The original Motorola Razr was one of the most iconic flip phones of its generation, inspiring myriad copycats and making an appearance in the palms of some of the most famous people in the world. Its features and design have long since been rendered obsolete, yet even so, a new version is set to be launched later this month, radically altering many aspects of the original while staying faithful to others.
An image as to how the 2019 iteration of the Motorola Razr may appear emerged courtesy of a site called Droidshout, revealing ahead of the official announcement the kinds of things fans can expect if they choose to invest in this nostalgia-tinged re-boot.
Full foldability
Like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the main party trick of the new Motorola Razr is set to be the flexibility of its screen. Its OLED panel will span almost the entire surface of the device when the clamshell is open, as is apparent in the leaked image, with a hinge allowing it to close completely without doing any serious damage.
Of course, the Galaxy Fold was criticised early on for its apparent fragility, meaning that mobile phone insurance to prevent against accidental damage and faults for owners of the Motorola Razr will be similarly important.
What is not obvious from the hastily snapped photo of the phone ahead of its unveiling is whether or not the foldability will leave a significant crease in the centre of the display that is visible during use. Once again the Galaxy Fold must surely point to this as being a likelihood, as this technology remains in the early stages of development.
Conspicuous chunkiness
Other observable features of Motorola Razr that have raised some questions following this leak include the notable thickness of the chassis that will be inevitable when it is folded in half. In turn, this means that when opened, there is a protruding portion right at the base of the device below the display, although this also gives it a look that is at least in keeping with its precursor.
With such a long, narrow display, it will be interesting to see how the software handles the aspect ratio, especially when it comes to apps. Users may need to put up with black bars or other aesthetic compromises when using their favourite services, at least until third party developers get up to speed and adjust interfaces to fit the screen.
Much of the long term success of the Motorola Razr will rely on whether there is enough demand for it and whether this, in turn, means that software support is forthcoming in this way. Without it, there is the possibility that it will be nothing more than a novelty that only a small percentage of enthusiasts snap up, while the rest of the buying public instead choose to stay with less outlandish flagships that do not have any of these potential limitations.