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| Developer | Motorola (2004–2011),Motorola Mobility (2011–present) |
|---|---|
| Type | Mobile phone |
| Release date | Motorola Razr V3: 2004; 21 years ago (2004) Motorola Razr2: 2007; 18 years ago (2007) Motorola Droid Razr: 2011; 14 years ago (2011) Motorola Razr: 2020; 5 years ago (2020) |
| Lifespan | 2004–2015, 2019–present |
| Operating system | Various |
| Predecessor | Motorola StarTAC |
| Related | Motorola KRZR,Motorola PEBL,Motorola Moto |
TheMotorola Razr (pronounced/ˈreɪzər/ like "razor"), currently stylizedmotorola razr, is a brand ofmobile phones manufactured byMotorola Mobility (previouslyMotorola, nowa division ofLenovo), currently consisting offoldable clamshell smartphones. The Razr name was introduced with theV3 model (then styledRAZR, alsoMOTORAZR) in 2004, which became extremely popular. The line was succeeded by theMotorola Razr2 flip phones in 2007. The Razr later evolved into a line of non-clamshell devices in 2011,Droid Razr (known simply as the "Motorola RAZR" on non-Verizon networks), bearing design similarities to the originals. Razr was revived again in 2019, this time evolving into a line of all-screen clamshell foldables that continues to this day.
TheRazr V3 was introduced in 2004 and became wildly popular. Motorola released several upgraded versions, including the Razr V3x in 2005 (which featured3G connectivity), the Razr V3i, and the Razr v3xx in 2006, along with various variants. Motorola also released theMotorola RAZR maxx V6.
The Razr2 was the successor to the Razr series. The Razr2 was 2 mm thinner than its predecessor but slightly wider. Some versions featured Motorola'sMotoMagx operational platform, based on theMontaVistaLinux OS. The Razr2 was made available on every US carrier, and EVDO, GSM and HSDPA versions of it were released by late 2007. The Razr2 line consisted of 4 models: V8, V9, V9m, and V9x.[1]
The phone improved picture quality, speed, and multimedia capabilities over the original Razr. It also featured an external screen with touch-sensitive buttons which allowed users to use some of the phone features without opening it, and Motorola's CrystalTalk technology to improve call quality and help reduce background noise.[2] Different color variants were released, including a Luxury Edition and aFerrari Edition.
However, Razr2 sales were not as good as the original V3 series, with consumers moving to competing products.[3] Because Motorola relied so long upon the Razr and its derivatives[4][5] and was slow to develop new products in the growing market for feature-rich touchscreen and 3G phones,[6] the Razr appeal declined, leading Motorola to eventually drop behindSamsung andLG in market share for mobile phones.[7] Motorola's strategy of grabbing market share by selling tens of millions of low-cost Razrs cut into margins and resulted in heavy losses in the cellular division.[8][9] The cell phone division became part of Motorola Mobility in 2011 as a result of the Motorola split.[10]
The Razr brand returned in 2011 with the introduction of the MotorolaDroid Razr smartphone (the "Droid" name only used byVerizon in the USA). The line shared its trademark thinness and stylized tapered corners with the original.[11][12] The line included:
The Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr M were succeeded by theDroid MAXX andDroid Mini respectively.
In November 2019, Motorola Mobility revived the Razr again as afoldable smartphone (flip phones), which is styled after the clamshell form factor of the original models.[13][14] TheMotorola Razr (2020), also called the Razr 2019, depending on the source,[15] has a design reminiscent of the classic Razr V3. It was designed withnostalgia in mind – its design was supposed to remind people of the early 21st century, a time many look back at with fondness and sentiment. It was supposed to be a capable, modern,Android-running smartphone with a "high-tech" folding display and advanced modern features such as a fingerprint sensor, inside of a body that already felt familiar to many. It features a display that folds vertically, like the familiar V3 and other Razr models from the 2000s.
Motorola Mobility presented the phone on November 14, 2019.[15] It was priced at $1,499 and initially only available on Verizon Wireless.[13][14] The phone was originally expected to launch in January 2020, but was subsequently delayed until February 6, 2020.[16][17] When it launched, it was received with mixed reviews. Many reviewers felt it was too expensive for its specifications. Its camera, battery life, weak build quality, and price were criticized, while the design and software were praised.PC Magazine summed it up: "Motorola [Mobility]'s gorgeous folding Razr doesn't deliver the performance you expect from a $1,500 phone".[18]The Verge wrote harshly: "I wish I could tell you exactly where I think the Motorola Razr went wrong, but there are too many options to choose from".[19]
On September 9, 2020, Motorola Mobility announced the second generation of Motorola Razr (2020), called the Razr 5G.[20] The second generation included many improvements over the first generation and was initially priced at $1399.99 in the US. It was, however, also criticized for reasons similar to the first phone. The Verge wrote: "It’s better than the original in every way but still costs too much".[21] More successors have been released: this line consists of:
