Update 2 (1/22/20 @ 9:50 AM ET): The Motorola Razr foldable phone will officially go on sale on February 6th.
Update 1 (12/20/19 @ 1:15 PM ET): Motorola is pushing back the Razr pre-order and launch dates slightly due to high demand.
After months of anticipation, Motorola has officially rebooted its iconic Razr brand. The new Motorola Razr is a flip phone just like its predecessors were back before Android and iOS smartphones started to dominate the landscape. However, the new 2019 Razr uses cutting-edge display technology to achieve this iconic design. When you flip the phone open, you're greeted with a front that's made entirely of screen with no room for a keyboard at the bottom. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X which unfold horizontally into what are essentially tablets, the new Motorola Razr unfolds vertically into a...regular smartphone.
Left: Unfolded. Right: Folded.
Because there's only one display on the inside of the device, Motorola has added a second display on the outside so you won't have to constantly flip the phone open just to read your notifications or do basic tasks. The outer display is very small and low resolution, so you won't be able to use it for most of the tasks you associate with a modern smartphone. Still, that doesn't make it useless, as Motorola has designed the software to let the outer display handle tasks like showing notifications, take selfies, play music, or use Google Assistant. Content seamlessly transitions between the closed display and the main display, according to Motorola.
What's most impressive about the Motorola razr design is the fact that, when closed, there's barely a gap between the two folded halves of the display. The crease is also barely visible, which isn't the case on the Galaxy Fold or Mate X. That's based on early photos we've seen of the device, though, so we're hoping to get our hands on this device so we can compare it to the Galaxy Fold.
Motorola razr Specifications
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Dimensions
- Unfolded: 72 mm x 172 mm x 6.6 mm
- Folded: 72 mm x 94 mm x 14 mm
- Weight: 205g
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Display
- Main "Flex View": 6.20-inch pOLED 2142x876 (21:9)
- Closed "Quick View": 2.69-inch gOLED 800x600 (4:3)
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Camera
- Outer: 16MP (Sony IMX517) f/1.7, 1.22μm with EIS, Night Vision support
- Internal: 5MP f/2.0, 1.12μm
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 710
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Battery capacity: 2510mAh with 15W TurboPower charging
- Connectivity: eSIM, NFC, CDMA, LTE bands 2/3/4/5/7/13/20/28/66, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, GPS/GLONASS, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Security: Capacitive fingerprint scanner embedded in power button (bottom bezel)
- IP Rating: None, splash-proof nano-coating
- Audio: Speaker at the bottom, no 3.5mm headphone jack, 4 microphones
- Software: Android 9 Pie
- Ports & Buttons: USB 3.0 Type-C port at the bottom, Power button with fingerprint scanner in the bottom bezel, Volume buttons on the right side, Lock button on the right side
The 2019 Motorola razr retails at $1499 and will be available in the U.S. exclusively on Verizon Wireless. The phone will go on preorder starting December 26, 2019, and will go on sale in Verizon and Walmart stores and online on January 9, 2020. The phone comes with razr earbuds, a set of USB-C headsets tuned by Denon Audio. Cases will be available from Otterbox, Kate Spade, and more. The phone will only be sold in a Noir Black color.
Motorola has confirmed the device is coming to India, and TechRadar is reporting the device will launch in Australia as well as other countries in Latin America and Asia. We'll update this post as we learn more.
Update 1: Delayed
There was a ton of excitement around the announcement of the Motorola Razr last month. It turns out the hype surpassed Motorola's expectations as they are now delaying the launch due to high demand. Pre-orders were planned for December 26th with a January launch. The company is now delaying those dates, but they aren't giving new ones. Motorola does say it doesn't “anticipate a significant shift from our original availability timeline,” which leads us to believe it won't be a long wait.
Full statement:
Since its announcement in November, the new Motorola razr has received unparalleled excitement and interest from consumers. Demand has been high, and as a result, has quickly outgrown supply predictions.
Motorola has decided to adjust razr’s presale and launch timing to better meet consumer demand. We are working to determine the appropriate quantity and schedule to ensure that more consumers have access to razr at launch.
We do not anticipate a significant shift from our original availability timeline.
Source: The Verge
Update 2: On Sale February 6th
After a brief delay, Motorola and Verizon are now moving forward with the launch of the Razr reboot. The nostalgic foldable phone is available for pre-order starting on January 26th and will be in stores on February 6th. The phone is $62.49 a month for 24 months on Verizon Device Payment or $1,499.99 straight up. Verizon is offering a number of deals to go along with the launch.
During preorder, switch to Verizon and get up to $700 off the Motorola razr on device payment. Here's how: Save up to $500 when you trade-in an eligible smartphone and sign up for Verizon Unlimited, plus switchers get an additional $200 prepaid MasterCard. Existing customers can save up to $300 with eligible trade-ins when you upgrade your phone.
Source: Verizon