Motorola reveals top five things about Razr
Motorola has revealed top five things about its upcoming foldable Android smartphone, the Razr (stylized “razr”).
Unveiled on November 14, the phone is expected to be released next year (more on it at the end of this news report).
Motorola highlights the five things in a blog post, starting with its patented hinge design.
Razr Hinge
The company says that flip phones in the past had the hinge as a visible element, but the Razr with its full-length touchscreen had to have it hidden behind its display. Moreover, says Motorola’s write-up, they wanted to protect the display and make the device more compact by ensuring both sides of the phone folded “completely flush with no gap.” Playing a key role both aesthetically and functionally, the Razr hinge allows just for this.
“We began the process with four versions of the hinge, looking for the one that was assistive, reliable, durable, and offered the correct amount of retention,” says the article on Motorola.com. “In an engineering breakthrough, we’ve developed an IP patented-protected ‘zero-gap’ articulating hinge that checked all of the boxes.”
When you close the device, the new hinge enables the display to curve in the shape of a bell by moving mechanical elements to either edge. The Flex View display does not get creasing because of the relaxed angle, and consequently, the screen folds perfectly in half, creating an ultra-compact design and protecting the display.
Razr Flex View Display
When the phone is flipped open, the 6.2” screen size maximizes the viewing area, allowing the phone holder to immerse themselves in content on the OLED display with a 21:9 CinemaVision aspect ratio. When closed, the phone is very pocketable.
“Our screen feels firm and sturdy when the device is open thanks to moveable metal support plates that pull the display tight,” the blog post says. “As the razr closes, the support plates move out of the way to allow the display to rest in a more relaxed shape.”
The display comes with its own protective coating to fight scuffs and scratches.
To Hang Up Phone Just Flip It Closed
Motorola says users of the new Razr will finally get back that satisfying feeling of hanging up the phone when they flip it closed. The screen’s sturdiness and the hinge’s smooth tension allow for them to confidently snap the phone shut at the end of their phone conversations.
“We heard so many stories about the emotional connection people felt with the original RAZR, which is why it was important to us to bring this experience back,” says the post.
There is, however, an option to toggle this feature off if you so desire.
In any case, if you are using a speakerphone or a bluetooth headset, the Razr will stay connected to your call when you flip the phone closed.
Razr Quick View Display
On the outside of the phone, there is a 2.7” QLED Quick View display. The interactive touch screen allows for you to respond to calls, texts and emails and control media playback, see all your notifications, use Google Assistant and authorize mobile payments without opening your device. You can make video calls and take high-quality selfies using the phone’s main camera with the Quick View display when the phone is closed. The display is also useful when taking photos with the phone opened. Setting a timer on the internal display makes a countdown appear on the external display, letting the subjects know it is time to pose. The external display can show a preview of all photos captured on the internal display. Moreover, the Quick View display can run a fun animation that can be very useful when taking photos of children or even pets to get their attention. Thanks to seamless app continuity, whatever is seen on the Quick View display moves to the larger Flex View display once the phone is flipped open.
Razr Moto Actions
The company says it ensured to bring Moto Actions to the new Razr in order to continue providing the consumers with quick access to the most used features. When it is time to take a selfie, you just have to twist your wrist twice, and the camera will open. And when you need flashlight, all you have to do is make a chopping motion twice. Placing the phone face down turns the “Do Not Disturb” mode on, allowing you to quickly silence a notification when, for example, you are in a meeting or at dinner.
“There are plenty of other Moto Actions to discover, all of which streamline your mobile life and make getting things done on razr a little bit easier,” concludes the Motorola.com blog post.
The Razr features Android 9.0 “Pie” operating system out of the box. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz and 6×2.42 GHz) Kyro 360 Gold & Silver with Adreno 616 GPU. It comes with 6 GB of memory and 128 GB of storage. A 2510 mAh battery powers the phone.
T3 reports that the phone will initially be available exclusively through Verizon for $1,499.99, or $62,49 per month on a 24-month payment plan, with pre-orders opening on December 26 before a release date in January 2020.
Image via Motorola PressBox
