Motorola Razr
.png){kind=logo} Current logo | |
 The Razr V3i was sold during the height of the popularity of the Razr series. | |
| Developer | Motorola (2004–2011), Motorola Mobility (2011–present) |
|---|---|
| Type | Mobile phone |
| Released | Motorola Razr V3: 2004 Motorola Razr2: 2007 Motorola Droid Razr: 2011 Motorola Razr: 2020 |
| Lifespan | 2004–2015, 2019–present |
| Various | |
| Predecessor | Motorola StarTAC Motorola V series |
| Related | Motorola KRZR, Motorola PEBL, Motorola Moto |
The Motorola Razr (pronounced /ˈreɪzər/ like "razor"), sometimes stylized motorola razr, is a brand of mobile phones manufactured by Motorola Mobility (previously Motorola, now a division of Lenovo), currently consisting of foldable 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.
First generation - Razr V3 (2004-2007)
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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.
Second generation - Razr2 (2007-2009)
[edit]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 available on every US carrier, and EVDO, GSM, and HSDPA versions 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's 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 a Ferrari Edition.
However, Razr2 sales were not as strong as those of the original V3 series, as consumers moved 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 drop behind Samsung eventually and LG 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]
Third generation - Droid Razr (2011-2013)
[edit]
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.[11][12] The line included:
- Droid Razr, flagship successor of the Droid Bionic
- Droid Razr Maxx, variant with a 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 a 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.
Fourth generation - Razr foldable smartphones (2019-present)
[edit]
The Razr was revived again in 2020 with the release of the Razr foldable smartphone (flip phone) with a flexible folding interior display, styled after the clamshell form factor of the original models.[13][14] Announced in November 2019, the new Razr has a design reminiscent of the classic Razr V3.[15] A full successor did not come out until 2022 and since then Motorola has annually updated this series of new Razr foldables. The line includes:
Clamshell-style foldables
[edit]| Generation | Announced | Model name | Model name in the US and Canada | Exterior material/finish | Exterior display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razr 2020 | November 2019 | Motorola Razr (2020) | Glass and aluminium | 2.7" AMOLED | |
| September 2020 | Motorola Razr 5G | Glass and aluminium | 2.7" AMOLED | ||
| Razr 2022 | August 2022 | Motorola Razr (2022) | Glass and aluminium | 2.7" AMOLED | |
| Razr 40 | June 2023[16] | Motorola Razr 40 | Motorola Razr | Synthetic leather and aluminum | 1.5" AMOLED |
| Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | Motorola Razr+ | Glass or synthetic leather | 3.6" pOLED | ||
| Razr 50 | June 2024 | Motorola Razr 50 | Motorola Razr 2024 | Synthetic leather and aluminum | 3.6" pOLED |
| Motorola Razr 50 Ultra | Motorola Razr+ 2024 | Synthetic leather and aluminum | 4.0" LTPO flexible AMOLED | ||
| Razr 60 | April 2025 | Motorola Razr 60 | Motorola Razr 2025 | Matte plastic and aluminum | 3.6" pOLED |
| Motorola Razr 60 Plus | Motorola Razr Plus 2025 | Textured plastic and aluminum | 3.6" pOLED | ||
| Motorola Razr 60 Ultra | Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 | Synthetic microfiber and aluminum | 4.0" LTPO flexible AMOLED | ||
| Razr 70 | April 2026 | Motorola Razr 70 | Motorola Razr 2026 | Ceramic-coated glass and aluminum | 3.8" pOLED |
| Motorola Razr 70 Plus | Motorola Razr Plus 2026 | Synthetic leather and aluminum | 3.8" pOLED | ||
| Motorola Razr 70 Ultra | Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 | Wood or synthetic microfiber | 4.0" LTPO flexible AMOLED | ||
Book-style foldables
[edit]In March 2026, the Motorola Razr Fold was announced which marks Motorola's first book-style foldable rather than clamshell-style foldable as the rest of the Razr line.[17]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ Ziegler, Chris (May 15, 2007). "The Motorola RAZR 2". Engadget. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- ↑ "motorola US – unlocked cell phones & modular smartphones". direct.motorola.com.
- ↑ "Thin Razr 2 sales cause slide in Motorola share price". Ottawa Citizen. Canada.com. January 5, 2008. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016.
- ↑ Crockett, Roger (January 24, 2010). "What Can Brown Do for Motorola?". Business Week. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Reardon, Marguerite (May 15, 2007). "Is Motorola's cell phone revamp enough?". CNET. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ↑ Lappin, Joan (February 20, 2007). "Motorola's Zander Has Real Trouble Now". Forbes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Motorola to Split Into Two After Phone Sales Slide (Update10)". Bloomberg. March 26, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
- ↑ Bartash, Jeffry (November 30, 2007). "Struggling Motorola back in a familiar position". Market Watch. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ↑ Reardon, Marguerite (February 13, 2008). "Motorola hopes to revive cell phone biz". CNET. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ↑ Ante, Spencer E. (January 4, 2011). "Motorola Split Will Impart More Focus". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ↑ Banks, Emily (October 18, 2011). "Motorola Unveils Droid Razr, World's Thinnest Smartphone". Mashable. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
- ↑ Shukla, Gaurav (October 18, 2011). "Motorola Razr debuts, coming in November". AndroidOS.in. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
- ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (November 13, 2019). "Motorola resurrects the Razr as a foldable Android smartphone". The Verge. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- ↑ "Motorola's revived RAZR is a fashion-forward foldable". Engadget. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- ↑ "Motorola Razr 2019 – Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ↑ Phelan, David. "Motorola Launches RAZR 2023 Phone With Features Samsung Can't Beat". Forbes. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ↑ Akhtar, Iyaz (April 10, 2026). "The Motorola Razr Fold Is So Good, It Has Me Rethinking the Galaxy Z Fold 7". PCMAG. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
External links
[edit]
- Motorola Razr V3
- Motorola Razr V3 Blue
- 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 at the Wayback Machine (archived October 22, 2007)
- Motorola Developer handsets at the Wayback Machine (archived April 5, 2008)
