Just as the rumor mill predicted, Motorola has revealed a new version of its iconic Razr flip phone - and it has a folding screen.

Where the original from 15 years ago flipped open to reveal a display and a physical keyboard—plus a smaller display on the front when closed—the new model's interior is entirely displayed.

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There's also a smaller color touch screen outside for seeing notifications, taking selfies and sending quick replies to messages without opening up the handset.

When open, the folding screen measures 6.2 inches. While a little taller and narrower than a regular phone like an iPhone or Google Pixel, it is roughly the same proportions as other Androids. As such, it runs Android as normal, with apps and games filling the screen correctly—something the Samsung Galaxy Fold and its square screen can't manage.

Also setting the Motorola apart from other folding phones is how it uses a clever hinge to fold completely flat when open and then shut properly. Folding phones from Samsung and Huawei close, leaving them slightly open and susceptible to dust ingress.

When folded open, the pOLED display has a resolution of 2,142 x 876 and an aspect ratio of 21:9, the latter being the same as recent Sony Xperia handsets. The smaller display on the outside measures 2.7 inches and has a resolution of 800 x 600.

Motorola owner Lenovo has included a fun Easter egg that turns the entire folding display into a replica of the original Razr, where the bottom half of the screen looks like that phone's physical keyboard and the upper half shows its mid-2000s user interface.

The new Razr opens for pre-orders on December 26Motorola

Next to the external screen is the phone's main camera. There's just one lens in front of a 16-megapixel sensor, which means the Motorola is unlikely to offer the same photographic performance as the latest multi-lens iPhone, Google Pixel, or Samsung Galaxy. But this is clearly a fashion-first handset that prioritizes its own design over producing the best photos.

There's also a 5-megapixel camera above the internal display for video calls, and the external camera can take selfies when the phone is folded closed.

Ben Wood, a mobile industry analyst from CCS Insight, attended the Motorola launch event and tweeted: "Fantastic engineering around the hinge allows it to close flat. At $1,500, it's a super-premium product, but I doubt Motorola will have any issues selling the first wave of units."

It has been speculated that Lenovo-owned Motorola hopes to sell 200,000 units - a far cry from the 100 million it sold of the original Razr.

Woods added: "To me, the [new Razr] will be remembered as the first true folding phone compared to the [Samsung Galaxy Fold], which is more of a phone with an iPad Mini inside."

The new Razr has a 6.2-inch OLED screenMotorola

Power comes from a mid-range Snapdragon 710 processor with 6GB of RAM, so we can't expect the Motorola Razr to offer the same performance as other four-figure smartphones - but again, that isn't necessarily the point. This phone is all about the design, and all about that retro flip action. The battery is only 2,510 mAh, so it might also lag behind most other smartphones from 2019 and 2020.

Echoing concerns over the phone's specifications, James Brown, director of gadget insurance company Protect Your Bubble, said in a statement sent to GearBrain: "The Razr V4 will be a trendy gadget that fans of retro chic will embrace, but users could find that sacrificing a decent camera and processor is the price of looking cool."

And now for the bad news—the new Razr is priced at $1,500. At launch, it will be exclusive to Verizon, and there is no word yet on whether Motorola will offer a SIM-free version at a later date. Pre-orders open in the US on December 26; the phone will ship in January.

Motorola razr | 2024 | Unlocked | Made for US 8/256GB | 50MP Camera | Spritz Orange

List Price: $699.99

New From: $599.99in Stock

Used From: $426.60in Stock