Motorola Razr 2 release date, specs, pricing and rumours

The Motorola Razr foldable phone is a re-imagination of the iconic Razr phone from 15 years prior, offering a play on nostalgia but with a flexible OLED screen, second Quick View display on the front, resulting in one of the more exciting moves in the folding phone trend.

However, it isn't perfect - just as was said of the original Samsung Galaxy Fold - with limited battery and other quibbles leaving room for improvement. Will the Motorola Razr 2 - the second-generation foldable phone from the Lenovo-owned company - be the device to fix up such shortcomings?

Here's everything we've heard so far about the Motorola Razr 2.

Motorola Razr 2: Price & release date

• 9 September 2020 reveal event
• Pricing: TBC

Back in May 2020 a Lenovo executive suggested a second-generation model of the Motorola Razr foldable phone was in the pipeline for September, which would normally be around the time of consumer electronics show IFA in Berlin. A perfect fit.

Since then a teaser from Motorola has promised to "flip the smartphone experience once again", with a date set for 9 September.

In terms of price, we'd expect the Razr 2 to sit around the same ballpark as the original model - although the addition of 5G connectivity could see that spike.

In the US, the current Razr foldable costs $1500. In Europe, it's €1599. In the UK it's an EE exclusive with contracts starting around £60/month. It's not currently clear if a second-generation model will also be a carrier exclusive.

SQUIRREL_171243

Motorola Razr 2: Design

• Similar design to original Razr expected
• Larger Quick View display rumoured
• Larger internal display rumoured

Based on the leaks so far it looks like the second-generation Motorola Razr will look similar to the 2019 model, with specification upgrades rather than drastic design changes.

The bottom edge is expected to be rounder, for example, while the front-facing camera unit sees an upgrade that results in the flash being positioned to its side (rather than beneath it).

An earlier patent suggested an in-display fingerprint sensor could appear - but a leaked photo suggests this won't be the case for this second-gen model. Another patent shows multiple sensors on the sides of the device, as well as a modular section at the top. However, patents rarely show real-life form so rapidly - so we'd expect these to be features in a model later down the line.

The exterior Quick View display is rumoured to be larger for this generation - i.e. Motorola has squeeze more screen real-estate into the given form factor - but increasingly this seems unfounded and the same 2.7-inch screen size of the original is more likely.

As for the main internal display, there's a rumour this will be 6.7-inches, up from 6.2-inch of the original. However, we can't fathom how such an increase would be plausible within the given design footprint. For now, like the patents above, we'll pencil that in as something for a model later down the line.

Motorola Razr 2: Spec

• 5G enabled
• 8GB RAM, 256GB storage
• 2,845mAh battery, 18W fast-charging

The Motorola Razr 2 is reported to come with a host of specification upgrades, including 5G capabilities, more RAM, camera upgrades and battery upgrades - including 18W fast-charging, according to a leak.

Based on a report from XDA Developers, the Razr 2 be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor (necessary for 5G), 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, and sport a 2,845mAh battery (a small increase over the original). It will also run Android 10 out of the box, it's said.

By comparison, the original Razr offers the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, Android 9 Pie, and a 2,510mAh battery.

Motorola Razr 2: Cameras

• 48MP main sensor 
• 20MP front sensor
• 360-degree recording rumoured

There have been a couple of rumours about the Motorola Razr 2's cameras. The previously cited report from XDA Developers claims the Razr 2 will see an upgrade to a 48-megapixel main camera and 20-megapixel front-facing camera, replacing the 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera of the original. The leaked photo confirms the camera looks different, so that certainly makes sense.

Meanwhile, one patent filed suggested the Razr 2 would offer a fisheye camera and support 360-degree video recording. As we mentioned previously though, many patents don't end up becoming reality especially fast - so don't count on this feature set just yet.

Motorola Razr 2 rumours: What's happened so far?

Here are all the rumours we have heard so far surrounding the Motorola Moto Razr 2.

12 August 2020: Motorola teases 9 September event

Motorola confirmed a 9 September event, promising to “flip the smartphone experience once again". That sounds like confirmation to us.

30 July 2020: Razr 2 caught in live photo, larger internal display expected

A leaked photo shows the design is much the same as the original, but with some design tweaks.

3 July 2020: Leak confirms 5G, other leak suggests 18W fast-charging

A double whammy: evleaks shares specifications confirming 5G and other spec, while another leak suggests 18W fast-charging will feature.

26 May 2020: Report claims Motorola Razr 2 will be 5G enabled and offer battery and camera upgrades

According to a report from XDA Developers, the Motorola Razr 2 will offer specifications that will bridge the gap between the Razr 2019 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.

The report claims a source has said the Razr 2 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage and a 2,845mAh battery.

The source also claims the rear camera will be upgraded to Samsung's 48MP ISOCELL Bright GM1 sensor while the front camera is getting upgraded to a 20MP sensor. It's also said the device will run Android 10 out of the box. 

22 May 2020: Motorola Razr 2 confirmed for later this year

When discussing Levovo's plans to release a Motorola Razr 2 plus a possible date, Lenovo's South Africa general manager, Thibault Dousson, told the Reframed Tech podcast: "There's a new version coming up. There's one in September I think." 

23 February 2020: Same form factor, different front display suggested 

Motorola's Vice President of Consumer Experience Design, Ruben Castano, and Director of Product Management, Carl Steen, who were both involved in the design of the creation of the Motorola Razr 2019, told TechRadar they would like the form factor of a newer model to be the same as the current version.

The two also reportedly said the True Display on the front might change shape.

24 January 2020: 5G version of Motorola Razr coming in 2020

Roland Quandt tweeted that Motorola will launch a 5G model of the Razr in China before the end of 2020. It is possible the device will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 735 chipset that was announced in December 2019.

China's getting a 5G capable version of the new screen-folding Motorola RAZR this year. https://t.co/IbZYZyqKbe

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) January 23, 2020

3 December 2019: Moto Razr 2 could be modular and offer a fisheye camera

Motorola Mobility filed another patent in August 2019, spotted by LetsGoDigital following its publish in December 2019, for 'an 'electronic device with linking housing pivotally coupled between device housings'. 

The patent images showed a clamshell device with a slim elongated display when unfolded and a display on the front when folded. The top of the device doesn't rotate when the device is opened, it is claimed, sitting at a right angle instead. It is also said to incorporate three cameras, one facing the top, one the rear and one the front, allowing for 360-degree video capture.

According to the patent, Motorola also wants to make the top section modular. The patent description offers several options including a module for a projector or a stereo speaker.  

23 November 2019: Motorola Razr 2 could have in display fingerprint sensor, plus eight sensors on side

Spotted by LetsGoDigital, Motorola Mobility filed a patent in May 2018 that was approved on 21 November 2019 for a folding phone with four sensors on either side of the device.

The patent images show a device similar to the Motorola Razr (2019) with a horizontal fold and it's claimed the sensors would also recognise gestures like a swipe and perform 20 different gestures and functions - 13 when open and seven when closed.

The patent images also show an in-display fingerprint sensor, though there is no detail on this in the information. The 2019 Razr has a physical fingerprint sensor. 

from Pocket-lint https://ift.tt/2zvGbwl
via IFTTT