Once I was in junior college, I used to have a passion the place I’d circle my dream purchases within the Argos catalogue of the season – even when my dad and mom had no intention of shopping for them. These would come with Furbies, Lego units and humongous inflatable swimming pools about twice the scale of our backyard.
However one merchandise I continued to go to time and again was the unique Motorola Razr V3, in all its sizzling pink glory.
From Physician Who to The Satan Wears Prada, this iconic flip telephone – magenta or in any other case – was in all my favorite TV reveals and movies, and was a staple for all the favored children. I desperately needed one, as its iconic construct stood out from the group.
Sadly, the excessive price ticket on the time (cries in inflation) meant I by no means obtained to stay the dream of utilizing a Motorola Razr flip telephone… till now.
Motorola revived the legendary mannequin in 2019, and the fifth-generation line of this collection has simply launched within the US and UK with two fashions, the Razr 50 and Razr 50 Extremely (the latter will likely be referred to as the Razr 50+ in America). I’ve obtained my fingers on the extra premium mannequin for overview, on behalf of Tech Advisor.
Customers can seize that daring and vivid sizzling pink colourway on this 2024 reimagined flip mannequin
Motorola
Motorola
Motorola
Customers can seize that daring and vivid sizzling pink colourway on this 2024 reimagined flip mannequin (final yr’s Razr 40 got here in a purple hue), however there are three different choices obtainable: Forest Inexperienced, Peach Fuzz and Midnight Blue, the model I’m testing. All begin from £999/$999.
We’ve come a great distance from the noughties with tech developments. The exterior show on the 50 Extremely is the biggest ever on a flip telephone at 4-inch and can be utilized for a lot of functions, with assist for apps resembling Google Maps, Gmail, Slack and extra – together with a devoted web page for Spotify playback.
It’s not only for fancy wallpapers, like the unique Razr V3 was.
Having the show closed feels rather more safe when strolling about in public, as I’ve a agency grip on the telephone and might nonetheless learn notifications and reply to messages with out unfolding something. Plus, there are customisation choices resembling fonts, colors and wallpapers to offer this telephone character.
Simply the act of unfolding the 6.9-inch pOLED show to reply a telephone name provides me a bit of hit of nostalgic dopamine
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Regardless of these developments, there are nonetheless loads of throwback nods with this newest telephone. The brand new camcorder mode might be activated by folding the telephone 90 levels horizontally, robotically beginning up stabilised video recording when the digital camera app is open.
The matching strap with the leather-based case additionally appears like a refreshed tackle the telephone charms we’d see folks connect to the basic Razr mannequin. The press group talked about carrying this like a lanyard, however I loved carrying it round the home like a dinky cross-body bag. Even with out the strap, the folded dimension means I can tuck it away in my pocket neatly.
Simply the act of unfolding the 6.9-inch pOLED show to reply a telephone name provides me a bit of hit of nostalgic dopamine, particularly when paired with the long-lasting ‘Hey Moto’ ringtone that accompanied the outdated adverts from the tech model.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Motorola has revamped the hinge for this telephone and claims that it makes it simpler to open the telephone one-handed. It’s doable, however nonetheless not so simple as you’d discover with the outdated mannequin – perhaps give it a number of generations.
After all, the Razr 50 collection aren’t the one clamshell telephones in the marketplace. There’s the Oppo Discover N2 Flip, the Nubia Flip 5G and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip collection, which is anticipating a brand new instalment within the subsequent few weeks.
However none of these telephones have the model recognition of the unique Motorola Razr V3. It’s arguably one of many greatest tech symbols of the 2000s, aside from the Blackberry (RIP). And that, my buddies, is one thing that can’t be bested by nice digital camera tech or AI software program.
I’ll at all times proceed to champion what I supported once I was youthful: I’ll nonetheless purchase Sonic video games (whether or not they’re dangerous or not) as a result of these have been the titles I’d play on my Gameboy Advance SP. I watched each episode of the Gladiators reboot on BBC One as a result of reruns of the 90s basic have been at all times on our telly once I was rising up.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
That very same kind of enthusiasm runs by me for this specific telephone collection. Whereas I’ll be entering into the nitty-gritty of the tech specs over the following few weeks for a full overview, I’m permitting that internal younger lady in me permission to be giddy that she lastly obtained her fingers on an actual, bodily Razr, fairly than a printed model scruffily marked with ink.
The Razr 50 Extremely will likely be on sale from tomorrow, 26 June, at £999 from websites resembling Motorola’s official retailer, John Lewis, Argos and Amazon within the UK. You’ll get a free pair of Motobuds+.
Will probably be adopted by the common Razr 50 which can arrive within the UK ‘early July’ at £799, once more with a free pair of Motobuds+ from Motorola, Carphone Warehouse, Currys, Vodafone, John Lewis, Argos and Amazon.
American readers can pre-order the Razr 50 (from $699) and 50+ (from $999) from 10 July, with the telephones hitting cabinets on 24 July.