RAZR

The Motorola Razr (pronounced like "razor"), currently stylized ''motorola razr'', is a brand of mobile phones manufactured by Motorola Mobility (previously Motorola, now a division of Lenovo), currently consisting of foldable clamshell smartphones. The Razr name was introduced with the V3 model (then styled RAZR, also MOTORAZR) in 2004, which became extremely popular. The line was succeeded by the Motorola 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.

Original Razr line

The Razr V3 was introduced in 2004 and became wildly popular. Motorola released several upgraded versions, including the Razr V3x in 2005 (which featured 3G connectivity), the Razr V3i, and the Razr v3xx in 2006, along with various variants. Motorola also released the Motorola RAZR maxx V6.

Razr2 – second-generation Razr flip phones

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's MotoMagx operational platform, based on the MontaVista Linux 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.

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. Different color variants were released, including a Luxury Edition and a Ferrari Edition.

However, Razr2 sales were not as good as the original V3 series, with consumers moving to competing products. Because Motorola relied so long upon the Razr and its derivatives and was slow to develop new products in the growing market for feature-rich touchscreen and 3G phones, the Razr appeal declined, leading Motorola to eventually drop behind Samsung and LG in market share for mobile phones. 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. The cell phone division became part of Motorola Mobility in 2011 as a result of the Motorola split.

Droid Razr – candybar smartphones

The Razr brand returned in 2011 with the introduction of the Motorola Droid Razr smartphone (the "Droid" name only used by Verizon in the USA). The line shared its trademark thinness and stylized tapered corners with the original. The line included:
* Droid Razr, flagship successor of the Droid Bionic
**Droid Razr Maxx, variant with larger battery
* Motorola Razr V, a cheaper Droid Razr released in Canada
* Droid Razr HD, new flagship introduced in 2012
**Droid Razr Maxx HD, variant with larger battery
* Droid Razr M, same internals as Droid Razr HD but in a smaller body
** Motorola RAZR i, variant with an Intel Atom-powered chip and no 4G
* Motorola Razr D1 and D3, entry-level products released in Brazil in 2013

The Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr M were succeeded by the Droid MAXX and Droid Mini respectively.

Razr – foldable smartphones (since 2020)

In November 2019, Motorola Mobility revived the Razr again as a foldable smartphone (flip phones), which is styled after the clamshell form factor of the original models. The Motorola Razr (2020), also called the Razr 2019, depending on the source, has a design reminiscent of the classic Razr V3. It was designed with nostalgia 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. It was priced at $1,499 and initially only available on Verizon Wireless. The phone was originally expected to launch in January 2020, but was subsequently delayed until February 6, 2020. 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 obilitys gorgeous folding Razr doesn't deliver the performance you expect from a $1,500 phone". 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".

On September 9, 2020, Motorola Mobility announced the second generation of Motorola Razr (2020), called the Razr 5G. 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". More successors have been released: this line consists of:

* Motorola Razr (2020), ann. November 2019
* Motorola Razr 5G, ann. September 2020
* Motorola Razr (2022), ann. August 2022
* Motorola Razr 40 (known as Motorola Razr in the U.S.), ann. June 2023
* Motorola Razr 40 Ultra (known as Motorola razr+ in the U.S.), ann. June 2023
* Motorola Razr 50 (known as Motorola razr 2024 in the U.S.), ann. June 2024
* Motorola Razr 50 Ultra (known as Motorola razr+ 2024 in the U.S.), ann. June 2024

* Motorola Razr 60 (Known as Motorola Razr 2025 in the U.S.), ann April 2025

* Motorola Razr 60 Plus (Known as Motorola Razr Plus 2025 in the U.S.), ann April 2025
* Motorola Razr 60 Ultra (Known as Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 in the U.S.), ann April 2025

See also

* Motorola Razr2
* Motorola Razr3
* Motorola TXTR
* Star Trek Communicator (1964)
* Grillo telephone (1965)

References

External links

Motorola Razr V3



Motorola Razr V3i

Motorola Razr V3i DG

Motorola Razr V3im

Motorola Razr V3m

Motorola Razr V3c

Motorola Razr V3x

Motorola Razr V3xx

Motorola Razr maxx Ve

MotoDev Developer information

Reviews

{{Motorola phones, 4ltr=yes, a=yes, android=yes, tablets=yes, c=yes, cdd=yes, e=yes, i=yes, international=yes, m=yes, mpx=yes, other=yes, q=yes, t=yes, tac=yes, v=yes, ve=yes, w=yes

Computer-related introductions in 2004