Update: July 22, 2022 (1:00 AM ET): We’ve updated our Motorola Razr 3 hub below with the phone’s official release information.
Original article: It may seem like only yesterday, but the classic Motorola Razr brand was relaunched in a modern foldable format over three years ago. After a 2021 hiatus, a third-generation foldable Motorola Razr is finally on the horizon. Thanks to leaks and rumours, we already have quite a bit of information about the phone. You can expect updated modern processing power, a change in the design of the phone and much more.
Here’s everything we know about the upcoming Motorola Razr 2022 and a list of changes we want to see.
Will there be a Motorola Razr 2022?
Motorola confirmed in December 2021 that it plans to release the third-generation Motorola Razr. The information was revealed by Chen Jin, an executive at Lenovo (Motorola’s parent company), on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. At the time, the executive said the company is preparing the new Razr with a more advanced chipset and a better design. Since then, the company has shown the new Motorola Razr 2022 several times and also revealed its release date.
When will the Motorola Razr 2022 release date?
- Motorola Razr — November 14, 2019
- Motorola Razr 5G — September 15, 2020
The Motorola Razr 5G made its global debut in September 2020, and its predecessor, the resurrected original Razr, launched in November 2019. The company didn’t update the device in 2021.
On July 22, Motorola confirmed that the Razr 2022 will launch on August 2. This would mean that Motorola is moving the release schedule forward to counter the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 that will be released on August 10.
What features and specifications will the Motorola Razr 2022 have?
For starters, Motorola is expected to equip the Razr 2022 with true-blue flagship specs this time around. Previous Razr models packed mediocre hardware into expensive clamshells. But things could be very different this time around, with Moto bringing the competition to Samsung.
design
The live images of the Motorola Razr 2022 were leaked not long ago. The leak came from tipster Evan Blass, who suggested that the new Razr now looks more like the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Blass later posted even more images and the clip you see below:
Expect a boxier design with squarer edges. One of the most significant design changes might be the removal of the thick chin, a defining feature of the Razr line. The fingerprint sensor is also moving to the power button. This would be the third time that Motorola has adjusted the position of the sensor. Last year it moved from the chin to the back of the phone.
The company also released some short teasers for the phone, mainly showing off its exterior design. You can’t see much as the images are dark, but you can tell that there is a dual camera setup on the back.
Specifications and features
Leaked Motorola Razr 2022 specs point to a premium flagship device. According to a report by XDA Developers, the phone could land with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, Ultra-wideband (UWB) support, up to 12GB of RAM, 512GB of internal storage, a secondary display and NFC support.
Evan Blass has added to this leak by reporting the phone’s alleged camera specs. It revealed that the Motorola Razr 2022 could feature a 50MP ƒ/1.8 main shooter along with a combined wide-angle and macro sensor with a 13MP resolution. A 32MP selfie snapper could appear on the internal foldable display.
According to display industry expert Ross Young, the device will have a slightly larger screen cover, around three inches. The primary foldable screen is also likely to grow to 6.7 inches, up from 6.2 inches on the Razr 5G.
What will be the price of Motorola Razr 2022?
So far, the most prominent price-related rumor suggests that Motorola might drop the price this year. Reliable leakster Steve Hemmerstoffer posits that the European price could be €1,149 (~$1,207). That’s a pretty big drop from the Razr 5G’s MSRP, which was €1,399 (~$1,470).
This is definitely a good sign. If Motorola wants to compete with Samsung’s shell, it needs to price the Razr 2022 in line with other $1,000 flagships. Samsung did the same with the Galaxy Z Flip 3, making it more desirable than the older Z Flip and Z Flip 5G.
We’ll have to wait and see what Motorola decides, but for now, at least we don’t expect the price of the Motorola Razr 2022 to go up. It’s good news for us.
Motorola Razr 2022: What we want to see
You’ve already told us what you’d like to see from the 2022 Motorola Razr, so here’s our wishlist for the third-generation foldable Motorola.
A more powerful package in every way
It changed a bit under the hood between the Razr and the Razr 5G. The latter offered a more powerful Snapdragon 765G processor, 5G networks, a slightly larger battery and a new camera package. Despite these improvements, the Razr 5G didn’t tick many of the flagship boxes you’d expect from such a premium phone.
We’d certainly like to see another bump in processing power. Even if the Razr 2022 doesn’t end up using the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, as rumors suggest, something older from Qualcomm’s 8 series or even the Snapdragon 778G would do the trick, ensuring the phone has enough power to keep pace for years to come.
Likewise, a little future in the cargo department wouldn’t go amiss. While 15W is still pretty typical in the foldable space, it’s painfully slow by modern standards. On the other hand, Motorola’s 36W TurboPower may be overkill for what’s sure to be a moderate battery size, probably under 3,000mAh. But power in the 20-25W range would certainly be appreciated by power users who might need to recharge their phone during the day.
Some additional flagship features
The Razr series has a hefty price tag, but so far there haven’t been many traditional flagship features.
For example, there’s no IP rating or wireless charging on previous models, and we’d certainly appreciate some extra protection with the Razr 2022. Of course, Motorola already offers a splash-proof nano-coating, and we’re not expecting a complete IP68 for a flip phone. But even an IP52 rating, as seen on the Motorola Edge (2021), or an IPX8 rating as we saw on the rival Galaxy Z Flip 3, would instill confidence that the phone can handle some wear and tear.
Likewise, wireless charging capabilities are a staple of the flagship market, even in the flip phone space. Samsung has proven that it’s possible to fit all the necessary wireless charging technology into a clamshell form factor with the aforementioned Galaxy Z Flip 3, and hopefully the new Razr will follow suit.
An IP rating, improved camera and wireless charging would tick a lot of flagship boxes.
Of course, camera packages also sell smartphones, and the Razr 2022 could use an upgrade here, too. A newer main sensor and a second rear lens seems likely based on the leaked specs and that’s exactly what would add the much sought after flexibility to the package.
We don’t necessarily need the best of everything here. At the end of the day, getting everything to fit in the shell form factor is the most important thing. But a better processor and sleeker flagship features are sure to ensure the Razr 2022 stays in the limelight in what’s sure to be a very competitive 2022 market.
Embrace the 120Hz display revolution
OK, so the above might be more wishful thinking than strictly necessary improvements. But the Motorola Razr 2022 has to adopt the world’s latest and greatest flexible display technology. After all, the screen is the basic aspect of smartphone design.
Check it out: Display specs and terms explained
Modern 120Hz LTPO displays, which you’ll find on many top-tier phones, not only look great for an indoor display, but their adaptive refresh rate is also a big help for battery life. the battery Particularly useful when you have to squeeze a small battery into a flip phone. This display technology is also robust and flexible – found in Samsung’s latest foldable line, as well as in the Oppo Find N. We don’t want to see a repeat of those cracked and wrinkled Razr screens that appeared with the first model generation Fortunately, the leaked specs suggest that Motorola plans to offer a high refresh rate this time around.
The very impressive specs are less important for the smaller 3-inch “quick view” screen. It’s expected to be slightly larger (the previous model was less than three inches), something we’d expect Motorola to do. It seems more practical to increase the size of the screen and make it useful for more than just notifications.
More competitive prices
Flips don’t have to be expensive, as Samsung showed us in 2021 with the comparatively inexpensive Galaxy Z Flip 3. Priced at $999, the Z Flip 3 costs about as much as your typical smartphone, making it a realistic option for consumers out there. of the ultra-enthusiastic crowd.
Historically, modern Razr phones have been much more expensive. The 2019 Motorola Razr cost a pretty hefty $1,500, and the 2020 Razr 5G follow-up launched at an equally cool $1,400. That price won’t cut it short of the competition in 2022. If you were lucky, the Razr 5G could occasionally be found for $999 over the last twelve months, and it certainly feels closer to where the Razr 2022 should launch .
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review
Of course, the modern Razr builds on that luxury look and feel, so we’re certainly not expecting a twist for the affordable, especially not considering our hardware wish list. But something closer to the $1,000-$1,200 mark seems imperative if the Razr 2022 has a chance to compete with the Z Flip 3. Fortunately, rumors suggest that would be the case, but we’re not counting our chickens just yet . .
Of course, there are a few more things we’d like to see from the Razr 2022 and from Motorola in general. An improvement…