Motorola revives Razr flip phone with foldable screen
Motorola has revived its popular Razr flip mobile phone as a modern smartphone with a foldable screen.
Unveiled in the US, the reinvented Razr has a 6.2-inch screen which folds in half to shut in the same way as older “clamshell” handsets.
Flip phones such as the original Razr were popular in the early 2000s, when the screen and physical keyboard were separated by a hinge which folded the device closed to fit easily into a pocket.
You’re gonna flip! #razr #bethefirst #motorolarazr #feeltheflip https://t.co/SLkZJXa8gf pic.twitter.com/vWmOApildI
— Motorola UK (@motorolaUK) November 14, 2019
The updated Motorola device has replaced the physical keyboard with a foldable screen which fills the entire inside of the phone.
Motorola said the design is the first of its kind, but follows other foldable devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Fold – which opens vertically like a book to reveal a large tablet-like screen inside the phone.
When closed, Motorola said the new Razr also has a 2.7-inch Quick View Display on which users can view and respond to notifications.
The phone-maker confirmed that the new device will launch in the UK exclusively on EE.
It will first go on sale in the US in December for $1,500 (£1,168), but a UK release date and price are still to be confirmed.
Industry expert Ru Bhikha, from uSwitch.com, said the Razr has nostalgic value, but warned it may not have the high-end features to compete with the flagship phones in the mobile market.
“Some brands dominate their markets so completely that their names become bywords for the whole industry. Vacuum cleaners are ‘Hoovers’ and to perform an internet search is to ‘Google’,” he said.
“The original Motorola Razr was such an iconic design that, even now, when you think of a foldable phone, you are automatically reminded of the classic flip-phone of the mid-Noughties.
“But the cost of developing the folding screen makes the Razr V4 a high-end smartphone likely to cost over £1,100 in the UK – more than the iPhone 11, but less than the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
“The Razr can’t compete with the performance of similarly priced rivals, boasting only a single 16MP rear camera compared to the iPhone 11’s three-lens set-up that includes a telephoto and two wide lenses.
“The device is also less powerful in the CPU and battery departments due to the restrictions of the design, so we’re sceptical that users will get through the day on a single charge.”
He also warned of the strain placed on folding screens by the regular opening and closing of such devices.
“After the teething problems of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, we will be watching to see how the Razr’s complicated hinge mechanism holds up to the countless times it will be opened and closed every day,” he said.
“The return of the Razr will enjoy massive buzz, but without the specifications of its high-end rivals the V4 could be accused of being all style and no substance.”
A number of other companies – including Chinese firms Huawei and Xiaomi – have either already unveiled or are reported to be working on foldable phones.
James Brown, director of gadget insurance provider Protect Your Bubble, adds:
“The Motorola Razr Flip returns after a long absence from the phone shops in the biggest comeback since the Nokia 3310 was relaunched two years ago.
Fans still have a huge affection for the iconic flip-phone of the mid-Noughties, and Motorola will be hoping that it can cash it on their nostalgia.
This piece of mobile phone history may not grab significant market share from the smartphone heavyweights, but it could well ruffle a few feathers and become a fashion icon all over again.
If it does make waves it will be thanks in no small part to the revolutionary zero-gap hinge.
The Razr has kept its classic hinged design, but comes right up-to-date with a 6.2-inch full-colour OLED screen that folds completely in half.
The question is, with its complicated hinge design, will the Razr be able to stand up to repeated opening and closing on a daily basis?
As for the phone itself, a 2.7-inch display on the outside will show email and text notifications, plus your pictures as you take selfies with it closed.
The Razr V4 has just one main 16MP camera, and a forward-facing 5MP selfie snapper.
“High-quality photographs are hugely important to phone users, and the Razr will struggle to compete with the multi-lens setups of its rivals, most of which include wide-angle, telephoto and night light capabilities.
The Razr V4 also looks lightweight on the processing side, hosting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 CPU that isn’t as advanced as the Snapdragon 855 found in the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
Its 2,510mAh battery is also considerably smaller than those of its rivals, although the Razr is a slight phone that should require less power.
The Razr V4 will be a trendy gadget that fans of retro chic will embrace, but users could find that sacrificing a decent camera and processor is the price of looking cool.”
