.S. might be quickly coming to an abrupt halt. The brand, still a minor player in the overall market for the best Android phones, found recent success with the Motorola Razr line of budget and flagship foldables. However, a patent dispute between Sony Ericsson and Motorola Mobility (owned by Lenovo) could eliminate the availability of Motorola handsets in the U.S., according to Reuters.
In an initial ruling Tuesday, Dec. 17, a judge for the U.S. International Trade Commission decided that Motorola’s phones infringe on key 5G patents held by Sony Ericsson. The smartphones in question include those in the Moto G, Edge, and Razr lineups. If the initial ruling by the ITC stands, imports of Motorola phones in the U.S. could be banned, all but eliminating their availability.
The ITC will issue a final ruling in April 2025, and if its initial decision is upheld, a ban on Motorola phones in the U.S. is likely to happen. That would have ripple effects throughout the U.S. market, because Lenovo made up 14% of the country’s mobile market share as of Q3 2024, according to Counterpoint Research. Crucially, some of the brand’s most successful smartphones are involved in the dispute.
Motorola’s absence would leave a hole in the market, notably where clamshell foldables are concerned. There simply isn’t another player making affordable foldables in the U.S. like Motorola did with the Razr 2023 and Razr 2024. It’s possible that instead of elevating a growing brand like OnePlus, a ban on Motorola phones would just make the big three of Apple, Samsung, and Google even more dominant.